Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet both the general and the discipline specific criteria for admission and be recommended for admission by the doctoral faculty review groups in at least 2 disciplines. Upon approval by the graduate dean, students are admitted to the School of Graduate Studies.

The general criteria for admission for Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program study are as follows:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.

• TOEFL or IELTS scores (International applicants)

• Undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0.

• Three letters of recommendation speaking to the applicant's ability to complete doctoral-level work.

• Recommendation by the doctoral faculty review group in at least two participating disciplines.

• Transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended.

Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Admissions Procedure

Before you begin, applicant should talk to the discipline coordinator in their areas of interest BEFORE applying to the program. Discipline coordinators offer valuable program, academic and application information.

Please read through all steps below before beginning your application!

Step One:

Complete the UMKC Web Application

Step Two:

At the final stages of the Web Application, Interdisciplinary Ph.D. applicants will be directed to GRASP to complete a supplemental application.

While in GRASP, you will be provided the opportunity to input the Narrative Statement directly into GRASP, or attach it as a WORD document. (Please note: the narrative statement is NOT the same as the writing sample.)

Step Three:

Provide these additional application requirements

1. Resumé/ Vita
2. Writing Sample (can be attached as a WORD document in GRASP) - not all disciplines require a writing sample. Please check discipline admission criteria.
3. Three recommendation letters--see the Recommendation for Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Study Form
4. Transcripts
5. Test scores should be sent directly to UMKC from ETS - Institution code: 6872

Submit the above information in one of the following manners:

Mail
UMKC School of Graduate Studies
5100 Rockhill Road, AC 300F
Kansas City, Missouri 64110-2499

Courier
UMKC School of Graduate Studies
5100 Rockhill Road, AC 300F
Kansas City, Missouri 64110-2499

Fax
573-884-4898 (domestic applicants)
573-884-4894 (international applicants)

In Person
Must be submitted in a sealed, signed envelope (applicable only to transcripts and recommendation letters).

All materials must include applicant's name, student ID, or date of birth on each page.

Additional Information

1. All application materials must be received in the Graduate Studies Office by the earliest discipline deadline. (For example, if one discipline's deadline is February 1st and the other March 15th, then applications materials must be received by the February 1st deadline.)
2. Applicants can expect admission decisions approximately two weeks after the latest deadline. (For example, if one discipline deadline is February 1st and the other March 15th, an admission decision should be received, approximately, by March 31st.
3. Applicants will be notified of admission decisions by mail. newly admitted international applicants will receive necessary admission documentation by courier service.
4. Admission decisions cannot be provided over the telephone.

Please contact Quincy Bennett Johnson at bennettq@umkc.edu or 816-235-1559 with any questions.