Application Materials and Suggestions

The application is comprised of these components:

  • The Admissions Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Official Transcripts 
  • GRE Scores
  • TOEFL Scores (from International Students)
  • Writing Sample
  • Fellowship Application 
  • Application Fee 

Below, we have listed and described the components of the application for admissions. In addition, we have also provided suggestions to guide you in preparing the best possible application.

1. The Admissions Application

The Admissions Application must be submitted online via the following website: http://apply.embark.com/grad/ucdavis. The deadline for submitting an application is December 1.

SUGGESTIONS:

  • Complete all lines of the application.
  • If you have Caller ID, unlock our Department's phone number (530-752-3237). We want to make certain that we will have the opportunity to contact you by phone, should there be an occasion to do so.

2. Statement of Purpose and the Personal History Statement

The Statement of Purpose and the Personal History Statement are to be submitted via the online application web site. Hard copies of Statements received by the Department will not be accepted. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

The Statement of Purpose and the Personal History Statement are detailed essays that introduces you to the admissions committee.  This will be the only and best opportunity to do so prior to the admissions committee meeting to review the applications.

Statement of Purpose.  Please describe your motivation, academic preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UC Davis. You should describe your academic plans and research interests, your specialization within your academic field, your research experiences and your career goals.  In addition, what is your academic background, including majors and minor fields, as well as identifying related Native American Studies courses you have completed. If you are considering the M.A. Program and you are considering writing a thesis, state your proposed topic. If you are applying to the Ph.D. Program, discuss your proposed research areas and previous research experience. How will your completed studies contribute to the present scholarship in Native American studies? If you are already working on some aspects of your research areas, such as publishing an article or presenting at a professional conference, please tell us about it. Explain to the admissions committee why you have selected Native American Studies at UC Davis to complete your graduate studies. Which faculty members are you interested in studying with, and why? Finally, state what you intend to do when you receive your M.A. or Ph.D. degree in Native American Studies. In other words, what are your future goals after completing your graduate studies? Please limit your Statement of Purpose to 500 words maximum.

Personal History Statement: In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree.  Please include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and how/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree. The Office of Graduate Studies requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for enrollment to graduate studies. If at the time of applying you have a GPA below 3.0, please explain. Please limit your Personal History Statement to 500 words maximum.

SUGGESTIONS:

  • As much as possible, avoid generalizations. Detail is key.
  • Take the time to revise your Statement of Purpose and Personal History Statement. If possible, have a mentor review and critique your Statements. Once you have submitted your Statements to us, we will not accept revised versions.

3. Writing Sample

Applicants are required to upload the Writing Sample via the online application web site. Hard copies of Writing Samples received by the Department will not be accepted.  There are no exceptions to this requirement.

The Writing Sample is a 10-20 page scholarly paper that demonstrates originality of ideas, research and writing abilities, and your analytical skills. If at all possible, your Writing Sample should reflect some aspects of your research interests as indicated in your Statement of Purpose. If your proposed study is in visual or performing arts, you are welcome to submit a video or DVD or portfolio, in addition to a writing sample. Ideally, your writing sample should provide explanation and discussion of your media submission. Send videos, DVDs or portfolios directly to Native American Studies.

SUGGESTIONS:

  • As with the Statement of Purpose and Personal History Statement, take the time to revise your Writing Sample, as well as having a mentor review and critique it. After you have submitted your Writing Sample, we will not accept a revised copy.

4. Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation must be submitted via the online application web site. Letters of Recommendation in hard copy form received by the Department will not be accepted. In such circumstances, the applicant will be notified and informed to contact the Recommender to re-submit the Letter of Recommendation online. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

Applicants are required to submit three Letters of Recommendation, preferably from professors in your field(s). However, if this is not possible, it is permissible for employers, supervisors, co-workers and co-associates to write these letters. What is crucial is that you select individuals who can best discuss your academic strengths, as well as speak to your potential of successfully completing a graduate program.

SUGGESTIONS:

  • Inform your recommenders that we cannot accept hard copies of their letters. All Letters of Recommendations must be submitted electronically through the online application web site. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
  • The deadline for submission of Letters of Recommendation is December 1. Please inform your recommendaters of the deadline.

5. GRE Scores

Only the general GRE Examination is required. There is no subject exam in our field.

We do not have an established minimum GRE score for admission to our program.

For exam purposes use Institution Code: 4834 and Department Code: 2206. To insure that the program receives scores before our deadline, you should take the exam no later than October 15.

Contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) no later than August 31, to insure that you will have a testing date prior to October 15. It typically takes six weeks to secure a testing date from the date of contacting ETS.

TOEFL Exam

In addition to the GRE, applicants whose native language or language of instruction is not English must take the TOEFL (The Test of English as a Foreign Language) Exam.

The minimum score required for admission to UC Davis is 550 (213 on the computer score). There is no conditional admission. The score report is required before application processing begins.

SUGGESTIONS:

  • If you have arranged to receive a copy of your scores, please send us a copy.
  • Keep your scores current. If they are more than five years old, ETS will no longer have your scores on file. Thus, they will be unable to send us a copy of your scores.
  • Contact the Educational Testing Services early to secure a testing date for the GRE and/or the TOEFL exam:

Educational Testing Services (ETS)
Rosedale Road
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
1-866-473-4373
http://www.ets.org

6. Official Transcripts

Submit official transcripts directly to Native American Studies at the adress listed below (see #10).  Please wait to send transcripts until after the application is completed and submitted online. This makes it easier to match the application to the transcripts.

Do not submit copies of transcripts. The Office of Graduate Studies will only accept official transcripts obtained from school registrars.

SUGGESTIONS:

  • In submitting official transcripts to us, do not remove them from their envelopes. If they are removed from their envelopes, they are no longer considered Official Transcripts.

7. Fellowship Application

All applicants are required to submit the Internal Fellowships Application for New Students. The Fellowship Application allows Native American Studies to nominate potential graduate students for University and Department fellowships.  The Fellowship Application is available through the online application web site. NOTE: The deadline to submit the Internal Fellowship Application is December 1.

All new students and continuing students are required to file a FAFSA report for purpose of being considered for grants, fellowships and loans. The FAFSA is available online at http://www.fafsa.edu.

8. Curriculum Vitae

Applicants are required to upload the Curriculum Vitae (CV) via the online application web site.  Do not submit CVs to the Department.  They will not be accepted.  There are no exceptions to this requirement.

9. Application Fee 

An application fee of $70 is required for the domestic students and $90 for the international students. Visa and MasterCard are now available options for payment of the application fee. The fee may also be paid by e-check. The fee must be paid before the application will be considered as complete, and the fee must be paid for each application submitted.

Please note that the fee is not refundable under any circumstances, nor will an application be processed until the fee is received.

Fee waivers are available to those applicants who can demonstrate financial need. However, these waivers are very limited. To obtain a fee waiver application, contact the Office of Graduate Studies at 530-752-0650.

SUGGESTIONS:

  • Submit your application fee when applying.
  • If you are requesting a fee waiver, do so approximately six weeks prior to December 1, to insure that your waiver application is returned and approved by the deadline.

10. Mailing Application Materials

Mail official transcripts to Native American Studies at the address listed below. Videos, DVDs, or portfolios can also be mailed to the Department. Copies of GRE scores can also be submitted to Native American Studies. All other application materials (Application for Admission, Statement of Purpose, Personal History Statement, Letters of Recommendation, Curriculum Vitae [CV], Internal Fellowships Application, Writing Sample, and Application Fee) are to be submitted electronically via the online application web site.

Native American Studies Department University of California, Davis
2401 Hart Hall
Davis, CA 95616