October 8 (Session B)
December 1 (Session A) February 1 (Session B)
| July 4 | College of Arts and Letters | | Priority: February 1 Final: no designated final deadline | Priority: October 1 Application close date: February 1 | July 4 |
College of Arts and Letters |
| Priority: January 30 Applications received after the priority deadline will be considered an a space available basis
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Arts and Letters |
| Priority: February 1 Space available basis: April 30
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Arts and Letters |
| Priority: March 7 Rolling Admissions Final: no designated final deadline | Priority: November 1 Rolling Admissions Application Close Date: January 1 | Rolling Admissions |
College of Arts and Letters |
| July 1 (Session A) October 8 (Session B) | December 1 (Session A) February 1 (Session B)
| July 4 |
College of Arts and Letters |
| Priority: February 1 Final: no designated final deadline | Priority: October 1 Application Close Date: February 1 | May 24 |
College of Arts and Letters | | February 15 | Priority to be considered for funding: October 15 Priority to be considered for admission: December 1 | Admission not available |
College of Arts and Letters |
| Priority: January 1 Applications received after the priority deadline will be considered an a space available basis | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Arts and Letters | | Priority: March 1 Applications received after the priority deadline will be considered an a space available basis | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Arts and Letters |
| Priority: April 21 Space available basis: July 31 Space available basis: July 31 | Priority: October 21 Space available basis: December 1 | Admission not available |
College of Arts and Letters | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Admission not available |
College of Arts and Letters |
| Priority: January 3
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Education | | September 15 | February 1 | |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education |
| March 1 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Education | | January 1
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Education |
| January 1 January 1 - North Valley campus | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education |
| January 1 (Flagstaff campus only) February 15 (North Valley campus only) February 15 (Tucson campus only) April 1 (Yuma campus only) | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Education |
| December 1 Final (general application): April 15 Final for Graduate Assistantship consideration: March 1
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education |
| January 1 (Flagstaff campus only) February 15 (Tucson campus only) February 15 (North Valley only)
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Education |
| January 1 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Education |
| Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Education | | Rolling Admission | Rolling Admission | Rolling Admission |
College of Education | | July 31 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Education |
| Admission not available | Admission not available | 1st Friday of December
|
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education |
| Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education |
| Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education |
| Priority: March 15 July 31
| January 1 | April 1 |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education |
| Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education |
| Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Education | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences |
| April 1 | October 1 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | April 1 | September 15 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | Priority: February 1 Final: April 1 | September 15 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | April 1 | September 15 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | April 1 | September 15 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences |
| Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | April 1 | September 15 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | June 15 | October 1 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | June 15 | October 1 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | April 1 | October 1 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | June 15 | October 1 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | April 1 | September 15 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | Priority: February 1 Final: April 1 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | April 1 | September 15 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | Priority: February 1 Final: April 1 | September 15 | Admission not Available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | Priority: February 1 Final: April 1 | September 15 | Admission not available |
College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences | | July 31 | January 1 | |
College of Health and Human Services | | August 15 | January 1 | April 1 |
College of Health and Human Services |
| June 3rd (Flagstaff & Phoenix Bioscience Core campuses) - PTCAS | December 1st (Hybrid campus) - PTCAS | Admission not available |
College of Health and Human Services | | June 1st - OTCAS | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Health and Human Services | | December 1 | Admission not available | December 1 |
College of Health and Human Services | | Admission not available | Admission not available | Priority: January 5 Space available basis: May 15 |
College of Health and Human Services |
| January 15 @ 8:59PM PST- CSDCAS and NAU Application | Admission not available | January 15 @ 8:59PM PST- CSDCAS and NAU application |
College of Health and Human Services |
| December 1 | December 1 | December 1 |
College of Health and Human Services |
| April 1 | Priority: October 15 Final: December 1 | Admission not available |
College of Health and Human Services | | September 1 - CASPA and NAU application | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Health and Human Services | | April 1 | December 1 | April 1 |
College of Health and Human Services | | Priority: January 15 Space available basis: April 1
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Health and Human Services | | Priority: January 15 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | Priority: January 15 Final: April 15
