Degree Admission Requirements
Please read the following information before you apply online. You must meet Graduate School and specific program requirements for admission. Also be aware of recommended and required deadlines.
Graduate School
- Degree: Bachelor's degree.
- Grades: A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75. This calculation includes both attempts in your repeated coursework.
- Transcripts: One official transcript (preferably two), sent directly to the Graduate School from each undergraduate and graduate school attended. If you attended UWM as an undergraduate, the Graduate School will obtain transcripts from the Undergraduate Records Office.
- English Proficiency: See the Center for International Education's Graduate Application Requirements.
- Reasons Statement: An essential part of your application, the Reasons Statement is used to determine the appropriateness of your educational and professional goals and serves as an example of your ability to express yourself in writing. In the statement:
- Explain your reasons for pursuing graduate study.
- Describe specific interests and your background in the field.
- List any relevant skills or training you have acquired.
- List relevant academic awards or honors you have received.
- If your program requires recommendations, list the names of those individuals who will write on your behalf.
Fee/s: a $45 base application fee is required of all applicants, and an additional $40 evaluation fee is required for applicants with college-level work from non-U.S. colleges.
Note: If you are applying to a doctoral program and already hold a UWM master's degree, you do not need to pay the application fee.
Program Requirements
Contact your specific program representative for additional requirements for your program.
International Applicants
Please see the Center for Internation Education's International Student Admission page.
Admission on Probation
If your overall undergraduate grade point average is under 2.75, you may be considered for admission on probation by presenting substantial evidence of ability to succeed in graduate-level work. The following conditions must be fulfilled before you will be considered for admission.
Applicants with GPA of 2.50-2.74 must meet at least one of the following conditions:
- A grade point average of 3.0 or above during the final 60 semester hours of your baccalaureate degree program.
- Completion of 6 or more credits of program-approved, post-baccalaureate coursework in an academic area directly related to your chosen graduate program. The grades earned must be a "B" or better (B- not acceptable).
- Submission of official score reports from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or Miller Analogies Test, that indicate a high probability of success in graduate school. Official is defined as having been sent directly from the testing service to UWM.
- An advanced degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Applicants with GPA below 2.50 must meet at least TWO of the following conditions:
- A grade point average of 3.0 or above during the final 60 semester hours of your baccalaureate degree program.
- Completion of 9 or more credits of program-approved post-baccalaureate coursework in an academic area directly related to your chosen graduate program. The grades earned must be a "B" or better (B- not acceptable).
- Submission of official score reports from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or Miller Analogies Test, that indicate a high probability of success in graduate school. Official is defined as having been sent directly from the testing service to UWM.
- An advanced degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Your proposed graduate program unit may have further requirements for admission on probation and removal of probationary status. If you are admitted, your graduate program representative is responsible for communicating to you the conditions for removal of probation.
Admission with Course Deficiencies
You may not be admitted with more than two deficiencies, and they must be removed within three enrolled semesters. Deficiencies are monitored by the Graduate School and your graduate program unit. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree. If the deficiencies are not removed within three enrolled semesters, a hold will be placed on your record and you must show sufficient cause for continuation of graduate status.
Admission with Senior-Graduate Status
If you are a UWM student holding senior standing and are within 6 credits of graduation, and meet both the admission (regular status) requirements of the Graduate School and the proposed graduate program unit, you may apply and be considered for one semester's concurrent enrollment in the undergraduate college and in the Graduate School. Your entire program is subject to the regulations and requirements of the Graduate School. You receive graduate credit only if the requirements for the bachelor's degree, including proficiency tests, are completed by the end of the semester of senior-graduate enrollment. You must pay graduate fees for all coursework taken during the semester of senior-graduate status.