Office of Admissions

Claremont Graduate University (CGU) seeks to engage and partner with students whose academic and professional interests can benefit from its unique, transdisciplinary approach to graduate education.  CGU offers admission to applicants who have the highest potential for graduate study and who, with the benefit of graduate education, are most likely to make profound contributions to their academic and professional fields through teaching, research, or professional practice. Admission to Claremont Graduate University is granted by the University’s faculty based upon an evaluation of each applicant’s qualifications. Focused exclusively on a candidate’s academic potential for success, the admissions process is not influenced by race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, place of national origin, age, or handicap.

The admissions evaluation is two-fold.  First, a review of basic, standard credentials is conducted in compliance with accreditation and other higher education requirements.  But secondly, individual schools and academic departments may consider the prior educational and professional experience of the applicant, assigning discipline-specific weight to the overall evaluation of an applicant’s Eligibility.  Applicants are, therefore, encouraged to review their eligibility for admission with program representatives to ensure that all personal and professional credentials are thoroughly considered.

OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS

The Office of Admissions is located at 160 East Tenth Street, Claremont, CA 91711 in Student Affairs, East Harper Hall.  Staff is available to answer questions concerning the processing of application materials received, the academic requirements for admissions, and the disposition of application materials.  The admission staff is also available to assist program faculty and staff in addition to students. For questions and concerns, admissions staff can be reached by phone (909) 621-8069, fax (909) 607-7285 or via email admiss@cgu.edu.  Office hours are 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with the exception of University holidays. 

CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION

Criteria for admission include the high probability of the student’s success in graduate study and their potential to thrive in subsequent teaching, research, or professional careers following graduation. Academic departments and schools vary in their criteria. Prospective students are encouraged to discuss specific admission standards with the academic department of interest. In keeping with the philosophy of Claremont Graduate University, the admission decision is individualized and based on a wide range of information about the applicant, rather than on rigid, preselected criteria.

Evaluation of an applicant’s ability to pursue graduate study is based on several kinds of evidence:

·         Quality of previous undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate work. CGU requires applicants to submit proof of a completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.  The school also requires a minimum standard of a B average in undergraduate coursework (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). Applicants with international credentials must submit academic records in both their original language and literal English translation.

·         Strength of letters of recommendations from individuals competent to judge the candidate’s probable success in graduate coursework.  These letters are usually from individuals the candidate knows well including former professors, mentors, supervisors or those who can give an in-depth evaluation of the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses in regard to his or her academic work.

·         Scores on nationally standardized examinations. Most departments at CGU require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), but candidates should check with the department prior to their application to ensure they have taken the correct test.  International Candidates: If the candidate is international and has not attended an institution where instruction is primarily in English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) may be required.

·         Candidate’s personal statement of his or her academic career objectives and their relation to the intended program of study.  The personal statement allows the faculty to gauge whether the candidate’s research will thrive with the goals of the department and greater University. 

·         Strength of resume or curriculum vitae.  A candidate may be required to submit either a resume or curriculum vitae depending on the program they are applying to.  Candidates are encouraged to contact the department in advance to decide which is more appropriate.

·         Strength of writing sample(s).  Depending on the program, candidates may be required to submit one or more writing samples so the faculty can review the strength of the candidate’s writing abilities.

·         Other evidence of potential success in graduate studies.  Candidates may submit additional materials that they think are relevant to their application to CGU.

Students may apply for admission to CGU during or after their final year of undergraduate studies.  Proof of graduation from undergraduate coursework will be required at the end of the first semester of enrollment at CGU.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

Application Priority Deadlines

Applications to CGU are accepted on a rolling basis; however, applicants are advised to be mindful of the following priority deadlines:

Fall Admission:

• School of Organizational and Behavioral Sciences

Psychology Program: January 15th

• Drucker School of Management

The Drucker programs accept applications on a rolling basis with varying priority deadlines. Please visit each program’s specific page to read about their deadlines: MBA, Fully-Employed MBA, Financial Engineering or Executive Management.

• All other academic programs*: February 1st

^{**The Teacher Education department does not admit to the fall semester.}

Spring Admission:

• Drucker School of Management

The Drucker programs accept applications on a rolling basis with varying priority deadlines. Please visit each program’s specific page to read about their deadlines: MBA, Fully-Employed MBA, Financial Engineering or Executive Management.

