Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Foundations

Your degree can be in-progress when applying but must be completed before program starts

• You must submit an unofficial transcript(s) with your application. The UW Graduate School requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0, or 3.0 for your most recent 90 graded quarter credits (60 semester credits), however this is just one part of the application.
• Our programs review all applications holistically, so we encourage you to still apply. You do not need to take classes to increase your GPA. Instead, we would like for you to focus on a goal statement which discusses your interests and how the program will meet your professional or individual goals and strong letters of recommendation. You can also feel free to address why your GPA is lower than a cumulative 3.0.

During the online application process, you will be given instructions for adding your recommenders and getting their letters submitted electronically. All recommenders must submit their letters online.

A current academic and professional resume or vita is required. A resume is intended to showcase your skills and experiences and to summarize the work you’ve done in your career. You should include educational degrees and professional experience, and it should also detail all relevant awards, publications, presentations or other achievements. Highlight relevant qualifications and skills that are directly connected to the program and degree to which you are applying.

Be sure to review your resume to show clear communication - free of errors - and attention to detail.

Your statement should address goals, relevant experience, future plans and how the desired specific program meets your needs. Be sure to include personal experiences that have prepared you for the challenge of graduate school, here are some general questions to think about:

• Why this specific program? What do you want to do academically and professionally? What specific issues or concepts in the field are you interested in exploring and in what ways do you want to work through these issues?
• Describe how your interest in the field developed and how you have engaged meaningfully in the field to explore your interests.
• Emphasize how specific learning and professional experiences have inspired and motivated your desire for continued education.
• Mention special skills you possess that will assist you in graduate studies such as technical skills, research methodologies, and unique experiences not elaborated in your resume.
• Highlight any experiences that demonstrate your initiative to develop ideas and solutions, the capacity to work through problems independently and collaboratively, and the determination to reach your goals.

Master’s degree statements are generally 1-2 pages. Doctoral statements are generally 3-5 pages. Both should be double-spaced. Some programs may also have specific questions and prompts they would like you to address. We encourage you to review program pages to align your statement with the program/faculty match.

Admissions committees use your statement of purpose, along with other evidence, to determine whether your goals are well-matched with our programs.

Doctoral candidates must submit one sample of scholarly writing.  The Writing Sample is your best representation of graduate level writing. Typically, students will submit a research paper, article, or thesis from a previous program of study to represent their academic writing. Since these documents come in all sorts of formats, there is no standard guideline for submission, other than sticking within a suggested 10-12 page limit. Students are welcome to submit a portion of their document to fit within the suggested page limit.

If you do not have a writing sample some suggestions for a new writing sample might include a thesis abstract, peer-reviewed article written, research paper, literature review, a book review or report, etc.

While optional, you can add to your application by submitting a personal history statement with each application. This statement should address your intellectual growth and development, inclusive of and beyond your academic goals. Speak to topics like:

• Educational, cultural and economic opportunities and disadvantages you've experienced
• Ways these experiences affected the development of your special interests, career plans and future goals.
• Any additional topics requested on a specific program's page

Statements should be no longer than two pages long. And while there are no standard formatting requirements, we encourage double-spaced text with a legible font.