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Admission

The Graduate School is open to persons holding at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and whose undergraduate or graduate work has been of sufficient quality and scope to enable them to profitably pursue graduate study. Arkansas State University offers equal educational opportunity to all persons without regard to race, religion, sex, age, creed, color, national origin, or physical disability.

General Procedures

Applicants for admission to graduate study should contact the Graduate School for an application form. The completed form and separate official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work must be transmitted to the dean of the Graduate School. Applicants also must submit written proof of measles and rubella immunization if their date of birth is January 1957 or later. This immunization must have been received after the first birthday and after January 1, 1968. Arkansas law requires that in order to be eligible for enrollment at a public institution of higher learning an applicant who is a U.S. citizen must be registered or be exempt from registration with the selective service system. A form affirming registration is also required for admission to Graduate School. Application materials become the property of the university and may not be returned to the applicant or forwarded to other institutions. Credentials will be maintained in active files for 12 months, after which they will be relegated to inactive status. After this time, applicants seeking subsequent admission must resubmit all application materials.

All applications must be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee. The fee is $50 for students seeking admission to doctoral study and $30 for students seeking admission to specialist or master-level study. (A $40 fee is required of international students seeking admission to specialist or master-level study.) Checks must be made payable to Arkansas State University. International students apply directly to the Office of International Programs (http://international.astate.edu)  If applications are received without payment, the Graduate School will hold all application materials and notify the applicant that no action will be taken until payment is received.

An application may, depending on the timely submission of the required materials and the extent of review required, take from a few days to many weeks to process. Some programs have specific admission deadline dates, while others do not. Applicants are encouraged to check for particular program deadlines in the appropriate section of the Bulletin or online at http://graduateschool.astate.edu/. Applications to specific programs are reviewed by program faculty before an admission decision is recommended to the Graduate School. All applicants are encouraged to submit all materials at the earliest possible date to assist in a smooth application process. Late application may delay registration and limit course selection.

When consideration of the applications for admission to both the Graduate School and the specific degree program has been completed, the dean of the Graduate School will inform the applicant of the admission decision, including any conditions that may be imposed. A student may be admitted into the Graduate School in either Unconditional status or Conditional status.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants will be required to meet admissions criteria established by the Graduate School for Unconditional or Conditional status in order to enroll in graduate courses. Meeting the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate School does not necessarily ensure acceptance into a particular graduate degree program. Individual departments may establish requirements for individual degree programs above and beyond the standards for admission to the Graduate School. (See departmental sections of this Bulletin or online at http://graduateschool.astate.edu/ for specific program admission requirements.)  A degree-seeking student admitted to one program who decides to change to another program must meet the admission requirements of the new program.

Unconditional Admission Status

The following Graduate School admission requirements are minimum standards which identify the pool of applicants from which departments select students to be admitted to candidacy in a degree program. To be granted Unconditional Admission Status in the Graduate School, applicants must have

1. Submitted a completed application for admission and the designated nonrefundable application fee to the office of the Graduate School at least 30 days in advance of registration.

2. Earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution (or its equivalent as determined by the Graduate School).

3. Achieved a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale or a 3.00 GPA on the last 60 hours.

4. Achieved a minimum 3.00 GPA on any previous graduate courses completed at either Arkansas State University or another accredited university.

5. Submitted official transcripts from each college or university as requested by the Graduate School. Official transcripts must be submitted directly from the registrar of other institutions to the office of the Graduate School at Arkansas State University.

Conditional Admission Status

An applicant who fails to meet the GPA requirements for Unconditional Admission Status, who lacks the appropriate undergraduate background for a particular degree program, or whose baccalaureate degree is from an unaccredited institution, may be granted Conditional Admission Status after

1. Submission of a completed application for admission and the designated nonrefundable application fee to the office of the Graduate School.

2. Submitted official transcripts from each college or university as requested by the Graduate School. Official transcripts must be submitted directly from the registrar of other institutions to the office of the Graduate School at Arkansas State University.

3. Achieving a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale or a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours for admission into a graduate program or for admission as a non-degree student (see "Admission as a Graduate Non-degree Student").

