Graduate School | Admissions Procedure

Interdisciplinary Program

A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 or graduate GPA of at least 3.5 if the undergraduate GPA is below 3.0.

GRE scores are required for admission to the Interdisciplinary Program. Most students admitted to the interdisciplinary graduate degree program receive GRE scores above the 50th percentile.

TOEFL = 80 (Internet-based exam), 213 (electronic exam) or 550 (paper exam) is required if an applicant is not a citizen of the U.S. and requires an F-1 visa. the IELTS may be substituted in some cases. Minimum score is 6.5.

Deadlines: For Fall semester = March 1. For Spring semester = October 1.
Three letters of reference that address the academic qualifications for the degree program to which you are applying. Reference letters must be dated not earlier than one year prior to the date of application to the INDS program. Reference letters should specifically address the applicant's qualifications to pursue a Ph.D. or Master's degree at UAF.

Master's degree INDS (Interdisciplinary ) applicants must submit a proposed INDS Master's degree Graduate Study Plan (GSP) Form and a brief outline of his/her thesis or research project. The proposed Graduate Study Plan Form must be filled out completely. The courses proposed in the GSP must reflect the interdisciplinary nature appropriate for the degree. The GSP must be signed by each proposed committee member, your proposed advisor, the department head, and the dean of your proposed advisor. Without these signatures the proposed GSP is void. The proposed GSP is for admission review purposes.
- INDS Master's degree GSP Form (.pdf format)
- INDS Master's degree GSP Form (Word format)

Ph.D. degree INDS (Interdisciplinary ) applicants must submit a proposed INDS Ph.D. degree Graduate Study Plan (GSP) Form. A proposed Graduate Study Plan Form must be filled out completely. The courses proposed in the GSP must reflect the interdisciplinary nature appropriate for the degree. The GSP must be signed by each proposed committee member, your proposed advisor, the department head, and the dean of your proposed advisor. Without these signatures the proposed GSP is void. The proposed GSP is for admission review purposes.
- INDS Ph.D. degree GSP Form (.pdf format)
- INDS Ph.D. degree GSP Form (Word format)

INDS Ph.D. degree applicants should have a Master's degree in a related field (or be scheduled to complete one before the semester they intend to enroll), unless their academic qualifications substantially exceed minimum standards.

INDS Ph.D. degree applicants should include a Statement of Research Goals (in addition to the Statement of Academic Goals). This statement should be relatively brief (no longer than two pages) and need not constitute a complete, detailed research proposal. The statements of research and academic goals are important in the committee's evaluation process and hence must be the work of the applicant. It is appropriate and necessary to consult with the proposed major advisor about the overall research objectives, particularly if the work will be part of a funded project. The applicant should describe the questions to be
addressed by the research, their linkages to the academic disciplines of the proposed INDS program (as described in the Academic Goal Statement and their Graduate Study Plan), the intended approach, and the potential significance of the work in a concise, personal statement.

INDS Ph.D. applicants are instructed that their proposed major advisor must review and approve their completed application, including the statement of research goals, before it is submitted to the Graduate School. The INDS application form includes the statement "I have reviewed and approved the application of (student's name) to the INDS Ph.D. program, including the statement of research goals, and am willing to serve as the student's major advisor", with a signature line for the proposed major advisor. This signature must be obtained before the application will be reviewed.

INDS Ph.D. applicants must include a current curriculum vitae of the proposed major advisor with the application.

Successful INDS Ph.D. applicants will be required to write a formal thesis research proposal and pass an oral defense of that proposal within the first two years that they are enrolled in the INDS Ph.D. program. This will be part of the INDS Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam, which consists of both a written and an oral exam. As with all oral examinations at the Ph.D. level, the Graduate School will appoint an outside examiner to read the thesis proposal and attend the defense.