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Admission and Registration
Application for Admission
Students applying for admission should proceed as follows:
- Call or write for application forms and descriptive material to the department of intended graduate study, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
- Return the completed application forms to the appropriate department with a check or money order (not cash) payable to the University of Pittsburgh for the application fee stated on the application form. The fee is $30 U.S. for applicants residing in the United States, Canada, and Mexico; $40 U.S. for applicants residing in other countries. The application fee is required of all applicants; it is non-refundable and does not apply toward the payment of tuition. In exceptional cases, the application fee may be deferred (but not waived) at the discretion of the department. If the fee is deferred, and the student is admitted and accepts admission, the fee is due prior to registration.
- No action will be taken on a request for admission to graduate study until the applicant has filed (1) the completed application, (2) the application fee, and (3) up-to-date, certified transcripts of work done in all undergraduate and graduate schools. As stated on the application form, three letters of recommendation from persons who can evaluate the applicant's qualifications for graduate school should be sent directly to the proposed major department. Submission of scores on the Aptitude Test of the Graduate Record Examination is strongly recommended, particularly for those desiring financial assistance. This test is required by a majority of departments and encouraged by others. In addition, some departments may require the submission of scores on the Advanced Test of the Graduate Record Examination, a statement of career objectives, and/or a term paper or other sample of the applicant's written work. (For more information about GREs, please contact your undergraduate school's placement office.) Decisions regarding admission are based upon these credentials, quality point averages, and the availability of faculty and facilities to meet the applicant's expressed academic or research needs and interests. In most departments or programs there is limited space available, so not all qualified applicants can be admitted. In such cases, applicants will be judged competitively.
- Students applying for fellowships and assistantships should file their applications at the earliest possible date. (See Financial Assistance.) Applicants interested only in admission may be considered up to the deadline dates, but postponing application entails the risk that available spaces will be filled. The application deadline for the Fall Term is August 1; for the Spring Term, December 1; for the Summer Term, April 1. Individual departments may impose earlier deadlines. Registration is permitted only after admission is granted.
- Admission to graduate study is valid for the academic year. If a department so approves, a student may defer admission for one year without having to complete any additional applications. If approved, the student is sent a new admission letter. Additional course work taken during the deferred year and a new affidavit of financial support should also accompany any financial aid request. The deferral of admission is independent of financial aid.
- A student desiring to change a major department of graduate study in FAS must file an application for admission in the department of intended graduate study. Applications for transfer will be evaluated in the same way as applications for admission to the designated department. An application fee is not required.
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Admission of Students from Other Countries
The application process for admission of students from other countries should be started nine to twelve months in advance of the date of intended enrollment and completed at least three months before the registration date for each term. Applicants wanting to be considered for financial assistance must submit completed applications much earlier. Requests for application forms should be directed to the department in which the student wishes to enroll. All applicants should also take note of specific departmental requirements (for example, the Graduate Record Examination [GRE] scores). Specific departmental requirements are listed in the Departmental Degree Programs and Course Offerings section of this bulletin.
Application Deadlines and Application Fee. The deadlines for submitting a completed application and financial aid form are determined by the individual departments, but May 1 is the final date for international students applying for Fall Term admission; September 1 for students applying for Spring Term admission; and January 1 for students applying for Summer Term and/or Summer Session admission. The application fee for applicants who reside outside the United States, Canada, and Mexico is $40 U.S. The fee must be submitted in the form of a check or money order made payable to the University of Pittsburgh.
Academic Background and Credentials. The minimum requirement for admission to a graduate program is the completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in the United States or the completion of a level of education that the University of Pittsburgh deems comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree.
Applicants are required to submit official original academic credentials. Official original academic credentials that are issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. In addition, in cases where the grade reports, academic record, examination results or transcript do not attest to the awarding of a degree or other academic qualification, a certified copy of the original certificate or diploma awarding the degree or qualification must be submitted. Certificates or diplomas that are issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
English Language Proficiency. Graduate students must possess sufficient proficiency in English to enable them to understand lectures, participate successfully in class discussion, and in general, to be able to study without being hindered by language problems. FAS Graduate Studies, Student Services (140 Thackeray Hall) or the department will determine whether or not an applicant has sufficient proficiency in English. To facilitate this determination, official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required if the applicant's native language is not English; this applies even if English has been the medium of instruction. The minimum acceptable score for admission is 550 (213 on the computer-based test). The requirement to submit the results of the TOEFL may be waived if the applicant has recently earned a degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States. In addition, all students admitted to graduate studies with TOEFL scores below 650 (280 on the new computer-based test) are required to validate their English language proficiency by sitting for the Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency shortly after arrival in Pittsburgh.