Academic Records Privacy Rights

Arkansas State University intends to comply fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 which was designed to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with FERPA office concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the Act.

Questions concerning the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act should be referred to the Registrar's Office.

TYPES OF ADMISSION

Applicants may be admitted to the Graduate School as either Degree-seeking students or Non-degree students. The Graduate Degree-seeking student classification is for those who wish to pursue a specific graduate degree program. The Graduate Non-degree student classification is for those who wish to enroll in graduate courses but who do not wish to pursue any graduate degree at the university.

Admission to a Degree Program

In addition to being admitted to the Graduate School, an applicant for admission to a doctoral, specialist, or master degree program also must meet departmental and/or program requirements. Applicants to a degree program must hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited four-year institution with the appropriate undergraduate background in the field of the proposed academic emphasis. Additional requirements and materials for admission to particular degree programs are found elsewhere in the Bulletin or online at http://graduateschool.astate.edu/. Be sure to check the section related to the college that houses the program in which you are interested.

Degree-seeking students must have submitted all additional application materials for the particular degree program and must have been accepted into the program by the appropriate department selection committee and the dean of the Graduate School. See Admission Requirements for the particular degree program elsewhere in this Bulletin or online at http://graduateschool.astate.edu/.

Admission as a Graduate Non-degree Student

This option is for those seeking personal development, those fulfilling professional renewal requirements, those returning for educational workshops, and transient students. Students who have been admitted to another accredited graduate school and wish to take courses for transfer may establish Non-degree status by submitting an application for admission and either a letter of good standing or a graduate transcript indicating good standing from the other institution.

Nondegree students may take an undergraduate and/or graduate course for which they qualify, with concurrence of the department offering the course. Departments, however, may restrict Nondegree students from enrolling in designated courses. Departments also may require that Nondegree students must consult with an adviser from the department before enrolling in any classes. Former or currently-enrolled Nondegree students who want to apply for admission to a degree program must meet all requirements of that program.

Admission as a Nondegree student does not imply that the student meets either Unconditional Status or graduate degree program admission requirements. Graduate credit earned as a Nondegree student may be applied to a degree program only with approval of the appropriate department chair and the graduate dean. No more than 12 hours earned in Nondegree status and no courses with a grade lower than "B" may be applied to a graduate degree. Nondegree admission does not entitle the student to enroll in the 7000 or 8000 level courses. Exceptions may be made for those holding an appropriate master's degree in a relevant field as accepted by the Department of Educational Administration and Secondary Education. Enrollment in 7000-level courses with COUN and PSY prefixes requires admission to the Ed.S. in Psychology and Counseling, unconditional admission to another university's accredited post-master degree program with a major in psychology or counseling, or (with permission) admission to the Ed.S. in Educational Administration, the Specialist in Community College Teaching Program, or the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. Enrollment in 8000-level
courses is restricted to those who have been admitted to pursue the doctoral degrees.

Admission as a Senior to Enroll in Graduate Courses

Seniors at Arkansas State University may register for graduate credit if they meet all of the following criteria:

• Must be within 12 semester hours of completion of the bachelor's degree at ASU in the semester in which the dual enrollment is to occur.

• Met the GPA requirements for unconditional admission to the Graduate School.

• Obtain approval of the faculty advisor, the course professor and the graduate dean.

Seniors may then enroll in a maximum of 12 hours of graduate work, provided the total undergraduate and graduate hours do not exceed 15 semester hours. A course used toward an undergraduate degree cannot be counted or used later for graduate credit. Students will receive graduate credit only if the requirements for the bachelor's degree have been met by the end of the term and all requirements for admission to the Graduate School are met.

Enrollment under these conditions is limited to one term. Graduate tuition will be charged for all graduate courses.
Other exceptional undergradute students who have attained senior status but are not in their last 12 hours and who wish to enroll in graduate school will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Exceptions are made for senior nursing students. See details in the College of Nursing and Health professions section in this Bulletin or online at http://conhp.astate.edu/.

