Admissions

Applying for Admission

An applicant must submit:

1. An application for admission with a $35 non-refundable fee.
2. Official transcripts from each college previously attended sent directly from the granting institution to UMHB. Even though courses taken at one institution are noted on another college’s transcript, applicants must submit transcripts from the institution at which the courses were taken. Transcript evaluations will be completed after submission of an application to the Graduate School and the admission fee has been paid.
3. Additional documentation may be required as part of the application fi le to meet program specific requirements.

Note: An official transcript is one that has been received directly from the issuing institution. It must bear the school seal, date, and an appropriate signature.

Admission Requirements

A student may be admitted to a UMHB Graduate Program in one of the following ways:

1. Regular Admission
2. Conditional Admission
3. Probationary Admission
4. Non-degree Admission
5. Readmission
6. Concurrent Enrollment

Regular Admission

An applicant must:

1. Have completed a baccalaureate degree (or its equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution.
2. Have completed a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to apply for a doctoral level program.
3. Have official transcripts from each college attended on fi le in the UMHB Graduate Admissions Office. (Only master’s level transcripts are required for a doctoral level program.)
4. Have a cumulative and/or last 60 hours GPA of at least 2.75*
5. Meet additional quantitative and qualitative standards of the program to which the applicant is requesting admission (i.e., GRE scores or in some programs, GMAT scores or other nationally recognized aptitude test may be considered).

   *exceptions may be granted for 2.50 – 2.74 GPA under certain circumstances with approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.

Note: A GRE, GMAT or other nationally recognized aptitude test score is valid for five years.

Conditional Admission

An applicant must meet the admission criteria for Regular Admission (additional documentation may be required by the program to which the application is made). A student so admitted must have completed documentation on fi le in the department and in the university Graduate Admissions Office by the date stated by the Graduate Admissions Office. Students failing to complete the documentation requirement will not be allowed to register for the next semester, and transcripts will be placed on hold.

Probationary Admission

After official transcripts and program documentation are received, an applicant not meeting the university standards may be admitted if he/she shows evidence of an ability to successfully participate in graduate study as determined by the graduate program to which he/she is applying. Students admitted on probation must have a strong departmental/program recommendation. A probationary status student may take no more than nine hours of graduate work during any semester of attendance until the probationary status has been removed. Students enrolled in graduate programs consisting of 2-hour courses may only enroll in eight hours of graduate work during this time. If grades of “B” or better are earned for the nine hours, the probationary status will be removed. Failure to make those grades will result in academic dismissal from the graduate program.

Non-Degree Admission

A non-degree student may be permitted to take up to six hours of graduate credit with the recommendation of the appropriate department. Such students must provide official transcripts from the institution(s) granting their bachelor’s degree(s) or later degree(s). If students admitted on non-degree status wish to continue beyond the six hours, they must apply for admission as a student seeking a degree or certification and must meet all requirements for graduate admission.

Students who have completed a master’s degree and who wish to take courses to meet qualifications for State licensures or certifications may also be permitted to take courses as non-degree students. These non-degree students may take more than six hours if a deficiency plan, signed by the specific program director, has been completed and is on fi le in the Graduate Admission’s Office.

Non-degree students are not eligible for institutional financial aid.

Readmission

Unless a waiver is obtained from the Dean of the Graduate School, a former student who has not been enrolled in graduate courses at UMHB for two consecutive semesters (excluding summer) must apply for readmission to the Graduate School and to the graduate program he/she wishes to pursue. Resubmission of transcript(s) is not required, however the application fee must be resubmitted.

Concurrent Enrollment

A senior undergraduate student who has an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher and who lacks twelve or fewer hours toward graduation may enroll for six or fewer graduate hours with submission of a graduate application and acceptance into the graduate program and approval of the graduate program director. At no time may an undergraduate student be enrolled in graduate classes without also being enrolled in undergraduate classes. Petition for any exceptions must be made through the Dean of the Graduate School.

Registration

To register for classes a student must obtain an advising slip and/or registration clearance from his/her program advisor.

Denial of Admission

The university reserves the right to deny admission to an applicant for any lawful reason, including cases where the applicant’s admission, in the sole opinion of the graduate program faculty committee, would not serve the best interests of the applicant, the graduate program, or the professional community. Because of the limited number of openings for admission to graduate programs, the university also may consider, based upon an applicant’s record, the probability that the applicant will successfully complete the program.

Admission to Doctor of Education Program

For additional requirements for admission to the Ed.D. program, see page 68 of this catalog.