Most graduate schools expect you to have clearly defined interests and experiences leading to an area of specialization. You should have a focus and relevant experience before you apply to graduate school. They are excellent sources of information about graduate programs in their academic specialties, the strengths and weaknesses of programs at various universities and the areas of strength within programs. To identify programs in your academic field, consult with faculty, alumni, Career Services, and use a variety of print and on-line resources. Some universities publish catalogs of individual fields or areas of study.
Many programs also have catalogs on their web sites.
This set is available in the Career Services Resource Center. Graduate School Guide Grad Schools. Once you have a list of programs to consider, narrow your possibilities to a manageable number. Look for the faculty publication list. If this is not in the catalog, request it from the department chair.