Creative Thinking at Work: Critical and Creative Thinking
Admission Requirements
CCT offers a 30-credit Master of Arts degree and a 15-credit Graduate Certificate. Officially, students applying to the certificate program must meet the same admissions criteria (described below) as students entering the Master’s program. In practice, a shorter statement of interest and intent and only two letters of recommendation suffice for a certificate applicant.
- A completed Graduate Application form (pdf)
- Undergraduate Transcript
The CCT Program looks for a generally distinguished undergraduate transcript with an average of at least 3.0 in advanced undergraduate work. For students with a strong record of accomplishment in other areas, the CCT Admissions committee will recommend provisional admission with the stipulation that the student completes two courses in the program with a course grade of B+ or better. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the Program, we do not require that you come from any specific program of study.
- Letters of Recommendations
Two letters are required from people who have worked closely with you and who have direct knowledge of your abilities. The people you ask to recommend you should be able to comment in detail about your academic strengths, work experience, or life experience.
- Statement of Interest and Intent
The Program’s admissions requirements call for an essay of at least 1200 words in which you explain your intellectual, artistic, professional or personal reasons for wanting to pursue a degree in Critical and Creative Thinking. Your essay should include specific accounts of your past work and current direction. You should provide a detailed discussion of your specific interests and priorities as a student (or scholar, teacher, artist, computer wizard, philosophizer); the projects you have completed in the past; the problems and topics you want to focus on in future study; and how and why you believe the CCT program can help you accomplish your goals. The CCT Admissions Committee will read your essay as a demonstration of how you write and how you think about issues, as well as determine if your interests and goals match those of the Program.
- Test Scores
GRE scores are optional to apply for our program. Foreign students, please check with Graduate Admissions and Records to inform you of your required tests.
- Transfer of Courses
With the approval of the Graduate Program Director, the University allows graduate students to transfer up to six credits of graduate work into the Program. These credits may be from courses taken as a Special Student, from a Graduate Program in another University, or from a Graduate Program at UMass Boston. Please speak to the Faculty Advisor about the transfer guidelines. If the Advisor approves your transfer, s/he will submit the proper paperwork to Graduate Admissions and Records.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Required from students from countries where English is not the primary language
- Declaration and Certification of Finances
Required from all International Students before an I-20 is issued, with which the student applies for a student visa. Please direct questions about this requirement directly to the Graduate Admissions Office (617.287.6406).
