Admission to Graduate Study

An application for admission to graduate study may be obtained by contacting the Dean of Graduate Studies. Priority deadline date for fall admission is March 1 and spring admission is October 1. This will ensure consideration for admissions and assistantships. Students who do not meet this deadline, may submit necessary credentials for admission up to two weeks in advance of the initial date of enrollment. Applicants must meet the admission requirements established for a particular degree program. Approved applicants will be notified in writing of their eligibility for admission to graduate study. Admission will be valid for one year; applicants who do not enroll during the year will be required to reapply for admission. Admission to graduate study does not imply admission to candidacy for a degree.

Any student requiring special accommodations in order to complete a course or program of study should contact the Disabilities Coordinator, Dean Hall, Room 110, or call (501) 968-0698. The Disabilities Coordinator administers programs and services associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act and serves as a liaison for students with disabilities.

Degree Admission

For unconditional admission applicants must:

1. Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college.
2. Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or a 3.00 on the last 30 hours of undergraduate work or hold a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
3. Meet additional admission requirements specified by programs in the graduate catalog (GRE, writing samples, etc.)

Applicants may be admitted conditionally if they:

1. Do not meet the grade point requirements.

2. Hold a degree from an unaccredited institution.

3. Have not met additional requirements of particular programs.

4. Have not submitted all necessary documentation prior to initial enrollment.

Non-Degree Admission

Applicants not pursuing a graduate degree may be admitted as non-degree graduate students upon submitting a completed application for admission to graduate study and an official transcript from an accredited college or university showing that a baccalaureate or higher degree has been earned at that institution. Applicants requesting non-degree admission must meet the same grade point admission criteria as outlined for degree admission. A maximum of twelve graduate hours earned while in non-degree status may apply to a degree program. Students desiring to change from a non-degree admission status to a degree admission status must apply for degree admission.

Transient Admission

Applicants who are pursuing a graduate degree at another institution may be admitted as transient graduate students upon submission of a completed application for admission to graduate study and an official statement from their institution verifying that they have been admitted to its graduate program and are in good standing.

Undergraduate Senior Admission

An undergraduate senior, registering the semester prior to graduation in a baccalaureate degree program at Arkansas Tech University, who does not need a full load of undergraduate courses to complete requirements for graduation, may request special permission to enroll in no more than six hours of graduate course work. The student's course load is not to exceed a total of 15 semester hours of graduate and undergraduate work combined during a fall or spring semester. The combined course load for a summer term is six semester hours. The student must have a 3.00 cumulative grade point average to be eligible for admission as an undergraduate senior. Failure of a student to complete the bachelor's degree during the semester/term in which the graduate courses are taken will preclude the student from enrolling in additional graduate classes in subsequent semesters until the bachelor's degree is awarded. Graduate work taken by the undergraduate senior may be used to satisfy requirements of the baccalaureate degree; however, graduate work used to satisfy baccalaureate degree requirements cannot be applied to the master's degree. An application for admission to graduate study and a form requesting approval to enroll as an undergraduate senior can be obtained at the Office of Graduate Studies.

International Student Admissions

Any student who is not a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the United States is considered an international student. A brief description of the information required to apply for admission to graduate study at Arkansas Tech University is listed below.

1. Application--an application for international student admission form, properly completed.

2. Application fee--a non-refundable application fee of $30 (U.S.).

3. Academic records--MUST be originals or official copies of all academic records with official English translations. Notarized copies will not be accepted.

4. English Proficiency--demonstrate English proficiency. Must meet one of the following:

a. A minimum score of 500 on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper based or 173 computer based test. Scores MUST be received directly from the Educational Testing Service (school code-6010). Students may also take any similar test of English proficiency approved by Arkansas Tech University at a site authorized by Arkansas Tech University.

b. Successful completion of an English as a Second Language (ESL) program at a site approved by Arkansas Tech University.

5. Evidence of sufficient financial support--approximately $14,200 (U.S.) is needed for 12 months of study, approximately $10,300 is needed for nine months (2 semesters); certified evidence of the source and amount of support must accompany the application. All international students will pay out-of-state tuition and will be assessed an international student services fee each semester. In addition, international students are required to purchase a health insurance policy prescribed by Tech prior to enrollment.

The application for admission and all documentation should be submitted by May 1 for the fall semester, October 1 for the spring semester, and March 1 for the summer sessions for priority consideration. Admission will not be granted until all documents have been received and evaluated. Upon acceptance, notification will be sent to the student along with an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility). Full payment of tuition and fees must be paid at registration each semester.

