When you apply to ODU as a graduate student, you also apply to your specific degree program. Some programs have additional admission requirements, such as GRE scores.
The tables below summarize the application materials required by each program. For programs that require an essay, this is often a personal statement about your reasons for pursuing the degree, your background, or the area of research you want to pursue.
| Degree Program | Application Requirements |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering (MS or ME) | Transcripts, essay, resume, two references, GRE |
| Business Administration (MBA) | Transcripts, essay, resume, one reference |
| Civil Engineering - Coastal Engineering focus (MS) | Transcripts, essay, resume, two references, GRE if your bachelor's is not ABET accredited |
| Computer Science (MS) | Transcripts, two references |
| Counseling - Clinical Mental Health (MSEd) | Transcripts, essay, resume, two references |
| Cybersecurity (MS) | Transcripts, essay, resume, one reference |
| Data Science & Analytics (MS) | Transcripts, essay, resume, two references |
| Dental Hygiene (MS) | Transcripts, essay, one reference, NDHBE certification |
| Educational Leadership - Admin. & Supervision K-12 (MSEd) | Transcripts, resume, prior classroom teaching experience |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering (MS or ME) | Transcripts, essay, two references, GRE if your bachelor's is not ABET accredited |
| Elementary Education (MAT) | Transcripts, three references |
| Elementary Education for Licensed Teachers (MSEd) | Transcripts, essay, two references, copy of teaching license |
| Engineering Management (MEM) | Transcripts, essay, resume |
| Engineering Management (MEM) by Portable Media | Transcripts and proof of your NPS-O/Prototype or BRES graduation in .pdf format (e.g., JST, etc.) |
| English - Technical Writing (MA) | Transcripts, essay, two references (three for international students), 5-10 page writing sample |
| Environmental Engineering (MS) | Transcripts, essay, two references, GRE if your bachelor's is not ABET accredited |
| Instructional Design & Technology (Secondary Education) (MSEd) | Transcripts, essay, three references, GRE |
| Laboratory Animal Science (MS) | Transcripts, essay, two references |
| Library and Information Studies (MLIS) | Transcripts, essay, resume |
| Library and Information Studies - School Librarianship (MLIS) | Transcripts, essay, resume, Virginia Collegiate Professional License |
| Lifespan & Digital Communication (MA) | Transcripts, essay, two references |
| Maritime Trade & Supply Chain Management (MS) | Transcripts, essay, resume, one reference |
| Mathematics Specialist (Elementary Education) (MSEd) | Transcripts, resume, copy of teaching license |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | Transcripts, essay, resume, two references, GRE |
| Medical & Health Professions Education (MMPHE) | Transcripts, essay, resume or curriculum vitae, two references |
| Modeling and Simulation (MS) | Transcripts, essay, resume, two references, GRE |
| Nursing - Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist/Educator (MSN) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Nursing - Neonatal Clinical Nursing Specialist (MSN) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Nursing - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Nursing - Nurse Midwifery (MSN) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Nursing - Pediatric Clinical Nursing Specialist (MSN) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Nursing - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Nutrition (MS) | Transcripts, essay, two references |
| Public Administration (MPA) | Transcripts, essay, resume, two references |
| Public Health (MPH) | Transcripts, essay, two or more references * Beginning with Fall 2026, applications to the MPH must be started in SOPHAS. |
| Reading (MSEd) | Transcripts, essay, two references |
| Reading Specialist Endorsement (Reading) (MSEd) | Transcripts, essay, two references, copy of teaching license |
| Reproductive Clinical Science - Embryology & Andrology (MS) | Transcripts, essay, resume or curriculum vitae, two references |
| Secondary Education (MAT) | Transcripts, three references |
| Secondary Education for Licensed Teachers (MSEd) | Transcripts, essay, two references, copy of teaching license |
| Special Education - Virginia Licensure (MSEd) | Transcripts, essay |
| Sport Management (MS) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Systems Engineering (ME) | Transcripts, essay, resume |
| Degree Program | Application Requirements |
|---|---|
| Career & Technical Education (Workforce & Organizational Development) (PhD) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Community College Leadership (PhD) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references, and a writing sample. Writing sample should be an academic sample on a current issue facing higher education (two pages, single-spaced). |
| Educational Leadership (PhD) | Transcripts, essays, resume, three references, and a writing sample. Writing sample should be one page, single-spaced, about a critical issue facing educational leaders (why is this issue relevant? what role should schools play in addressing this issue?). |
| Educational Leadership with Licensure (EdS) | Transcripts, essay, two references, and a one page, single-spaced statement about a contemporary, critical issues facing educational leaders. |
| Engineering Management & Systems Engineering (PhD) | Transcripts, essay, resume or curriculum vitae, GRE |
| English (PhD) | Transcripts, 1500-word essay, resume, three references, and a 15-20 page writing sample |
| Health Sciences (DHSc) | Transcripts, essay, resume or curriculum vitae, two references |
| Human Resource - Training (Workforce & Organizational Development) (PhD) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Instructional Design & Technology (PhD) | Transcripts, essay, three references, GRE |
| Kinesiology (DAS) | Transcripts, essay, two references |
| Medical & Health Professions Education (EdD) | Transcripts, essay, resume or curriculum vitae, two references, and a writing sample with an introduction and brief review of literature related to your research interest (two-pages, single spaced, APA 7 style) |
| Medical & Health Professions Education (PhD) | Transcripts, essay, resume or curriculum vitae, two references, and a writing sample with an introduction and brief review of literature related to your research interest (two-pages, single spaced, APA 7 style) |
| Medical Science (DMSc) | Transcripts, essay, two references, and proof of certification to practice by an accredited regulatory body |
| Nursing - Advanced Practice (DNP) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Nursing - Nurse Executive (DNP) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Nursing Science (PhD) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
| Public Administration & Policy (PhD) | Transcripts, essay, resume, two references, GRE or GMAT |
| Reproductive Clinical Science - Embryology & Andrology (PhD) | Transcripts, essay, three references, and a letter of support to conduct research |
| Technology Education (Workforce & Organizational Development) (PhD) | Transcripts, essay, resume, three references |
Our advisors and faculty graduate program directors are ready to help. They can answer questions about program requirements, courses, and more. To get in touch about a particular program, please submit the form here.
For questions about the graduate application process, please email us for personalized assistance at globalgradadmit@odu.edu.
