Programs of Study

Graduate study is offered in two broad categories: (1) research-oriented programs leading to the M.A., M.S., and various doctoral degrees, and (2) professional programs which primarily provide advanced course work and lead to master's degrees in certain specified disciplines. Graduate programs at Rice usually require full-time study.

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is awarded for original studies in anthropology, applied physics, biochemistry and cell biology, bioengineering, chemistry, computational and applied mathematics, computational science and engineering, computer science, earth science, ecology and evolutionary biology, economics, electrical and computer engineering, engineering (chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical), English, environmental science and engineering, French studies, geology and geophysics, history, linguistics, materials science and engineering, mathematics, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, space physics and astronomy, and statistics.

The Master of Science degree may be obtained in all engineering fields, computer science, materials science, and space physics and astronomy.

The School of Architecture offers the degrees of Master of Architecture, Master of Architecture in Urban Design, and Doctor of Architecture. Completion of a master's degree requires two or more academic years. The Shepherd School of Music offers the Master of Music (M.M.) and the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degrees. The minimum hourly requirements for the M.Mus. degree vary from 43 to 57 according to major area.

The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management provides programs leading to the degrees of Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). Completion of the M.B.A. degree requires a minimum of two academic years in residence at Rice and 60 credit hours.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) is a professional degree program for students wishing to qualify for secondary-school teaching following a liberal undergraduate education. The program normally requires the completion of 11 advanced courses.

The new Rice University Master of Liberal Studies (MLS) degree program is a part-time, interdisciplinary liberal arts program. The total course of study is 33 credit hours which includes three core courses, 7 electives, and a final CAPSTONE course.

Cost of Study

The tuition for full-time graduate students entering in the 2007-08 academic year is $28,400. For students enrolling in Architecture, Shepherd School of Music, and Professional Master's programs, tuition for the 2007-08 academic year is $24,330. Annual fees are approximately $564 for 2007-08. In addition, all graduate students are required to have health insurance. All students are required to maintain continuous enrollment unless an official leave of absence has been granted.

Graduate students qualify for tuition at a reduced rate after having completed 6 semesters of full-time enrollment. Semesters credited toward reduced tuition will be limited to one degree program. Students who enter a doctoral program after having acquired a relevant master's degree are eligible for reduced-rate tuition after the completion of only 4 semesters of full-time enrollment. Reduced-rate tuition for 2007-08 ranges from $1300 to $1578 per year, depending on your degree program.

Living and Housing Costs

Houston has a reasonable cost of living for a major city. The Graduate Apartments, which opened in the summer of 1999, offers housing at moderate cost and is close to campus. Contact Student Housing or The Graduate Student Association for information regarding other housing options.

Financial Aid

Most thesis students at Rice are supported by fellowships or research assistantships, and a few teaching assistantships are awarded. In addition to the merit-based aid described above, the Office of Financial Aid offers need-based aid in the form of loans and College Work Study to graduate students who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or refugees.

The University

Rice University, a privately endowed, nonsectarian, coeducational institution, was founded in 1891 as the William Marsh Rice Institute, dedicated to the advancement of letters, science, and art. The university occupies a 300-acre tree-lined campus located one block northwest of the Texas Medical Center and approximately three miles southwest of Houston's central business district. With an undergraduate enrollment of 2,700 and a graduate enrollment of 1,800, Rice's student body is relatively small. The overall student-teacher ratio is less than 10:1.

Houston is the fourth largest city in the nation and the leading commercial, financial, and industrial city of the South and Southwest. In addition to Rice, there are seven other colleges and universities located in Houston. The Texas Medical Center contains the largest concentration of health care facilities in the world. It is the site of a number of major medical schools including the Baylor College of Medicine, the Texas Woman's University, Texas A&M Universities' College of Nursing, and the University of Texas's School of Medicine, School of Public Health, and Dental Branch, as well as numerous hospitals and medical libraries. The Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Grand Opera, and the Houston Ballet give regular performances downtown.

Several of Houston's five major museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts are located within easy walking distance of the Rice campus. Two major-league professional sports franchises are located in the city. Galveston and the beach are 45 miles to the southwest.

RiceInfo

RiceInfo provides easy computer access to a tremendous wealth of information on life at Rice. You can view course schedules, review the Rice University General Announcements (academic catalog), social calendars, Honor Council abstracts and constitution, the Graduate Student Association Yellow Pages, Houston and Texas weather, the Rice campus directory and more. You can access our RiceInfo over the Internet at http://www.rice.edu, or you can access information regarding graduate and postdoctoral studies at http://graduate.rice.edu.

Application

All inquiries should be addressed directly to the department to which you intend to apply:

Completed application forms, official transcripts, and at least three letters of recommendation should be submitted to the appropriate department by February 1. Some departments, however, may specify an earlier deadline. See individual departmental websites for specific deadline information. Some departments require 4 letters of recommendation.