ADMISSIONS
The Dean of the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School is responsible for the
admission of all graduate students. All degree-seeking students taking graduate
courses must make formal application to the Graduate School prior to enrolling
in any graduate course work.
All applications and inquiries should be addressed to:
Cratis D. Williams Graduate School
P O Box 32068
200 B. B. Dougherty Administration Building
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina 28608
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
All applicants for admission to the Graduate School must submit: (1) a
completed application with the $35.00 non-refundable, non-deductible
application processing fee, (2) three letters of recommendation, (3) official
test scores, as required for the program selected, (4) official transcripts
of all previous postsecondary academic work.
To be official, test scores must be sent to the Graduate School directly from
the testing agency or be recorded on an official transcript. Transcripts should
be secured from the university or college, embossed with the school seal and
enclosed in a sealed envelope. (If a previous degree is from Appalachian, a
transcript will automatically be sent to the Graduate School by the Registrar's
Office at no charge.)
The completed application and all credentials should be received by the
Graduate School not later than four weeks prior to the opening of the term for
which admission is desired. Individual programs may have earlier deadlines.
All materials submitted, including transcripts, become the property of
Appalachian State University and cannot be forwarded or returned.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All applicants for admission to the Graduate School must hold a baccalaureate
degree from a college or university of recognized standing and must have an
undergraduate background appropriate for graduate study proposed. Applicants
intending to apply for a graduate license to work in public schools must
hold, or be eligible to hold, a North Carolina "A" teaching license in the
chosen field or the comparable license in another state. For prerequisites
in academic fields, students should consult the departmental listings.
All applicants must submit satisfactory scores from all three sections of the
General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or, for those seeking
admission to the College of Business,the Graduate Management Admission Test
(GMAT). Applicants seeking admission to selected programs in the College of
Education may submit scores for the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) as an
alternative to the GRE.
Prerequisites
Baccalaureate degree from a college or university of recognized standing and
undergraduate background appropriate for graduate study proposed; or graduate
degree from a college or university of recognized standing.
International applicants must have earned the equivalent of an American
baccalaureate degree. Applicants to teacher-education programs in all
disciplines must hold, or be eligible to hold, a North Carolina "A"
teaching license, or a comparable license in another state. Basic Criteria
for Consideration: Satisfactory undergraduate or graduate GPA recorded on
an official transcript. Official test scores on standardized tests are required
by individual program. Scores must be submitted directly from the testing
organization. The Reich College of Education accepts the Miller Analogies
Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The Walker College of
Business requires the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The College of
Arts and Sciences, the College of Fine and Applied Arts, and the School of
Music accept the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) only. International
students must submit official TOEFL scores of at least 550 on the pencil-and-
paper test or 230 on the computer-based test. Other Criteria for All
Applicants: For specific admissions criteria and detailed information,
applicants should turn to the pages describing the programs to which they are
applying.
Requirements described in this bulletin are minimum requirements for
consideration and do not guarantee acceptance. Programs are selective and
admission decisions are based on consideration of additional factors. A limited
number of students who do not meet the minimum standards may be allowed to
enroll with special permission.
Minority applicants are encouraged to apply.
Each application must be approved by the department in which the student
proposes to major. The specific requirements for the various degree programs
are described in the department listings.
ADMISSION STATUS
Persons who apply for admission to the Graduate School, if accepted, may be
admitted in one of several categories as described below. If a student does not
complete degree requirements within seven years of being admitted, the
admission expires.
Regular. Regular admission to the Graduate School is granted to students who
meet the requirements for entrance established by a specific program.
Conditions, such as the completion of one or more additional undergraduate or
graduate courses, may be specified. A student who lacks course prerequisites
for admission, but is otherwise admissible may be admitted on a provisional
basis.
Provisional. Provisional admission to a graduate program may be granted in
the following circumstances only with a recommendation from the program
director and department chairperson of the admitting program: 1) a student
whose application materials do not meet the minimum published criteria for a
program, but who has compensating work experience or outstanding alternative
credentials; 2) a student whose undergraduate degree is in another
discipline but who shows evidence of potential success in the desired program.
Students admitted provisionally may be required to take additional
prerequisite courses during their first year, and may have to achieve a
specific graduate GPA to be determined by the admitting program.
Provisionally admitted students cannot hold assistantships, scholarships, or
tuition remissions during the first semester.
Visiting. Graduate students enrolled in good standing at other recognized
graduate schools may be permitted to register for a limited number of graduate
credits upon approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
Applicant. Students whose applications are incomplete may register only
after securing permission of the department chairperson and the Dean of
Graduate Studies and Research. To enroll as an applicant, a student must
submit to the Graduate School the following materials: a completed application
form, letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. These materials
must be on file in the Graduate School at least ten working days before the
first day of classes during the semester when the student plans to take
classes. The student must make arrangements to take the GRE, MAT, or GMAT
early during that first semester. All applicants must complete the admission
process, including complete review by the department in which the program-of-
choice is housed, during the first semester of graduate study. Failure to
complete the admission process during the initial semester will result in the
student's ineligibility to register for a second semester of graduate study.