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | Priority: January 15 Space available basis: April 1 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Priority: February 15 Space available basis: June 15
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Priority: February 15 Space available basis: May 1st | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Priority (general application): March 1 Priority for Graduate Assistantship consideration: February 1 | Final: October 1 | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | July 1 | October 1 | May 1 |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | Priority: July 15 Space available basis: July 31 | Priority: December 1 Space available basis: January 1 | Admission not available
|
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | Priority: July 15 Space available basis: July 31 | Priority: December 1 Space available basis: January 1 | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | July 31 | January 1 | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Priority: January 15 Space available basis: July 31 | Priority: October 15 Space available basis: January 1 | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | February 15 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Priority: October 15 (PFP Consideration for PhD applicants) Space available basis: February 15 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Priority: February 1 Final: April 1 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| July 31 | December 1 | April 1 |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| July 31 | December 1 | April 1 |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | February 15 | July 31 | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | Admission not available | October 1 (online only) | February 15
|
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | July 31 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Priority: February 15
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Admission not available |
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences |
| April 1 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences |
| Priority: January 1 Final: March 1 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences | | July 31 | January 1 | April 1 |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences | | December 1 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences | | Priority 1: December 2 Priority 2: January 15 Final: February 15 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences |
| March 1 | October 1 | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences | | January 1 | July 31 | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences |
| June 15
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences |
| January 1
| July 31 | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences | | January 1 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences |
| Priority: February 15 Space available basis: August 15
| Priority: October 15 Space available basis: December 31 | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences |
| Priority: February 15 Space available basis: August 15
| Priority: October 15 Space available basis: December 31 | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences |
| Priority: February 15 Space available basis: August 15
| Priority: October 15 Space available basis: December 31
| Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences | | Priority: February 15 Space available basis: August 15 | Priority: October 15 Space available basis: December 31
| Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences |
| January 1
| Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences | | October 31 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences |
| Priority: March 15 July 31 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences |
| Rolling admission Applications received after the priority deadline will be considered an a space available basis | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences | | Priority: March 15 July 31 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
Provost Office | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
The W. A. Franke College of Business |
| August 15 | December 31 | May 31 |
The W. A. Franke College of Business | | August 15 | December 31 | May 31 |
The W. A. Franke College of Business | | Admission not available | Admission not available | Rolling admission
|
The W. A. Franke College of Business | | Rolling admission | Rolling admission | Rolling admission |
The W. A. Franke College of Business | | July 31 | Admission not available | Admission not available |
The W. A. Franke College of Business | | August 15 | December 31 | Admission not available |
Office of Graduate & Professional Studies
Mailing address, social media.
Cat roams university campus for 4 years, gets doctoral degree
“It’s hilarious that he now has a doctoral degree — but he really deserves it,” said Ali Impomeni, a student at Vermont State University.
![master's degree and phd](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/washpost/72076a91-847d-4872-8d3c-fe03b29920a1.png&w=196&h=196)
Key takeaways
Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed.
- Max the cat becomes Vermont State University celebrity.
- Awarded honorary “litter-ature” degree as part of graduating class of 2024.
- Brings joy, stress relief to students and staff alike.
Did our AI help? Share your thoughts.
Max the cat has hitched rides on top of students’ backpacks, participated in campus tours and more than once has sauntered into a psychology lecture at Vermont State University’s Castleton campus.
The 5-year-old tabby is even listed on the staff roster at the university, where he has his own email address.
So it seemed like an obvious next step when the university bestowed an honorary doctor of ‘litter-ature’ degree upon him, making him officially part of the graduating class of 2024, in addition to being a staff member. Max wears many hats, said Rob Franklin, a photographer and social media manager for Vermont State University.
Last spring, Franklin had just started working at the university when he noticed the cat was everywhere, and he was treated like a celebrity.
“I was talking to a colleague outside Woodruff Hall — the main building on campus — when I noticed this cat wandering around and everyone greeting him,” Franklin said.
