Prospective Graduate Students
Please read all the general application information below before starting your application. After reading the information below, to begin the application process, create an account using the First-time Users: Create an Account link at the bottom of the Graduate Admissions Application Portal page.
The School of Liberal Arts offers a range of PhD, MA, and MFA programs. The PhD prepares students to be practicing scholars in the offering disciplines. Students receiving the PhD from departments and programs in the School of Liberal Arts have received teaching jobs at prestigious colleges and universities all over the country. The MA is an appropriate degree for students who are unsure whether they want to continue in a PhD program, for students who want to teach in secondary school, and for a wide range of other careers, depending on the discipline. The MFA is the terminal degree for practitioners in studio art, music performance, and theatre. In addition, Tulane University undergraduates can pursue post-graduate work by spending an extra year at Tulane in a "4+1" MA program, which is offered by many departments.
To find out more about the departments and programs that offer each of these degrees, please see the Degrees Offered page.
Applying to an SLA Graduate Program
Applicants who have earned an undergraduate degree from a recognized institution may be offered admission to the School of Liberal Arts graduate program if their academic record and personal attributes indicate the ability to pursue advanced study successfully. Applicants must present evidence, to the satisfaction of the department or the program committee concerned, of adequate preparation for the subjects in which they seek to specialize. All students must hold an undergraduate degree before enrolling. Applicants with a Bachelor's degree may apply directly to a PhD program; it is not necessary to have a Master's degree to apply to a PhD program. With special permission from the department, an applicant may seek admission as a special, non-degree student to pursue up to 9 hours of study which does not lead to a degree.
The School of Liberal Arts offers MFA, MA, and PhD degrees. Not all departments/programs offer both Master’s and PhD degrees. Please check the department/program website for the specific degrees offered in your program of interest before you begin your application.
Current Tulane undergraduate students may apply for the 4+1 MA degree. This allows students currently enrolled in a TULANE undergraduate program to gain graduate credits toward an MA degree while still enrolled as an undergraduate. The 4+1 MA option is not offered by all departments so please check the appropriate department website for information on this option. The 4+1 MA is ONLY for students currently enrolled in a TULANE undergraduate program.
Application Deadlines
All department applications open August 15 but application submission deadlines vary for each department. In order for your application to be reviewed, the application and application fee must be submitted online and all required materials received by the application deadline. Please review the Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom of the page before starting your application.
Department Application Deadlines:
Applications are due by 11:59 PM EASTERN U.S. time on the application date listed below.
- Anthropology – Is NOT accepting Ph.D. applications until Fall 2021 for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Anthropology 4+1 MA – applications will be accepted for the 2021-22 academic year. - Art History – January 10
- Art Studio – February 1
- City, Culture and Community – January 5 – GRE encouraged but NOT required
- Classical Studies – February 1
- Dance (Interdisciplinary Dance Performance- MFA) – February 1
- Economics Ph.D. – February 15 – GRE REQUIRED
- Economics MA – April 1 – GRE REQUIRED
- English – March 1
- French – January 10
- History – January 10
- Latin American Studies – February 1
- Latin American Studies and Art History Joint – February 1
- Linguistics – Is NOT accepting Ph.D. applications until Fall 2021 for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Computational Linguistics MA – applications will be accepted for the 2021-22 academic year. Application deadline is March 1. - Music – February 1
- Philosophy – February 1- GRE REQUIRED
- Political Science – Is NOT accepting graduate applications until Fall 2021 for the 2022-2023 academic year. GRE REQUIRED
- Spanish & Portuguese – January 10
- Theatre – May 1
- 4+1 MA (for Current Tulane students only) – June 1
The GRE is only required for application to those programs noted above as required. It is NOT required/is waived for all other departments.
The English, Economics, and Philosophy MA programs allow admission for the Spring semester on a very limited basis with approval from the department. All other MA programs and all MFA and all PhD programs admit for Fall semester only.
Online Application Information and Application Form
Applications must be submitted online. The application fee is $50 payable by credit card or checking account transfer at the time the application is submitted. Verified Mc Nair Scholars are the only applicants eligible for a waiver of the application fee.
Once you create an account and start your application, if a specific degree or department/program does not appear as an option on the application it means that department/program either does not offer that degree OR is not offering it for the current application period.
Applications open August 15 for enrollment the following fall.
The following departments do NOT admit graduate students every year:
- Economics Ph.D. - only accepts students for enrollment for the fall semester of odd number years (ie. 2021, 2023). Economics MA applications are accepted every year. IS accepting PhD and MA applications now for Fall 2021 enrollment.
- Interdisciplinary Dance Performance (IDP) MFA – only accepts students for enrollment for the fall semester every three years. (i.e. 2021, 2024). IS accepting applications now for Fall 2021 enrollment.
- Music MA (Musicology) - only accepts students for enrollment every other year and is NOT accepting applications until Fall 2021 for Fall 2022 enrollment.
- Music MA (Composition) and MFA applications (in voice and piano) are accepted every year.
- Theatre MFA - only accepts students for enrollment for the fall semester of odd number years (ie. 2021, 2023). The Theatre MFA is Design and Technical Production only. IS accepting applications now for Fall 2021 enrollment.
- Political Science Ph.D. - only accepts students for enrollment for the fall semester of even number years (ie. 2020, 2022). Is NOT accepting applications until Fall 2021 for Fall 2022 enrollment.
