Education Apply to the School of Education

• When working towards becoming a teacher at CSU you will major in the subject you would like to teach, and fill your elective credits with education courses needed for your teaching license.
• In addition to the application students submit for admission to the university, students will also need to submit a separate CEP application to continue with licensure coursework. Students may begin education coursework before official admission to CEP.
• If you are curious about teaching, you may take EDUC275 to learn more before continuing with education coursework. Students receive guidance on the application process for teacher licensure in EDUC340.
• If you have questions, please contact The School of Education.
• For free application support and fee reimbursement (up to $100), sign up for an undergraduate account with our friends at TEACH Colorado.

Application deadlines

Deadline to apply to the undergraduate (non-ECE) program. If you have missed the deadline, please contact The School of Education.

• Fall semester: March 1
• Spring semester: Oct. 1 

• To begin coursework in Early Childhood Education, please contact the Department of Human Development and Family Studies Advising Office.
• Undergraduate students must submit a separate application to start licensure coursework than the initial application used for admission to the University. Undergraduate students cannot begin education coursework before official admission to CEP.
• Applications for the Early Childhood Education major are considered in the spring only for a fall admission.
• If you have questions, please contact The School of Education.
• For free application support and fee reimbursement (up to $100), sign up for an undergraduate account with our friends at TEACH Colorado.

Application deadlines

Deadline to apply to the ECE program. If you have missed the deadline, please contact The School of Education.

• First Friday of February every year

• If you already have a bachelor’s degree and would like to pursue a teaching license, you may apply to this non-degree seeking program.
• This program provides education coursework for teacher licensure. You also will need to demonstrate content competency in your desired subject area.
• To apply for this program, start by completing a Second Bachelor’s application.
• In addition to the application students submit for admission to the university, students will also need to submit a separate CEP application to continue with licensure coursework. Students receive guidance on the application process for teacher licensure in EDUC340.
• If you have questions, please contact The School of Education.
• For free application support and fee reimbursement (up to $100), sign up for a post bachelor program account with our friends at TEACH Colorado.

Application deadlines

Deadline to apply to the post-bachelor (non-ECE) program.

• Fall semester: March 1 
• Spring semester: Oct. 1 
• Summer session: April 1 

Teacher Licensure and Master of Education admission and application information

• This program provides education coursework for teacher licensure. You also will need to demonstrate content competency in your desired subject area.
• To apply for this program begin an application with the graduate school.
• For free application support and fee reimbursement (up to $100), sign up for a teacher licensure and master of education account with our friends at TEACH Colorado.
• If you have questions, please contact The School of Education.

Application deadlines

Deadline to apply to the M.Ed. and Teacher Licensure program.

• Summer session: April 25

CSU offers options for graduate students to apply for free through institutional fee waivers, program affiliation fee waivers, and free application days. Learn about these options.

1. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester.
2. Only two letters of recommendation will be required (except for Higher Education Leadership, which will still require three).
3. Minimum GPA is 2.8.
   1. Some programs will consider applicants with a cumulative GPA lower than 2.8 if they have successfully completed 6 credits of graduate level coursework with a B or better in each course. Check with your specific program of interest below, or contact soegradprograms@colostate.edu.

After reviewing application requirements for your program of choice and speaking with our graduate programs office, begin your application with the graduate school.

After submitting your online application and paying your application fee, begin submitting your supporting materials to complete your application.

• Upload the required supporting documents directly to your application. Be sure to submit your application after these documents are uploaded, even if your application is missing recommendation letters or transcripts. Submitting your application will generate your application checklist, which allows you to check the application status at any time.
• To submit official transcripts, contact your previous institutions to request official transcripts to be sent to Colorado State University (use institution code 4075).
• To submit test scores, contact the testing agency to request scores be sent to Colorado State University (use institution code 4075).
• For any documents that cannot be uploaded, submit paper copies directly to the Office of Admissions at:
  Graduate Admissions
  Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
  1062 Campus Delivery
  Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

View the status of your application at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.

