Office of Admissions Brief
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities: “One of the nation’s top ten public research universities” – The Center, University of Florida.
We welcome your interest in the University of Minnesota Graduate School. Contact the school’s Office of Admissions if we can assist you in applying at The Graduate School, University of Minnesota, 309 Johnston Hall, 101 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455-0421, telephone 612-625-3014, web site www.grad.umn.edu.
The Graduate School offers master’s and doctoral degree programs in about 150 major fields covering virtually every area of academic inquiry in education, psychology, language, literature, the arts, and the biological, physical, social, and health sciences. This breadth of offerings enhances opportunities for interdisciplinary study.
The graduate faculty is large, with more than 2,200 members, ensuring that your graduate experience involves close contact with advisers and teachers. The approximately 10,600 graduate students come from all 50 states and nearly 140 nations.
According to the National Research Council’s 1993 rankings of U.S. research-doctorate programs, the University ranks 20th (9th among public universities) in the quality of faculty scholarship. Five programs rank in the top 10; an additional 10 programs rank in the top 20. As evidence of the University’s tradition of excellence, alumni include four Nobel Prize winners, a former chief justice of the United States, two former vice presidents, the heads of Fortune 500 companies, pioneers in medicine, civil rights leaders, top journalists, and men and women of distinction in every field.
The University of Minnesota awarded its first Ph.D. in 1888 in the field of history. At present, about 600 doctorates and 1,300 master’s degrees are awarded annually.
Several master’s degree programs are offered on the Duluth campus of the University. For information about these programs, contact the Graduate School Office, University of Minnesota-Duluth, 431 Darland Administration Building, 10 University Drive, Duluth, MN 55812-2496; 218-726-7523.
Research Opportunities
The University is one of the nation’s outstanding research institutions, with more than 100 research facilities, many of which are interdisciplinary. Among them are the Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications; Army High Performance Computing Research Center; Institute for Rock Magnetism; Center for Interfacial Engineering; Cancer Center; Institute for Advanced Studies in Biological Process Technology; Plant Molecular Genetics Institute; Avian Research Center; Center for Research in Learning, Perception, and Cognition; Center for Early Education and Development; Center on Aging; Center for Population Analysis and Policy; Center for Austrian Studies; Immigration History Research Center; Center for Advanced Feminist Studies; and the Stem Cell Institute.
The University’s Twin Cities campus libraries, with a collection of more than 5.7 million catalogued volumes and nearly 45,000 serials, rank 17th in size among American universities. In addition to the main libraries are many smaller libraries and collections covering specialized subjects and formats.
Research support is provided by the Offices of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School as well as by the public and private sectors. The Graduate School distributes a total of $6 million annually in competitive fellowship awards to students. Another $6 million annually is awarded competitively to faculty for research support and endowed professorship support. The University also ranks among the top research universities receiving federal research money.
Campus Environment
The Twin Cities campus, the largest and oldest in the University system, is technically two separate campuses: one just east of downtown Minneapolis on the Mississippi River, the other just west of the State Fairgrounds a couple of miles from downtown St. Paul.
The Mississippi River divides the Minneapolis campus into two banks connected by the double-decker Washington Avenue Bridge. The picturesque mall of the main East Bank is bordered by stately traditional buildings—including Johnston Hall, home of The Graduate School. Next door is Northrop Auditorium and its plaza. On the other end of the mall, Coffman Memorial Union offers a good place to relax between classes. Nearby are unique underground facilities and the health sciences complexes.
Just across the river is the West Bank. Newer and smaller, it boasts sleek brick buildings like the main library, the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Mondale Hall (formerly the Law Center), the Ted Mann Concert Hall, the Carlson School of Management, and the Arts Quarter.
Three miles away and connected by a free express transit way, is the St. Paul campus, whose animal barns, croplands, flowers, and wooded areas evoke a small college atmosphere.
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul
Minneapolis (the largest city in Minnesota) and St. Paul (the state capital) are both flourishing centers of commerce and industry, where grandiose historic buildings complement bold new skyscrapers. Focal points of a progressive metropolitan area of 2.3 million people, the two downtowns offer many opportunities for entertainment, research, volunteer or part-time work, internships, and careers.
Arts and Entertainment—The Twin Cities are renowned for their innovative and varied cultural attractions, such as the Guthrie Theater, Ordway Music Theater, Orchestra Hall, Science Museum and Omnitheater. Northrop Auditorium, the campus centerpiece, hosts performances by popular musical and dance artists and outstanding University bands and ensembles. Students can see or star in plays at the Rarig Center. Or they can enjoy the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Minnesota and Como Zoos, the Mall of America, the Renaissance Festival and Valleyfair, and the Minneapolis Aquatennial and St. Paul Winter Carnival. Overlooking the Mississippi River is the University’s Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, with award-winning design by Frank Gehry.
Recreation and Sports—The Recreational Sports program http://www.recsports.umn.edu, one of the largest of its kind on any campus in the country, offers curling, cycling, racquetball, crew, ballroom dance, juggling, and 100 other teams, clubs, and fitness activities. Sports fans can view Golden Gophers or Vikings football and Twins baseball at the Metrodome, Timberwolves basketball at the Target Center and Wild hockey at the Xcel Energy Center. Many women’s and men’s intercollegiate athletic events also take place right on campus.
Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the Twin Cities’ 150 parks and 200 lakes, ideal for picnicking, hiking, biking, swimming, canoeing, sailing, fishing, rollerblading or ice skating, cross-country or downhill skiing, or simply sitting and thinking. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of the most unsullied wilderness treasures in the entire nation, is only a few hours drive north.
