Nova Southeastern University

Doctoral Programs

The Admission Process
Admission is competitive; consequently, applicants who meet the minimum requirements are not assured admission. The school qualitatively and quantitatively evaluates applicants and makes selections based on performance, personal qualifications, and evidence of potential for success. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis.

The Admission Requirements
1. An earned master’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.25 from a regionally accredited institution and with an appropriate major.
2. Online application form, application fee, and essay.
3. Official transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate education.
4. Evaluation forms or letters of recommendation from three people who are familiar with your academic and/or professional capabilities and able to assess your intellectual abilities, maturity, and motivation. Evaluations from your professors are preferred. Evaluations are unacceptable if they are unrelated to your doctoral application, or from family members, friends, those without experience in the research-based doctorate, or from those unable to evaluate your academic potential to succeed in the program to which you are applying.
5. A curriculum vitae (CV) that provides a short account of your academic background and professional experience.
6. Proficiency in the English language. Doctoral students are expected to write numerous papers and a dissertation. Grammatical errors, spelling errors, and writing that does not express ideas clearly will affect a student’s grades and the completion of his or her degree. The faculty will not provide remedial help concerning grammatical errors or other writing problems. Applicants who are unable to write correctly and clearly are urged to seek remedial help before enrolling in any of the school’s programs.

The school may request additional documentation to support the application.

Doctoral program–specific admissions requirements

Computer Information Systems is designed for the student with a master's degree in computer information systems, computer science, or a closely related field. The applicant should satisfy graduate prerequisites or have equivalent experience in information systems, programming languages, database systems, systems analysis and design, data communications and networks.

Computer Science is designed for the student with a master’s degree in computer science, or a closely related field. The applicant should satisfy graduate prerequisites or have equivalent experience in programming languages, data communications and computer networks, operating systems, compilers, database management systems, theory of computation, design and analysis of algorithms, and computer architecture.

Computing Technology in Education is designed for the students with a master’s degree in any liberal arts, science, education or applied science field. The candidate must have strong skills in computing and communication in the English language.

Information Systems is designed for the student with a master’s degree in information systems, information science, computer science, information technology, or a related area. The applicant should satisfy graduate prerequisites or have equivalent experience in information systems, programming languages, database systems, systems analysis and design, and telecommunications and computer networks.