Students who have been appointed as Teaching Assistants (TAs) or Teaching Fellows (TFs) and are not native speakers of English are required to take a test evaluating their spoken English upon arrival. Individuals who do not achieve a passing score on the test are given non-teaching assignments and are required to take special course work until they attain a passing score. An unsatisfactory score at the time of TA and TF reappointments is sufficient cause to not renew a teaching assistantship or teaching fellowship.
The Educational Testing Service administers the TOEFL test at testing centers throughout the world. Further information, testing dates, and test applications are available directly from the Test of English as a Foreign Language; P.O. Box 6155; Princeton, New Jersey 08540; U.S.A.; or by contacting a U.S. Consulate, an office of the U.S. Information Agency, an office of the U.S. Educational Commission, or a binational center. (Students in the Republic of China may obtain information and apply for the test through the Language Training and Testing Center; P.O. Box 2341; Taipei, Republic of China.) Applicants seeking September enrollment must take the TOEFL no later than the preceding March. Further information is obtainable through the ETS Web site at http://www.ets.org/.
Financial Support and Visa Documents. All applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States are encouraged to submit evidence of financial support with their applications even if applying for financial aid from the department. Institutional financial aid is based on merit and academic promise, not on financial need. The amount of aid, if awarded, may not cover the total estimated amount of a student's expenses. Therefore, graduate students who receive financial support must also be able to show evidence of personal financial means to cover the difference between total estimated expenses and the value of the University financial support. After admission to a graduate program, the admissions section of the Office of International Services cannot issue the document needed to apply for a visa to enter the United States as a student or transfer to the University of Pittsburgh from another institution in the United States until adequate evidence of financial support for the entire program of studies has been submitted. Therefore, submitting a completed Financial Support Statement or other evidence of financial support with an application will hasten the processing of visa forms once admission to a graduate program is offered.
Additional Requirements. The University of Pittsburgh reserves the right, even after arrival and enrollment, to make individual curricular adjustments whenever particular deficiencies or needs are identified. In such instances, students may be required to take courses to make up deficiencies without receiving credit for those courses and at the student's own expense.
To avoid any misunderstandings with respect to the requirements of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), students from other countries should carefully read this entire bulletin, giving particular attention to General Degree Regulations. It is strongly recommended that students arrive in Pittsburgh at least two weeks before the start of the term to allow sufficient time to make housing arrangements and take part in the orientation program conducted by the Office of International Services. In addition, the advising section of the Office of International Services, located in 708 William Pitt Union, offers assistance on a wide range of matters of concern to students from other countries.
. Admission Status
Students are admitted to graduate study in a specific department with "full," "provisional," or "special" graduate status depending on their qualifications and objectives.
Full Graduate Status. For admission to full graduate status an applicant must be a graduate of a recognized college or university, have completed undergraduate requirements for admission to the proposed graduate department, and have achieved at least a B average in both an undergraduate program and the field of intended study. (Some departments require a higher level of achievement.) Under exceptional circumstances students with less than a B average, who present alternative evidence of superior ability, may be considered for full graduate status on the recommendation of the department of proposed graduate study. Only students in full graduate status may undergo preliminary evaluations, take comprehensive examinations, be advanced to degree candidacy, or receive teaching assistantships or fellowships.
Provisional Graduate Status. Applicants who are graduates of a recognized college or university but who do not qualify for admission to full graduate status because of deficiencies in either their undergraduate course program or their scholastic achievement can be considered for provisional graduate status if strong supporting evidence of their ability to complete a graduate program is provided. For example, scores on the Graduate Record Examination or similar tests may support this decision. Courses taken to remove deficiencies may not contribute toward completion of graduate degree requirements with departmental approval. Transfer from provisional to full status is possible only upon formal recommendation of the student's department and after: (a) removal of deficiencies noted at the time of admission, with A or B grades, and/or (b) completion of four courses (12 credits) for which graduate credit is earned with at least a 3.00 average.
Special Status. Students may be granted temporary admission for one term under the following conditions:
- Individuals with specific qualifications who wish to register for one or more courses must receive approval to register from the instructor in each course, subject to review by the department and the Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies. Up to four courses (12 credits) taken as a Special Status Student can be transferred to a degree program if the student is subsequently admitted into one, and if the department recommends the transfer. A transferred course must carry a grade of B or better.