The warmth of spring, greenery of summer, and bright colors of autumn are followed by at least three months of winter snow, but even then, daytime temperatures generally average an invigorating 10 to 30 degrees above zero.
Admission Criteria
Applicants for admission must have a U.S. bachelor’s degree or a comparable foreign degree from a recognized college or university. Applicants should have the necessary background in the major field, an excellent scholastic record, and appropriate professional qualifications. Students are admitted for graduate work on recommendation of the graduate faculty in the proposed major field and approval of the Graduate School Dean.
The faculty and staff of The Graduate School encourage applicants to demonstrate how they will contribute to student body diversity. Diversity factors include economic disadvantage, special talents, evidence of leadership qualities, race or ethnicity, a strong work record and disability.
Application Procedure
Applicants are required to apply online. Applicants are encouraged to apply for admission well in advance of the term in which they wish to enter the Graduate School (but no more than one year in advance of the proposed entry date). The Graduate School application, complete with all required materials, must be submitted by the following deadlines.
Fall semester—June 15
Spring semester—October 15
Summer session—March 15
Deadlines that fall on a holiday or weekend will be extended through the next regular workday.
Many major fields have established deadlines earlier than those listed above and also require additional application and supporting materials. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain information about those deadlines and requirements from the director of graduate studies for the proposed major.
General Degree Requirements
For complete information about degree requirements, consult the current Graduate School Catalog. See the end of this brochure for how to obtain a catalog.
Post Baccalaureate Certificate—The Graduate School offers postbaccalaureate certificates that recognize graduate-level training beyond the award of the bachelor’s degree. Certificates may be coupled with a master’s or doctoral degree under special circumstances and with the approval of the graduate faculty in the degree-granting field. Postbaccalaureate certificates offered through The Graduate School require a minimum of 12 credits. Regular Graduate School application procedures and admission requirements apply. Refer to the Graduate School Catalog for the fields in which postbaccalaureate certificates are offered.
Master’s Degree—The Graduate School offers the master of arts and master of science degrees under three plans: Plan A, involving a thesis; and Plan B, which substitutes additional coursework and a special project or projects for the thesis; also the course work only option.
All three plans require a minimum of 30 credits (10 credits for Plan A are taken as thesis credits). Some major fields may have more extensive requirements, or may offer the master’s under Plan A, Plan B or course work only. The master’s degree can be completed in 1 1/2 to 2 years; the maximum time allowed by The Graduate School for completion of the degree is 7 years.
The Graduate School also offers professional master’s degrees in many fields. Requirements for these degrees may differ from the general master’s degree requirements.
Post Masters Certificate—The Graduate School offers a post masters certificate in certain fields.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) — The doctor of philosophy degree is offered in approximately 120 fields. Requirements for the degree include coursework in the major field; coursework in a minor field or a supporting program; preliminary written and oral examinations covering both the candidate’s general and special subject fields; a dissertation prepared in conjunction with registration for 24 thesis credits; and a final oral examination. The Ph.D. degree usually takes between three and seven years to complete.
Four professional doctorates are also offered: the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.), and the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.). Requirements for these are similar to those for the Ph.D.
Calendar
The University operates on a semester system consisting of fall and spring semesters, a short intersession, and a summer session. Fall semester begins in early September, spring semester in mid-January, and summer session in mid-June.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition
The current tuition and fee rate information are available on the Web at OneStop 
Thesis-writing (Plan A) master’s students must register for 10 thesis credits; all doctoral students must register for 24 thesis credits. Tuition for thesis credits is the same as for course credits.
Graduate School students pay higher tuition in some master’s programs. Contact the director of graduate studies in your proposed major field for more information on tuition and fees.
Note: If you are a resident of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, or Manitoba, you may qualify for reciprocity privileges. If so, what you pay will depend on your state or province of residence and the program to which you are admitted. For information and application forms, contact your state board of higher education or any public college or university in your state or province.
Financial Aid
Graduate assistantships, fellowships, and loans are the primary sources of support for graduate study. Students who obtain a graduate assistantship of at least 25 percent can receive a tuition benefit (and health insurance) equal to twice the percentage of their appointment in the semester of the appointment. Many fellowship stipends also include tuition support. Application for assistantships and fellowships should be made through your graduate program office (some programs admit only students who receive such funding); contact the director of graduate studies for more information. To ensure consideration for all possible support, apply no later than early January for the following fall semester. For details on need-based awards, including loans, contact the Office of Student Finance, University of Minnesota, Scholarships and Financial Aid, 210 Fraser Hall, 106 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455-0422; telephone 612-624-1111 or July – September, 1-800-400-8636 or visit their web site  .
Catalog Requests and Access
For further information, you are encouraged to consult the Graduate School Catalog  . The Graduate School Catalog describes Graduate School policies, majors, and degrees offered, and lists the graduate faculty.
There are two options for requesting a paper copy of the catalog, at a cost of $5 for shipping and handling:
- Online from the University of Minnesota Bookstores (you will need a credit card for the shipping and handling charge). Order the Graduate School Catalog online
- Telephone the University of Minnesota Bookstores at 800-442-8636, and place your order, again paying the shipping charge by credit card.
Catalogs will be sent only to US Zip Code addresses, Canada, and Mexico. They are sent at bulk rate and may take 2 to 4 weeks to reach you. Catalogs will not be sent overseas.
The Catalog is also available in electronic form . A paper copy of the Graduate School Catalog is available at The Graduate School, 309 Johnston Hall, 101 Pleasant St SE, Minneapolis, MN.
For More Information
Contact the director of graduate studies in your proposed major field.
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