Program Overview

Doctoral Degrees (Ph.D. and Ed.D.) Admission Requirements

To qualify for admission to the Ph.D. program, all applicants must meet the following requirements:

Requirements for Ph.D. Admission

• Candidates should submit a statement of no more than 1,500 words, responding to two questions:
  • What are you interested in researching during your doctoral studies, and why?
  • How would doctoral studies at UMass Lowell advance your career goals?
• Earned master's degree from an accredited institution. The most appropriate master's degree is the M.Ed.; however, other related master's degrees will be considered if the candidate can demonstrate work experience or knowledge of education policy and/or research.
• The master's degree must have been earned with a 3.000 GPA or better.
• Resume, which highlights the applicant's education and experience relevant to the degree after completion of the bachelor's degree.
• Satisfactory TOEFL scores taken within the last year for international applicants as appropriate.
• Three letters of recommendation, which speak to the suitability of the applicant for advanced graduate work, work ethic, and knowledge of the field of education and/or education research.
• A writing sample that demonstrates the applicant's ability to present a cohesive, focused, and persuasive response to an education issue of his or her choice. The writing sample should be accompanied by a brief note explaining the context in which it was written and identifying the kinds of support received by the applicant producing it.
• Interview on-campus or via a video-conferencing tool for those applicants seeking Teaching or Research Assistantships, or for those whose application materials raise unanswered questions.

Additional Information

• This program no longer requires GRE or GMAT official scores.
• Application for admission to the Ph.D. program is available online through the Office of Graduate Admissions.