Graduate Admission
The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences is home to more than 30 graduate programs and 10 certificates, as well as the School of Public Service. To be eligible for admission, students must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited higher education institution.
Applicants must demonstrate a capacity for achievement through past academic or professional work. The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences looks at each application as a unique presentation of a candidate's profile and will consider a variety of information sources.
Admission Information
General Instructions
To begin the application process, please submit your application online. General Instructions: You may submit your non-refundable $40 domestic application fee or $75 international application fee before your application can be reviewed.
All applicants must submit official transcripts from each junior/community college, college, or university attended including DePaul University, if applicable. Credits transferred and posted on the record of a second school do not constitute an official transcript from the original school. Electronic transcripts must be emailed to GradDePaul@depaul.edu directly from the issuing institution in order to be considered official.
Other supplementary materials can be sent as .doc or .pdf attachments to GradDePaul@depaul.edu or mailed to the graduate admission office. Please remember that we cannot guarantee books, DVDs or bound materials will be reviewed by the department.
Official paper transcripts, other supporting materials, and application fee can be sent to the graduate admission office:
The Office of Graduate Admission
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
DePaul University
2400 N Sheffield Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614-3936International students must submit additional documents to complete a graduate application. Please visit International Admission for additional instructions.
Program Specific Requirements
Admission criteria, application procedures and application deadlines specific to each program can be found on the program pages:
- Applied Diplomacy (MA)
- Creative Writing & Publishing (MFA)
- Critical Ethnic Studies (MA)
- English Literature & Publishing (MA)
- French (MA)
- History (MA)
- Interdisciplinary Studies (MA)
- Interdisciplinary Studies (MS)
- International Public Service (MS)
- International Studies (MA)
- Nondegree
- Nonprofit Management (MNM)
- Philosophy (MA and MA/PhD)
- Public Administration (MPA)
- Public Policy (MPP)
- Public Service Management (MS)
- Refugee & Forced Migration Studies (MS)
- Social Work (MSW)
- Sociology (MA)
- Spanish (MA)
- Sustainable Urban Development (MA)
- Women's & Gender Studies (MA)
- Writing & Publishing (MA)
- Writing, Rhetoric & Discourse (MA)
Deferral Requests
You can defer your application one time for up to one year. After being admitted, you can also defer your admission one time for up to one year. Students are only eligible to defer their application or admission to available start terms for the designated program.
Domestic and international applicants with incomplete applications can email LASgrad@depaul.edu to request the admission term be deferred. If you have already been admitted, you can request the deferral using the intent to enroll form in the Grad Gateway portal.
DePaul's deferral policy for international admitted students is as follows:
- Admitted international graduate students need to pay a Graduate Tuition Deposit of ($300) and submit an Intent to Enroll form before they can request a deferral.
- Deferrals will be allowed one time within one academic year of the initial term of enrollment.
- Students who do not enroll within the academic year deferral period must re-apply; submit a new application, pay another $75 application fee, and pay a new Graduate Tuition Deposit ($300). If admissible, the initial deposit will not be applied to the student’s tuition account.
Supporting Materials
Supporting materials may be required in addition to the online application and official transcripts. Please visit the program website for materials required.
Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement
Most programs require a one- to two-page statement explaining the applicant's academic goals, career plans, and reasons for selecting the graduate program. Please note that some programs require additional or specific information.
Letters of Recommendation
If required, confidential letters of recommendation should be written by individuals who are able to evaluate the applicant's capability to succeed academically at the graduate level. Please notify recommenders that the letter should include the applicant's full name and the name of the program to which the applicant is applying.
Letters of recommendation can be submitted through the online application. They also can be given to the applicant in a sealed envelope that has been signed over the seal or sent directly to the graduate admission office. Letters of recommendation sent via email must be a PDF attachment on official letterhead and sent directly from the recommender to GradDePaul@depaul.edu
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
Most programs do not require the GRE. Please visit the program website for specific requirements.
Applicants should take the GRE early enough to meet the application deadline. For information about the GRE, please visit www.ets.org or call (800) GRE-CALL (800-473-2255).
Only scores submitted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) using the DePaul University institution code (1165) are official.
Application Deadlines
Deadlines vary depending on program. Please refer to the program website for specific application deadlines.
Only complete applications will be sent to the academic department for review. Applicants will be notified via email if any credentials are missing from their application. You also can check the status of your application materials through your application portal.
Decisions
Applicants will be notified of their admission status via email and their application portal. Admitted students also will receive a welcome packet in the mail. At the time the application file is sent to the department for review, applicants receive an email telling them when they are likely to receive an admission decision. For the most up-to-date information, please log into your application portal.
Have In-depth Questions?
Schedule an appointment with one of our graduate admission counselors. View the calendar and select an available appointment time.