“I said, ‘What’s the deal with the cat?’ and I was told he came to the campus every day to socialize, then students would take him home when it got dark,” he said.
Max lives down the street from the main entrance to campus with Ashley Dow and her family, but he rarely hangs out at home, Dow said.
Ever since she started letting Max outside when he was 1, he’d head straight to the college campus and soak up the attention from students.
“He usually goes over in the morning about 8 when I go to work, and he’ll come home in time for dinner, or one of the students will come over and drop him off,” said Dow, a special-education teacher.
“He’ll let anyone pick him up, and everyone loves to love on him,” she said. “You can see the stress melt off the faces of the students when they see Max running toward them to be held and petted.”
Franklin snapped some photos of Max and posted them on Facebook last fall under the heading, “Who is Max?” He also posted a story about Max that was published in 2021 by the student newspaper, the Castleton Spartan.
“The photos received such a positive response that I was planning to use one of them to congratulate this year’s graduates in a social media post,” Franklin said. “But then I thought, ‘What if we just made Max a part of the [graduating] class?’”
Max had been roaming around campus and its 4,000 undergraduate students for four years — the same amount of time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree, he said.
“We don’t hand out doctoral degrees here, but I thought it would be fun to give Max one,” Franklin said, noting that Vermont Public Radio covered the story.
He had a diploma made with corny cat puns, then posted it on Instagram in advance of the university’s commencement ceremonies on May 18. The photo in the post showed Max wearing a cat-sized graduation cap.
“With a resounding purr of approval from the faculty, the Board of Trustees of the Vermont State Cat-leges has bestowed upon Max Dow the prestigious title of Doctor of Litter-ature, complete with all the catnip perks, scratching post privileges, and litter box responsibilities that come with it,” the diploma reads.
Students and faculty support Max’s academic accolades.
Ali Impomeni, a junior majoring in media and communications, said Max seems to appear on the days she most misses the four cats she left at home in Albany, N.Y.
“He purrs and follows me everywhere — he’s just the friendliest guy to everyone,” she said. “It’s hilarious that he now has a doctoral degree — but he really deserves it.”
Impomeni, 20, created a small shrine to Max two years ago when he wasn’t coming around as often in the winter due to cold weather.
“Everybody was missing him, so I put up a picture of him in a frame and added some candles,” she said. “We were all happy when it warmed up and we started seeing him again.”
Dow said when Max first started visiting the campus, she decided to put him in a sweater with a note attached, telling students he wasn’t a stray and not to overfeed him.
“I also asked them to drop him by the house if they saw him after 5,” she said.
She said she’s happy that Max brings joy to students who are homesick for their own pets.
“Everyone looks out for his welfare,” Dow said. “If they don’t see him for a few days, I’ll get a call from somebody on campus, checking up on him.”
Max enjoys following students through automatic doors and once ended up sitting on the college dean’s desk, she said. Another time, her easygoing feline came home smelling of perfume.
“Everyone considers him as their emotional support animal,” Dow said. “He’s a cat who loves life and loves attention.”
She and Max’s fans said they don’t expect that his honorary degree will go to his head.
“We decided not to parade him onstage to get his diploma, because we didn’t want to stress out the cat, and we also didn’t want to overshadow the students’ accomplishments,” Franklin said. “Max seems just fine with that.”
![master's degree and phd master's degree and phd](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/3P4ULJVTCZHPDC3ARCBZSHWDFM.jpeg&w=767&h=511)
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IMAGES
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COMMENTS
A master's is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree. A PhD is the highest possible graduate degree, and takes 3-7 years to complete.
A Master's degree is a second-cycle academic degree and the first level of graduate study, which means it is after a Bachelor's degree and before a PhD. The Master's degree may allow a concentration within a field so that you may focus your studies in-depth on a particular aspect of a subject.
The first step in deciding on the right graduate program for you is to figure out which degree will best serve you—a master's or a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.).
In some cases, a master's degree may hold advantages over a doctoral degree. For example, a master's degree in social work (MSW) may be more cost-effective than a doctoral degree, given the time and funds required to earn the degree and the pay differential. The admission offices at the schools you're applying to can often help you determine ...