NOTE: Current Tulane students applying for the 4+1 MA program in ANY department MUST select the “4+1Liberal Arts” department/program application option that appears after creating your application account and NOT the option for the specific department/program. All other MA (not 4+1) applicants, MFA and Ph.D. applicants should select the specific department/program application option and NOT the “4+1” option.
*** APPLY HERE : School of Liberal Arts MA, 4+1 MA, MFA, or Ph.D. Graduate Admissions Application Portal ***
Frequently Asked Questions about Submitting an Application to the School of Liberal Arts Graduate School
Please review this information before starting your application.
- What documents will I need to submit with my application?
The on-line application system will not allow an applicant to submit an application until all information on the application form is complete and required documents are attached to application. You may save a partially completed application and complete it later. To submit the application you must:
- fill in the required information on all sections of the application
- upload a personal statement
- enter the names and requested contact information of three people who will submit (on-line) letters of academic and/or professional recommendation
- upload the most recent unofficial transcript from each university attended (for transcripts in a language other than English, please upload the original copy of a certified English translation with an explanation of the grading system)
- upload writing sample, if required by the department
- enter self-report GRE scores ONLY if required by the program and request ETS send the official scores to Tulane School of Liberal Arts.
Please check the individual department websites for application materials required by individual departments/programs. More details about personal statements, GRE scores, language scores and letters of recommendation follows in the questions below.
Should you be offered admission, you must send an official copy of your transcript from each institution you attended when you accept the admission offer. Official copies must either be in a sealed envelope, signed on the back by the University Registrar or sent electronically from the University's certified transcript transmission service. Please ONLY send an OFFICIAL transcript if you accept an admission offer.
- What is expected in my personal statement?
Applicants should explain in detail why they are interested in the specific graduate program at Tulane; describe career goals, strengths and accomplishments relevant to the intended course of study. Generally personal statements should be no more than about 500 words.
- How do my recommendation writers submit the letters?
The people you have selected to write a letter of recommendation will submit the letters electronically using the SLA on-line application system. You will enter the name and an e-mail address of each recommendation provider. After you select to send the Recommendation Request, an e-mail will be sent to the recommendation provider with an access code and instructions on how to proceed with uploading the on-line recommendation. You do not have to submit the application in order for the recommendation instructions to be sent; the instructions will be emailed to your recommender after you select send.
- Is a GRE score required for my application? If yes, where do I send my GRE scores?
GRE scores are ONLY REQUIRED for application to Economics and Philosophy MA and PhD programs. It is encouraged but NOT required for application to the City, Culture and Community PhD program. The Home Based GRE test will be accepted for applications for fall 2021 admission. The GRE is NOT REQUIRED/is waived for applications for fall 2021 admission to all other departments/programs and will not be considered in the review of your application.
If a GRE score is required for your application, the department will review a submitted application without GRE scores but the official GRE score must be received by the department before an admission decision can be made on your application. It is STRONGLY suggested that all applicants required to submit a GRE test score take the GRE test well in advance of the deadline if possible so that scores are received by or soon after the application deadline.
Applicants required to submit a GRE score should request that ETS send the official scores to: Tulane School of Liberal Arts, code 6183.
- Is TOEFL required for students from non-English speaking countries?
All applicants must present satisfactory evidence of sufficient competence to read, write, speak and understand spoken English. If you are not a U.S. citizen (or from a country in which English is the primary language) you are required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. This requirement will NOT be waived for applicants who have a degree from a university in which courses were taught primarily in English. Applicants may submit the same TOEFL score, even if expired, that was used for application to their previous university but a TOEFL or IELTS score is required. Scores should also be sent to Tulane School of Liberal Arts, code: 6183 (for TOEFL). The TOEFL Home Edition will be accepted for fall 2021 applications.
- What documents do international students need to submit?
In addition to all the documents mentioned above, international students who are offered admission and accept must submit the Foreign Admissions Data Form which includes a financial affidavit/ proof of financial support before the paperwork needed for your Visa can be processed and you can be officially admitted and enroll in classes. This document is NOT required for review of your admission application and should only be submitted should you accept an offer of admission.
- What is 2020-2021 tuition and mandatory fees for the School of Liberal Arts graduate programs *?
FULL TIME (9 or more credit hours (per semester) (per year) Tuition (PhD, MA, MFA )** $28,502 $57,004 Tuition MA*** (English, Linguistics/Computational Linguistics, Philosophy AND all 4+1 MA programs except Policy Economics) $9,500 $19,000 Tuition MA*** Policy Economics $1,056 per credit hour Academic Support Service Fee $400 $800 Reily Center Fee $190 $380 Student Health Fee $333 $666 Student Activities Fee $120 $240 *Tuition and fees for the Fall 2020 through Spring 2021 semesters only. Tuition for the 2021 - 2022 academic year has not yet been determined but is expected to increase 2% to 4%.
** This is the standard tuition rate for PhD, MFA and MA programs. However most departments offer a number of academic merit based tuition waivers and stipends (in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships or fellowships). All who apply are automatically considered for the tuition waiver/stipend if applicable in the specific department. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for need based aid.
***The tuition for the selected MA programs (listed in the above chart) is offered at a special, reduced tuition rate. No tuition waivers and teaching assistantships/fellowships are available for these MA programs with reduced tuition.
Students who have completed their course work requirements are required to register for Master's Research 9980 (no credit hours) or Dissertation Research 9990 (no credit hours) in order to maintain continuous registration. A fee of $300.00 is charged each semester for this registration.