If you don't see your question answered below, please email us: atlas.admissions@colorado.edu
Applying to the ATLAS Institute PhD Program
Note: Refer to the How to Apply to the ATLAS PhD Program page for application instructions.
What is the deadline to apply?
The ATLAS PhD application deadline is December 1.
Do I have to take the Graduate Record Exam?
The ATLAS PhD program does not require the GRE.
Who can serve as my PhD advisor in the ATLAS PhD program?
Any tenure track or tenured CU Boulder faculty member who holds a doctorate may serve as the chair of your advisory committee. However, most (but not all) current ATLAS PhD students are advised by ATLAS Institute faculty members. Regardless of departmental affiliation, advisors of ATLAS PhD students are expected to provide tuition and stipend support.
How will you review my application?
We consider three main criteria when reviewing applications:
- Do you have a clearly defined area of interest?
We understand that over the course of PhD study, interests may shift. We won't hold you to your initial expressions of area of interest and we don't expect that you know the topic of your dissertation when you apply to the program. Still, having a clear idea of the topics to be explored in PhD study is a good indicator of future success.
- Do you have the background and skills to work in that area?
We look at whether you are prepared to begin working on the topics you identify as your area of interest. For example, if you have a background in nuclear engineering and you plan to work on computer music, we'd like to know more about what skills you'll bring to bear on your new direction.
- Do we have the capacity to supervise work in that area?
We look at whether we have faculty members who can supervise research in your area of interest. No matter how interesting the area of research and how capable you are to work in that area, we can only take students for whom we have the faculty to advise and supervise. We require a commitment from at least one faculty member to advise and fund any applicant we admit to the ATLAS PhD program.
Our current students also offer feedback on your application. (Submit your request using this form.) Note that submitting your application for feedback does not constitute applying to the program and positive feedback from a student is not a guarantee of admission.
How does funding work? Are there teaching and research assistant roles for PhD students?
We aim to support every PhD student with tuition and stipend throughout their program. Admission to the program comes with a four-year funding commitment, as long as students remain in good academic standing and are making progress toward their degree. Most PhD students are supported by funding from their advisor’s research grants, although a few ATLAS-funded teaching assistantships are available.
About the PhD Program
What kinds of jobs to ATLAS PhD alumni get?
Our PhD alumni have followed a wide range of career paths. Some are specialists or senior researchers at large corporations or research institutes. Some are founders, directors, advisors, board members and CEOs of different companies or non-profit organizations, and some are university faculty members. To learn more about the career paths of our PhD graduates, explore our alumni page.
I'm interested in pursuing a career as a professor. Do ATLAS PhD alumni get jobs as faculty members?
Yes. As of 2023, among the ATLAS PhD program's 32 alumni, nine are currently full-time faculty members at US universities, including the University of Washington, Georgetown University, Ball State University, University of Colorado Denver and Georgia Tech.
I'm interested in doing a practice-based PhD. Can ATLAS accomodate me?
Probably not. The ATLAS PhD program is a research-based program. Students are expected to propose a thesis and write a dissertation. You can see examples of recent ATLAS PhD dissertations here. If you're looking for a practice based PhD you might be interested in two programs offered by the College of Media, Communication and Information: the PhD in Emergent Technologies and Media Art Practices and the PhD in Intermedia Arts, Writing and Performance.
Would I be better off with a PhD in a conventional field like computer science or mechanical engineering?
It depends. The ATLAS PhD program values and supports interdisciplinary interests in ways that conventional single-discipline programs do not. If your career aspirations require a specific conventional degree, then by all means pursue that degree. In practice, we’ve found that the opportunities open to the graduates of PhD programs are governed more by what they’ve accomplished than by the degree on their diplomas. To see the career paths of PhD program alumni, visit our alumni page.
How many years does it take to get a PhD at ATLAS?
The average time to graduate with a PhD is 4.9 years. The length of study varies widely based on many conditions.
International Students
I’m an international student. Are the ATLAS programs STEM-OPT eligible?
Yes, all students in all ATLAS degree programs are eligible for extended STEM-OPT. The CIP code for these programs is 15.0000: “Engineering Technology, General.”
I’m an international student. Do I have to take the TOEFL or IELTS?
Yes. If you are an international student and your native language is not English, you must submit a documented TOEFL iBT score or an IELTS score. More here on language proficiency. The minimum TOEFL score for admission is 100; the minimum IELTS score is 7.0. We also accept the Duolingo proficiency test with a score of 125 or higher.