Admission of Students from Other Institutions

Graduate students transferring to Arkansas State University from other institutions must be in good standing with the institution from which they seek to transfer, must have a "B" average in all graduate work completed, and must meet Arkansas State University's criteria for admission to graduate study. For admission to a particular degree program, transferring graduate students must meet the established criteria of the degree program.

Admission of International Students

The Graduate School admits graduates of foreign colleges and universities and citizens of foreign countries if they can provide appropriate evidence of proficiency in the use of the English language, establish academic eligibility for admission, and provide certification by reputable financial institutions (acceptable to Arkansas State University) stating that financial resources are available to support the individuals during the stay in the United States. Coursework completed at foreign institutions is not normally accepted for graduate transfer credit.
International student applicants must demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency in the English language if English is not their native language. Citizens of the British Isles, the English speaking portions of Canada and the West Indies, Australia, and New Zealand are considered to have native ability in English. Applicants whose native language is not English but who have completed four-year bachelor's degree programs at accredited institutions in the United States or in any of the above mentioned countries will be considered proficient in English. For applicants whose native language is not English and who do not have bachelor's degrees from accredited institutions in the United States or the above mentioned countries, proficiency in English may be demonstrated by submitting scores of 550 on the paper-based, 213 or higher on the computer-based, 79 on the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or a score of 6 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.

The academic requirements for admission of international students are as follows:

1. The academic preparation of applicants must be the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of the United States.

2. The records of previous studies must reveal appropriate standards of academic achievement.

3. Applicants must meet all Graduate School and all program admission requirements.

Admission processing of all international students is done through the Office of International Programs.  They may be reached by e-mail (oip@astate.edu), by phone at (870) 972-2329, by fax at (870) 972-3288, or by letter at International Programs P.O. Box 2910 State University, AR 72467 USA

Residence Requirement

Candidates for Master's and Specialist degrees are required to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate work. Candidates must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours of resident credit from Arkansas State University—Jonesboro. Twelve semester hours may be earned in approved non-resident classes offered by Arkansas State University. A maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred from other approved institutions.
Candidates for the Specialist in Education degree with a major in Psychology and Counseling must meet a residence requirement by completing a minimum of six semester hours in one academic semester (Fall or Spring only).

Admission to The Master's Degree Programs

Applicants to the master's degree programs must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year institution with the appropriate undergraduate background in the field of proposed academic emphasis. Applicants must submit the following to the Graduate School:

1. A completed application for admission. Applications should be submitted at least six weeks before the registration date of the term which the applicants plan to attend.

2. A $30 nonrefundable application fee. Checks must be made payable to Arkansas State University. If applications are received without payment, the Graduate School will hold all application materials and notify the applicants that no action will be taken until payment is received.

3. One copy of official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework attempted to be sent directly from the institution(s) previously attended.

4. Admission test scores are required for admission into certain master's degree programs. Consult the appropriate program section of this Bulletin or online at http://graduateschool.astate.edu/ to determine if the Graduate Record Examination, Miller Analogies Test, or Graduate Management Admission Test is required in the proposed program of academic emphasis.

Second Master's Degree Policy

In individual cases, when permitted by the program and upon the recommendation of the adviser, credits earned at Arkansas State University for one master's degree may, if appropriate to another degree plan, be applied toward the requirements for a second master's degree. No more than one-half of the total hours for the second degree may come from a previous degree program and credits applied under this policy must have been earned within the six year limit for completion of the second degree.

Admission to The Specialist Degree Programs

Applicants to the Specialist in Community College Teaching and the Specialist in Education degree program in Educational Leadership must hold an earned master's degree from an accredited institution. Applicants to the Specialist in Education in Psychology and Counseling must hold either an earned bachelor's or an earned master's degree from an accredited institution. Applicants must submit the following to the Graduate School:

1. A completed application for admission. Applicants are encouraged to submit the application before May 1 to be eligible for the following summer; before August 1 to be eligible to enter the following fall semester; and before December 1 to be eligible to enter the following spring semester.