Statement of Purpose

Submit an academic writing sample for the faculty to determine your readiness for graduate-level writing, to learn more about you, and to ascertain how your goals align with the Learning Design and Training specialization.

Please address all of the following in your statement:

• Reasons for seeking the Learning Design and Training specialization;
• What you bring to our community of learners;
• A summary of your long-term professional, educational or personal goals, and how the Learning Design and Training specialization will meet your goals;
• Your expectations for the program; and
• The factors that led you to consider Colorado State University and the School of Education.

Resume

Include job duties and dates of all professional employment

Two recommendation letters

• Professional recommendations are required.
• References should share how they know you and why they believe you will succeed in graduate studies, specifically the Learning Design and Teaching specialization.

Transcripts

• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester.
• Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required.

Application deadlines

• Fall admission deadline: July 1
• Spring admission deadline: October 31

If you submit an application by these dates, the admissions committee will review your application. If you submit an application after the deadline, a review of your application cannot be guaranteed. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Tobin Lopes for more information.

Selection timeline

• Complete, submitted applications are reviewed monthly on a rolling basis.
• Faculty review of applications takes approximately 6-8 weeks.

Apply

Once you are ready to apply, begin your application with the graduate school.

Statement of Purpose

Submit an academic writing sample for the faculty to determine your readiness for graduate-level writing, to learn more about you, and to ascertain how your goals align with the Learning Design and Training specialization.

Please address all of the following in your statement:

• Reasons for seeking the Graduate Certificate in Adult Basic Education or Facilitating Adult Learning;
• A summary of your long-term professional, educational, or personal goals and how the certificate will meet your goals; and
• Your expectations for the certificate program.

Resume

Include job duties and dates of all professional employment

Transcripts

• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester.
• Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required.

Application deadlines

• Fall admission deadline: July 15
• Spring admission deadline: Jan. 2
• Summer admission deadline: April 15

Selection timeline

• Complete, submitted applications are reviewed monthly on a rolling basis.
• Faculty review of applications takes approximately 6-8 weeks.

Apply

Once you are ready to apply, begin your application with the graduate school.

We value the diversity and rich history that different peoples and populations bring to our academic community, which is the embodiment of the University’s land grant mission and heritage. We seek applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, talents, experiences, and viewpoints.

Additional minimum admission requirements

• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA is 2.8. Applicants with a cumulative GPA below 2.8 will be considered if they have successfully completed 6 credits of graduate level coursework (from an accredited institution of higher education) with a B or better in each of those courses.
• Complete application including custom purpose statement, resume, judicial proceedings form, two recommendation letters, and transcripts (unofficial or official).

Custom Purpose Statement

The custom purpose statement assists faculty to learn more about you and ascertain how your career interests and goals, confirming experiences, and other personal and professional attributes align with the Counseling and Career Development (CCD) degree program. As a reminder, the MA in Counseling and Career Development has three specializations (career counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and school counseling) so be sure you complete the application for the correct specialization because the application will be reviewed through the lens of that specialization.

In a purpose statement of no more than 1250 words, please address each of the following prompts. As you address these prompts, you may include information regarding the impact of your socio-economic status or if you were/are a first-generation undergraduate student (neither parent completed a bachelor’s degree).

• Confirming experiences with chosen specialization (address all three prompts below).
  • Discuss how you have developed your interest in/motivation for your chosen specialization (i.e., career, school, or clinical mental health counseling) and what gets you excited about it.
    • Include specific experiences (e.g., work, volunteer, informational interviews, job shadows) you have had regarding your chosen specialization (i.e., career, school, or clinical mental health counseling), and/or what you know about this specialization. [Additional information regarding counseling can also be found on professional organization websites including, but not limited to, the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American School Counseling Association (ASCA), and the National Career Development Association (NCDA).]
    • Include specific experiences you have had working with people in a helping or social services capacity.
  • What are your career goals/aspirations following completion of the Counseling and Career Development program?
• What do you know about the Counseling and Career Development Master’s program at Colorado State University that indicates this program is well-aligned with your career and educational goals and needs? Please give specific examples of what you have learned about the program and how that information has confirmed we are a program of high interest for you.
  • Your response may include information from various sources, including information gathered from our program’s webpage. You can also include information you may have gathered from informational sessions, informational interviews, and other means. CCD faculty firmly believe that knowing about our program and how it is aligned with your goals and needs is a very important part of your decision-making process, as well as an important part of our decision-making process.
• As a future counselor, how would you build your understanding to work with people from different backgrounds? Please provide examples / experiences that exemplify this commitment.
• Share strategies you have used to cope with a challenging experience in your academic or professional journey. Please include examples of how these strategies will help you manage the rigor of graduate studies.

