Timeline for Application to Degree Candidacy
The GLSP's open enrollment policy provides students with the opportunity to either apply for admission to degree candidacy prior to beginning coursework, or to apply for admission after taking a few courses.  Students who are certain they wish to seek a degree, and who have a recent, strong academic background are encouraged to apply prior to registering for their first course.  Students who would prefer to try out a course or two as a non-degree student may do so, then prior to completing a maximum of four courses, may choose whether or not to apply for degree candidacy.

Students who have been out of school for a while, or whose undergraduate record is not strong are encouraged to complete two GLSP courses (6 units of credit), with two different instructors before applying for degree candidacy.  At least one of these courses must be in the student’s proposed area of concentration. To be considered for admission to degree candidacy, the student must have received grades of B or better in both courses, although grades of B or better do not guarantee admission to degree candidacy, and students working toward a degree are expected to earn higher grades overall.  No more than four courses (12 credits) completed prior to acceptance to degree candidacy may be counted toward the degree.  If a student has completed more than four courses when the student is admitted to degree candidacy, only the four most recent courses will be eligible to count toward the degree.

Students are expected to complete all degree requirements within six years of their first GLSP course.  If circumstances arise that prevent a student from completing the degree within six years, students may petition for an extension of one or two years.  Eight years is the maximum amount of time students may take to complete degree requirements.  

How to Apply for Admission
There are two times when students may apply for admission to degree candidacy: (1) prior to registering for GLSP courses, or (2) after completing two, three, or four GLSP courses. The application process differs slightly in that students who apply prior to completing GLSP courses must also submit letters of recommendation.
 

Applications prior to registering for courses: Students who apply for degree candidacy prior to registering for GLSP courses must submit the following to the GLSP office: A completed application for admission, identifying the degree or certificate for which the student seeks candidacy, and the student’s area of concentration; The admission essay, which is a four-page paper demonstrating that the student is able to write with the complexity and clarity necessary to succeed at the graduate level;  Official transcripts of the student’s undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate degrees, obtained from fully accredited colleges or universities, and sent directly by the degree-granting institution to the GLSP office;  Two letters of recommendation that shed light on the candidate's academic ability, promise, and motivation, ideally from people who have taught the applicant and are thus able to comment directly on his or her intellectual capacity and academic potential; Demonstration of compliance with the State of Connecticut’s criteria for immunization against measles and rubella.

Applications submitted after completion of at least two GLSP courses: Students who apply for degree candidacy after completing two, three, or four GLSP courses must submit the following to the GLSP office: A completed application for admission, identifying the degree or certificate for which the student seeks candidacy, and the student’s area of concentration; The student essay, which is a four-page paper demonstrating that the student is able to write with the complexity and clarity necessary to succeed at the graduate level; Official transcripts of the student’s undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate degrees, obtained from fully accredited colleges or universities, and sent directly by the degree-granting institution to the GLSP office (this should already be on file at the GLSP office);  Demonstration of compliance with the State of Connecticut’s criteria for immunization against measles and rubella (this should already be on file at the GLSP office).

Admission Essay
To apply for admission to degree candidacy, students must submit a four-page essay addressing the applicant’s intellectual interests.  It must be typed, double-spaced with one-inch margins, and must demonstrate the student’s ability to formulate complex ideas and write at the graduate level.  This paper will be read by the members of the GLSP admission committee and will remain in the student’s file.