Admission Requirements & Deadlines

Instructional Technology (Ph.D.)

Application Deadlines

spring fall
Final Deadline: Nov. 1 Final Deadline: June 15

Admission Criteria

  • No GRE scores are required. 
  • Successful completion of a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 
  • An overall GPA of 3.00 or above (on a 4-point scale) for undergraduate degree work is required. GPA calculations may be based upon the cumulative units or the last 60 units of the degree. Graduate work should be at a GPA level of 3.75, though GPAs as low as 3.40 can be considered. See graduate admission policies for more information and exceptions. 
  • Prerequisite Knowledge: The committee will seek evidence of prerequisite knowledge in the following areas: instructional design, educational psychology, research design and statistics. Applicants who do not have this prerequisite knowledge may be asked to complete one credit-directed reading activity to improve background knowledge and help prepare for doctoral course work.  
  • Interview may be required upon the request of the Admissions Committee of the Instructional Technology faculty.

Application Requirements

Submit an online application, application fee and official transcripts, along with:

  • Letters of Recommendation: Letters of recommendation from two professionals, including one from a professional familiar with the academic work of the candidate. (Note: Only letters on organizational letterhead will be accepted.) 
  • Letter of Intent:  Please submit a letter of intent (no more than 4 pages) that addresses all of the following:
    • Career and Research Goals: Describe your long-term career aspirations and academic objectives. Highlight your specific research interests and areas of inquiry you wish to explore during the PhD program. Explain how these goals align with your broader professional development and intellectual growth.
    • Program Fit: Discuss why our PhD program is uniquely suited to support your goals and research interests. Reflect on aspects of the program, such as faculty expertise, research opportunities, and curriculum, that make it an ideal environment for your scholarly work and professional advancement.
    • Key Issues in Your Field: Identify a significant challenge or 'big problem' in your field of interest. Explain its importance, the impact it has on the field, and how you plan to address or contribute to solving this issue through your research and academic work.

  • Academic Writing Sample (APA style)

  • Resume/vitae: A current professional resume.

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

U.S. Immigration requires F1 and J1 students to be enrolled full-time with the majority of their classes taken in-person and on campus. For a list of TU programs that comply as well as information on required credential evaluations and English-language proficiency, please see admission requirements for international students.

Additionally, for international students, the following exams are accepted for English proficiency with their required minimum scores for this program: 

  • TOEFL: overall score of 100
  • IELTS: 7.0 with subscores of 7.0 in each section 
  • PTE: 68
  • Duolingo: 120