Resume
Include professional employment and other experiences you deem relevant as well as dates/length of time of those experiences.

Judicial Proceedings form

The Counseling and Career Development Judicial Proceedings form must be completed and submitted.

Two recommendation letters

Must be professional and/or educational references. Should include information regarding work ethic, academic diligence, and evidence for applicant’s alignment with and/or potential for the counseling profession.

Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for the purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester. Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required.

Application deadline

• Applications are considered for summer or fall admission only.
• Application deadline (both summer and fall): Jan. 1.

Selection timeline

• Select applicants will be invited for a half-hour interview (conducted virtually) that will take place near the end of February.
• Admission decisions are made during the first and second weeks of March.
• All invited candidates are required to relay their intent to enroll no later than April 15.

Apply

Once you are ready to apply, begin your application with the graduate school.

Additional minimum admission requirements

• It is a program requirement that you demonstrate content competency in the subject area in which you want to obtain your teaching license. You can do this by 1.) holding a bachelor’s degree in the subject you want to teach, 2.) completing 24 credits in that subject as outlined by CDE, and 3.) passing a PRAXIS exam for that subject:
  • Early Childhood Education: Ages 0-8
  • K-12 Licensure: Computer Science, World Languages (French, German, Spanish), Visual Arts
  • Secondary Licensure (Grades 7-12): Agricultural Education, Business, English, Family and Consumer Sciences, Marketing, Science, Social Studies, Speech, Technology Education

Contact The School of Education to review your unofficial transcripts and determine if additional coursework is required.

Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose is a summary of long-term professional or personal goals and is required for all applicants. Your statement should be 2-3 pages, 12-point font, double-spaced, and include the following:

• Your purpose for pursuing graduate education and how it will contribute to your long-term goals and career plans
• Why you have selected Colorado State University and the School of Education as the place to pursue your graduate studies
• A description of teaching, research/creative, or other academic work you have engaged in relevant to the qualifications

Resume

Professional recommendations

Two professional recommendations are required. References should speak to your current or potential abilities as a teacher, plus your potential success in graduate studies.

You will provide information about your recommenders in the online application. CSU will contact them with instructions and a link to a secure form they will submit on your behalf.

Supplemental documents

When you begin your application, you will be asked to complete additional forms related to your teaching experience. The application process will provide these documents and allow you to upload your responses. You will also need to meet with School of Education representatives to receive the Coursework Contract and the Curriculum Check Sheet.

You will then scan and upload this document to include with your application:

• Education Sciences Judicial Proceedings form

Transcripts

• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester.
• Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required.

Application deadline

• Applications are considered for summer admission only.
• Application deadline: April 25

Selection timeline

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Admit decisions will be made approximately 3-6 weeks after application completion.

Follow-up forms

The following forms will be due upon acceptance into the Education Sciences – Teacher Licensure program. Once admitted, you will receive directions on how to submit these materials:

• Background check
• Admission agreement
• A passing score on the Praxis exam

Apply

Once you are ready to apply, begin your application with the graduate school.

Additional minimum admission requirements

• Applicants whose GPA is lower than 2.8 must demonstrate their potential for academic success by providing additional evidence such as:
  • Additional recommendation letters showing strong potential for graduate studies;
  • Completion of six credits of graduate level coursework; or
  • GRE scores.
• Demonstrated leadership potential
• Valid teaching or special service provider license
• At least three years of teaching or special services provider experience

Please contact program adviser Dr. Wendy Fothergill to schedule your (required) meeting with a program adviser, either in-person or via phone/email, prior to submitting application materials.

Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose is a summary of long-term professional or personal goals and is required for all applicants. Your statement should be 2-3 pages, 12-point font, double-spaced, and include the following:

• Your purpose for pursuing graduate education and how it will contribute to your long-term goals and career plans
• Why you have selected Colorado State University and the School of Education as the place to pursue your graduate studies
• A description of teaching, research/creative, or other academic work you have engaged in relevant to the qualifications

Resume

Professional recommendations

Two professional recommendations are required. References should speak to your current or potential abilities as an educational leader, plus your potential success in graduate studies.

You will provide information about your recommenders in the online application. CSU will contact them with instructions and a link to a secure form they will submit on your behalf.

Supplemental documents

When you begin your application, you will be asked to complete additional forms related to your teaching or special service provider experience. The application process will provide these documents and allow you to upload your responses.

• Statement of support from district supervisor
  A statement of support from your district supervisor is required – this statement is separate from a letter of recommendation. This is a brief, 1-2 sentence statement indicating their willingness to support you in obtaining experiences necessary to complete the internship component of the principal licensure program.
• Valid teaching or special service provider license

Transcripts

• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester.
• Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required.

Application deadline

• Applications are considered for summer admission only.
• Application deadline: May 15

Selection timeline

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Admit decisions will be made approximately 3-6 weeks after application completion.

Follow-up forms

The following forms will be due upon acceptance into the Education Sciences – Principal Licensure program. Once admitted, you will receive directions on how to submit these materials:

• Admission agreement
• A passing score on the Praxis exam

Apply

Once you are ready to apply, begin your application with the graduate school.

Minimum three years of professional work experience.

Statement of Purpose

Submit an academic writing sample for the faculty to determine your readiness for graduate-level writing, to learn more about you, and to ascertain how your goals align with the organizational learning, performance, and change specialization.

Please address all of the following in your statement:

• Reasons for seeking this degree specialization
• Your views of learning as an adult
• What you bring to our community of learners
• A summary of your long-term professional, educational, or personal goals and how the program will meet your goals
• Your professional commitment to your field of study
• Your expectations for the program
• The factors that led you to consider Colorado State University and the School of Education

Resume, including:

• Record of all collegiate work, including institution names, attendance dates, and degrees earned
• Record of all professional employment, including dates of service
• List special skills or competencies, including certificates and licensures
• List publications, exhibitions, prizes, awards, or other recognition
• List service activities, including community and/or charity

Two recommendation letters

Appropriate references are:

• Previous or current college/university instructors
• Previous or current immediate professional supervisors
• Observers, other than supervisors, who can verify the specific impact of your professional and/or intellectual expertise

Transcripts

• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester.
• Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required.

Application deadlines

• Fall admission deadline: June 15

Selection timeline

• Applications are reviewed monthly on a rolling basis.
• Faculty review of applications takes approximately 4-6 weeks.

Apply

Once you are ready to apply, begin your application with the graduate school.

Statement of Purpose

The mission of the Student Affairs in Higher Education program is to prepare well-rounded, competent, and inclusive student affairs practitioners. Our mission is guided by CSU’s Principles of Community.

You’ll engage in critical analysis through reflection and action (praxis). Participating fully in the learning experience will transform you into a scholar-practitioner with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions you need to be an effective student affairs professional.

The Statement of Purpose is a personal and professional statement that demonstrates your alignment with the SAHE program’s mission, values, and intended outcomes, as well as your readiness to engage SAHE’s curriculum.

Keeping all this in mind, please write your statement responding to the prompts below.  Your statement must not exceed 1,000 words (approximately four pages), double-spaced. Please use a 12-point font.