• Mathematics Joint-Doctoral Program w/CSULB: October 1st

• All other academic programs**: November 1st

        _{** Financial Engineering does not admit to the spring semester}.

Summer Admission:

 • April 1st is the priority application date for all academic departments with summer admission.

** Please note that some programs (specifically Art, Arts Management, Botany, Economics, Mathematics, Psychology, and Religion) do not admit to the summer semester.

Applications received after the dates indicated above will be evaluated on a space-available basis. However, you should note that departments use the priority deadline in determining fellowship aid; if you are planning on applying after the priority deadline and wish to maximize your chances for fellowship aid you may wish to first contact your department directly about submitting an application.

MERITORIOUS FELLOWSHIPS AND MINORITY FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT

The CGU academic departments award fellowships, stipends, and assistantships to selected students based on their individual academic merit and/or need. Applicants may direct any questions about fellowships, stipends, and assistantships to the academic department of interest.

Departments use the priority deadlines listed above in determining fellowship aid. Applicants are encouraged to submit a completed application by the priority deadline (or the earliest priority deadline for departments with multiple deadlines) to maximize the chance for fellowship aid.

Minority Fellowship Support: CGU provides fellowship funds to US citizens and permanent residents who are members of ethnic groups that are traditionally underrepresented in American higher education (American Indian, African American, Asian American, and Latin American/Hispanic). Directions for applying for this fellowship can be found in the Application Packet.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND COMPONENTS

Procedure: Applicants can Apply Online by visiting http://www.cgu.edu/pages/431.asp and clicking on “Apply Online,” or by downloading the paper-based Application Packet also available at the aforementioned link.  Applicants are asked to ensure that the Office of Admissions receives all supporting documents listed in the Application Checklist on CGU’s website.  It is highly recommended that all materials be included in one envelope and the applicant writes the program and semester they are applying to on the outside of the envelope they submit.  

Application Components: The following items are required for an application to CGU in order to be considered complete:

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS

Applicants must submit a sealed, official transcript from every undergraduate and graduate institution that has granted the applicant a degree. Transcripts for work transferred towards the completion of a degree are not required, but may be asked for at the discretion of the reviewing committee. For undergraduate coursework, applicants are required to submit proof of a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 

Applicants currently earning a degree that will be completed prior to attending CGU are required to submit a transcript showing work in progress for evaluation purposes. Once the degree has been granted a final official transcript showing the degree conferred must be submitted to CGU.

Applicants who submit transcripts with a significant number of courses with a pass or credit grade, may be requested to provide additional documentation.

International Transcripts: Transcripts from universities outside of the United States will be evaluated to ensure equivalency to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Transcripts written in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official certified English translation. Non-Bologna three-year degrees should be supplemented with additional coursework, or a one-year master’s degree. Foreign transcripts that do not state a degree conferral must be accompanied by a degree certification from the degree-granting institution.

It is highly recommended that all international applicants review the Transcript Guidelines to ensure that submitted documents will be acceptable.

LETTERS OF RECOMENDATION

Three official reference letters are required and should be submitted by the applicant with all other supporting documents or online directly by the recommendation writer. Reference forms are available in the paper-based Application Packet online.

How to Submit References: Online applicants should complete the online Recommendation Module and provide the email address of the reference writer. The recommenders will then be contacted via email to submit their references online. Should this method be chosen no paper reference letters will be required.

Applicants who will not have their references submitted online should request that their reference writers seal the reference letter in an envelope, sign over the sealed envelope flap, and return the letter to the applicant. The reference writer’s signature will help ensure confidentiality of the document.

Who Should Submit References: Most academic departments request references from individuals acquainted with the applicant’s academic ability. References from employers may be desirable or required in some professionally-related programs. Applicants are encouraged to provide specific information to their reference writers, which will aid in strengthening the reference. For information regarding the University’s policy on the confidentiality of references, see the “Policies” section of this Bulletin.

RESUME / CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)

A current résumé or C.V. is required and should list, at minimum, the last three employers and the nature of your work. Publications, awards received, association memberships, and computer literacy should also be included. For specific instructions for the resume/CV, please refer to the instructions in the application packet.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

The personal statement is the applicant’s opportunity to provide information about his/her background, interests, aspirations, and how they relate to the proposed academic program. For specific instructions for the personal statement, please refer to the Personal Statement instructions in the application packet.

