Admission Steps

Degrees and GPA Requirements

Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.

Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

Additional Standards for Non-Native English Speakers

Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Your TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:

• Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80 with minimum of 20 on each subscore

• Minimum TOEFL Score (Paper-based test): 550

• Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5 with minimum of 6.0 on each band score

• Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 176

English Conditional Acceptance Offered: Master's degree applicants who do not meet the required level of English proficiency may be considered for conditional acceptance if all other admission criteria are met. Prior to enrolling in any graduate-level coursework, English Conditional Acceptance (ECA) requires an evaluation by the University of Denver's English Language Center (ELC) and successful completion of intensive ELC English courses including the Graduate Preparation Program. Academic classes may not be taken while students are enrolled at the English Language Center. As an alternative to the English Language Center, an applicant may become fully admitted by submitting sufficient TOEFL/Academic IELTS scores.

• Read the English Language Proficiency policy for more details.

• Read the Required Tests for GTA Eligibility policy for more details.

Additional Standards for International Applicants

Per Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulation, international applicants must meet all standards for admission before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, [per U.S. Federal Register: 8 CFR § 214.3(k)] or is academically eligible for admission and is admitted [per 22 C.F.R. §62]. Read the Additional Standards For International Applicants policy for more details.