Frequently Asked Questions

Provided are the most common questions related to our Ph.D. IEM, M.S.IEM, and M.S.ETM and certificate ETM programs.

• What is the application deadline?

  For MS and PhD IEM

  • • February 1^st for Fall semester and September 1^st for Spring semester.

  For MS and Certificate ETM

  • • In-person application deadlines: May 1^st for Fall semester, October 1^st for Spring semester, and February 1^st for Summer semester.
    • Online program application deadline: This program has rolling deadline.
• Is the admission a rolling process?

  Yes, the admission for Fall semester starts in November and ends in April, while admission for the Spring semester starts in June and ends in September.

• I missed the deadline. Can I still apply?

  Yes, applications after the deadline may be reviewed, but there is no guarantee. Please also note the following absolute admission deadlines by the Graduate College, and the admission process (from application submission to admission decision) generally takes a month.

  For M.S. and Ph.D. IEM

  • • Domestic application deadline: applications must be complete and program recommendations must be entered at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester of choice. Applications completed after the deadline may be reviewed, but there is no guarantee.
    • International application deadlines: May 1^st for Fall semester, October 1^st for Spring semester, and February 1^st for Summer semester.
• What is required for the application?

  For M.S.IEM: Submit an online application, pay application fee ($50 for domestic students and $75 for International students), transcripts, current resume, personal statement, and three recommendation letters. International students may need language scores.

  For Ph.D. IEM: Submit an online application, pay application fee ($50 for domestic students and $75 for International students), transcripts, current resume, personal statement, three recommendation letters, and a writing sample. International students may need language scores.

  For M.S.ETM/ETM Certificate: Submit an online application, pay application fee ($50 for domestic students and $75 for International students), transcripts, current resume, and personal statement. International students may need language scores.

• Is the GRE required?

  The GRE is no longer required for any of the IEM or ETM programs. Please ignore the warning about GRE in the system.

• Are English (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE) scores required?

  Yes, official TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores are required by the Graduate College, except for students who have completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, at which English is the primary language of instruction, located in a country in which English is a recognized primary language. Please see the link below for the minimum requirement for English scores and the list of countries with automatic waivers. 

  English Proficiency | Oklahoma State University

  Applicants may apply with unofficial language scores, but official scores are required before admission can be finalized. An application will not be forwarded to our department until the official scores are received. If you choose to use unofficial language scores, please email both grad-i@okstate.edu and iem-grad@okstate.edu for special permissions. Please note that this will delay your admission by about a month.

• Are application fee waivers available?

  The application fee is charged by the Graduate College. Our department cannot waive it. However, if an applicant is being recruited by a faculty member, the faculty member may be willing to pay th e application fee on the applicant's behalf.

   

  • • OSU Alumni application fee waiver: As an OSU student or Alumni, you qualify for a single application fee waiver for admission, a $25-$75 value depending on degree and residency statuses.
    • Military/veteran application fee waiver: A current member or veteran of the U.S.Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves, is eligible for a waiver of the graduate application fee. To receive the waiver, applicants will be asked to include with their application one of the following forms of documentation: a copy of their active-duty orders, DD214 with their application materials. Other forms of documentation may be possible; please contact us by email at admissions@okstate.edu or by phone at 405-744-5358 for any questions.
• How do Ph.D. admissions work?

  Ph.D. applicants may or may not have a master's degree. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 on their previous degree. Applicants may apply with an unofficial transcripts, but official transcripts will be required prior to enrollment. Applicants need to have the names and email addresses of their recommenders at the time of application. The recommenders will submit their letters directly to the application system. Applicants must submit a personal statement of professional goals and research interests for the IEM program with no more than three pages. Applicants should submit an academic writing sample, which can be a published paper, a manuscript to be submitted, or a technical report that can show their writing skills. Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty members whose research aligns with their interests to secure a champion.

• When can I expect to receive the results of my application?

  The admissions of M.S. students for Fall/Spring intake are typically made in March/September. The admission of Ph.D. students for Fall/Spring intake start in November/June and ends in April/September. Ph.D. applicants for Fall/Spring without faculty champions will be rejected in May/October.

• Is there funding available?

  Ph.D. IEM: Ph.D. students are fully funded. Funding in our department is done through assistantships. Assistantships are highly competitive. Graduate teaching assistantships (GTAs) and graduate research assistantships (GRAs) are typically given to PhD students. However, admission to the PhD program requires a faculty champion. Not all faculty members are recruiting every semester. We recommend, applicants that are interested in our Ph.D. program check our faculty profiles to see which faculty members' research interests may align with theirs.

  M.S.IEM and M.S.ETM in-person: Depending upon the department's need, availability of resources and the student's background, a limited number of GTAs are given each semester to M.S. students who apply are in good standing and are making progress towards their degree completion. There is no guarantee that a GTA will be given to an M.S. student or that will be renewed if given in a prior semester. Since the number of positions depends on enrollment and available funding, decisions are not made until just before the semester begins. On-campus students may apply for TA/RA positions in other departments and are also eligible for on-campus employment (international students are limited to on-campus positions).

  M.S.ETM online: There is no funding available for this program. 

• Do I need to contact the professors individually before submitting the application?

  Admitting a Ph.D. student requires a faculty champion and the approval of the graduate advisory committee. Prospective students are encouraged but not required to contact our faculty.

• Can I transfer the hours? What are the regulations regarding the transfer?

  For ETM, M.S. and Ph.D. IEM programs: Per Graduate College policy, up to 9 hours of credit may be transferred in with the committee's approval. 3 hours of credit can be transferred for the ETM certificate. 

  Criteria for transferable credits: 

  • • Must be from an accredited university.
    • Graduate level courses, taken for graduate credit.
    • listed on transcript.
    • Grade must be "B" or higher.
    • Cannot be older than 10 years at the time the student graduates from OSU.
• Can my application be deffered to a later semester?

  Yes, applicants may request that their application be moved to a later semester in the case where the semester of choice for admission can't be achieved. An application can be deffered for a maximum of one year, subject to the department's approval.

• What is the graduation process?

  General Graduation Process: 

  • • Student updates online plan of study at Plan of Study.
    • Student submits graduation clearance at Current Student Resources | Oklahoma State University.
    • Students submits graduation application at Apply to Graduate | Oklahoma State University