REGULAR GRADUATE STUDENTS
Only regular graduate students are candidates for graduate degrees. Application for admission as a regular graduate student must be filed by July 15 for the following fall semester or by Dec. 1 for the spring semester. Regular graduate students wishing to begin in the summer must apply before April 30. Certain departments or programs have earlier deadlines. Applicants should consult their respective departments or their dean's office. In order to be considered for admission as a regular graduate student, the applicant must satisfy at least one of the following conditions: have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 out of 4.00 (note: College of Education GPA minimum is 3.0); have an average of at least 3.00 for the last two semesters of undergraduate study; have a graduate grade point average of at least 3.00 for a minimum of twelve credit hours of graduate work completed at other institutions; or have successfully satisfied the probationary conditions as an associate graduate student (discussed below). Satisfying one of these conditions is necessary for admission as a regular graduate student but may not be the only condition required.
Graduate students who are non-native speakers of English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT). Please contact your department or program of choice for the required acceptance scores. Please also note that the TOEFL Paper-Based Test (PBT) and the TOEFL Computer-Based Test (CBT) have been discontinued and are no longer valid for admissions purposes.
The TOEFL iBT may be waived if a student has obtained a degree from an English language university in an English speaking country and demonstrates effective English language skills. Applicants should consult with their respective departments or program of choice to confirm whether they are eligible for a TOEFL iBT waiver.
Individual departments may evaluate their candidates for admission according to higher standards and additional criteria. Students seeking admission to Professional Certification Programs may have to meet additional requirements to comply with Pennsylvania Department of Education Regulations. Departments should be consulted for information regarding required examinations for admission. For example, candidates for the MBA program are required to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam. In some cases, GRE subject tests are required.
Admission of a student to graduate standing is executed through the Office of Graduate Studies in each college or the respective dean’s office. Credentials for admission to counseling psychology and school psychology programs and to all College of Education doctoral programs are acted upon only once a year.
Completed applications accompanied by requests for financial aid must be submitted by January 15 for admission in the following fall semester. (Some departments have earlier deadlines.) Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS
International applicants must hold an American bachelor’s degree or an equivalent foreign degree requiring at least 16 years of primary, secondary, and university education. International applicants applying for regular graduate student status must submit all documents required for that status (see above).