When is the application deadline and will applications be considered after that time?
Ordinarily students are admitted into the program for entrance in the upcoming fall semester. (Except in unusual circumstances, students applying after May 1 will be considered for admission for fall of the following academic year.) To be eligible for most KU fellowships, awards, and assistantships applications must be received by December 21. Students who wish to be considered for specific awards, fellowships, or assistantships should indicate their interest in a short cover letter accompanying the application. The final deadline for fall admission is May 1. However, applications received by December 21 will receive priority.

What do I need to submit?
Note that some application materials (application form, application fee, and transcriptsw) should be submitted to the Graduate School, while others are submitted directly to the Program in American Studies.  Complete Graduate School application information is available on the Graduate Applications Processing Center website.

1. A completed application form and non-refundable application fee submitted to the Graduate School.  Online applications are preferred.
2. One official transcript from each college and post-secondary institution you have attended (whether or not you earned a degree) submitted to the Graduate School.
3. A statement of academic objectives describing your intellectual development, previous academic training, and areas of academic interest. (The quality of this statement is an especially important factor in the decisions of our admissions committee. Please limit the statement to two pages.)
4. A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
5. Three letters of recommendation using this form.
6. Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. 
7. A sample of your written academic work.
8. International students also need to submit:
1. TOEFL scores (international students only)
2. Proof of financial support (international students only. See the "Financial Resources" section on the application. Applications will not be processed without financial documentation.)

Materials that go directly to American Studies should be addressed as follows:

American Studies Program
Graduate Applications
1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 213
Bailey Hall
Lawrence, KS 66045-7574

Do I have to take the GRE and is there a minimum GRE score required?
Applicants must submit official GRE scores.  While GRE scores are not determinative of admissions status, they provide the admissions committee with a more complete picture of the applicant.   

Is there a minimum GPA for admission to graduate study?
Students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average in their previous academic work to be admitted to regular graduate student status. In exceptional cases, students with less than a 3.0 grade point average are admitted to graduate study on either a provisional or probationary basis.

How competitive is admission to  the Program in American Studies?
Admission into the program is highly competitive. The program can accommodate a maximum of approximately twelve new graduate students each year.

How will I  pay for graduate school?
Graduate education is a wise investment but it can be costly. The cost of attending KU is available from the Office of Student Financial Aid. Graduate students in American Studies support their graduate careers in a number of ways, ranging from teaching assistantships and student hourly positions to external fellowships and student loans. The Graduate School website provides information about some of these opportunities at KU. Information regardingneed-based financial aid, including student loans and work study, is available through the KU Office of Student Financial Aid.

How long will it take me to earn my MA or PhD?
The length of time required to earn the MA or PhD in American Studies depends on a number of factors – for example, whether you choose an exam or thesis track for the MA, what forms of funding you receive, your extracurricular commitments, and your personal goals.  It is important to work closely with your advisor to design a program of study that takes into account these myriad factors. Please see the Graduate Handbook for program requirements.

The Graduate School has compiled Time to Degree for Select KU Doctoral Programs , including American Studies.

Can I visit campus?
Because we believe that our faculty and graduate students are the most critical resources in defining the quality of our graduate program, potential applicants are encouraged to correspond with the Graduate Director and, especially, to visit the campus to discuss their interests and the program with faculty and students. Please contact the department to arrange a visit.

How do I learn more about KU or living in Lawrence, Kansas?
Please visit the list of resource links for the KU and Lawrence community for a good beginning. American Studies faculty and students are always happy to answer questions as well.

My question didn't appear in this list.  What do I do?

• Review program requirements and admissions requirements in the Graduate Student Handbook
• Contact the Program in American Studies with your question.
• For further information concerning admission to graduate study at the University of Kansas, see the University's Graduate School Catalog.