Deadlines
April 1 (for Fall 2024 admission)
November 1 (for Spring 2025 admission)
Application Requirements
- CV / Résumé
- Official Transcripts
- Official transcripts are required from each school you have attended. It is the responsibility of the applicant to request and arrange for all official transcripts to be sent to The Graduate School. The Graduate School cannot review applications with unofficial transcripts.
- An official transcript bears an institution’s raised insignia and is individually sealed by their respective Registrar/Records Office. The transcript must arrive unopened in its original envelope. It is highly recommended that the transcript be sent directly from the institution to The Graduate School. If the envelope is opened prior to arriving at the University, it is no longer considered official.
- If you studied under a maiden name or prior name, your institution must indicate both prior and current names on your transcript.
- You do not need to request a transcript from the Montclair State University Registrar if Montclair is listed on your application as a previous or current institution. The Graduate School will obtain your Montclair State University transcript directly.
- Including your U.S. Social Security number on your transcript or transmittal sheet will expedite processing of your application.
- Applicants with non-U.S. degrees need not submit transcripts. Instead, they must submit a course-by-course evaluation of their coursework from any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (www.naces.org). Please note: Applicants who have an international education may not apply as a last-term senior.
- Two Essays
- General Statement of Purpose: The Statement of Purpose provides you with an opportunity to give evidence of your unique talents and experiences as an applicant to doctoral study at Montclair State University. In preparing your statement, please keep in mind that the Admissions Committee is seeking evidence of your ability to communicate clearly and professionally. Please include your reasons for pursuing doctoral studies by referring to relevant personal, academic and work experiences. You may also wish to outline your future plans and any other information that may be of interest to the Admissions Committee.
- General Statement of Research/Inquiry: The Statement of Research/Inquiry provides you with an opportunity to inform the Admissions Committee of your thoughts, ideas, and areas of interest that may lead to dissertation research. In preparing your statement, please keep in mind that the Admissions Committee is seeking evidence of your ability to communicate clearly and professionally.
- Letters of Recommendation
- Three letters of recommendation are required. At least one letter must be from someone who can attest to the applicant’s scholarly potential.
- International Applicants
- The TOEFL is required for applicants to any program who earned their degree in a country where English is not the official language (TOEFL Waiver Rules). Alternately, The Graduate School will now accept the Duolingo exam as a TOEFL/IELTS equivalent for applicants with International backgrounds. Moreover, International students must have their transcripts evaluated by an approved evaluator. Visit the NACES website for a complete list of sanctioned accreditation agencies as well as The Graduate School’s Graduate Application Procedure.
- Additional information about Transcript Evaluations is at “Step 3” here.
- Test Scores
- The GRE is optional. It is not required for application to this program. Applicants who wish to provide GRE scores are welcome to do so.
- GRE, TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo score reporting code: 2520
- Minimum test scores and other test score reporting codes are at “Step 4” here.
- Funded Assistantships
- Those wishing to be considered for the Westerdahl Fellowship or any other funded assistantship will indicate their interest to the Graduate School after being accepted into the program.
- Application Fee
- There is a nonrefundable $60 application fee. After you have submitted your application, you will have the option to pay via credit card, check/money order, or application fee waiver.
- Check or money orders should be made payable to Montclair State University, and mailed to the address for The Graduate School listed below.
- The Graduate School holds an Open House just prior to Fall and Spring admissions deadlines. The application fee will be waived for prospective students who attend the Open House. The dates for those Open Houses will be posted at the top of this page when they’re available.
- Please mail anything that cannot be submitted electronically to:
Montclair State University
The Graduate School
1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07043
Learn more about the application process, by viewing the Graduate School’s Overview presentation [PDF] or their How to Apply Tutorial video. Additional information can be found at the Graduate School’s “How to Apply” webpage.