Application and Admission

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General Information

Each academic program may have its own application requirements, in addition to the requirements defined in this Graduate Catalog. To confirm program requirements, review the information in this catalog and on the program’s website, and contact the department for the most up-to-date information.

To register for graduate-level courses you must first apply and be admitted as described in this catalog. Graduate applications are processed in partnership by the academic program and the Graduate College. Application materials are submitted to the Graduate College for processing and are forwarded to the program indicated on the application. The program’s graduate committee reviews the application and recommends or denies admission. Admission recommendations are provided to the Graduate College, which reviews the file for completeness and emails the official admission letter confirming the program’s decision.

Graduate admission is granted for a specific admission category and subject to limitations of that admission type. Graduate status ends when the student completes the degree program, is formally separated from the program, or exceeds the time limit of admission. Students who no longer have active graduate status and wish to take additional graduate-level coursework must complete a new application and be admitted.

In providing an application form and inviting application, Ohio University places itself under no obligation to admit any individual person. The officials of the university stand ready to register a student admitted for a specific semester, providing he or she arrives before the semester begins. In order to register for campus-based courses and programs, non-immigrant students must hold a valid Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) for study at Ohio University.

Ohio University operates on a semester system. Fall semester runs late August through December. Spring semester runs mid-January through April. Summer semester runs mid-May through early August. The Academic Calendar lists official term starting and ending dates.

Application Deadlines

Degree-seeking students

Application deadlines vary by program, and not all programs admit every term. Review the application information on the program’s website or contact the program director to confirm application terms and deadlines.

For programs with no stated deadline, applications for degree-seeking admission are due by the following dates:

US Citizens/Permanent Residents:

• Fall semester – August 1
• Spring semester – December 1
• Summer semester – April 1

International:

• Fall semester – February 1
• Spring semester – September 1
• Summer semester – December 1

When preparing to apply, allow sufficient time to register for any required tests and have official test scores reach Ohio University prior to program application deadlines.

Certificate-seeking students

Students seeking admission to a Certificate program should refer to the Certificate website information for application deadlines. If no deadline is listed apply at least six weeks prior to the desired term of entry.

Non-degree students

Students planning to register for graduate coursework in a non-degree status may apply up to the week prior to the start of the term in which they are seeking admission under most circumstances.

OHIO Employees (degree and non-degree)

Refer to Admission Criteria below.

Admission Criteria

Eligibility for Admission

Admission to degree, certificate, or non-degree status requires an earned bachelor’s degree (or its foreign equivalent) from a regionally accredited college or university.* The degree must be earned by the expected term of entry.

Applicants holding bachelor’s degrees from a US institution that is not regionally accredited must submit official scores from either a GRE or GMAT with their application.

Previous academic work must demonstrate academic ability through undergraduate accumulative grade point average and prerequisite coursework/training that will enable the student to be successful in the degree program to which admission is being sought. A certain amount of undergraduate preparation in the subject or field of study is presupposed before you may undertake graduate study in that subject or field. Each program gives appropriate weight to the factors pertinent to its academic field. Refer to the requirements listed by each program.

*A US equivalent bachelor’s degree is four years of post-secondary work following (generally) twelve years of primary and secondary work and awarding of a high school transcript or GED. Bologna-compliant Bachelor’s degrees are accepted as U.S. bachelor’s equivalent.

The language of instruction at Ohio University is English. Therefore, proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English at an advanced academic level is essential to academic success. Applicants for whom English is not a native language are required to provide an official score report of one of two standardized tests:  the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS academic).

Official scores must be reported from the testing agency directly to Ohio University. TOEFL scores are sent electronically to Ohio University (institution code: 1593). IELTS test scores are sent as an official document from the IELTS testing center to the Graduate College. Please register for the test using your legal name as stated on your passport. Also, your birthdate should be in month/day/year format (e.g., 02/26/1995). Test scores are valid for two years.

Applicants who wish to be considered for University funding (e.g. graduate assistantships/ scholarships) must submit official test scores and qualify for unconditional admission before a funding offer can be made.

Applicants who wish to be considered for teaching appointments are advised to submit iBT TOEFL scores with the speaking test component.

Test Score Requirements

Minimum scores for unconditional admission as a graduate student (some departments require higher scores):

TOEFL iBT – 70 Composite, with a Writing score of 17 and all other section scores of 15
TOEFL paper-delivered – Writing score of 17 and all other section scores of 15, or
IELTS (academic) - 6.0 minimum in every band.

Minimum scores for unconditional admission with funding eligibility:

TOEFL iBT – 80 Composite, with all section scores of 17
TOEFL paper-delivered – All section scores of 17, or
IELTS (academic) - 6.5 minimum in every band.

Students admitted without funding eligibility may gain eligibility by enrolling in and successfully completing recommended English Language Improvement courses.

English Provisional Admission: Applicants who do not qualify for graduate admission may be admitted under an English Provisional status. English Provisional status allows an applicant to enroll full-time in (only) Intensive English classes. Once the applicant has demonstrated proficiency, they may be admitted to graduate academic study.

Persons who need to study English prior to enrolling in a graduate degree program must apply separately to the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE). Students enrolling in OPIE take a TOEFL test upon arrival for placement purposes.

