| 4.3 APPLICATION
Required Materials for All
Applicants
Please apply online for graduate study at The University of
Alabama at http://graduate.ua.edu. Interested persons with
restrictions that prevent the use of our online application or who
have questions about applications should contact The University of
Alabama, Graduate School, Box 870118, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0118;
telephone (205) 348-5921 or 1-877-UAGRADS; fax (205) 348-0400; or
e-mail usgradapply@aalan.ua.edu (U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent
residents) or intergradapply@aalan.ua.edu (international
applicants).
All applicants, including U.S.
citizens, permanent residents, and international applicants, must
submit the following materials to the Graduate School using the
online application:
- Applicant data sheet and
statement of purpose
- Two official copies of all
college or university transcripts sent at the applicant's
request to the Graduate School directly from the registrar of
each postsecondary institution attended (including The
University of Alabama)
- Admissions test scores less
than five years old (if required by the department; see previous
section on “Admissions Examination Criteria” for departments
that do not require a test) mailed to the Graduate School
directly by the testing service
- The application fee is $30.00
for electronic submissions and $35.00 for paper submission. You
may submit your credit card information online or mail the
completed Application Fee Form (.pdf version) along with your
check or money order (drawn on U.S. banks and made payable to
The University of Alabama) directly to the Graduate School. Application fees are non-refundable.
- Three letters of
recommendation (on professional letterhead) with original
signatures. These should be submitted directly to the department
to which the applicant is applying (not to the Graduate School
). Each applicant must have a letter of reference from at least
one professor in (a) his or her undergraduate major, or (b) the
proposed field of graduate study, if any courses have been taken
in either area within the last five years
- Additional application
materials (e.g., portfolios, writing samples, responses to essay
questions, etc.) required by individual departments. Applicants
should contact departments directly for more information
All of the above materials must be
received by the Graduate School before an application will be
considered. To ensure that no materials are missing, applicants
should periodically check the status of their applications online or
by telephoning the Graduate School.
Application may be made to only two
programs at a time. A person holding a bachelor's degree from a
U.S. regionally accredited institution (or the foreign
equivalent for an international applicant) is eligible for
consideration for admission to the Graduate School of The University
of Alabama. Seniors who have completed at least 91 undergraduate
credits at regionally accredited institutions are also eligible to
apply.
Additional Materials for
International Students
A student, whether an international or a permanent resident,
whose first language is not English, must submit an official score
report from one of the following proficiency examinations:
- Test of English as a
Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum score for admission to
a degree program or for non-degree admission is 550 on the
paper-based TOEFL, 213 on the computerized TOEFL, or 79 iBT.
- International English
Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum score for
admission to a degree program or for non-degree admission is
6.5.
The TOEFL or IELTS scores must be
less than two years old at the time of the student's intended
enrollment at The University of Alabama. The TOEFL or IELTS will not
be required from any applicant who has earned a degree from an
accredited U.S. college or university within the past three years.
The Test of Spoken English (TSE) is recommended for international
students who wish to be considered for teaching assistantships.
Information on registering for the TOEFL or TSE is available
worldwide at
http://www.ets.org/toefl/ and for the IELTS at
http://www.ielts.org or at U.S.
embassies, consulates, USIS offices, Institute of International
Education offices, AMIDEAST offices, and other organizations
concerned with international education. Computer administration of
the TOEFL is offered at many sites as will IELTS in the near future. International applicants must
submit two certified copies in the native language along with
certified English translations of all transcripts, diplomas, and
certificates of degree.
Application Deadlines
To ensure adequate time for review, applications must be
completed at least six weeks before the desired date of
registration. International applicants must submit their
applications at least four months prior to expected enrollment.
However, many departments establish earlier deadlines for
receipt of application materials. (Applicants should contact their
proposed departments for deadline information.) In those cases,
completed applications must be in the Graduate School six weeks
prior to the departmental deadline. Requirements and deadlines
for submitting applications are subject to change; applicants should
review the specific instructions on the application forms for
current requirements and deadlines.
Alabama Residency Status
Questions regarding resident and nonresident status should be
directed to Mary Ellen Hanna in Office of Academic Records and
University Registrar, Box 870134, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0134;
telephone (205) 348-4886;
http://www.registrar.ua.edu/residency.html. (Note. This is not
the same as the “residency” requirement for master’s, educational
specialist, or doctoral degrees. Please refer to those degrees’
respective sections of the Catalog for details.)
Immunizations
New students who were born after January 1957 are required to
provide proof of immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
and other diseases before being officially enrolled at The
University of Alabama. For students without proof of all required
immunizations, the Health Center may assess a fine, and registration
may be blocked. Also, new students are encouraged to complete a
medical history form, which may be obtained from The University of
Alabama, Russell Student Health Center, Box 870360, Tuscaloosa, AL
35487-0360; http://rshc.ua.edu.
Readmission
Applicants for readmission who are in good standing should write
to The University of Alabama, Graduate School, Box 870118,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0118 or e-mail
gradreg@aalan.ua.edu, at least
six weeks in advance of the desired date of registration to request
registration materials. Some departments may have earlier deadlines;
applicants should contact their departments for specific deadlines.
For students without proof of all required immunizations, the Health
Center may access a fine, and registration may be blocked.
Change of Major or Purpose
All students changing their majors or degree levels will be required
to submit new applications. Students pursuing doctorates in the
College of Education should consult the College of Education section
of this catalog for additional requirements. Graduate courses taken
by a senior cannot also be applied to the undergraduate career.
Application Fees
A nonrefundable fee of $30 for electronic submission and $35 for
paper submission must accompany each new application for admission
before it will be processed.* Credit card payments may be made with
online applications at http://graduate.ua.edu. After admission, no
fee will be assessed for subsequent applications requesting a change
of program area, change of degree objective within the program of
study, or change of status from a nondegree to a degree program. If
a student applies but does not enroll within 12 months of the
requested entrance date, a new application and an accompanying
nonrefundable $30 fee for electronic submission or $35 fee or paper
submission must be submitted.
*Under certain circumstances, a
refund and cancellation of the application can be requested
within 48 hours (two business days) of receipt in the Graduate
School office.
Number of Applications
Application may be made to up to two programs at a time. If a
student applies to two programs, he or she must submit two separate
and complete sets of application materials (applicant data sheet,
statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, transcripts) and
two application fees. Each set of application materials must clearly
identify the program to which the applicant is applying.
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