1	THE WORLD OF GRADUATE SCHOOL
2	The Graduate School The University of Alabama Graduate School offers more than 125 graduate degrees in: Arts & Sciences Commerce & Business Administration Communication & Information Studies Education Engineering Human Environmental Sciences Nursing Social Work Interdisciplinary Studies
3	Graduate Education Opportunities Graduate education opportunities at The University of Alabama include: an exciting array of courses laboratory activities field experiences studio work performances distance learning interactive technology-based instruction
4	Are You Prepared for Graduate School? overall academic record grade point average in a specialty area standard examination scores recommendations statement of purpose professional experience personal interviews
5	What Should You Expect From Graduate Professors? Professors assume that you have been trained or are ready: to read large quantities of material to take good lecture notes to lead discussions to write major papers for advanced lab or clinical experience
6	How Can You Create a Successful Application? clearly describe educational and professional goals employ strong letters of recommendation allow ample time for editing meet all deadlines
7	What Are The Most Common Reasons For Admission Rejection? Failure to meet the minimum requirements for admission. A review of a combination of the undergraduate records, test scores, and recommendations did not show evidence of a strong candidate. Failure to complete the application process on time. The specified graduate department is not currently admitting new students due to space limitations.
8	Graduate Student Research and Creative Activities
9	Jeffrey Sides and Jen Buhay float down the Sipsey. The two graduate students are among those working with Dr. Charles Lydeard, an associate professor of biological sciences, on various bivalve or snail studies.
10	Heather White, a Florida State student, Robert Upchurch, West Alabama, and Marlyn Thompson, Alabama State, conduct research at UA.
11	Ashley Dumas, a UA graduate student, directs an archaeological dig at the site of the original Tabasco factory on Avery Island in Louisiana. She’s shown holding a photo of the 19th-century building.
12	Dr. Keith Jacobi, assistant professor of anthropology, and students Ben Shields and Stacy McGrath look at X-rays.
13	Dr. Rodney Bowersox, middle, and students Daina Lee, left, and Zakaria Mahmud conduct research in a new aerophysics lab.
14	Dr. Dick Bradt, a professor of metallurgical and materials engineering, was chosen as the first American recipient of the Academic Achievement Award of the Ceramic Society of Japan. He is pictured here with Flavia Cunha, a graduate student in metallurgical and materials engineering
15	Officials in the College of Communication and Information Sciences hope WVUA-7, the University’s newly acquired television station, will become a learning tool for students, where they can train and interact in a professional, on-air environment.
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17	THE BENEFITS OF A GRADUATE EDUCATION
18	There are Benefits For graduate degree holders, M.A. recipients earn an average of $52,317, 23% more than bachelor's degree recipients, and Ph.D.’s earn $70,740, 35 % more than M.A.’s and 68 % more than B.A. degree holders. Source: Educational Attainment in the United States, U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, May 2004.
19	Higher Earnings Not surprisingly, holders of professional degrees were found to have the highest earnings. Their annual income of $81,540 was 15 % higher than Ph.D. recipients, and more than twice that of bachelor's degree recipients! Source: Educational Attainment in the United States, U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, May 2004.
20	"The lifetime income differentials are..." The lifetime income differentials are magnified when computed over a 40-year career (from ages 25 to 64). A bachelor’s degree holder can earn $2.1 million, while someone with a master’s degree can expect to earn $2.5 million in their lifetime Lifetime earnings of holders of professional degrees, at over $4.4 million, are well above that for any other group. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Survey, July 2004
21	Mean Annual Earnings by Level of Education
22	Estimates of Life Earnings by Level of Education (In Thousands)
23	THE APPLICATION PROCESS
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25	Application Materials Application materials may be obtained from: The University of Alabama Graduate School 102 Rose Administration Building Box 870118 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0118 (205) 348-5921 http://graduate.ua.edu
26	To ensure adequate time for review, applications must be completed at least six weeks before the desired date of registration. However, some departments establish earlier deadlines. In those cases, completed applications must be in the Graduate School six weeks prior to the departmental deadline. Applicants should review the specific instructions on the application forms for current requirements and deadlines.
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28	Application Fees A nonrefundable fee of $25 must accompany each new application for admission before it will be processed.
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36	Regular Admission An applicant whose credentials meet both of the following minimum requirements may be considered for regular admission: The applicant must have a grade point average, based on a 4.0 system, of 3.0 overall or 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours in a degree program, or 3.0 for a completed graduate program. The applicant must have an acceptable score on the appropriate entrance examination, if required by the department or degree program to which the applicant is seeking admission.