The Ohio Program of Intensive English or the English Language Improvement Program (ELIP) can consider an iBT or IELTS score for placement recommendation if either test is taken after the initial admission decision and the official score is received by Ohio University by the listed deadline:

• Fall semester – August 14
• Spring semester – December 20
• Summer semester – May 1

If an official iBT or IELTS score is not received by the deadline, the on campus TOEFL placement exam or SPEAK test will be the sole means for determining placement in academic and English language classes.

English Proficiency Testing Exceptions

Upon recommendation of the admitting department, non-native English speakers may have the requirement to demonstrate proficiency waived.  Applicants who receive these waivers typically fall under one of the following conditions:

• Applicants who, within the past two years, have received a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or a foreign college or university accredited by a Regional U.S. accrediting organization (where English is the language of instruction);
• Applicants who, within the past two years, have completed a course of full-time study of at least three years at a governmentally-accredited institution of higher education where English is the primary language of instruction; or
• Participants in Ohio University exchange programs who have met university requirements through alternate means as approved by Graduate Council.

These exemptions may only be requested by the admitting department, and must be fully supported by the program director, college leadership, and the Graduate College.

US Citizens/Permanent Residents

At the discretion of individual academic programs, the following non-native English speakers may be exempt from the English Proficiency Testing Policy:

Applicants who are US citizens/permanent residents and who meet one or both of the following criteria:

• Within the past two years have received a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or a foreign college or university accredited by a Regional U.S. accrediting organization (where English is the language of instruction), and/or
• Who have significant and recent work experience in an English-language environment.

Ohio University Faculty and Administrators

To register for graduate-level courses, you must apply for and be admitted to graduate status as a degree, certificate, or non-degree student through the normal application processes. Admission and registration do not automatically invoke a tuition benefit. Human Resources maintains and explains the benefits and eligible programs on their website. If you are eligible for the employee tuition benefit you must file that benefit request separately with Human Resources.

Conflict of Interest Review

Full-time Ohio University faculty and administrators, except senior administrators (vice presidents, vice provosts, associate provosts, and deans) are eligible to apply for admission to a graduate degree or certificate program or to non-degree status. The Graduate Council will review all applications for potential conflict of interest.* See the stipulations regarding conflict of interest in the Faculty Handbook, Section IV-F. If the Graduate Council determines that a conflict exists, the faculty member or administrator shall not be admitted to a graduate program. It is the responsibility of the Dean of the Graduate College to see that this review takes place at the earliest possible date.

No academic employee above the rank of Instructor, Research Assistant, or equivalent may receive from the University the master’s degree or the doctor’s degree in any graduate program where the employee has membership, teaches courses, serves on master’s or doctoral Committees, has, or is expected to have, other supervisory responsibilities which might give rise to conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest. Ohio University faculty members or senior administrators seeking a terminal degree must enroll in academic programs outside the colleges in which they are employed. Appeals regarding this policy follow the guidelines established in accordance with the “Faculty Grievance Committee” procedures (see Faculty Handbook, Section II.G).

If your employment situation changes, such as you are offered a full-time faculty or administrative appointment while you are active in a graduate degree program, you must notify the Graduate College of your employment and complete the Conflict of Interest process at the earliest possible date. The Graduate College and Graduate Council will determine whether a conflict of interest or unfair competition would result from your dual status as a student and a contract employee that might affect your academic performance and evaluation. If such a conflict is determined to exist, you may not continue your graduate program while simultaneously employed in the contract position.

*Graduate Council only meets during fall and spring semesters. For the full consideration in Graduate Council’s Conflict of Interest review, employees must file a potential Conflict of Interest Statement – Supervisor form with Graduate College by April 1st for planned summer or fall semester matriculation and by November 1st for planned spring semester matriculation. Temporary, provisional permission may be given for registration if full review is not possible due to the academic calendar.

Early Admission to a Graduate Degree

A superior undergraduate student may seek early admission to a graduate degree program by submitting an application for admission as a degree-seeking student and a completed/signed Undergraduate for Early Admission approval form.

Qualifications: You must have an overall GPA of at least 3.5 and have completed all undergraduate requirements for an Ohio University bachelor’s degree, except the total credit hour requirement, by the time of your entry into the graduate degree program. After obtaining the written recommendation of your department, the departmental graduate committee, and the dean of your undergraduate college, you may be admitted into a graduate degree program and enroll in graduate courses for graduate credit. You can use these courses to satisfy both graduate degree requirements and undergraduate total credit hour requirements. If you are admitted to graduate status through early admission, you are eligible for graduate assistantship or scholarship support.

Your undergraduate degree must be conferred in an earlier term or in the same term as the graduate degree. Under no circumstances will the graduate degree be conferred in an earlier term than the undergraduate degree.

Honors Tutorial Students can apply for early admission to a graduate degree program while simultaneously completing their bachelor’s degree as noted above, with the following modifications:

Upon admission to the graduate degree program, the HTC student has option to change their status from undergraduate to graduate be eligible for graduate awards and stipends, or retain undergraduate status for the purpose of continuation of undergraduate scholarships. Students may not receive undergraduate and graduate financial awards/assistance in the same term. Once a student has changed to graduate status, they must remain in graduate status through the completion and conferral of the graduate degree.