REQUIRED STANDARDIZED TESTS

 Applicants requesting institutional fellowship should take all necessary tests in time for the results to be received at CGU prior to the priority deadlines (this will be the earliest possible deadline for programs with multiple deadlines).

• GRE/GMAT: All applicants must submit scores from the general section of the GRE; however, please note the variations and exceptions below.
  • Art, Executive Management, and Teacher Education applicants are not required to submit the GRE/GMAT.
  • All Economics, Financial Engineering, Human Resource Design, Information Systems & Technology, and Politics and Policy degree applicants must submit either GRE or GMAT scores.
  • The GRE subject section is recommended but not required for applicants to Economics and Psychology.  Subject tests are recommended in addition to, but not in place of, the GRE general test.
  • All Management applicants must submit GMAT scores, not GRE scores.
  • Applicants to the School of Community and Global Health may submit MCAT scores in place of the GRE.
  • All scores must be sent directly to CGU by the testing agency.  Scores more than five years old are not considered by CGU to meet application requirements.  Testing information is available as follows:
    • GRE: www.gre.org.  CGU’s institutional code for the GRE is 4053.
    • GMAT: www.mba.com or call 1-800-717-4628.
    • Other: Please see www.cgu.edu/test for current testing requirements and additional information.

• CBEST and CSET: Depending on the academic plan within Teacher Education, proof of passing the CBEST or CSET may be required upon applying.  Check with the Teacher Education department to confirm which tests are required prior to entering the program. 

• TOEFL/IELTS: All applicants whose native language is not English and who do not hold a degree (or will not have earned a degree prior to enrolling at CGU) from a US college or university must submit either TOEFL or IELTS scores.  Scores must be sent to CGU directly by the testing agency.  Please remember that your scores cannot be older than two years at the time of application.

• A minimum TOEFL score of 80 iBT, 213 CBT, or 550 paper-based is required for admission to CGU.  A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 is necessary for admission.  NOTE: Admitted students who score below 100 iBT, 250 CBT, or 600 paper-based on the TOEFL (or below 7.5 on the IELTS) will be required to enroll in the Global Communications Class in their first semester or complete the summer Academic Writing & Speaking Program.

  • Applicants with permanent resident status or American citizens whose native language is not English may be required to take the TOEFL at the discretion of the reviewing committee. If admitted, they may also be required to take the Global Communications course, a non-credit English course, during their first semester of enrollment. Separate enrollment fees associated with this course are available online at www.cgu.edu/studentaccounts.

ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT-SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADMISSION

Art

Applicants to the Art Department must electronically upload a portfolio of representative work for evaluation. Portfolios will only be accepted through the online service provided by SlideRoom: www.claremont.slideroom.com. Portfolios should consist of 15 images of recent artwork that represent a cohesive body of work. Performance and/or video artists may submit work that is no longer than 3 minutes in length. Summary educational information, the names of your three references, and a copy of your one-page artist statement will also need to be provided with your SlideRoom portfolio submission.

Master’s in Business Administration (MBA)

A personal interview will be arranged for selected applicants. The Management department will contact the applicant directly regarding an interview, if applicable.

Music

Applicants with a concentration in performance must audition and should fill out the Audition Materials form found in the Application Packet. Taped recordings may be accepted in place of a personal appearance in cases of hardship. Applicants with a concentration in composition must submit representative samples of their work. Applicants with a concentration in education or history must submit published articles, unpublished term papers, or other examples of their work.

Religion

Applicants should provide a list of relevant upper-division undergraduate and/or graduate religion courses taken, including institution, term/year, grade, and a brief content description. Applicants also need to include a list of ancient and modern languages studied, and the reading, writing, and speaking proficiency in each, if this is not already indicated on the application.

Teacher Education and Professional Administrative Services Credential in Education

A personal interview will be arranged for applicants. The Teacher Education and Education departments will contact the applicant directly regarding an interview.

