• Students
• Future Students
• Student Affairs
• Student Life
• Technology

Admission standards

Regular student status

Generally, Graduate School acceptance (regular student status) requires at least a B average (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 semester hours of graded undergraduate work.

We will base admission on graduate study if you completed it at an accredited graduate school and if you maintained at least a B average (3.0 GPA) in 12 or more semester hours of graded graduate work beyond the bachelor's degree.

For GPAs below 3.0, WSU may grant provisional admission if the department recommends you and your total record indicates a high probability of success.

Departmental approval is required for any admission regardless of grade point average. Departments may require higher levels of performance than those cited. Because of limitations within certain departments, some qualified applicants may be denied admission.

…………………………………………………………………………

International students

If your previous study occurred at an international university, the dean of the Graduate School may approve your admission if you present a superior academic record, furnish satisfactory evidence of adequate ability in English, and have sufficient financial resources.

Such applications should be completed at least six months in advance of the proposed date of enrollment in the Graduate School.

…………………………………………………………………………

Provisional student status

Applicable to students with GPAs below 3.0 for previous work. If you are ineligible for regular student status because of your GPA, you may be admitted on provisional student status upon special recommendation of the chair of your major department and with approval of the associate dean of the Graduate School.

Provisional status may be granted because of special departmental recommendations, high Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores, or other indications of outstanding potential.

In such cases, you must supply the following alternative information:

1. Demonstrated preparation for graduate study within a discipline, which may include the following:

• Relevant undergraduate coursework and demonstrated capability in core or required coursework.
• In-depth knowledge of subject matter, shown by high performance on a GRE subject test.
• Exceptional artistic talent as indicated by a portfolio, recital, or audition.
• Successful work experience and demonstrated professional development over a period of years.
• Exceptional laboratory or methodological skills documented by publication of work

2. A written statement of your career objectives and reasons for pursuing graduate studies.
3. Written letters of recommendation from persons qualified to evaluate your academic record and potential.
4. An evaluation of the quality of your undergraduate institution and program of study.
5. Personal interviews.

…………………………………………………………………………

Undecided graduate

The undecided graduate (UND-G) classification is for potential graduate students who have not fulfilled the application requirements at the time of, or just prior to, registration.

If you are UND-G, your application will be processed immediately and you will be:

• Required to pay graduate fees.
• Allowed to enroll in courses only with permission of the instructor and department offering them.
• Permitted to remain UND-G for up to one calendar year.
• Permitted to apply up to six hours of UND-G Class Six credit to graduate degree requirements, after admission to a WSU Graduate School degree program. Use of UND-G credits will be held to the usual time restrictions for program completion.

We require a separate application for pursuit of an advanced degree. Students who enroll under UND-G may or may not choose to complete applications to the Graduate School. They have no guarantee of acceptance should they apply.

…………………………………………………………………………

Not-advanced-degree candidate

Applicable to students who hold baccalaureate degrees and want to take graduate courses, but do not want to pursue a graduate degree.

As a not-advanced-degree candidate (NADC), you must pay graduate fees and must be admitted to a graduate department or program. You may be admitted with less than a 3.0 GPA, but must maintain a 3.0 GPA once admitted.

Admission as NADC does not obligate the department or program to admit you to a degree program at a later date. You may take any course for which you have the necessary prerequisites, except those at the 700 or 800 level.

A maximum of six hours (nine for non-thesis master's and doctoral degrees) of graduate coursework with grades of B or higher earned under NADC classification may be applied to graduate degree requirements. The time limits of transfer credit apply to this coursework.

• Regular student status
• International students
• Provisional student staus
• Undecided graduate
• Not-advanced-degree candidate