A student who has opted to remain in undergraduate status for the purposes of financial aid must change to graduate status no later than the term in which they apply to have their graduate degree conferred. The undergraduate degree must be conferred in an earlier term or in the same term as the graduate degree.

Accelerated Graduate Pathways (AGPs)

Some exceptionally well-qualified undergraduate students may obtain conditional admission to a graduate degree program and begin graduate coursework during their undergraduate careers through an Accelerated Graduate Pathway. Each Accelerated Pathway maps a relationship between one or more undergraduate programs of study and a graduate degree program. In some cases, graduate course credit may be applied to both graduate and undergraduate degree requirements.

Admission

Students must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours to be conditionally admitted into a graduate program through an Accelerated Pathway. A minimum of 75 undergraduate credit hours must be completed before graduate courses may be taken for graduate credit. Individual graduate programs may require a higher minimum number of hours before admission and/or the commencement of graduate coursework.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 with at least a 3.5 average GPA in the most recent 30 hours of coursework, is required for conditional admission to a graduate program through an Accelerated Pathway. Individual programs may set higher admissions standards.

Each graduate program defines its own additional admission criteria and processes for students applying through an Accelerated Pathway.

Removal or voluntary withdrawal from an AGP does not prevent a student from applying to begin the graduate program after receiving the bachelor’s degree. Final admission to the graduate program after the bachelor’s degree is conferred is subject to all university-wide policies for graduate admissions. For more information about these policies, see the Graduate Catalog.

Earning Graduate Credit

To receive graduate credit for graduate courses taken before completing the bachelor’s degree, students must qualify in at least one of the following ways: meet the criteria for Senior for Graduate Credit; obtain Early Admission to a graduate program; be accepted into an approved program Accelerated Graduate Pathway; or be enrolled as a student in the Honors Tutorial College. (HTC students must request graduate credit prior to registering for their graduate courses; otherwise, the graduate courses will be part of their undergraduate record and GPA only.) Students who wish to begin taking graduate courses through an AGP must first sign an Advising & Risk Acknowledgement Form. This form certifies that the student understands that taking graduate courses for credit will result in a permanent graduate transcript and that graduate classes will not affect eligibility for the Dean’s List, Graduation with Latin Honors, or undergraduate probation status. It also certifies that the student is responsible for any impact on financial aid eligibility as a result of their course enrollment.

Courses taken for undergraduate credit and courses taken for graduate credit require separate registration processes. The AGP will identify which courses are eligible for graduate credit before completion of the bachelor’s degree. Students with conditional admission to a graduate program through AGP may register for these courses with the permission of the instructor and their AGP advisor.

Students may not earn more than 16 hours of graduate credit prior to the conferral of the bachelor’s degree. This limitation does not apply to HTC students.

Dual Undergraduate and Graduate Credit

AGPs may allow specific courses taken for graduate credit to also count toward specific undergraduate requirements, including 1) specific undergraduate course requirements; 2) elective hours in the major or college program of study; and/or 3) the 120-hour minimum university graduation requirement. A maximum of 9 graduate credit hours may be applied to undergraduate degree requirements of any kind.

Only courses listed in the student’s AGP may satisfy requirements for the bachelor’s degree, and these courses apply only to the undergraduate program of study specified in the AGP. If a student changes undergraduate programs to one that is not part of the AGP, it is possible that the graduate courses will count only toward the 120-hour university minimum.

Graduate (5000-level) sections of dual-listed 4000/5000-level classes taken for graduate credit will always appear on undergraduate DARS as a substitute for the 4000-level equivalent. Only the first 9 hours of graduate credit may count toward degree requirements, however.

Graduate credits also satisfying undergraduate requirements will not affect the undergraduate GPA. However, if the undergraduate degree program requires a minimum course grade to satisfy a degree requirement (e.g., B- or better), that minimum applies to graduate courses as well as undergraduate ones.

Standards of Work

Undergraduate students earning graduate credit through an AGP must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in both their undergraduate and graduate coursework. If either the graduate or undergraduate GPA drops below a 3.0, conditional admission to the graduate program will be rescinded and the student will no longer be eligible to earn graduate credit through the AGP. The minimum cumulative graduate GPA applies to any number of attempted credit hours.

(Normal graduate academic probation generally does not apply until a student has attempted 9 hours of graduate courses.)

No course with a grade below C (2.0) may be used to satisfy any graduate degree or certificate requirement. Individual graduate programs, schools, departments, or academic colleges may establish more rigorous standards. Repeating a graduate-level course or taking it again will not remove or replace a grade from a previous attempt.

Enrollment Requirements. Students in an AGP are expected to make timely progress toward degree completion. Conditional graduate admission will be rescinded for undergraduate students who fail to earn credit or a PR grade in OHIO courses for three consecutive semesters (including summer). Individual graduate programs, schools, departments, or academic colleges may establish more rigorous standards for continuous enrollment before the completion of the bachelor’s degree (e.g., enrollment each fall and spring).

Students conditionally admitted to a graduate program through an AGP are normally expected to matriculate and enroll in the graduate program after the bachelor’s degree is conferred with the next available admit term (i.e., when students would normally next begin the program following regular post-bachelor’s admission). To maintain their admission, they may defer enrollment only with the permission of the graduate program.

