Ph.D. Application Procedure

The next set of new Ph.D. students will be admitted for the Fall, 2008 semester. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is December 3, 2007.

In the weeks before the deadline, we review the application files and send letters to applicants indicating which, if any, of the required materials have not been received. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that all of the required materials are received in this office. You may call the Graduate Program Office at the School (517-355-3285) to verify that your application is complete. The only complete record of your application materials is maintained in the School of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Listed below is the information we must receive before we can make a decision on your application.

Information to be sent directly to the Ph.D. Program Committee, School of Labor & Industrial Relations, Michigan State University, 401 S. Kedzie Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824-1032:

Application Form and Fee:

1. Applicants Not Presently Enrolled in a Michigan State University Graduate Program who have never been enrolled in an MSU graduate program:
   
   Complete the application form, indicating that your code number is "7602" and your major field is "PhD, Industrial Relations and Human Resources." If you are applying for financial assistance, check the appropriate boxes. Submit the application form and the application fee (payable by check or money order, not cash). As noted, it is strongly recommended that the application form and fee be submitted as early as possible to ensure adequate time to process your application.Mail these items as the first step in your application. Any application materials received in the School before your application form is submitted will be kept on file for you.
   
2. Applicants not currently enrolled at MSU who were previously graduate students in other MSU programs:
   
   Complete an MSU Application for Readmission to Graduate Study. This form can be obtained from the MSU Office of Admissions and Scholarships, and should be returned to that office. No fee is charged to process a readmission application. Verify with the appropriate Graduate Program Office whether your graduate student records are still on file.
   
3. Students currently enrolled in MSU Graduate Programs Seeking a Transfer to the Ph.D. Program do not need to be readmitted to MSU.
   
4. If you are presently enrolled in another graduate program at MSU, request an Internal Transfer form from the School to submit in place of the MSU application form. The Internal Transfer form should be returned directly to Room 401 South Kedzie Hall. No fee is charged to process an Internal Transfer form.

Transcripts:

One set of official transcripts of all academic work to date outside of MSU is required. MSU transcripts are already on file. You do not need to request they be sent. Applicants who have attended other colleges or universities must arrange with those registrars to have their official transcripts sent to MSU. If your transcripts are on file in another MSU department, additional official transcripts do not need to be requested. However, you must ask the department to forward copies to the School.

In addition to the items specified above, each application must contain all of the materials listed below. If you are currently enrolled or have been enrolled in the past at MSU and are adding materials to those already on file, it is your responsibility to make certain that all of the materials requested are included in your application. If you are in another MSU graduate program, you must request in a letter to your current graduate department that any application materials we require be sent to the School. Materials in your file in another department will not automatically be sent to us.

1. Examination: Either the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required, although the GRE is preferred. For more information about taking the GRE, see the information below.
   
2. Letters of Reference: Please arrange to have three faculty members prepare letters of recommendation on department or business letterhead stationery. These letters MUST be attached to the reference forms provided. The letters may be returned to you to forward to the School, or they may be sent directly to the School by the originator. Letters submitted on plain paper or on paper with a computer-generated letterhead will be returned for resubmission on official letterhead paper. We will be looking for information on your academic performance and your promise as a graduate student. Letters from employers may be sent in addition to academic references. These also must be attached to the reference forms provided. If you have been out of school for about five years or more, letters from knowledgeable employers may have to suffice.
   
3. Statement of Objectives: Please send a brief statement, not more than two pages, describing your career plans and the role of a doctoral degree in industrial relations and human resources in these plans.
   
4. Special Application Form for Doctoral Program: Please complete the special form for application to the doctoral program. We will be looking for information on your academic performance and your promise as a Ph.D. student.

Other Information to be sent directly to the School of Labor and Industrial Relations:

In addition, you may want to send the School copies of research papers you have written, a current resume and any other information which has a bearing on your academic performance and potential.

TIME SCHEDULE FOR THE GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION

The Graduate Record Examination is given several times a year by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) at various testing centers. Advance registration is normally required, but one may register late for an extra fee. The MSU Testing Office, 207 Student Services Building (517-355-8385) has information about the exam, or you may contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) at:

Educational Testing Service
Graduate Record Examinations
CN 6000
Princeton, NJ 98541-6000
Tel: (609) 771-7670

Use the following codes to ensure the GRE scores are sent directly to the School of Labor and Industrial Relations:

Institution Code: 1465
Department Code: 4204