2. A $30 nonrefundable application fee. Checks must be made payable to Arkansas State University. If applications are received without payment, the Graduate School will hold all application materials and notify the applicants that no action will be taken until payment is received.

3. One copy of official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework attempted to be sent directly from the institution(s) previously attended.

4. Official report of a score, obtained within the last five years, on the Graduate Record Examination (Ed.S. in Psychology and Counseling only). The SCCT program will accept either the Graduate Record Examination or the Miller Analogies Test.

5. Please see program sections under the College of Education portion of this Bulletin for specific requirements or online at http://education.astate.edu/education/.

Admission to the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Degree Program

Applicants to the Doctor of Education Degree program must hold an earned master's degree from an accredited institution and provide evidence of having sustained a superior level of scholarship during master's and post-master's level graduate work. Applicants must submit the following to the Graduate School:

1. A completed application for admission. Applicants are encouraged to submit the application no later than March 1 for the fall semester. Screening for admission will begin on March 1. Application forms are available from the Graduate School or from the Center for Excellence in Education.

2. A $50 nonrefundable application fee. Checks must be made payable to Arkansas State University. If applications are received without payment, the Graduate School will hold all application materials and notify the applicants that no action will be taken until payment is received. International students may utilize a check or an International Postal Money Order to remit payment in U.S. currency.

3. One copy of official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework attempted to be sent directly from the institution(s) previously attended. (The Graduate School will compute the graduate GPA by counting all graduate courses completed, including any repeated courses.)

4. At least four letters of recommendation, two from former professors and two from former or current employers. These letters will be reviewed by the doctoral faculty. An interview may be required. Both recommendation by the doctoral faculty and approval by the dean of the Graduate School are required for admission to the doctoral program.

5. Acceptable scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination, or on the Miller Analogies Test.

Admission to Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences

Applicants to the Graduate Program Environmental Sciences Program must hold a baccalaureate or master's degree (BA, BS, MA or MS) from an accredited institution in a relevant field of study.  Students should apply to either the PhD or MS program.  For both programs, applicants must submit the following to the Graduate School:

1. A completed application for admission to the Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences. Applicants are encouraged to submit the application no later than January 15 for the fall semester and August 15 for the spring semester. Forms are available from the Graduate School.

2. A $30 nonrefundable application fee for MS program, $50 nonrefundable application fee for Ph.D. program. Checks must be made payable to Arkansas State University. If applications are received without payment, the Graduate School will hold all application materials and notify the applicants that no action will be taken until payment is received. International students may utilize a check or an International Postal Money Order to remit payment in U.S. currency.

3. One copy of official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework attempted, to be sent directly from the institution(s) previously attended. The Graduate School will compute the graduate GPA by counting all graduate courses completed, including any repeated courses.
   Applicants to the Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year institution and meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School. Applicants should be aware that the breadth of the course work in this program demands that students have a basic background in several disciplines. Preparatory courses for this program may include:

   • Mathematics: Calculus I as well as an applied statistics course or second semester Calculus course.

   • Chemistry: A first and second semester chemistry course sequence.

   • Biology: A first and second semester biology course sequence.

   • Earth Science: A first and second semester earth science course sequence.

   • Economics: An introductory level economics course.

   • Political Science: American government, United States history or world history.

   Students should contact the Program Director for details regarding course requirements for specific focus areas within the program.  Students lacking the appropriate courses for their chosen focus area can be admitted into the program but may be required to complete preparatory course work before enrolling in specific graduate core courses. Applicants are also expected to have a working knowledge of computer systems and software.  In some cases, the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program Committee may agree to substitute equivalent, documented work experience in the environmental field for specific courses and, in rare cases, other criteria for admission. Contact the Program Director for questions in these matters.

4. Three letters of recommendation to be reviewed by the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program Committee. Note that both recommendation by the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program Committee and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School are required for admission to the program.

5. Scores from the Graduate Record Examination showing a combined score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the exam.

6. International student applicants must demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency in the English language if English is not their native language.