The College of Business MBA Program does not permit students to enroll as
applicants. No more than 12 hours of credit earned prior to admission under
any status or a combination thereof may be applied toward a graduate degree,
and that only upon approval by the student's advisory committee and the
Graduate Dean.
Licensure Students. Students possessing licensure and a master's
degree in one area and seeking licensure in another area need not apply for
admission to Graduate School except for those seeking licensure in school
counseling through the Department of Human Development and Psychological
Counseling. However, all students seeking licensure must be approved by the
appropriate department and be accepted into the licensure program. Students
seeking licensure may apply to graduate school at any time. No more than
12 hours of course work completed prior to admission under any status or a
combination thereof may be counted toward the graduate degree, and that only
upon approval by the student's advisory committee and the Graduate Dean.
Renewal Licensure. Students possessing a baccalaureate degree and
licensure may take graduate courses to meet renewal requirements. Students
are advised, however, that departments may reserve courses for degree-seeking
students only. Students seeking renewal credit may apply to Graduate School
at any time.
Non-Degree Students. Students holding a baccalaureate degree and who are
not working toward a graduate degree are permitted to take graduate courses
only with the written permission of the Graduate Dean.Course work taken as a
non-degree student is not normally counted toward a graduate degree. If a
student is accepted into a degree program, the student's advisory committee
can petition for no more than six hours of course work to be included in the
program of study. Students are advised, however, that departments may reserve
courses for degree-seeking students only. Students taking courses for personal
enrichment and North Carolina citizens over 65 who are registering for a
tuition-free course are classified as special students, and therefore are
subject to the appropriate regulations stated in the current General
Bulletin of Appalachian State University.
Auditors. Regular fees are charged for auditing. A student may register as
an auditor for a course with the written consent of the instructor. Classes
audited shall count as part of the student's load, but he or she will receive
no credit and no grade will be assigned. An auditor is expected to be regular
in class attendance. An auditor is not required to take tests and examinations.
An auditor who finds it necessary to discontinue class attendance should
formally drop the course.
Undergraduate Enrollment for Graduate Level Courses. Seniors with a grade point
average of 3.00 or above may, with written permission from the course
instructor, chairperson of the department offering the course, and the Graduate
Dean, be permitted to take one or more graduate courses for undergraduate
credit. Credit earned in this manner will be used to meet baccalaureate degree
requirements and may not be applied toward a graduate degree.
Seniors with a grade point average of 3.00 or above desiring to enroll in
graduate level courses for graduate credit to be applied to a graduate degree
may do so provided they have: (1) made application for admission to the
Graduate School; (2) made application to take the GRE, MAT or GMAT; and
(3) obtained written permission from the course instructor, chairperson of the
department offering the course, and the Graduate Dean. No more than
12 hours of course work completed prior to admission under any status or a
combination thereof may be counted toward the graduate degree, and that only
upon approval by the student's advisory committee and the Graduate Dean.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE POLICY
A graduate student who has begun work toward a graduate degree but who is not
enrolled at Appalachian during a specific academic term will be officially classified as
being on leave of absence. A student who is on leave of absence will have
no access to university resources, and cannot schedule and pass a thesis
or dissertation defense, nor take comprehensive or qualifying examinations.
A leave of absence has no effect on the time limit to graduation, so that time
limit will remain seven years, including the time spent on leave. A student
cannot graduate at the end of an academic term during which the student has
been on leave. All students must be enrolled in at least one hour of graduate
credit during the academic term in which they graduate.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Since several months may be required to receive and process applications from
abroad, international students are urged to submit complete information as
early as possible. For the fall semester, applications should be in the Office
of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research by January 1. The deadline for
Spring is June 1. Applicants whose native language is not English should have
scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) sent as early as
possible. Normally, a score of 550 on the paper-and-pen TOEFL or 230 on the
computer based test is required for admission; a higher score may be necessary
if an applicant wishes to be considered for an assistantship.
In addition to the application form, application processing fee, test scores,
letters of recommendation, and transcripts as specified for the program,
international students must provide their own health insurance, and show
evidence of financial ability to pursue graduate study and pay out-of-state
tuition.
READMISSION
Students who have withdrawn in good standing from the University or who have
been suspended for academic deficiencies or for other reasons should submit
their requests for readmission to their program directors who will, in turn,
make an appeal to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.Consideration of
requests for readmission of students who have been suspended for any reason
will be made in light of the applicant's ability, evidence of growth and
maturity, credits earned at another institution, and time elapsed since
leaving Appalachian.
Disposition of Application Documents. All documents submitted in support of
applications become a part of the permanent records of the University and are
not returnable. Documents submitted by applicants who do not enroll will be
destroyed after two years.