In general, all applicants must hold at least a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or a degree from a non-U.S. institution of higher education that is judged equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree by the College of Graduate Studies (COGS). International applicants who have graduated from a college or university that is a member of the Bologna Project will be considered for admission to a graduate degree program.
Any applicant who seeks admission to a graduate degree program is said to be applying as a graduate degree-seeking student. All other graduate applicants are said to be applying as graduate non-degree-seeking students.
Admission is granted for a specific semester and is validated by registration for that semester. Applicants wishing to defer admission to a subsequent semester may request a one-time deferral from the Office of Graduate Admissions as long as the request occurs before the start of the original semester of matriculation.
Applicants must be admitted to COGS before they are eligible to register for classes. Only students formally admitted to COGS are eligible to enroll in graduate courses (courses numbered 5000G, 6000, 7000, 8000 and 9000). Official admission acceptance is conveyed to the applicant in a formal electronic letter issued by the College of Graduate Studies.
Minimum Admission Requirements for a Graduate Degree or Certificate Program
Achievement of the minimum admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies does not guarantee admission to a graduate degree program. A student who is admitted to one graduate program is not guaranteed admission to any other graduate degree program at any time in the future.
Admission to a graduate program is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied admission depending on a wide variety of programmatic variables. To ensure the best possible opportunity for admission, each applicant is strongly encouraged to review the specific admission requirements and application procedures listed in this catalog for the specific program of interest. Typically, review of an application cannot begin until all application documents are received, including those that are specific to a program. Applicants can check the status of their application and the receipt of application documents by visiting the website of Graduate Admissions.
Graduate Admission Test Score Requirements
Depending on the graduate program for which the student is applying, one of the following standardized admission tests will be required: GMAT, GRE, MAT or GACE. Standardized admission tests are listed among each program’s itemized list of requirements for admission. To determine which admission test is required for each program, review the admission requirements on the program’s webpage. Test scores must be sent from the testing agency directly to Graduate Admissions. Further information on test dates and fees may be obtained from:
Office of Testing Services
Post Office Box 8132
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA 30460-8067
(912) 478-5415
Degree Admission Based Upon Exceptional Qualifications
Applicants with exceptional experience and/or academic qualifications may be granted degree admission to the College of Graduate Studies without the submission of admission test scores. Admission approval may be granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies following a review of the recommendation by the respective Graduate Program Director and Department Chair.
Admission by Appeal
Applicants who believe they were unfairly or arbitrarily denied admission may appeal the admission decision to the College of Graduate Studies. The student will be required to provide additional information in support of the appeal. The request for an appeal must be submitted in writing to Graduate Admissions. The Dean of Graduate Studies will make the final decision on an appeal.
Graduate Admission Classification
A prospective student who plans to take additional course work beyond the baccalaureate degree must apply to the COGS and be admitted through either Degree Admission or Non-Degree Admission.
Degree Admission
Students who are admitted to the COGS with the expressed intention of following a program leading to a graduate degree are classified as degree-seeking students. When admitted as a degree-seeking student, the applicant will be placed in one of the following categories:
- Regular - Meets all requirements for unqualified admission and has been recommended by the college, department or program in which they propose to study, and approved by the COGS.
- Provisional - Does not satisfy the full admission requirements. Applicants granted Provisional admission are required to earn grades of “B” or better in their first nine (9) hours of graduate credit taken at Georgia Southern University under this admission category. Failure to satisfy the conditions of provisional admission will result in exclusion from the degree program. A student admitted in this category will be reclassified to Regular admission when the conditions have been met. A Provisional student may enroll in graduate courses and such courses may be counted in a degree program when the student has been reclassified as a Regular student. Only credit earned in graduate courses at Georgia Southern University may be used to satisfy Provisional admission requirements. A student excluded from a graduate degree program for failure to meet the conditions of provisional admission may not be readmitted to the COGS under non-degree admission. There is no provisional admission to Doctoral programs. Applicants with Provisional admission are not eligible for graduate assistantship positions.