Submitting an Application

The application form is located at www.ohio.edu/graduate/apply. Once submitted, the application form is locked and cannot be modified. Changes in degree-seeking status or application term requires submission of a new application. Changes in degree or certificate programs may require submission of a new application. See Application or Admission Changes. 

Additional supplemental documents can be submitted to the Graduate College as described in the section below.

You may apply to more than one program at a time, but you must complete a separate application form for each program and pay the second application fee as noted on the application form. Application to an integrated dual degree program (i.e., MBA/MSA) requires only one application form.

Degree-seeking

A degree-seeking application must include:

• Appropriate application fee
• Academic transcripts
• Resume or CV
• Evidence of English Proficiency (non-native speakers of English only)

In addition, an application must include any program-specific materials which may include (but is not limited to):

• Letters of recommendation
• Test scores
• Writing sample
• Personal statement, statement of professional goals, or biographical statement
• Portfolio or audition recording

Programs may also require an interview, which is arranged individually. Please refer to the program’s web page and information in this catalog for specific application requirements.

Certificate 

A certificate application must include:

• Appropriate application fee
• Academic transcript from the institution where a bachelor’s degree is being or has been conferred.

Letters of recommendation may or may not be required, depending on the certificate program.

Non-Degree

A non-degree application must include:

• Appropriate application fee
• Academic transcript from the institution where a bachelor’s degree is being or has been conferred

Transient

A Transient application must include a certificate of good standing in lieu of a transcript.

Teacher License Endorsement Programs

A copy of a current and valid teacher license may be submitted in lieu of a transcript.

Post-Baccalaureate

A Post-baccalaureate application requires only a completed application form containing the name of the institution where post-secondary degrees have been earned and dates of degree conferral.

Other Admission Applications

Students applying for early admission to graduate status refer to the section “Admission Criteria” above for eligibility guidelines. Early admission applicants must complete the standard graduate degree-seeking application.

Undergraduate students applying for Senior for Graduate Credit, Honors Tutorial for Graduate Credit, or Biomedical Engineering Associate refer to the section “Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses” below for application and eligibility guidelines.

Application Document Requirements

Submitting application materials

You are encouraged to upload all materials to the application form in the spaces provided. Instructions for preparing documents for upload are included on the Graduate College website at https://www.ohio.edu/graduate/prospective-students/upload-supplemental-application-material.

All documents received by the University in connection with an application become the property of Ohio University. Under no circumstances will they be returned or forwarded to any agency or other college or university.

Transcripts

Each application for admission must be supported by post-secondary academic transcripts as noted in this section. A copy of an official transcript can be uploaded to the application* for the purposes of admission review (some programs require original, official transcripts as part of the review of applications - see note below). Students who are admitted from copies of official transcripts must submit original, official transcripts prior to registration.

If you have previously attended or are currently attending Ohio University, transcripts will be obtained by the Graduate College, providing you list Ohio University as an institution attended on your application. If you fail to list Ohio University as an institution attended, you will be responsible for supplying a copy of your transcript. DARS reports cannot be used in lieu of a transcript.

*Uploaded transcripts must bear the name of the student, the institution, dates attended, all classes and grades, registrar’s stamp or signature. Advising reports, grade reports, degree audits, or web-based course lists cannot be used in lieu of a transcript.

Transcript Requirements for Degree-Seeking Applicants

• A copy of the official transcript from each institution where a bachelor’s degree has been or will be granted.
• A copy of the official transcript from any institution attended after completing a bachelor’s degree, or from which any graduate coursework was attempted, regardless of whether or not a degree has been or is being completed.
• A copy of an official transcript from any college or university attended within the past four years from which credit was or is currently being completed.

Transcripts for work completed through a study abroad program are not required.

Copies of transcripts uploaded to the application are unofficial. Academic programs have the option to require original, official transcripts as part of the application. In this event, the applicant should arrange to have transcripts sent directly to the Graduate College.

Academic programs may request submission of a transcript from any post-secondary institution attended beyond the requirements noted above.

Transcript Requirements for Certificate/Non-degree Applicants

A copy of the official transcript from the institution where a bachelor’s degree has been or will be granted OR a copy of the official transcript from the institution where a master’s or doctoral degree has been earned.

Official Transcripts

To be considered official, transcripts from U.S. and Canadian institutions must be received in envelopes sealed by the issuing institution. Transcripts that have been opened, photocopied, or marked as unofficial will not be accepted as official. If the institution will not provide sealed copies directly to you, request that transcripts be sent directly to the Graduate College on your behalf.

Transcripts from non-U.S. institutions must be official or registrar-certified, in envelopes sealed by the issuing institution if possible. If original documents are not in English, also provide an official certified copy of all documents in English. The transcript must bear the seal and original signature of the school and school official and clearly show the name and address of the institution, the date you entered and left the institution, the date any degree was earned, all courses taken and grades received, and the system of grading used, indicating the highest mark and the lowest passing mark. Summary documents listing only classes passed are not accepted. The transcript/mark sheets must show all course attempts with grades earned. If the transcript/mark sheet does not name the degree and date earned, an official or registrar-certified copy of the diploma or graduation certificate that indicates the degree and date awarded must also be provided, with a certified English translation if the original is not in English.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Your resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) describes your previous education, work, teaching, and research experience, professional affiliations, community and volunteer experience, honors and awards, and publications. Most programs prefer no more than four pages. Check the program’s application requirements for more details.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation should be requested from people who are familiar with your academic abilities and potential. Because departments may have specific requirements regarding letters of recommendation, applicants are encouraged to review the program’s admissions information for any specific requirements and the number of recommendations needed before contacting recommenders. Most departments accept electronic letters of recommendation. If this is an option, the application form will so indicate. Electronic letters of recommendation are only available through the on-line application.

