RESET FORM
UAF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES (INDS) PhD PROGRAM
Completing this application will require you to work closely with the chair of your planned graduate advisory committee
and at least one other committee member. If you encounter problems or have questions, please contact the INDS PhD
Program Liaison, Barbara Adams, at [email protected] or 1 907 474 7509. Review and subsequent recommendation to
accept an application is made by the Interdisciplinary Council, comprised of faculty experienced in interdisciplinary studies.
The Council may also ask for revision of your application or it can reject it. This replaces the discipline-based application
process, where a department committee makes the recommendation. With all PhD applications, confirmation of a
recommendation to admit is needed from the home department chair, the relevant dean, and the Dean of the Graduate
School and Interdisciplinary Programs.
APPLICATION STEPS
ITEM
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION
1
Apply for Admission through UAOnline
Complete online form and submit payment through
https://uaonline.alaska.edu
2
Transcripts
Request that official transcripts from all previous institutions be
sent to UAF Admissions
3
GRE or GMAT Scores
Request that scores be sent to UAF Admissions either from
previous exam dates or when taking exams
4a
Applicant Information
4b
Statement of Academic Goals
4c
Research Prospectus
4d
Résumé
Please complete and submit per Submission Instructions in Part
4a of this packet
See Guidelines and Submission Instructions in Part 4b of this
packet
See Guidelines and Submission Instructions in Part 4c of this
packet
See Guidelines and Submission Instructions in Part 4d of this
packet
5
Proposed Graduate Study Plan
6
Two (2) Letters of Endorsement, from proposed See Guidelines and Submission Instructions in Part 6 of this
committee chair and a committee member
packet
7
Two (2) professional and/or academic Letters of Request, from two people who know you, letters that speak to
Recommendation
your academic ability, professional expertise, and character to
be sent to UAF Admissions
See Guidelines and Submission Instructions in Part 5
of this packet, be sure to obtain the signature of your
proposed committee chair prior to submission
Color Code
Green: You must do this yourself and submit directly to UAF.
Yellow: You will need to request that this information be sent to UAF.
Blue: You can do this yourself but should ask for review by your committee chair and perhaps one other committee member.
Red: Requires discussion with your proposed committee and signature of proposed chair.
Purple: You will need to ask people to do this for you.
Revised 2/8/16
UAF INDS PhD PROGRAM
Part 4a: Applicant Information
Applicant Name:
UA Student ID:
Date of Birth:
Email:
Address:
Telephone number:
Disciplines:
Tentative Dissertation
Title:
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
PLEASE SEND THIS PAGE TO:
Office of the Graduate School and Interdisciplinary Programs
PO Box 757560
Fairbanks AK 99775
or
[email protected]
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UAF INDS PhD PROGRAM
Part 4b: Statement of Academic Goals Guidelines
Applicant’s Full Name:
UAF Student ID:
Email:
Date of Birth:
Write, then copy and paste onto this form an essay of no more than 1500 words addressing the following:
● Introduce yourself, your academic interests, and motivations for pursuing an INDS Ph.D.
● Summarize relevant experience (e.g., undergraduate, graduate, professional career) that has prepared you for the
INDS PhD Program.
● Clearly identify the disciplinary fields you will draw from in your academic program, the coursework you envision,
the focus of your proposed research, and how the composition of your proposed committee aligns with these goals.
Explain why your interdisciplinary program does not fit into an existing UAF Ph.D. program.
● Provide any additional comments that you would like the review committee to consider. For example, mention
strengths (e.g., strong record of publication) or weaknesses (e.g., low GRE or GPA) in your application packet.
To ensure that no information is lost, please copy and paste the above applicant information table at the top of each
subsequent page.
Writing Tips:
The Council will look for self-motivation, potential as a graduate student and a rational, feasible and well-integrated
academic program.
●
●
●
●
●
Use concise language, a positive tone, and an active rather than passive voice.
Provide concrete examples to illustrate your strengths.