• What do you understand to be the work of student affairs, within the college/university as well as regarding the education of students? Why does that speak to you as a professional goal?
• Describe what steps of reflection guide you personally and/or professionally as you engage others.
• Please discuss a situation that highlights your strengths and challenges when working with others (e.g., academic group project, work experience, athletic team, service project, etc.).
• How do your GPA and undergraduate program of study reflect your ability to learn, reflect, and academically succeed in a graduate program?
• Why do you believe CSU and the SAHE program would be the most appropriate space for you to achieve your professional goals in student affairs?

Resume

Include any previous experience in student affairs and other relevant work experiences, along with position titles, dates of employment, institutions, and major responsibilities.

Letters of recommendation
Provide two letters of recommendation, which should comment on your ability to do graduate work and your student affairs professional practice. You will provide information about your recommenders in the online application. CSU will contact them with instructions and a link to a secure form they will submit on your behalf.

We recommend selecting three references that are a current or former supervisor, a faculty member, and a student affairs professional.

Transcripts

• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester.
• Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required.

Application deadline

• Fall admission deadline: June 1
• Spring admission deadline: October 15
• Summer admission deadline: February 15

Selection timeline

• Applications will be reviewed after the June 1 deadline.
• Admit decisions will be made by late July.

Apply

Once you are ready to apply, begin your application with the graduate school.

Application instructions are below for our three Student Affairs in Higher Education certificates:

• Campus Crisis Management
• Student Affairs Administration

The online certificates require that students have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Statement of Purpose

Your statement should be written in 12-point font, double-spaced, and include the following:

• Describe why you are interested in earning the certificate; and
• Discuss your long-term professional and/or personal goals.

Resume

Include any previous experience in student affairs and other relevant work experiences, along with position titles, dates of employment, institutions, and major responsibilities.

Letters of recommendation
Provide contact information for professional and/or academic recommenders in the online application. CSU will contact them with instructions and a link to a secure form they will submit on your behalf.

Transcripts

• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester.
• Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required.

Application deadlines

• Fall admission deadline: July 15
• Spring admission deadline: Jan. 2
• Summer admission deadline: April 15

Selection timeline

• Applications will be reviewed monthly on a rolling basis.
• Faculty review of applications takes approximately 4-6 weeks.

Apply

Once you are ready to apply, begin your application with the graduate school.

CSU offers options for graduate students to apply for free through institutional fee waivers, program affiliation fee waivers, and free application days. Learn about these options.

Please note: Meeting the minimum requirements does not ensure admission to the School of Education. Admission is based on a number of factors, including prior academic and professional experience, your personal statement, and fit with the program.

A master’s degree from a regionally accredited post secondary institution or a Colorado State University-recognized international institution is required.

Additional requirements include:

• Minimum 2.8 GPA

Visit our online application to apply.

After submitting your online application and paying your application fee, begin submitting your supporting materials to complete your application.

• Upload the required supporting documents directly to your application. Be sure to submit your application after these documents are uploaded, even if your application is missing recommendation letters or transcripts. Submitting your application will generate your application checklist, which allows you to check the application status at any time.
• To submit official transcripts, contact your previous institutions to request official transcripts to be sent to Colorado State University (use institution code 4075).
• To submit test scores, contact the testing agency to request scores be sent to Colorado State University (use institution code 4075).
• For any documents that cannot be uploaded, submit paper copies directly to the Office of Admissions at:
  Graduate Admissions
  Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
  1062 Campus Delivery
  Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

View the status of your application at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.

Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose is a summary of long-term professional or personal goals and is required for all applicants.

Your statement should be written in 12-point font, double-spaced, and include the following:

• Your purpose for pursuing graduate education and how it will contribute to your long-term goals and career plans.
• Why you chose the CSU School of Education’s Education, Equity, and Transformation specialization to pursue your doctorate.
• A description of teaching, research/creative, or other academic work you have engaged in relevant to the qualifications.
• A description of the areas of research you are interested in pursuing, and the specific School of Education faculty you believe could support that research.

Resume

Two recommendation letters

• Letters from faculty who can address your academic performance are preferred.

Writing sample

Please provide an example of scholarly writing that highlights your ability to communicate ideas and/or arguments. Submitted writing samples should be 10 pages or less.  Examples might include, but are not restricted to:

• a portion of your master’s thesis,
• a paper from a course, or
• writing completed for a professional purpose.