7. Statement of Purpose. In essay form, state your reasons for undertaking graduate study in the Environmental Sciences. Please describe your qualifications for the academic program to which you are applying and your objectives in undertaking this program. Applicants to the doctoral program should clearly outline their research interests. We are interested in how the applicant's interests would complement those research interests of the faculty. Applicants to master's program should discuss their plans for their academic and professional career and how the Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences will help them attain their goals.

8. Resume (C.V.) List all colleges and universities attended, major extracurricular activities and employment, detailing particularly those relevant to your proposed field of study; any honors or prizes awarded; and publications and research projects with which you have been associated.

Admission to the Ph.D. in Heritage Studies Degree Program

Applicants to the Ph.D. in Heritage Studies must hold a baccalaureate or master's degree from an accredited institution. Preferred applicants will have a master's degree in a related discipline such as archeology, anthropology, English literature (American regional/ethnic focus), folklore, geography, history, museum studies, political science, public administration, or sociology. Provisional admission may be granted while deficiencies are addressed. Applicants admitted to the program without a master's degree will be required to complete at least 18 hours of graduate work before beginning the Core Curriculum.

Applicants will be admitted to the program based on the following criteria.

1. A letter explaining interest in Heritage Studies and personal career goals.

2. Undergraduate and graduate GPA

3. Three (3) letters of reference

4. Interview with Heritage Studies’ Admissions Committee (may be required).

Applicants must submit the following to the Graduate School.

1. A completed application for admission to the Ph.D. in Heritage Studies program. Applicants are encouraged to submit the application no later than January 15. Review of applications will begin January 15 for the fall semester. Forms are available at http://graduateschool.astate.edu/index.html, from the Graduate School, and from the Director of the Heritage Studies Program.

2. A $50 nonrefundable application fee. Checks must be made payable to Arkansas State University. If applications are received without payment, the Graduate School will hold all application materials and notify the applicants that no action will be taken until payment is received. International students may utilize a check or an International Postal Money Order to remit payment in U.S. currency.

3. One copy of official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework attempted, to be sent directly from the institutions(s) previously attended. The Graduate School will compute the graduate GPA by counting all graduate courses completed, including any repeated courses.
   Transcripts should reflect a strong background in social sciences and humanities. Applicants who are lacking this background who are otherwise exemplary may be granted provisional admission and required to make up these deficiencies. Such course credits may not be applied toward fulfillment of doctoral requirements.

4. Letter explaining applicant’s career goals and knowledge of and interest in Heritage Studies.

5. Three (3) letters of reference from former professors or professional supervisors.

6. International student applicants must demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency in the English language if English is not their native language.

Admission to the Ph.D. in Molecular Biosciences Degree Program

 Applicants to the Ph.D. in Molecular Biosciences Program must have a minimum of a B.S. in a basic or applied science, although preference may be given to M.S. level applicants.  Applicants must submit the following to the Graduate School by February 15 for consideration for Fall admission:

1. A completed application for admission to the ASU Graduate School (or to the Office of International Programs for intenational students).  Forms are available directly from the Graduate School and Office of International Programs.

2. One copy of official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework attempted, to be sent directly from the institution(s) previously attended.  The Graduate School will compute the graduate GPA by counting all graduate courses completed, including any repeated courses.

3. Three letters of recommendation, to be reviewed by both the Dean of the Graduate School and the Molecular Biosciences Program Committee.

4. A personal statement (maximum of two pages) describing the student’s academic and research goals.  Applicants are encouraged to identify areas of research interest as well as possible research mentors within the faculty of the Molecular Biosciences Program.

5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for the Verbal, Analytical and Quantitative tests.  The minimum combined Verbal and Quantitative scores must be 1000.  Although not required, scores from an advanced test related to Molecular Biosciences may increase a candidate’s chance for admission.

6. A $50 nonrefundable application fee.  Checks must be made payable to Arkansas State University.  If applications are received without payment, the Graduate School will hold all materials and notify the applicants that no action will be taken until payment is received.  International students may use a check or an International Postal Money Order to remit payment in U.S. currency.

7. International student applicants must demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency in the English language if English is not their native language.

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