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38	Conditional Admission An applicant whose credentials do not meet the requirements for regular admission may be considered for conditional admission if : The applicant has a grade point average of 2.5 overall and an acceptable score on the appropriate admission examination. The applicant meets either the GPA requirement for regular admission (3.0) or the entrance exam score requirement for regular admission.
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40	Minimum Requirements The GPA and test requirements above are minimum requirements. Divisions or departments may set higher standards. Not every applicant whose credentials meet stated quantitative standards is admitted. Applicants should contact departments BEFORE applying and ask for faculty suggestions for preparing an outstanding application package.
41	Admission Decisions Graduate admission decisions are based on a COMPOSITE of qualitative and quantitative information, including the applicant’s: statement of purpose and letters of recommendation, academic standing of the programs in which the applicant has studied, relevant professional activities and achievements, test scores and previous grades, and the recommendation of the faculty in the area to which the applicant is seeking admission.
42	Admission Examinations Entrance examinations are required for all applicants to all programs, except (1) the School of Social Work M.S.W. program (2) the Department of Art: master of arts and master of fine arts in studio art (3) College of Engineering programs, if the baccalaureate degree is from an ABET-accredited engineering program, or, for the Department of Computer Science program, if the baccalaureate degree is from an ABET-accredited or a CSAC-accredited program
43	Admission Examinations Entrance examinations are required for all applicants to all programs, except (4) the Department of Theatre and Dance (5) the Department of Music (6) the Capstone College of Nursing (if the applicant has a GPA of 3.0 or higher, on a 4.0 scale) (7) The Department of Modern Languages and Classics
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45	Applicants who are citizens of countries other than the United States are particularly welcome at the University of Alabama. Highly qualified students from around the world have been extremely successful in our graduate programs, and the contributions made by our international students in the areas of teaching, research, and general cultural enrichment have been great. Standards for admission and financial aid are extremely competitive, ensuring academic excellence.
46	International Deadlines April 15: Deadline for all international applicants. to apply to the Graduate School for fall admission. June 1: Deadline for international applicants outside the U.S. to apply for spring admission to the Graduate School. September 15: Deadline for all international applicants to apply for spring admission to the Graduate School. January 15: Deadline for international applicants outside the U.S. to apply for fall admission to the Graduate School.
47	FINANCIAL AID
48	How Can You Finance Your Graduate Education? tuition fee waivers teaching and research fellowships student loans scholarships fellowships full and part-time jobs grants Source: Guide for the Prospective Graduate Student, Oklahoma State University Graduate College.
49	Types of Financial Assistance Federal Aid Stafford Loans Supplemental Loans for Students Perkins Loans College Work Study State and Regional Funding Institutional Funding Other Funding
50	Federal Aid Federal Aid has two sides- It can come through the Financial Aid Office or through outside federal agencies. It includes the following programs: Stafford Loan- a low cost, government loan. Supplemental Loan- a higher cost, government loan. Perkins Loan- the lowest cost, government loan. College Work Study- program whereby the student works on campus. The Hope Scholarship
51	State and Regional Funding State and regional funding comes in the form of both loans and grants. The aid is usually targeted to particular groups, such as potential health care providers.
52	Institutional Funding Institutional funding includes: graduate assistantships, departmental and college fellowships, university and college scholarships, and any other funding supplied by the institution or private donors through the institution.
53	Other Funding Anything that is not included in the three previous sections is included in this one. Numerous other agencies, of all sorts, offer some sort of assistance. Many organizations have scholarships and/or loan programs for employees and associates. Also look at your local main library and grant centers for this type of aid.
54	Helpful Hints Apply for financial aid if you believe you need it. Don’t assume you won’t qualify. Apply to as many sources as you can find. Be sure to obtain all required forms. Complete all forms legibly and accurately. Follow up on your aid application. Keep copies of all forms you submit. Apply for aid every year. Apply as early as possible. Ask for information and help.
55	What the University of Alabama Graduate School Office Can Do for You... Answer questions pertaining to graduate study and financial assistance. Provide you with application materials. Direct you to your program of study.
56	Application Checklist Statement of Purpose Letters of Recommendation Two Official Transcripts Entrance Exam Scores Application for Admission (Data Sheet) Applications for Financial Aid Applications for Fellowships Any Other Information Requested
57	Concluding Remarks
58	The University of Alabama Graduate School 102 Rose Administration Building P.O. Box 870118 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0118 (205) 348-5921 http://graduate.ua.edu