Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate studies is based on the academic qualifications of the applicant and is granted without regard to race, color, religion, sex or disability.

Regardless of the purpose for which you plan to take graduate courses, you must file an application for admission to graduate studies. A formal letter indicating your admission status is issued when your application is completed. File your application with the Office of Graduate Services early during the semester immediately precedingactual enrollment in graduate classes.

You may submit the application for admission with the registration course request form for that particular semester or summer session. It should be understood, however, that if you seek a degree and have not been fully admitted, or have not developed an approved study plan (in programs where study plans are required), you have no guarantee that the courses taken prior to admission will be accepted into the Master’s program. You must complete the admission process in its entirety prior to completing the first semester of courses or you will not be permitted to register for additional courses.

Your admission is valid for the entire time of graduate study provided you register for at least one course during an 18-month period. Should 18 months elapse since you registered for a course, you must submit a request to the Office of Graduate Services to be readmitted before you may register again.

Applicants for graduate study are assigned to one of the following categories: degree program admission, provisional status, or non-degree status.

Degree Program Admission

You may be granted degree program admission if you have a strong undergraduate academic record and appear to have potential for successful completion of a graduate program. Degree program admission is based on the following criteria:

1. Each graduate program has specific admission requirements, which are detailed in the sections of this catalog devoted to these programs.
2. Completion of an application for admission to graduate study as a degree program student.
3. Submission of official transcripts of all previous graduate work and a transcript certifying the completion of a baccalaureate degree. This official transcript must be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Services from the degree-granting institution.
4. If you have previously completed a graduate degree, but have not taken the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or MAT (Miller Analogies Test), you may be eligible to have the GRE or MAT requirement waived. The GRE or MAT may be waived if you have successfully completed a graduate degree with a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average. The Graduate Program Coordinator of the program to which you are applying will determine the relevancy of previous graduate degrees in making the decision to waive the GRE or MAT requirements.

Provisional Status

Provisional status allows you to enroll in graduate courses in order to qualify for admission to a degree program.

You may be granted provisional status if denied unconditional admission due to (1) less than the minimum grade point average required for admission to the program to which you are applying; (2) baccalaureate degree not from a regionally accredited college or university; or (3) undergraduate course deficiencies.

If you are assigned provisional status, you must construct a special study plan of 9 to 15 credits approved by your advisor. After completing the 9-15 credits, you must apply to the Graduate Program Coordinator for a change of status. You must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in order to apply for a change of status to degree program admission.

Non-Degree Status

You may be assigned non-degree status if you wish to apply for graduate study but do not wish to work toward a graduate degree. This category usually includes students who wish to take courses for professional development, for transfer to another institution, or for maintaining certification in the field of education. Non-degree status is based on the following requirements:

1. Completion of the baccalaureate degree at a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
2. Submission of an official transcript certifying the completion of a baccalaureate degree. This official transcript must be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Services from the degree-granting institution.