Special Programs

Claremont Consortium BA/MA Accelerated Degree Program: This program is open to all undergraduates of the Claremont Colleges. The accelerated Bachelors/Master’s program offers significant benefits in obtaining a graduate degree on an accelerated track. Students will begin taking CGU courses in their senior year while completing their Bachelors program. With the completion of their Bachelor’s degree, these students will become CGU students where they will obtain their Masters degrees in one year. Applicants to the program should apply in their junior year for the Fall semester of the year after they will graduate. For a complete timeline and program procedures please visit the BA/MA Accelerated Degree Program page.

Joint-Doctoral Programs: CGU currently offers the following joint doctoral programs in management, math, and higher education (click on the link for program information).

Management/JD with: Southwestern Law School

·     Mathematical Sciences with:

o   California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)

o    Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences

o   San Diego State University (SDSU)

·    Higher Education with:

o   San Diego State University (SDSU)

 Applicants to these programs must follow specific application instructions and are encouraged to visit the Joint Doctoral Applicants page for detailed information on each program.

APPLICATION INFORMATION ACCURACY

Applicants are required to sign a statement at the end of the application certifying the accuracy of the submitted information. Any misrepresentation may be cause for denial of admission. If misrepresentation is discovered after admission, dismissal from CGU and revoking of any degree granted may result.

ADMISSIONS RECORDS AND DISPOSITION

All records submitted to the Office of Admissions at CGU become part of a candidate’s official file and can neither be returned nor duplicated for any purpose.  It is recommended that candidates obtain copies of their official credentials to keep in their possession.  No copies will be provided to third parties outside the University even if the applicant requests this release.  Copies will be provided to appropriate offices at the University, however, in the interest of academic matters or financial awards relative to the applicant.  Applications and supporting documents are retained according to the retention policies of CGU.

 All submitted application materials are retained from the date of receipt for 18 months only and then destroyed in the following cases: (1) Applicants who did not register for courses for which they were admitted; (2) denied applications; (3) Applicants who did not respond to CGU’s offer of admission; and (4) applications that were never completed with all the necessary application components.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR NEWLY ADMITTED STUDENTS

Offer of Admission

Formal admission to CGU is offered only through the Office of Admissions. Applicants admitted to CGU will receive a written offer of admission from the Director of Admissions. To accept or decline the offer, admitted students are sent an admission packet that includes a deposit card.  To reserve their spot, students must return the deposit card indicating their start semester and the required deposit amount.  (The deposit is non-refundable but is applied to the student’s first tuition bill.  Most programs require a $200 deposit, but programs offered through the Drucker School of Management require a $750 deposit.  To submit a tuition deposit, visit this link: https://commerce.cashnet.com/TuitionDeposit. For Fall semester starts, admitted students must notify CGU by April 15^th with their decision to accept or decline the offer.  For Spring and Summer starts, students are asked to submit their tuition deposit within three weeks of being informed of their admittance.  Once their spot is confirmed, students are encouraged to contact their academic department for information on orientation, open houses and course registration.

Applicants who are unsuccessful in gaining admission to a graduate program are also notified in writing by the Director of Admissions.

Types of Admission

Each student admitted by the University is classified in one of the following categories:

• Full Graduate Admission: Full graduate admission status may be awarded to applicants who are admitted without reservation and whose application document requirements are satisfied. Only students who have full graduate standing may become candidates for a degree.
• Provisional Admission: Provisional admission may be awarded to applicants whose application documents are incomplete at the time admission decisions are made. The documents on file at the time of an admission decision must be strong enough to warrant provisional admission pending receipt of the outstanding credentials. Students who do not submit the necessary credentials by the end of the first semester of study will not be permitted to register for the following semester. As soon as all admission requirements have been met, the graduate faculty serving the department will review the student’s file. The faculty may then recommend that the student be moved to full graduate standing.
• Conditional Admission: Conditional admission may be awarded to an applicant whose academic record shows certain deficiencies or who lacks certain prerequisites. The student must demonstrate ability to do graduate work at a high level of achievement at CGU before being considered for full graduate standing. After completing the conditions specified by the faculty (typically, a minimum of eight units of graduate work or, in the case of a full-time student, the first semester of work), the record of a student with conditional standing will be reviewed by the graduate faculty serving the department. The faculty may then recommend full graduate standing, determine that the student should remain on conditional standing until specified requirements have been met, or terminate the student from the program.
• Contingent Admission: Contingent admission may be offered to an applicant who is required to complete particular prerequisites prior to enrolling at CGU. An example might be providing a passing CBEST score (for Teacher Education applicants) or completing a particular course prior to enrolling at CGU. Students with contingent admission status should plan ahead to ensure that they have sufficient time to complete the requirement and submit evidence of completion prior to their first semester at CGU.
• Denied Admission: A student may be denied admission to any of CGU’s programs if, in the opinion of the faculty or Admissions Committee, acceptable potential as a graduate student is not demonstrated through the requirements of the application process.  A student may appeal the decision of denied admission should the student feel the decision was made improperly.  Appeals must be submitted to the Dean of Students.