Non-Degree Admission
An applicant may be admitted to the COGS as a non-degree student to earn credit in graduate courses without working toward a degree. Students who are admitted in a non-degree category may later apply to a degree program. Upon the advisor’s recommendation, non-degree graduate courses may be included in the program of study should the student gain reclassification as a Regular student. A student may be admitted to the COGS in one of the following non-degree admission categories:
- Limited - A student whose file is incomplete because all required application materials have not been received in the Office of Graduate Admissions. Enrollment in the Non-Degree Limited category is limited to a maximum of nine (9) credit hours in graduate courses in any seven contiguous years. A student may count a limited number of credit hours earned under non-degree admission toward graduate degree program requirements if recommended by the degree Graduate Program Director and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Students enrolled under this admission category are not eligible for graduate assistant positions nor for financial aid.
- Enrichment - A student who holds an undergraduate or graduate degree and desires to take courses for personal or professional improvement. Enrollment in the Non-degree Enrichment category is limited to 18 credit hours unless otherwise stated by the department. Certain Departments may limit the number of credit hours earned under this non-degree admission category that may count toward graduate degree requirements to less than 18 credit hours. Students enrolled under this admission category are not eligible for graduate assistant positions nor for financial aid.
- Certificate - A student who holds an undergraduate or graduate degree can pursue a graduate certificate program through the Non-degree Certificate admission. Enrollment in the Non-Degree Certificate category is limited to the number of credit hours required for the certificate program, typically 12-24 credit hours, in any seven continuous years unless additional credit hours are approved by the College of Graduate Studies. A student may count up to 18 credit hours earned as part of the certificate program toward graduate degree program requirements if recommended by the degree Graduate Program Director and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Students enrolled under this admission category are not eligible for graduate assistant positions nor for financial aid.
- Teaching/Service/Leadership Certification - A student seeking initial certification as a P-12 educator (teaching, service or leadership certification as defined by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission) may be admitted in this category and enroll in graduate courses required for certification in any seven contiguous years. In addition, in-service teachers enrolling to meet requirements of a local board of education or the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to renew or reinstate a certificate, to certify in a new area, or to obtain an endorsement to an existing certificate may enroll in graduate courses for credit for this particular purpose through this category. Note that admission in this category and completion of a certification program does not guarantee subsequent admission to a graduate degree program; that is a separate process, and different criteria must be met. Enrollment in this category is limited to the number of credit hours required for certification and/or endorsement not to exceed 18 credit hours. A student may count the credit hours earned as part of the certification/endorsement program(s) toward graduate degree program requirements if recommended by the degree Graduate Program Director and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. (Note that some certification fields require completion of a M.Ed. and/or Ed.S. degree; refer to the admission requirements or Graduate Program Director for information on the specific field of interest.) Students enrolled under this admission category are not eligible for graduate assistant positions.
Graduate Transient Admission
Students who are currently enrolled in a graduate program at another university may take courses at Georgia Southern University as a transient student. To be admitted as a transient student, the student must submit an application (selecting “Graduate Transient” status), and a certificate of good standing from the appropriate official from the home institution or a current transcript. A student is admitted under this classification for one semester only and must be readmitted under this classification each subsequent semester in transient status.
Special Admission for Students Age 62 and Older
Georgia citizens who are 62 years of age or older have the option, as granted by Amendment 23 of the Georgia Constitution, of enrolling in the University without the payment of fees subject to the following conditions:
- Must be a legal resident of Georgia;
- Must be 62 years of age or older and present proof of age at the time of registration;
- Must enroll as a regular student to audit or take courses offered for resident credit; and
- Must pay for supplies, laboratory or fees.
An eligible student may petition for the Senior Citizen Fee Waiver by visiting the website.
Individuals who do not qualify as mature students (see below) must also satisfy the following:
- Must meet all Georgia Southern University and University System of Georgia graduate admission requirements;
- The applicant must submit all college or university transcripts;
- If a course of study is pursued to degree, all institutional and system degree requirements must be met.
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