Personal, Professional or Biographical Statements

Program requirements vary. Please review program admissions information for guidelines regarding format, content, and/or length of any personal, professional, or biographical statements. Please only submit the materials specifically requested by the program to which you are applying. If the program information does not provide specific details, please limit personal, professional, or biographical statements to two pages.

Writing Sample

Please review program admissions information to determine if a writing sample is required and any guidelines regarding format, content, and/or length. If the program information does require a writing sample but does not provide any specific guidelines, please submit a sample of academic writing, preferably related to your proposed area of study.

Test Requirements

Academic Proficiency

Requirements for standardized admission tests such as the GRE or GMAT vary by academic program. Please review the program admissions information. Admission tests older than five years are not accepted.

You can include a copy of your student test score report with your application. However, official test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to Ohio University (institution code 1593) for any required test before an admission offer can be finalized. Department codes are not required on test score reports.

English Proficiency

All English Proficiency test scores must be reported to the Graduate College directly from the testing agency. Student copies of scores cannot be used to finalize an admission recommendation.

All non-native speakers of English are required to demonstrate English proficiency. Refer to the English Language proficiency policy under Admission Criteria above.

Portfolios

Please review program admissions information for guidelines regarding format, content, and method of submission. Please only submit the materials specifically requested by the program to which you are applying. Portfolio materials submitted to support application to programs in the College of Fine Arts may be returned as described in the program information.

Application Document Retention

Documents of students who are admitted to graduate status but fail to enroll in the semester for which they are admitted, or who enroll but either cancel or withdraw all registration prior to the end of the enrollment period are held for one calendar year after date received. If the student fails to request a deferral of admission within that year, the documents are destroyed.

Documents for applicants who are not admitted are held for one year after date received. If a new application is submitted within that year, previously received materials can be applied to the new application. If no new application is received after a year, the documents are destroyed.

Documents of students who are admitted to graduate status and enroll are archived and held for seven years after degree completion or the last term of activity under that admission, whichever applies.

Documents received without any supporting application are retained for one year and then destroyed.

Admission Categories

Students must hold an active graduate status in one of these categories to enroll in graduate-level courses. Ohio University has the following admission categories: degree, certificate, non-degree, and post-baccalaureate. All students admitted to graduate status must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in graded graduate-level courses to remain in good standing. For additional information about academic standing please review the standards of work information in this catalog.

Degree

A degree-seeking student is one who is working toward a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral) at Ohio University. To be admitted to degree-seeking status, students must apply through the degree-seeking application.

Degree-seeking students may be eligible for financial aid.

Students working toward graduate degrees are required to enroll in graduate courses that are part of their degree programs. You may earn a graduate degree only in a program to which you have been admitted and in which you have enrolled. Graduate status ceases upon completion of the degree, dismissal from the degree program, or reaching the degree-completion time limit.

Certificate

A certificate student is one who is working toward a graduate certificate in a non-degree status. To be admitted to certificate status, students must apply through the certificate application.

Certificate students are not eligible for financial aid.

Students working toward graduate certificates are required to enroll in graduate courses that are part of their certificate programs. You may earn a certificate only in a program to which you have been admitted and in which you have enrolled. Graduate status ceases upon completion of requirements for the certificate, dismissal from the certificate program, or reaching the certificate completion time limit of six years.

A certificate student who wishes to be considered for admission to a degree program, such as with earning a stackable certificate, must submit a degree-seeking application as described in the previous section Submitting Application Materials.  Credit earned prior to admission to a degree program is not automatically applied toward a graduate degree at Ohio University.

Non-Degree

A non-degree student is one who is not pursuing a certificate or graduate degree at Ohio University. To be admitted to non-degree status, students must apply through the non-degree application.

Graduate non-degree status ceases upon completion of 12 semester credits of graduate coursework or six years, whichever comes first. Students may reapply for subsequent admission to return to non-degree status.

Credit earned prior to admission to a degree program is not automatically applied toward a graduate degree at Ohio University. In exceptional cases, a student may appeal to the appropriate academic department to request which courses, if any, taken while in non-degree status may be applied toward degree requirements.

Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid. Non-degree students may not register for thesis or dissertation credit.

Approval for non-degree admission and successful completion of coursework while in non-degree status does not constitute admission to a degree program. A non-degree student who wishes to be considered for admission to a degree program must submit a degree-seeking application as described in the previous section “Submitting an Application”.

Transient

A transient student is a current graduate degree-seeking student at another university who wishes to take graduate coursework at Ohio to be transferred back to the home university. To be admitted to transient status, students must apply through the non-degree application.

In lieu of transcripts, a transient application must submit an official statement of good standing signed by the dean of the graduate school of the student’s home university. Transient students can take up to three graduate courses, and transient status must be reaffirmed each term with a new certificate of good standing.