- Students who are unable to meet the deadline for filing an official application for admission may be granted temporary admission, provided they present acceptable evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study. Regular admission must be completed within the first term of registration. Graduate credits earned during temporary admission can be applied toward degree requirements.
Early Admission Program. Exceptionally able students in the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Pittsburgh (QPA of 3.5 or above) with strong letters of recommendation from faculty in the department to which they are applying may be admitted to full graduate status in a department in FAS. At the time of admission, students must have completed 96 credits toward the baccalaureate degree, the final 30 of which must have been taken in the College of Arts and Sciences, and must have satisfied the general education requirement, foreign language requirement (if any), and academic major requirements (as certified by the College). For additional information regarding requirements for the completion of the baccalaureate degree, see the CAS Bulletin.
A student who is not registered for at least one credit or "Full-time Dissertation Study" (eligible doctoral students) during a 12-month period is transferred to inactive status and must file an application for readmission to graduate study (application fee is required) before being permitted to register again. Inactive students cannot apply to graduate, nor take preliminary or comprehensive exams. Readmission is not automatic nor does it necessarily reinstate the student in the status enjoyed prior to becoming inactive. When readmitted, the student must be prepared to demonstrate proper preparation to meet all current degree requirements. Readmission is automatic, however, for students who receive prior approval for a formal leave of absence. (See Statute of Limitations and Leaves of Absence.)
Applications for readmission should be received according to the following schedule: for the Fall Term, by August 1; for the Spring Term, by December 1; for the Summer Term and/or Sessions by April 1.
. Registration
Students should make every effort to complete registration well before the beginning of the term. Courses are sometimes closed as a result of heavy registration. Continuing students are required to complete registration at an earlier date. Any continuing student who registers after the established registration period for a term and/or session is assessed a $25 late registration fee. (See the Academic Calendar and Schedule of Classes.) After the start of classes, late registration is permitted for new and continuing students only during the first 10 school days of the term (and early in the summer sessions) and only in unusual circumstances. Permission of the departmental advisor and the Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies is required. During this period, continuing students are assessed a $35 special service fee.
Newly admitted or readmitted students may register only with a registration form approved and signed by their advisor and only if their registration status has been verified by the departmental Graduate Secretary or by FAS Graduate Studies, Student Services (140 Thackeray Hall). The Schedule of Classes and Course Descriptions-publications available each term-should be consulted during registration. Only those new or readmitted students for whom information has not been entered in the University's student database must come to 140 Thackeray Hall with their completed registration form. Continuing students should consult their graduate secretaries concerning registration procedures. A student who registers and is unable for any reason to attend should refer to the instructions under Dropping a Course(s) or Termination of Registration/Resignation.
A billing statement will be produced as a result of registration. Payment for tuition and fees must be made to the Cashier's Office by the due date printed on the statement. Failure to meet the due date results in the assessment of a late payment fee.
No student is permitted to register for more than 15 graduate credits without specific written permission from the Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies. Such permission is given only if the student's record and planned course work suggest that such an overload is academically justifiable. A student is billed for all credits exceeding 15, over and above the full-time tuition rate, which is applicable during the Fall and Spring Terms only, at the prevailing per-credit tuition charge.
All graduate students must register for each term in which they are using University facilities or faculty time. They must register for at least one credit in the term of graduation.
Change in Registration. A registered student is given an opportunity to change his/her course selection during the add/drop period, which usually extends through the first 10 school days of a regular term and at the beginning of each of the summer sessions (refer to the Schedule of Classes for specific dates). All changes in registration must be made by processing an Add/Drop form obtained in the departmental offices. No student may add or drop a course after the add/drop period has ended.
A student who wishes to withdraw from an FAS graduate course (while attending other courses) after the add/drop period, but prior to the end of the ninth week of the term (or during published periods of the summer sessions) should complete a Monitored Withdrawal form, available from 140 Thackeray Hall. The withdrawal will be recorded on the transcript as a W. After the established monitored withdrawal period, a student is permitted to withdraw from a course only in extraordinary circumstances and with the permission of the instructor, his/her advisor, and the Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies; a W is recorded on the transcript. A student who never attends or at any time merely stops attending a course without officially dropping it or withdrawing may receive an F grade.