Address any weaknesses in your academic performance, and how you overcame them.
Strive for a focused essay with a strong start. Everything you write should demonstrate your potential as a
graduate student and show a well-conceived academic program.
Run a spelling and grammar check. Everyone makes mistakes but making them in an application is a red flag
for reviewers.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Office of Admissions and the Registrar
PO Box 757480
Fairbanks AK 99775
or
[email protected]
Revised 2/8/16
UAF INDS Ph.D. PROGRAM
Part 4c: Prospectus Guidelines and Instructions
Applicant’s Full Name:
UAF Student ID:
Email:
Date of Birth:
Write, then copy and paste a research prospectus of no more than 2000 words onto this form that includes the
following information:
1. Tentative Title of the Research Study: Create a draft title for your dissertation. This does not necessarily have to
be your final title in the future.
2. Executive Summary (Goals/Specific Aims): Describe the goals and/or specific aims of your proposed project.
What is the problem that your project will address?
3. Rationale and Significance: Why is this research important and who will be affected by the new knowledge that
will be produced once this research is completed? Through a literature review describe what is currently known
about your research topic. Identify the gap in knowledge that your research is intended to fill.
4. Research Questions and Hypotheses (if applicable): What specific research questions do you hope to answer?
5. Research Approach: Summarize the design of the project and describe the methods, procedures and/or protocols
planned to achieve the goals. Describe any equipment or facilities that will be used. Provide a timeline of the
project work.
6. Interdisciplinary nature of the proposed research: How is this research interdisciplinary? What disciplines do
you expect to contribute to the research?
7. Funding: How do you expect to support the cost of the proposed research?
8. Literature Cited: Include previous work cited in item #3 or elsewhere in essay. Citations should not be exhaustive
but should indicate some familiarity with the subject. (Note that this section need not be included in your word
count.)
To ensure that no information is lost, please copy and paste the above applicant information table at the top of each
subsequent page.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Office of Admissions and the Registrar
PO Box 757480
Fairbanks AK 99775
or
[email protected]
Revised 2/8/16
UAF INDS PhD PROGRAM
Part 4d: Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CURRENT RESUME OR CURRICULUM VITAE TO
THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS AND THE REGISTRAR AT:
Office of Admissions and the Registrar
PO Box 757480
Fairbanks AK 99775
OR EMAIL IT TO:
[email protected]
Revised 2/8/16
UAF INDS PhD PROGRAM
Part 5: Proposed Graduate Study Plan
Applicant’s Full Name:
UAF Student ID:
Email:
Date of Birth:
Directions: Complete this form in consultation with your proposed committee chair.
A. DEGREE INFORMATION
Degree Sought:
Interdisciplinary Ph.D.
Topic:
B. PROPOSED COMMITTEE MEMBERS (need first two members identified but others are not required at time of application)
PRINTED NAME
DEPARTMENT/INSTITUTION
Committee Chair/ (Letter of Endorsement required):
1st Member
2nd Member (Letter of Endorsement required):
3rd Member:
4th Member
5th Member (optional):
* Place an asterisk before the name of the committee member from PhD granting department at UAF.
C. COURSES AND CREDITS
DEFICIENCY COURSES (100-, 200-, 300-, and/or 400-Level courses):
(These are courses that are considered essential preparation for your program. They will not count toward your minimum credit
requirement.)
Semester Course Dept. and Number Course Title
Credits
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA COURSES – 400 level:
Semester Course Dept. and Number Course Title
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Credits
UAF INDS PhD PROGRAM
Part 5: Proposed Graduate Study Plan
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS – 600 level (coursework, independent study, research, dissertation credits)
Semester
Course Dept. and Number Course Title
Credits
TRANSFER COURSES: Graduate degree credit will be transferable within the UA system and from any other accredited institution
for courses where the student has received a grade of B or better with the following stipulations: up to 1/2 of all graduate degree credits
may be transferred within the UA system; no more than 1/3 of all graduate degree credits may be transferred from accredited institutions
outside the UA system. All transfer credits must have been taken within the appropriate time limit for the degree.
