Applicants for admission, irrespective of status at current or previous institutions, to the PhD or Research MS programs are expected to have a minimum QPA of 3.5 from an accredited BS program in engineering. They must submit transcripts of all college-level work, three letters of recommendation, and a Statement of Purpose. Scores on the verbal, quantitative, and writing assessment-analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) can also optionally be submitted at this time. International applicants whose first language is not English are also required to submit the TOEFL administered by the Educational Testing Service with a minimum score of 600 (213 computer-based, 80 internet-based). NOTE: letters of recommendation must be on letterhead, signed by the letter writer, and include his/her contact phone number and email address. Please note that all letters of recommendation must be on official letterhead from the letter writer's institution. The minimum grade point average for admission to any graduate study at the University of Pittsburgh is 3.0