Admissions

Official Applications for the May 2009 program session are encouraged from qualified pre-applicants.

The next session of the Accelerated Master's Degree Program in Systems Engineering will run from May 2009 through April 2010. Class size is limited. The Program uses a rolling admissions process. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications early in the process to warrant full admission consideration.

Prerequisites for admission include a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; courses in calculus (2 semesters), probability and statistics (calculus-based), linear algebra (or equivalent), and computer programming; and GRE General Test scores.

Application Overview

The first step in the application process is to submit a Preliminary Application. We will respond to your Preliminary Application quickly and give you guidance on how to proceed.

Qualified pre-applicants are encouraged to submit their Official Applications online. A non-refundable fee of $60 may be paid by check or VISA/MasterCard. Official Applications received without the fee will not be processed. The application must be supported by three letters of recommendation, official transcripts of all post-secondary education, and official GRE General Test scores. In order to expedite the application process, you may send your application materials for consideration before your GRE test date. The GRE General Test must be taken before a decision letter can be sent.

Transcripts

You may upload unofficial transcripts of your academic work to the School of Engineering online application site. You should then request official transcripts from all institutions you have attended to be mailed to the School of Engineering Graduate Records Office. We can begin the admissions review process with unofficial transcripts; however, your official transcripts must be received and reviewed before a decision letter can be sent.

Recommendations

The Admissions Committee requires three recommendations. These recommendations should address the range of questions asked on our Recommendation Form. We prefer recommendations from professors (preferably those who can evaluate graduate students) or employers who can speak directly about your aptitude for, or accomplishments in, your professional area.You have two options for submitting letters of recommendation: electronic and paper-based. Recommenders with Web access and an email address should submit recommendations electronically. After you have contacted them about providing a recommendation, complete the form on the Recommendations page and check the "Please email this person a recommendation request" beneath each recommender you wish us to contact. They will be sent email messages with instructions and a Web address they should go to in order to complete your recommendation. You will then be notified by email when we receive each recommendation.

To submit paper-based recommendations, you should download the Recommendation Form from the Recommendations page (also available in the printed application), print two copies for each recommender, and follow the directions provided on the form.

Statement of Purpose The Statement of Purpose has a field large enough for you to answer thoroughly.

GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) Ask the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to report your score for the GRE to SEAS with ETS code 5836. The most recent score is used.

Application Fee A non-refundable application fee of $60, paid by credit card, check or money order must be received before your application can be processed. Credit card payments, made with a Visa or MasterCard only, are processed through SEAS's secure server using SurePay. Checks or money orders may be mailed to the Graduate Studies Office, Office of the Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 400242, 351 McCormick Road, Thornton Hall A-108, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4242. In order to match payments with the correct application, you must include your full name, birthdate, and e-mail address on the check. Please indicate that you are applying to the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program.

Application Status Check Once you have submitted your application, you can track the status of your application by returning to this site, logging in using your username and password, and following the "Application Status" link.

A step by step overview of the application procedure:

1. Fill out the online preliminary application. This review enables the Program to meet your degree seeking needs.

2. Upon review of your online preliminary application, successfully qualified candidates may submit an Official Application complete with their $60 application fee.

3. Request that official copies of all your transcripts & GRE score be sent to the following address:

University of Virginia
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Graduate Records Office
P.O. Box 400242
Charlotttesville, VA 22904-4202

4. Request letters of reference from three individuals who can attest to your professional and personal qualifications for enrollment in the Accelerated Program.

Admissions Prerequisites

The minimum prerequisites for entry into the graduate program consist of the following:

1. Calculus. Two semesters of undergraduate calculus.

2. Probability and Statistics. At least one undergraduate course in
calculus-based probability and statistics.

3. Optimization. At least one undergraduate course in optimization techniques, including linear programming, or one course in linear algebra.

4. Computer programming. Working knowledge of at least one high level programming language such as FORTRAN, C++ or C.

GRE Testing Centers

Individuals submitting their official application for admission are required to include a GRE score. To sign up to take the GRE exam, please contact one of the following official testing centers nearest you:

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