A transient student may qualify for federal financial aid through their home institution, but not through Ohio University.

Post-Baccalaureate

A Post-baccalaureate (Post-bacc) student is one who is taking graduate courses in a non-degree status on a regional campus, or taking graduate courses during the summer on the Athens campus. To be admitted to post-bacc status, students must apply through the post-baccalaureate application or for post-bacc status through the non-degree application. Graduate status ceases upon completion of 12 semester credits of graduate coursework or six years, whichever comes first.  Students may reapply for subsequent admission to post-bacc status.

Credit earned prior to admission to a degree program is not automatically applied toward a graduate degree at Ohio University. In exceptional cases, a student may appeal to the appropriate academic department to request which courses, if any, taken while in non-degree status may be applied toward degree requirements.

Approval for post-baccalaureate admission and successful completion of coursework while in post-bacc status does not constitute admission to a degree program. Post-bacc students are not eligible for financial aid. Post-bacc students may not register for thesis or dissertation credit.

A post-baccalaureate student who wishes to be considered for admission to a degree program must submit a degree-seeking application as described in the previous section “Submitting an Application”.

Admission Conditions

Admission to any category may be granted on either an unconditional or conditional basis. Any admission to a graduate program is not final until the student’s admission file is complete and includes a final official transcript from any institution where a bachelor’s degree and higher has been earned, showing receipt of that degree, and transcripts from any other postsecondary schools as indicated in the transcript requirements elsewhere in this section. It is the student’s responsibility to see that final official transcripts are on file in the Graduate College by the end of the initial term of enrollment. Failure to provide an official/final transcript showing an earned bachelor’s degree or certifiable demonstration of a completed bachelor’s degree] by the end of the first term of enrollment will result in revocation graduate status.

Admission is not final until all missing documents are received by the Graduate College and all conditions of admission have been met. Failure to supply all missing documents and clear all conditions within the stated period will result in a registration hold being placed on the student’s account and may result in dismissal from graduate status.

Admission status must be unconditional, final, and all admission and degree requirements complete to have a degree or certificate conferred.

Unconditional (Final) Admission

Students approved by the major department for unqualified admission to a graduate degree program are given unconditional admission.

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission defines specific academic requirements that students must meet before they can be fully (unconditionally) admitted to the program. It applies to some special cases of early admission to a graduate program. In addition, students who have some academic deficiency in the entrance requirements, such as a low grade-point average or missing prerequisite coursework, may be recommended by the department for conditional admission. The admitting department will specify the number of hours and grade point average requirements that must be met in order to clear the student for unconditional admission. The department graduate committee will specify whether undergraduate courses required as further preparation for admission will be taken for audit or credit. Grades earned in such courses may be used by the graduate committee in evaluating a student’s capability for graduate work. Undergraduate or audited courses will not satisfy requirements for any graduate degree.

Students admitted conditionally based on an academic deficiency or other circumstances must achieve unconditional admission status by satisfactorily completing the prescribed program as defined in the admission conditions.

Students are ineligible for University-funded assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships until they have received unconditional admission.

Note: International students who are admitted with academic conditions cannot be issued an I-20 for graduate study.

English Provisional Admission

English Provisional Admission is a combination of admission to the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) and future admission to a graduate degree-seeking program. This allows a student to study English as a second language prior to starting a degree program. Students wishing to apply for English Provisional Admission need to submit a degree-seeking application and check the appropriate box indicating they are applying for English Provisional status. Applicants for English Provisional Admission do not need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores with their degree application.

A student admitted with English Provisional status takes an entrance TOEFL test and enrolls in English language courses through the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) upon their arrival at Ohio University. A student admitted in English Provisional status has up to two years to achieve an English proficiency scores which meet Ohio University’s minimum level  (or as specified by the graduate degree program). 

Students admitted in English Provisional status will take the TOEFL at the end of each semester and are subject to placement recommendations based on that score until they are cleared for unconditional admission.

Students admitted under English Provisional status are not eligible to register for graduate courses until unconditional admission status has been achieved.

Other students who may be offered English Provisional admission are those who:

• Do not have a valid TOEFL or IELTS score
• Are not exempted from having to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score with their application, or
• Have a TOEFL or IELTS score less than the university minimum as described in the English Proficiency section of this catalog.

Application or Admission Changes

An application is only valid for a specific program and a specific admission term. Any change in either program or term requires submission of a new application form.

Change of Application Program

• Change of program code to switch to a different delivery method (e.g., on-line versus campus-based) can be done with a request for the switch submitted to the Graduate College.
• Change off degree level within the same degree program (e.g., master’s to doctoral) can be done with a request for the switch submitted to the Graduate College.
• Change of degree program track can be done with a request for the switch submitted to the Graduate College.
• Change of program that switches academic college, academic department, or degree versus non-degree status requires submission of a new application.

Change of Application Term

If you wish to change the term for which you are seeking admission and have not yet been admitted, you may request a change through the application.

Applications that are still pending when a department has completed the admission review will be withdrawn. Applicants are notified by e-mail that admissions have closed. If you wish to apply for a different term, you can complete the Change of Term form.

Change of Admission Term

Admitted students who need change their entry term must submit an application for the new term.