Transcripts

• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester.
• Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required.

Application deadlines

• Spring admission deadline: Oct. 1
• Fall admission deadline: Feb. 1

Selection timeline

• Application review begins after the posted deadline.
• Admit decisions will be made approximately six weeks following the application deadline.

Additional minimum admission requirements

At least two years of professional post-master’s work experience in a higher education institution setting or within an organization that is engaged in work related to higher education.

Meeting the minimum requirements does not ensure admission. Admission will be primarily guided by the evaluation of each applicant’s fit with the program mission, and within the context of developing each incoming cohort’s teaching and learning community based on application materials (i.e., Statement of Purpose, professional experiences, recommendation letters, academic transcripts) and interviews with finalists.

Statement of Purpose (2-3 pages)

Write a two- to three-page statement of purpose regarding your personal and professional interests and goals in higher education. Your statement should address the following questions:

• What personal and professional factors or experiences have led you to seek a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership at Colorado State University?
• How will this Ph.D. program advance your professional aspirations and personal goals? What do you hope to got out of your program experience?
• How have your experiences influenced your views of equity and justice in higher education?
• What are your research interests? How are they connected to principles of equity and justice? How might your interests be compatible with our Higher Education Leadership and School of Education faculty?

The statement should be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, and written in 11- or 12-point Times New Roman font. If your statement goes beyond the three-page limit, the admissions committee will only read the first three pages.

Resume, including:

• Record of collegiate work, including names of institutions attended, dates of attendance, and degrees earned.
• Record of all professional employment and military service, if applicable; include dates of service.
• List of publications, exhibitions, awards, or other recognitions.
• List of service activities, including professional, community, and charitable events.

Three recommendation letters

• Three professional recommendations are required.
• Recommenders should be able to speak to your ability to complete doctoral work, research and writing, and potential as a research scholar and/or scholar-practitioner.

Transcripts

• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester.
• Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required.

Post-application requirements

Interviews

• The admission committee may request an interview.
• Interviews are by invitation only, and are conducted via video conference.
• Faculty will select applicants to advance to the interview stage in mid-January.

Writing sample

• If invited to interview, applicants will be required to submit a research or scholarly paper, due within two weeks of invitation.
• This requirement is intended to provide the faculty with critical information on the applicant’s ability to frame, research/engage in inquiry, analyze, and offer a persuasive and cohesive written account of a current topic (of the applicant’s choosing) related to higher education.

Application deadline

• Summer admission deadline: Dec. 1

Selection timeline

• Application review begins after the Dec. 1 deadline.
• Admit decisions will be made by mid-May.
• Summer courses begin in mid-July.

Additional minimum admission requirements

• 10-12 years of advanced experience in a related discipline

Statement of Purpose

Your Statement of Purpose is a summary of your long-term professional or personal goals, and is required for all applicants.

Your statement will consist of two sections: the personal statement and the dissertation topic statement. The Statement of Purpose should be written in 12-point font, double-spaced, with clear headings indicating each section of your document, and include the following:

Personal Statement (2-3 pages)

• Your purpose for pursuing graduate education and how it will contribute to your long-term goals and career plans;
• Why you have selected Colorado State University as the place to pursue your graduate studies; and
• A description of teaching, research/creative, or other academic work you have engaged in relevant to the qualifications.

Dissertation Topic Statement (3 pages)

• Dissertation topics are areas of interest that may develop into the focus of your dissertation research.
• Please provide a one-page statement for each of your three areas of interest with each topic/area of interest clearly indicated.

Resume

Two recommendation letters

Transcripts

• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for purposes of the application and admission. If admitted and you choose to attend CSU, official transcripts will be required prior to or during your first semester before you can register for your second semester.
• Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required.

Application deadline

• Applications are accepted every other even-numbered year.
• The next application cycle is now open. Submit by March 15, 2024 for Fall 2024 admission.

Selection timeline

• Application review begins after the application deadline.
• Admit decisions will be made by June 1.