Other Admission Classifications and Special Enrollment Categories

• Deferred Application: If maximum enrollment has been reached, an academic department may offer an applicant the option to be considered for admission to a later semester than the one to which he/she originally applied
  
  • Applicants also have the option to defer their application once for up to one year to be considered for a future semester. Applicants can contact the Office of Admission and Records or the Academic Program to which they applied to pursue this option.
• Deferred Admission: If maximum enrollment has been reached, an academic department may offer an admitted student the option to enroll in a later semester than the one to which he/she originally applied.
  
  • Students who are unable to attend in the semester to which they were admitted may contact the academic program to which they were admitted and request a deferral. Admission is not guaranteed with a deferred application, even if the applicant was previously admitted. Students may request to defer admission once for up to one year.
• Multiple Deferrals: Multiple deferrals are not granted. Students who have previously deferred must reapply. Students who fall in this category must submit a new application and application fee. Additional supporting materials are not required if the applicant is resubmitting an application within one year of the time of the original deferral. However, applicants may wish to update any application materials as they see fit.

Special Enrollment Categories

• Alumni: CGU graduates are eligible to take CGU courses for personal enrichment at a 50% discounted rate. Courses taken at the alumni discount may not be applied toward a degree. To register for classes, please fill out an Alumni Course Registration Form.

• Audit*: A student who is not enrolled in a degree program but wishes to audit one or more courses (no credit will be given for courses) must submit an admissions application, application fee, and official bachelor’s degree transcripts. The approval of the dean as well as the approval of the instructor(s) of the course(s) concerned is required for study in this category.
  
  • International students in F-1 and J-1 visa status are not eligible to audit courses unless they are also enrolled in a degree program. International students in degree programs may not use audit courses towards their 8-unit minimum.

• Certificate*: Various schools at CGU offer certificate programs. To be admitted to a certificate program, applicants will be required to submit a complete application packet, with the exception of test scores. See the previous section on “Application Components” for details. Certificate students wishing to subsequently apply to a degree program at CGU will need to submit any outstanding application components missing at the time the student began the certificate program, such as test scores, and complete a Certificate to Degree Change Form. The faculty may request supplemental documentation when a certificate student is being considered for admission into a degree program.
  • Currently, I-20/DS-2019 paperwork (for F-1 or J-1 visas) cannot be issued for certificate programs.

• Special Standing*: Applicants who wish to attend CGU as a non-degree student may be admitted as a special standing student. Special standing applicants must submit an application, an application fee, and official bachelor’s degree transcripts. special standing students who later decide to apply for a degree or credential program must supply additional application components to be evaluated for admission. Admission to special standing is limited to one academic year/12 units of study. Approval by the Provost is required for further study in this category. International students in F-1 and J-1 visa status are not eligible to enroll as special standing students.

• Visiting Summer Student*: During the summer semester only, interested individuals may take courses at CGU without the need to obtain admission to the university. To do so, please fill out a Visiting Student Registration Form. Please note that participating in CGU’s summer semester as a visiting student does not constitute admission to CGU. Visiting students who wish to enter a degree program must submit a complete application packet to the Office of Admission and Records for evaluation by the academic program of interest. International students in F-1 and J-1 visa status are not eligible to enroll as visiting summer students without permission from their host campus.

*Participation as a CGU Audit Student, Certificate Student, Special Standing Student, or Visiting Student does not constitute admission to a degree program at CGU; therefore, these students are generally not eligible for financial aid consideration. Students registered as such who wish to seek admission to a degree program must submit a complete application packet to the Office of Admission and Records.