If graduate school is on your radar, one of the first things you must consider is what type of degree you should pursue - a master's or a Ph.D.
A quick and easy guide on the differences between a master's and a doctorate degree and how you can choose the right one for you.
A master's degree is designed to deepen career-oriented knowledge and skills. A doctorate degree is a heavily research-based degree, designed to develop critical research,analytical and writing skills in an effort to fill industry knowledge gaps. Because of these different goals, the makeup of the coursework and content is also distinct.
Considering graduate school? We've compared Master's vs. Doctorate degrees to help you take the first step in your journey.
A Masters degree is the next level of education after the completion of an undergraduate degree, commonly known as a Bachelors. These degree levels are often referred to in terms of cycles so that a Bachelor's is a first-cycle degree, a Masters is a second-cycle and finally, a PhD is the third-cycle of higher education (and the highest).
The main difference between a Masters and a PhD is the purpose of each degree. A Masters degree involves expanding your understanding of existing scholarship in a particular subject area.
Deciding between a master's vs PhD involves considering many variables. Both types of graduate degrees offer career advancement, but you must decide your reasons for obtaining either.
Learn the biggest differences and similarities of a Ph.D. versus master's degree, including salary expectations, career outlook and requirements of each.
After earning a master's degree, the next step is a PhD or doctorate. Learn the differences between these degrees and what students need to know to succeed.
Master's degrees vary in length depending on the program, college or university, program format, and whether a student is taking classes full- or part-time. However, they are typically shorter than doctorate programs. Admission requirements will also vary, so students should research to ensure they know what will be asked of them.
The Ph.D. is an abbreviation for "Doctor of Philosophy" and is the highest academic degree one can achieve. To enroll in a Ph.D., a master's degree is usually required, although some programs accept bachelor's degree holders. The program includes coursework, research courses, a comprehensive exam, and a dissertation.
Compare PhD vs. master's degrees by discuss their benefits, and explore answers to several frequently asked questions you may have about both graduate degrees.
How do you decide whether to pursue a master's degree vs. PhD or applied doctorate? Read about how long it could take to earn a master's or doctorate, program requirements and more.
Degree Length. Another significant difference between a master's degree and a Ph.D. program is the length of time they take to complete. Master's programs are much shorter and will typically take two years to complete. Some universities even offer accelerated programs that allow you to complete your master's degree within a single year.
Find the best Grad Schools for your academic journey. Explore online, master's, and doctorate programs tailored to your goals. Start your search now!
Review the differences between a PhD vs master's degree, explore the definitions of each type of degree and review the benefits of both types of degrees.
The first is to keep your undergraduate degree and get work experience right after graduation. The second option is to get a master's degree to specialize in a particular subject. The third is a doctoral degree, where you can deepen your area of expertise by making your own contributions to research. In any of these options, you will need an ...
The MS (Master of Science) in Psychology and the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in Psychology are degrees for people interested in advanced study in the discipline. Students obtain a greater understanding of human behavior and how to help others. Degree earners are often interested in careers as therapists, licensed psychologists, researchers, or ...
Get started with our Find Your Program tool by selecting a field of study and degree level. Then, check out the undergraduate and graduate-level online degree programs that match you career goals.
A master's degree in psychology is a necessary step for people who are interested in becoming a psychologist after completing a doctorate degree, or it can qualify you for a growing number of ...
Getting a master's degree can be a great way to dive deeper into your passion and advance your career. But these 10 programs earn grads the highest salaries.
With over 100 graduate degree programs, NAU is devoted to enriching your future career. Check our graduate school deadlines & begin your application today.
Bachelor's degree requirements. While each college or university is different, you will have to meet a number of requirements when you apply to a bachelor's degree program and in order to graduate from one.
Max the cat becomes Vermont State University celebrity. Awarded honorary "litter-ature" degree as part of graduating class of 2024. Brings joy, stress relief to students and staff alike.
Benjamin B. Bolger has spent his whole life amassing academic degrees. What can we learn from him?