Full- and Part-time Study. Full-time graduate students in the Fall and Spring Terms are those who register for nine to fifteen credits. These students are assessed the current FAS full-time tuition rate. Students who register for fewer than nine credits are part-time students and are billed on a per-credit basis. Full-time Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, Graduate Student Researchers, and all students holding fellowships or traineeships are required to be full-time students and must register for at least nine credits each term of an appointment held in the Fall or Spring Terms or for "Full-time Dissertation Study."
The University reserves the right to change registration procedures. Current registration procedures are published each term in the Schedule of Classes.
Full-time Dissertation Study. Doctoral students who have completed all credit requirements for the degree, including any minimum dissertation credit requirements, and are working full-time on their dissertations may register for "Full-time Dissertation Study," which carries no credits or letter grade but provides students full-time status. Students so enrolled are assessed a special tuition fee. The standard full-time computer network; student health service; safety, security, and transportation; and activity fees apply.
Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Robert Morris College, the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and the University of Pittsburgh offer graduate students the opportunity for cross-registration in graduate programs in the five institutions in the Fall and Spring Terms. Credits earned by cross-registration in graduate courses at Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Robert Morris College, and/or the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, when approved in advance by the student's graduate advisor, are accepted as University of Pittsburgh credits for the purpose of the calculation of the quality point average and the completion of degree requirements. Each program/ department at each institution retains the authority to establish the prerequisites for admission and the maximum enrollment in its own courses and to grant priority in registration to its own graduate students. Details regarding cross-registration procedures are stated in the Schedule of Classes.
Students who need to add a course or courses may do so by processing an Add/Drop form in the registration area in G-1 Thackeray Hall during the established add/drop period. Specific dates for each term's and session's add/drop period are published in the Schedule of Classes. After the deadline established for the term or session, a student cannot normally add a course or courses.
Students who need to drop courses may do so by processing an Add/Drop form in the registration area in G-1 Thackeray Hall during the established add/drop period. After the deadline established for the term or session, a student cannot drop a course(s) but may process a Monitored Withdrawal form with the dean's office of the school offering the course from which the student wishes to withdraw.
Specific dates for each term's and session's add/drop period and the deadline for submission of the Monitored Withdrawal form are published in the Schedule of Classes. Students who decide not to attend the University may drop all courses for which they are registered during the add/drop period with no financial liability. Students who make this decision after the add/drop period must process a resignation form through the Office of Student Accounts.
Monitored Withdrawal and Late Withdrawal
After the end of the add/drop period and until the established deadline for the term or session, a student may withdraw from any course and receive the grade of W in that course. To withdraw from a course, students should go to the dean's office of the school offering the course to pick up a Monitored Withdrawal form.
A student who has withdrawn from a course will receive a grade of W; this grade has no effect on the student's QPA, and the credits do not count toward graduation. There is no reduction of tuition when withdrawing from a course. Students who wish to withdraw from all of their courses should follow the procedures for termination of registration below.
Termination of Registration/Resignation
(Dropping All Classes)
Failing to attend the classes for which a student is registered or failing to notify the appropriate academic and administrative offices of non-attendance is not considered an official resignation.
Students who fail to follow proper procedures as indicated below for termination of their registration are responsible for all tuition and fees assessed for the term or session. A student who stops attending a course and does not initiate the withdrawal or resignation procedures may be assigned an F grade.
The effective date of resignation is determined by one of the following: (1) the date of in-person contact with the Office of Student Appeals (G-12 Thackeray Hall); (2) the date of the postmark on the letter of intent to resign (or the date of receipt if no postmark exists); or (3) the date of notification by telephone (24-hour answering service in the Office of Student Appeals) at (412) 624-7585.
A student may terminate his/her registration in the following ways:
- Termination by Add/Drop Process: Students may terminate their registration in all classes by processing an Add/Drop form in the registration area, G-1 Thackeray Hall, prior to the end of the add/ drop period for the term. Students registered for courses scheduled to begin after the end of the add/drop period for the term may terminate their registration by informing the Office of the Registrar of their intent to do so at any time prior to the first scheduled meeting day of the class.
- Termination by Resignation Process: After the end of the add/drop period, students must resign through the Office of Student Appeals, G-12 Thackeray Hall. An official resignation occurs when the student notifies the Office of Student Appeals of his/her intent to terminate registration for all classes after the end of that term's/session's add/drop period but no later than the 60 percent point (in time) of the term or session (forty percent of the term/session remaining). After the 60 percent point in time of the term or session, students can only terminate their registration by withdrawing from all their courses through the dean's office of their school.
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