Admissions

Source: https://asianam.ucla.edu/graduate-study/admissions/ Parent: https://asianam.ucla.edu/

Requirements At-A-Glance

Prospective and current graduate students may email Student Advisor with any questions related to academic advising and admissions: justin.delacruz@asianam.ucla.edu.

Transfer Bruin Day 2023

The Masters of Arts (M.A.) program fosters academic support and challenges students to think critically and creatively making the program a leader in its field. The M.A. program features a dynamic and innovative curriculum with outstanding and world renowned faculty dedicated to teaching and presenting leading scholarship into the classroom. In addition, we offer two joint M.A. programs with the Department of Social Welfare and the Department of Community Health Sciences as well as a Graduate Concentration in Asian American Studies.

Our graduates play leading roles in national organizations and communities across the nation. Come join us at UCLA!

Application

UCLAGraduate Division Online Application

The online application is available on the UCLA Graduate Division website.

View program overview, info session presentation, and admissions workshop recording here.

Application Deadline

The application for UCLA Graduate Admissions for Fall 2025 are expected to open on or after Labor Day. All required admission materials must be submitted via the online application by December 1st. For a list of required supplementary materials, please visit our admissions requirements page.

Your application cannot be reviewed for admission until you have completed the following:

paid the application fee by credit or debit card in U.S. Currency ($135.00 for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents, $155.00 for all other applicants) and;
uploaded the required supporting documents, including letters of recommendation, transcripts, writing sample, and a statement of purpose.

Admissions Requirements

For more details about our admissions requirements may be found at the following:

https://grad.ucla.edu/programs/social-sciences/asian-american-studies/

Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose should address your reasons for pursuing an M.A. degree in Asian American Studies, past and present experiences within the field, and your involvement with the Asian American community. The statement of purpose should be approximately 1-page (500-word limit), single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point font.

Writing Sample

The writing sample should focus on a topic of your choice. The Department understands that not every college or university offers courses in Asian American Studies. An academic paper is not required for the writing sample. However, the sample should give the Department’s Admissions Committee a sense of your ability to tackle graduate-level work. There is no page limit for the writing sample.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required. It is preferred that at least two letters of recommendation be from academic faculty in your field(s). The Department of Asian American Studies strongly recommends the submission of letters of recommendation via the UCLA Graduate Division online application. If, however, your recommender cannot submit a letter electronically, please contact the UCLA Graduate Division Office of Admissions Application Problems for assistance. More than three letters of recommendation will not be considered by the Department’s Admissions Committee.

Transcripts

One official, sealed hardcopy academic transcript with evidence of degree conferral from each institution the student received a degree from must be mailed to the Department. Additionally, the Department requires transcripts from all universities and colleges you have attended to be uploaded in your online application.

Per UCLA Graduate Division, the general requirement for admission for a U.S. student is a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a bachelor’s degree from the University of California. A scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better is required or its equivalent if the letter grade system is not used—for the last 60 semester units or last 90 quarter units of undergraduate study and in any post-baccalaureate study.

For more information:

https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/research-requirements/

The Admissions Committee evaluates the entire transcript and takes into account that some applicants may have changed majors during their undergraduate course of study. We also understand that not all universities offer courses in Asian American Studies.

Transcripts must be mailed no later than December 1st to:

UCLA Department of Asian American Studies\ Attn: Graduate Admissions\ 3332 Rolfe Hall\ Box 957225\ Los Angeles, CA 90095-7225

Request of transcript forms:

http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/library/trnscrpt.pdf

GRE Scores (Optional)

GRE scores are not required for the application, but if they are submitted, they may be evaluated with your entire file.

Important Notes

Applications cannot be reviewed for admission until the following has been completed:

The $135.00 (for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents) or $155.00 (for all other applicants) application fee must be submitted online by credit or debit card in U.S. currency.
All required supporting documents must be uploaded and/or sent.

International Applicants

The Department of Asian American Studies accepts admission applications from International students. Prospective students may find application information on the UCLA Graduate Division website for International Applicants.

All international applicants whose first language is NOT English are required to certify their proficiency in English. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) OR International English Testing System examination (IELTS) must be submitted with the application. The minimum TOEFL or IELTS scores, required by UCLA before a recommendation is made by the graduate program, are 560 on the paper test or 220 on the computer-based test (TOEFL) or Overall Band Score of 7.0 (IELTS). Scores are valid for two years prior to application for graduate admission.

Funding is limited for international students. Many of the Graduate Division fellowships are restricted to U.S. citizens or permanent residents only. Information on award requirements may be found at UCLA’s Graduate Division website.

For further information on all requirements for international applicants, including visa procedures, please click here.

Application Processing

Please check the Graduate Division’s application webpage afterDecember 1st to check on the progress of your application. To verify that your application fee was received by UCLA, please contact the UCLA Graduate Admissions Office at (310) 825-1711. The Department of Asian American Studies will make every effort to release admission decisions to all applicants by April 15th.

FAQs

Detailed FAQ from UCLA Graduate Division:\ https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/faqs/

Detailed FAQ from the Asian American Studies Department:\ http://asianam.dept.ucla.edu/graduate-study/admissions/admissions-faq/