Assistantship offers do not defer if you do not enroll in the term to which you are initially admitted. If you defer your admission term, you must work with your admitting program to determine implications for assistantship and financial aid offers.

Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses

Students must hold graduate status or be approved under one of the statuses listed below to register for graduate level courses (courses numbered 5000 and above). Registration in graduate courses does not constitute admission to a graduate degree program, and credit taken may not automatically apply to a future graduate degree unless otherwise noted.  State regulations require that Bachelor’s degrees be at least 120 hours, and Master’s degrees be at least 30 hours.  At no time can graduate credit earned at the undergraduate level be counted in a way that violates those minimums.

OHIO Honors

Students in the OHIO Honors program may take a maximum of three graduate courses during their junior and senior years (i.e., after earning 60 or more semester hours of undergraduate credit). Hours earned in these courses will count toward total hours required for the undergraduate degree only; the grades will be calculated into the undergraduate GPA. Registration in graduate courses requires written permission from the instructor.

Participation in this option is at the discretion of the department or school. Qualified students can be registered by obtaining permission from the Director of OHIO Honors or his or her designee and submitting the approval form to the registrar’s office for processing.

Departmental Honors

Students in a recognized departmental honors program may take a maximum of three graduate courses in their major departments/schools during their senior years (i.e., after earning 90 or more hours of credit). Hours earned in these courses will count toward total hours required for the undergraduate degree only; the grades will be calculated into the undergraduate GPA. Registration in graduate courses requires written permission from the instructor.

Participation in this option is at the discretion of the department or school. Qualified students can be registered by obtaining permission from the departmental honors coordinator and submitting the approval form to the registrar’s Office for processing.

Honors Tutorial College Undergraduate for Graduate Credit

A student in the Honors Tutorial College can request up to ten (10) semester hours be taken for graduate credit in any term.

To apply, submit a completed HTC Undergraduate for Graduate Credit form to the Graduate College prior to registering for the graduate class(es). Courses may not be switched from undergraduate to graduate credit retroactively. The form can be downloaded from the Graduate College website. If your application is approved, you pay undergraduate fees and are not eligible for graduate assistantship or graduate scholarship support.

Grades earned for graduate courses completed through HTC undergraduate for Graduate Credit are included in calculating a graduate grade point average.

Accelerated Graduate Pathways

Students enrolled in an Accelerated Graduate Pathway (AGP) may take up to 16 hours of graduate courses for graduate credit and, under some circumstances, apply graduate credit toward undergraduate degree requirements. See Accelerated Graduate Pathways (AGPs) above under Admission Criteria.

Senior for Graduate Credit

An Ohio University student who has not yet completed all requirements for the bachelor’s degree may be eligible for graduate study after having completed 90 hours and is in senior rank. Generally, no more than two graduate courses may be taken in this way, and graduate courses will not fulfill any undergraduate requirements. This privilege is normally granted for one semester only. You must have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 and be within six credits of completing all requirements for your bachelor’s degree. The graduate credit becomes part of your graduate record only; it does not affect undergraduate course requirements, hours earned, or undergraduate GPA.

To apply, submit a completed Senior for Graduate Credit form to the Graduate College. The form can be downloaded from the Graduate College website Forms page. If your application is approved, you pay undergraduate fees and are not eligible for graduate assistantship or graduate scholarship support. You must apply in prior to the term in which you are seeking graduate course enrollment. This privilege may also be extended to a well-qualified senior at another university who has six or fewer semester credits to complete for the bachelor’s degree.

Grades earned for graduate courses completed through Senior for Graduate Credit are included in calculating a graduate grade point average.

Students who are pursuing designated undergraduate to graduate degree programs can apply for Senior for Graduate Credit at any point after reaching senior status in their undergraduate degree program.

BioMedical Engineering Undergraduate Affiliate

An Ohio University student who holds Undergraduate Affiliate status in the Biomedical Engineering program can take a select group of graduate courses by applying for BME Undergraduate for Graduate Credit.

To apply for graduate credit, submit a completed BME Undergraduate Affiliate form to the Graduate College. The form can be downloaded from the Graduate College website Forms page. If your application is approved, you pay undergraduate fees and are not eligible for graduate assistantship or graduate scholarship support. You must apply prior to the first term in which you are seeking graduate credit.

BME Undergraduate affiliates must meet prerequisites for any graduate courses they wish to take. Graduate courses taken in affiliate status become part of a graduate record and can be applied toward a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Ohio University. Grades earned for graduate courses are included in calculating a graduate grade point average.

Early Conditional Admission to Law, Justice, & Culture

Students with senior status who are conditionally admitted to the M.A. in Law, Justice, & Culture may request up to 12 credit hours of graduate courses for graduate credit before completing the bachelor’s degree. Eligibility also requires a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2.

To apply for graduate credit, submit a completed LJC Graduate Credit Form to the Graduate College. This form can be downloaded from the Graduate College website page. You must apply prior to the first term in which you are seeking graduate credit.

Graduate courses taken in conditional admission status become part of a graduate record and can be applied toward a Master of Arts in Law, Justice, & Culture at Ohio University. Grades earned for graduate courses are included in calculating a graduate grade point average.

