Most Asked Seaver Graduate Admission Questions: All Programs
Please find a list of commonly asked questions to our Seaver Graduate Admission Team. For any general graduate application related questions, please visit the Graduate Admission FAQ section.
1. What are the admission requirements?
The general admission requirements for all graduate programs are:
- Complete an online graduate application
- Provide official transcripts from an accredited institution
- Two letters of recommendation, if required. Please visit your program’s website to confirm requirement and number of letters.
- Personal statement addressing your interest in pursuing our graduate program and how it fits your career goals (1-2 pages)
- GRE submission is optional
- We encourage students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply. However, the admissions committee will consider the whole applicant, including criteria such as work experience, test scores, and letters of recommendation to assess students' eligibility.
- Please visit your graduate program website and/or the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering bulletin to read about specific admission requirements from your specific program of interest (e.g., undergraduate major and/or course requirements) and deadlines.
- International applicants: Please visit our International Students Resources and FAQs page to review additional international admission requirements.
2. Is the GRE required?
No, the GRE is not required to apply to our graduate programs. If GRE scores are available, the applicant is welcome to include these in the application submission.
3. What are the program deadlines?
Our Seaver Graduate Program application deadlines are based on the desired entry term to which the student wishes to enroll for:
Fall Term: July 1
Spring Term: November 1
Summer I Term: March 1
Summer II Term: April 1
*International applicants: please allow yourself enough time to go through the application process and account for next steps, like issuing I-20s and requesting visa appointments.
4. How long do applications take to be reviewed?
Once an application has all required documentation submitted, our faculty and staff can provide a decision within 2-3 weeks.
5. What type of scholarship options are available?
Seaver College offers various scholarship options to our students, including merit-based scholarships and need-based scholarships. Merit scholarship consideration will take place within the application process. Admitted students are seek need-based aid. To learn more about these and other options, please visit our Types of Available Aid page.
International students may be considered for merit aid and are eligible for merit-based LMU grants, scholarships and graduate assistantships. International students are not eligible for need-based financial aid at LMU. Please see the Graduate Financial Aid website for more information.
6. Do you offer fully funded scholarships?
We currently do not offer fully funded scholarships nor full rides to any of our programs. To read more about the types of funding opportunities available, please visit our Types of Financial Aid page.
7. What is the most I can get for a scholarship?
Scholarship amounts depend on the scholarship type that is received.
8. What are assistantship graduate options and how do I apply for an assistantship?
Seaver College offers various paid graduate assistantships. Graduate assistantships allow our graduate students receive funds in exchange for the involvement supporting an office on campus. A graduate assistantships can be pursued while also pursuing an LMU degree. Each office or program determines the availability and eligibility for graduate assistantships and graduate research assistantships.
9. What type of research opportunities are available to graduate students?
The required capstone or thesis projects towards the end of our graduate programs will directly allow our students to conduct research. Students should expect to conduct research at least once while enrolled in any of our programs. In addition, Seaver College of Science and Engineering provides several paid graduate research assistantships (GRAs). These research opportunities allow our graduate students to gain paid research experience suited to their interests while pursuing their degrees. Prospective students will be encouraged to review faculty research areas in their programs of interest and directly reach out to faculty to inquire about graduate research assistantship availability once admission has been offered into their graduate program.
10. Can I have the official transcript evaluation requirement waived?
No, official transcript evaluation requirement cannot be waived. International applicants who have completed their postsecondary education from an institution outside the United States (U.S.) must hold a degree from a university recognized by the Ministry of Education as a degree granting institution. Transcripts from an international institution must be translated and evaluated by a U.S. transcript evaluation service (e.g., Educational Credential Evaluators, International Education Research Foundation or World Education Services) before the application is considered for admission. For applicants to any of the LMU Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering graduate programs: a course-by-course transcript evaluation identifying your GPA must be submitted along with the application.
11. What enrollment options are there?
Students have the option of enrolling at a part-time status (5 units or less in fall and spring semesters or 2 units or less in summer terms) or full-time status (6 units or more during fall and spring semesters or 3 units or more during summer terms). Graduate students have a 15-unit maximum. International graduate students will be required to enroll full time for both fall and spring semesters.
12. How can I receive more information or ask a question?
You are welcome to explore any of the following methods to meet our Seaver Graduate Admission team and get the support you need about your program of interest:
• E-mail us: SeaverGraduateAdmission@lmu.edu
• Visit our Seaver Graduate Programs website
• Submit your information to receive e-mail communication
• Sign up to one of our upcoming graduate information sessions to learn about our graduate programs and application process
• Sign up for one of our upcoming student appointmentsWe look forward to connecting with you!