Detailed information regarding international student admissions may be obtained by contacting: International Student Services, Student Services Building 163, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas 72801-2222, USA; telephone (501) 964-0832; FAX (501) 968-0683; email: maria.chandler@mail.atu.edu 

Graduate Student Load

Graduate students may enroll for a maximum of twelve hours of credit per semester during the academic year and six hours of credit during each of the two summer terms. A one-credit-hour overload may be authorized by the head of the student's major department. A graduate student will be considered full time if enrolled for nine or more hours of credit during a regular semester or four hours during a summer term.

Adding and Dropping Courses

Changes in the class schedule must be made on official forms available at the Registrar's Office, Room 153, Student Services Building. Failure to follow the correct procedure for making changes in the class schedule may result in the grade of "F" being recorded for the courses involved. The deadlines for adding courses, dropping courses, or changing sections are listed in the graduate calendar in this catalog.

Grading and Credit Point System

The letters A, B, C, D, F, are used in grading to indicate the quality of a student's work: A - Excellent, B - Good, C - Fair, D - Unsatisfactory, and F - Failure. The letters AU, W, I, and R are also used: "AU" indicates that the student was enrolled in the course as an "auditor"; "W" is used to indicate that a course was dropped without penalty; "I" indicates that a portion of a course, such as a term paper or final examination, has not been completed; and the letter "R" indicates that the student registered for the master's thesis. The mark "R" gives neither credit nor grade points toward a graduate degree.

If a student needs to repeat a course or a significant portion of a course, a "W" or "F" will be assigned according to regulations governing the assignments of such grades.

Withdrawing

To withdraw officially, the student must report to the Office of Graduate Studies and the office of the Registrar. Failure to follow this procedure may result in a grade of "F" being recorded.

The deadline for officially withdrawing from the University with grades of "W" is the same as the last day for dropping courses. Withdrawing after this date, which is listed in the graduate calendar in this catalog, will result in grades of "F" being recorded for the semester/term. If circumstances justify special consideration, appeals should be directed to the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Removal of "I" Grades

An "I" grade must be removed by the end of the succeeding regular semester of enrollment after the "I" is received. Beginning the first summer term, 1990, and thereafter, a grade of "I" will not be computed in the grade point average for the semester recorded; however, the "I" will be automatically changed to a grade of "F" for grade and grade point purposes at the end of the next regular semester (fall or spring) unless course requirements are completed and the final grade is reported before the end of the semester. A grade of "I" recorded prior to the first summer term, 1990, will be computed as an "F" for grade point purposes until the "I" is removed.

An extension of the time limit or other necessary arrangements to remove an "I" will be made only if a written request for such extension is approved by the department head, school dean, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Repeating a Course

No graduate student may repeat a course for graduate credit except with written permission of the advisor. The grade from such a repetition as well as the original grade will be counted in computing the grade point average.

Courses for Audit

Enrollment in courses for audit requires admission to graduate study at the University, approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the instructor involved, and payment of the regular fee for the course. Audit will be on a "space-available" basis. Students auditing courses are subject to the same regulations as other students with regard to registration, but they do not take examinations nor receive credit for the course. Students may change from taking a course for credit to audit by following the procedure for adding and dropping courses.

Independent Study Courses

Independent study courses are intended for graduate students who have the interest and the ability to investigate in depth a topic not covered in the graduate courses available in their major field of study. The topic, format, and specific requirements of each independent study project must be approved in writing by the supervising instructor, graduate advisor, department head, and dean prior to enrollment for independent study credit. The original copy of the independent study approval form will be kept on file in the Office of Graduate Studies as part of the student's official graduate record. A student may not enroll in an independent study course before completing twelve hours of graduate credit.

Students pursuing the Master of Education degree or the Master of Science in Education degree are advised to take EDFD 6003, Educational Research, or another approved research course before enrolling for independent study.

Limit on Workshop and Independent Study Credit

No more than six semester hours of graduate course work completed in workshops and/or independent study may be applied to the master's degree.

Academic Dismissal

A student who has been unconditionally admitted and who attempts eighteen semester hours of graduate credit without being admitted to candidacy and without earning a 3.00 grade point average will be dropped from the graduate program. A student who is admitted conditionally or on a non-degree basis will be subject to academic dismissal after attempting twelve semester hours of graduate credit with a grade point average of less than 3.00. A student who has been admitted to candidacy but who does not have a 3.00 grade point average at the time of completing the minimum number of hours required by the degree program may submit no more than six additional hours in an attempt to attain a grade point average of 3.00. In no case will a student be graduated from a master's degree program if more than forty-two hours are submitted in order to reach a 3.00 grade point average. In the computation of the grade point average, all courses taken for graduate credit (including any repeated courses) will be taken into account.