Semester
Course Dept. and Number Course Title
Courses are to be transferred from
Name of Institution(s)
TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS
Research and Dissertation (must have a minimum of 18 credits F699)
Graduate courses (other than 699 thesis credits)
Undergraduate courses (400 level only)
Total Number of Credits
Revised 2/8/16
Credits
UAF INDS PhD PROGRAM
Part 5: Proposed Graduate Study Plan
D. TIMELINE
Estimate the semester of completion for the following benchmarks. Note that the average time for an INDS PhD is 5 years.
Time required depends on factors such as student’s other obligations, level of prior preparation, and complexity of the
project. In general, research involving human subjects takes longer. It is virtually impossible to complete an acceptable
degree program in less than three years. Therefore, the timeline should be three years at a minimum. These are only goals
and do not prevent you from completing them earlier or later.
1. Completion of coursework listed in study plan (this depends on
how many courses you list and how many courses per semester you
want to take)
2. Comprehensive examinations (written and oral) and
Advancement to Candidacy (can follow soon after #1 but you may
want to allow time to prepare).
3. Completion of first draft of Ph.D. dissertation (allow ample time
for research, especially if human subjects are involved)
4. Ph.D. dissertation defense (allow time for committee to read and
review and you to revise)
5. Submission of dissertation in final form with signatures of
committee (further revisions are almost always required after
defense; may require a month or less unless there are serious
deficiencies).
6. Graduation (end of semester when #5 occurs, provided there is
sufficient time for final approvals; see academic calendar)
E. SIGNATURE of committee chair
I have reviewed the applicant’s Statement of Academic Goals, Research Prospectus and Proposed Graduate Study
Plan and agree to serve as the major advisor to this applicant if admitted.
Committee Chair Name
Signature
Date
PLEASE SUBMIT THIS FORM WITH SIGNATURE TO THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS AND THE
REGISTRAR AT:
Office of Admissions and the Registrar
PO Box 757480
Fairbanks AK 99775
OR EMAIL IT TO:
[email protected]
Revised 2/8/16
UAF INDS PhD PROGRAM
Part 6: Faculty Letters of Endorsement (2)
Applicant’s Name:
UAF Student ID:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANT: A meeting is required (in person or by telephone or video
conference) among the applicant, committee chair, and one member of the committee from a different
discipline prior to submission of the application to discuss items 1-6 below, as your faculty advisors deem
appropriate. Please indicate the date this meeting was held:
Date of Meeting:
Prior to the meeting, please send this form to both of the committee members for completion. Both letters
are required before your application will be considered complete.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Please answer the questions below for the applicant
noted above. If a question below does not apply (e.g., funding or office space), please write N/A.
1. Based on the applicant’s prospectus, please comment on the significance and feasibility of the proposed
research and the interdisciplinary nature of this effort.
2. Briefly explain why this research should not be conducted under an existing disciplinary department or
program at UAF.
3. What expertise will be required from the committee to help the applicant effectively address his or her
research question(s)?
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4. State the type of support that will be provided for the applicant, including (as applicable) financial support,
office space, and engagement with peers in department, cohort, etc.
5. Describe the key academic strengths (or previous employment experience) of the applicant that will facilitate success
in the INDS PhD program.
6. Describe any issues that may require special attention during the degree program
7. This application process represents a substantial revision by the new INDS Council to what the INDS PhD Program
previously required. If you are familiar with the previous process, please comment on whether or not you think this is
an improvement and why. If this is your first encounter with an INDS PhD application, please provide any suggestions
you may have for improvement.
Committee Chair or Member Name
Signature
Department/Institution
Note: In cases where a member of the committee (may be a co-chair) is at another university with which the applicant is associated, the
meeting should involve and second letter be from that person.
Committee Member: Please email the completed form to [email protected]
Revised 2/8/16