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Graduate School

Before you apply ………

Who Should Be Using This Application Procedure?

Students seeking admission to the Law School should apply at: http://law.ualr.edu/admissions/. Graduate applicants should be seeking admission to:

  • Certificate: For application to post-baccalaureate certificate program.
    Note – check with the Office of Financial Aid at (501) 569-3127 or on-line at http://www.ualr.edu/admissions to see which programs are eligible for federal financial aid.
  • Doctoral: For application to doctoral program (PhD, EdD, AuD)
  • Master’s: For application to traditional Master’s degree program (either on-campus or online)
  • Special: For students interested in taking graduate courses but not interested in obtaining a graduate degree or certificate from UALR at this time. Important note: Completing courses as a non-degree student does not guarantee that a student will be admitted into a graduate program at anytime in the future. To enter a graduate program in the future, the student must apply to that program in the same way that they would if they had never taken any UALR graduate courses. If accepted into a graduate program at a future date, no more than nine (9) non-degree credits may be counted towards a degree, certificate, or program, and then, only by consent of the student’s graduate advisory committee and department chair.
  • Transient: For students that are matriculated in a graduate program at another regionally-accredited college/university who wish to take courses that will transfer back to their home institution. Transient students are not eligible for financial aid through UALR.
  • Readmit doctoral/master’s/certificate: For those individuals applying to a degree, certificate, or specialist program in which they were previously enrolled.
  • Readmit special: For those individuals who have been previously admitted as a non-degree student.

Please note that financial aid is available only for degree seeking students and some certificate programs. Contact the Office of Admission and Financial Aid at: (501) 569-3127 or on-line at http://www.ualr.edu/admissions.

Contact the Program of Interest to You

Visit the web site of the program of interest to you. If more information is needed, the graduate program coordinator can give you details regarding the program and its requirements and can help you determine whether this program meets your needs. Once institutional standards are met, each graduate program decides on the admissibility of its students.

In Research-oriented Programs, Try to Identify Potential Faculty Advisors

All graduate students should research the program that is of interest to them. In programs oriented toward research, it is useful for prospective graduate students to identify a potential research supervisor before applying. The best potential supervisor is one with research interests and expertise in an area closely related to that of the student. Programs will often have a list of faculty members/potential supervisors and their research interests on their website. Follow program instructions on how best to approach potential supervisors.

Deadlines for Application

The completed application packet for most programs must be received by the Graduate School by program-defined deadlines to insure that the application is given full consideration. Some programs only admit students once/year and not all programs have the same deadline for applications. Click here for program deadlines that differ from those given below.

In general for Domestic applicants, materials for the Fall semester (begins in late August), should be received by June 1; for Spring Semester (begins in mid-January), by October 15; for the 1st Summer session (begins in mid-May), by March 15; for the 2nd Summer session (begins in early July), by May 1st. For International applicants, materials for the Fall semester (begins in late August), should be received by February 1 and for the Spring Semester (begins in mid-January), by October 15.

Admission Requirements

To qualify for admissions to a graduate degree or certificate program, an applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting body and show evidence of being able to succeed in graduate studies based on an evaluation of undergraduate grades and admission test scores. Admission criteria and required supplementary application materials vary by individual programs. Applicants must satisfy Graduate School admissions requirements, as well as requirements of the program to which they seek admission.

Graduate School admissions requirements should be submitted to the Graduate School Admissions office and those requirements are:

  • official transcripts from ALL previously attended colleges and universities - Transcripts must be in the sealed envelope from the university in order to be considered official.
  • grade point average of 2.75 (or a 3.00 on the last 60 hours) on a 4.00 scale (including post-baccalaureate hours).
  • proof of immunization - Arkansas law requires that all students born on or after January 1, 1957 provide proof of immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella. Applicants applying to online degree programs are not required to submit proof of immunization
  • test scores taken within the last five years (test requirements vary by program)
    Note: Such tests include the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Miller Analogies Test (MAT), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - contact program for details.

For program requirements, students are advised to consult with the program director about specific program requirements.

Note – fulfillment of all graduate requirements does not constitute a guarantee of admission into any graduate program. For reasons unrelated to academic qualifications including, but not limited to, congruence with faculty interest, laboratory space limitations, funding, and others, well-qualified applicants may not be admitted into graduate programs.

When You Have Your Test Scores Sent to UALR

All students applying for degree or certificate programs need to have official test scores (e.g., GRE, MAT, GMAT, etc., depending upon the program) submitted to the UALR Graduate School. If you know your test scores, please enter them on the application form. They will be considered unofficial until we receive official notification from the testing service. The UALR code is 6368 (GRE and MAT). For special (non-degree seeking) or transient (degree-seeking at another institution) students or students seeking readmission to UALR, no test scores are required.

Applicants Whose Native Language Is Not English

If the applicant is not a native English speaker and does not have a degree or diploma from an institution which uses English as the language of instruction, the applicant is required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Test Service (IELTS). The TOEFL is administered at many sites worldwide. The score on this test must be forwarded to the Graduate School by the testing service. Master’s or educational specialist applicants must achieve a score of 525 on the paper-based test, 197 on the computer-based version, or 71 on the Internet-based version. Doctoral applicants must achieve a score of 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based version, or 79 on the Internet-based version.  Students taking the IELTS must earn a miniimum score of 6.5.  These minimum scores are required even if the applicant completed a baccalaureate degree at a U.S. college or university. Applicants will not be admitted nor allowed to enroll until the requirement is met. Some programs require higher scores or other proof of proficiency such as the Test of Spoken English (TSE). TOEFL application forms and information are available from the UALR Office of Testing Services and Student Life Research (www.ualr.edu/testing) or from the Educational Testing Service (www.ets.org), Box 899, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 U.S.A. United States consulates and embassies may provide information. IELTS information can be accessed at www.ielts/org.

International Students

International applicants are to complete the application process described at: http://ualr.edu/international/index.php/application-guide/.

Thank you for your interest in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock!

We look forward to having you become a part of one of our programs on the Little Rock campus or online.

All documents should be mailed to:
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Attention: Graduate School

Ottenheimer Library - 5th Floor
2801 South University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72204-1099

Updated 6.7.2011