Past Education

To be eligible for the PhD degree program, students must hold an undergraduate degree in engineering, sciences or mathematics from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A complete list of accredited institutions and agencies is available from the Database of Accredited Post-Secondary Institutions and Programs. 

Given the technical and quantitative nature of our graduate courses, any such degree should have included—or exceeded—the following course recommendations:

  • Undergraduate courses in calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations
  • Two semesters of undergraduate calculus-based physics
  • At least two semesters of upper-division undergraduate courses in engineering or physics

If an interested student has an undergraduate degree that does not cover these recommended courses, the graduate advising team should be consulted at megrad@colorado.edu prior to applying. If a student has completed prior graduate coursework or a graduate degree that addresses some or all of the above course recommendations, they are fully eligible to apply, even if the undergraduate degree does not satisfy the recommendations.

Note: Students do not need a master’s degree to be admitted to the PhD program. Many of our students enroll directly from their undergraduate institution with only a bachelor’s degree and earn their master's degree on the way to their PhD. 

GPA

Although GPA alone doesn't paint a complete picture of a graduate student’s prior performance and future potential, our most competitive applicants have an undergraduate and graduate GPA of 3.4 or above.

English Language Test Scores

International applicants are also required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Preferred scores for each of these tests are the following:

  • TOEFL: The minimum required score is 80, but a score of 90 or above is preferred, particularly for PhD applicants seeking a Teaching Assistant position.
  • IELTS: The minimum required score is 6.5, but a score of 7.5 or above is preferred, particularly for PhD applicants seeking a Teaching Assistant position.
  • Duolingo Englist Test (DET): The minimum required score is 120.

Note: The English language exam requirement is waived for international applicants whose native language is English, or who have completed at least one year of full-time study at a U.S. Institution (or at an institution in a country where English is the native language), within two years from the desired admission term. Additionally, applicants from countries listed on the Graduate School's English Proficiency Requirements webpage are not required to take an English language exam.

GRE Not Required

We have discontinued the requirement for applicants seeking admission to the PhD or MS program to submit GRE scores.