Post-Admission Procedures and Requirements

International Students - Certificate of Eligibility

International applicants who are recommended for admission must submit evidence of the financial responsibility as stated on the Affidavit of Financial Support before a certificate of eligibility can be issued. If you are awarded a University-funded assistantship, fellowship, or scholarship the value of that award will be deducted from the total amount of money required to issue a Certificate of Eligibility, and you will need to document access to funds only in the amount which is the difference between the University award and the amount of funding required to issue the Certificate.

International academic and financial documents required to issue a Certificate of Eligibility are due by the following dates*:

Fall admission – June 1

Spring admission – October 15

Summer admission – January 31

*subject to change without notice due to law or policy changes.

All new international students, as well as returning students starting a new degree program, must report to the Office of International Student and Faculty Services upon arrival.

Students must hold an appropriate academic study-eligible visa status by the first term of enrollment in a degree or certificate program. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that proper status is maintained.

Post-Admission Testing

Academic Writing

All admitted students may be tested for academic writing proficiency upon arrival.

English Language Proficiency

Individual academic programs may require on-campus English proficiency testing for any student for whom English is not a native language. Failure to achieve a passing score may result in dismissal from the program.

Oral English Proficiency for Teaching Assistants - Ohio law requires all Teaching Assistants to demonstrate English proficiency prior to assuming instructional duties. Oral proficiency is certified by the academic program.

• Native speakers of English: Have received an undergraduate degree from an English medium university or college and have been interviewed by the academic program.
• For non-native speakers, the minimum requirements are as follows:
  • iBT - 80 Composite, Speaking score of 24
  • IELTS – 6.5 Composite, Speaking 7.0, 6.5 minimum in every band
• Non-native speakers may be provisionally cleared to teach if they achieve the following and concurrently enroll in a specified English language improvement course:
  • iBT - 80 Composite, Speaking score of 21 to 23
  • IELTS – 6.5 Composite, Speaking 6.5

Post-Admission Document Requirements

Upon an offer of admission, all students are required to provide an official transcript from each institution where the student has earned a bachelor’s degree and any post-bachelor’s degree, showing the degree and date earned.

Students who are not able to submit an official transcript showing the degree conferred must submit an official transcript showing all grades earned to date and a letter confirming the expected degree conferral date. This letter must come from the college/university registrar or other academic official who is able to confirm completion of degree requirements. Once the degree has been conferred, the student must submit an official/final transcript showing the degree and date earned.

Failure to submit official transcripts and/or failure to confirm conferral of reported degrees are grounds for cancellation of registration and/or revocation of graduate admission status.

Registration Requirement for First Term of Admission

Admitted students are expected to begin the registration process no later than the first week of classes. Students who fail to register by the end of the initial registration period (first two weeks of classes) will have their admission for that term cancelled.

Orientation Programs

The Graduate College provides online orientation modules prior to registration and hosts an orientation session for new graduate students each fall in the week prior to the start of fall semester. An additional orientation for students with Graduate Teaching appointments is also held prior to the start of fall semester. Further information is on the Graduate College website.

Individual academic programs hold orientation sessions. For details contact your academic program.

A required international student orientation is held prior to the start of each academic semester for all new international students.

Enrollment Medical Requirements and Health Insurance

There are no specific medical requirements to fulfill before entering the University—for example, you are not required to have a physical examination; however, some colleges have specific medical requirements for students pursuing certain majors.

If you are a newly-enrolled Athens campus international student or an international student returning after an absence of two or more years, you will need to take a tuberculosis skin test through OhioHealth Campus Care on campus.

Ohio University requires all students enrolled in Athens credit hours to maintain an active health insurance policy. The University offers a policy for students who do not have an active health insurance policy. Health insurance requirements are outlined on the web at https://www.ohio.edu/student-insurance.

Adding Additional Degrees or Certificates

Students may pursue more than one program of study at Ohio University through admission to a separate degree or certificate program. Completion of a dual degree results in two different degree listing on the academic transcript and two separate diplomas. Dual degrees can be pursued through a pre-determined format or by an ad-hoc student-initiated program. Students may also add certificate programs to a current degree program or pursue multiple certificates in non-degree status. Refer to the “Adding Degrees or Certificates” section of Degree and Certificate Requirements.

Definitions

Integrated Dual Degree: Ohio University offers the Master of Business Administration/Master of Sport Administration in an integrated format. Generally students apply to have both degrees conferred at the same time, but they have the option to have one conferred while finishing work on the other. Students must apply and be admitted to the MBA/MSA program prior to beginning the integrated dual degree program.

Ad-hoc Dual Degree: A student-initiated ad-hoc dual degree allows undertaking of two degree programs with the possibility of sharing of a limited number of credit hours between degrees. Students can apply to have degrees conferred individually as they are completed, or may opt to have both conferred at the same time. Students must apply and be admitted to each degree program separately.

Second/Additional Degrees: Completion of two or more degree programs without any shared degree content.

Stacked Certificates: Certificates can be pursued in non-degree status or concurrent with a degree program. Certificates offered only to current degree-seeking students are conferred upon the completion of the degree. Consult the program for more information about conferral of specific certificates.  

Certificates can be added to in-progress degrees by submitting an Update of Program form. If courses are being shared between the degree and the certificate, a Dual Degree/Dual Program Form must also be submitted.

To add a certificate after the completion of a degree or to pursue certificates in non-degree status, you must submit a certificate application.