2015-2016 Spring Supplemental Graduate

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General Graduate Admissions

Faculty members in each degree program establish admissions standards for the specific degree program which often exceed the minimum standards. Applicants should consult program brochures, school offices or faculty in the degree program(s) of interest to them for any additional submission requirements.

If programs set deadlines for review of applications for admission for any term, they must allow sufficient time for Graduate School handling and evaluation. This typically means they must ask students to submit materials early enough to allow at least 5 working days for the Graduate School to complete all processing upon receipt of a completed application prior to sending it to the program for screening. It is particularly important for programs requiring GRE’s and having early admission deadlines to notify applicants of this requirement. The Graduate School does not set standard priority admission deadlines, but encourages each program to determine what specific deadlines they will use and to work closely with the Graduate School to ensure these deadlines are feasible.

Admission Application Checklist

  1. Complete the appropriate application forms
  2. Obtain one official transcript from ALL institutions attended, undergraduate and graduate, (except UNC)
  3. Submit Graduate Record Examination (if applicable)
  4. Provide letters of recommendation (if applicable)
  5. Check program requirements
  6. Include the non-refundable application fee
  7. Submit all required application materials to the Graduate School

For additional information refer to the Graduate School application or online at: http://www.unco.edu/grad/

Doctoral Admission

Each applicant for the doctoral degree must:

  • Possess a baccalaureate degree or master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university,
  • Submit three letters of recommendation confirming that the applicant has the ability to do doctoral work in the proposed discipline(s),
  • Have a minimum level of achievement combining GPA and GRE performance.
  • GRE scores must be less than five years old.

Doctoral applicants meet the Graduate School minimum criteria for admission if they have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the most recently completed degree, scores of at least 146 on the verbal and at least 140 on the quantitative sections of the GRE-General Test with a combined score of at least 297 and an analytical writing score of at least 3.5. A higher GRE score can compensate for a lower GPA and a higher GPA can compensate for a lower test score. For doctoral applicants who do not meet Graduate School requirements, the Graduate School will consider school recommendation for admission. A written explanation must accompany the recommendation explaining circumstances and factors considered justifying acceptance of the applicant.

The doctoral programs at UNC do not utilize quantitative rating systems and standard criteria weightings as sole determining factors for decisions concerning the acceptance of doctoral applicants. Quantitative information such as GPA or GRE scores is considered in combination with qualitative information derived from letters of recommendation, applicant goal statements, as well as past academic and professional accomplishments. Because of the specialized nature of doctoral work, it is incumbent on the faculty to utilize their professional judgment in determining to what extent a student is qualified for entry into a particular program. The information requested by each school upon which their decision is to be based, gives the faculty the opportunity to thoroughly and carefully evaluate the strengths and potential of each applicant.

Master's Enroute to the Doctoral Degree

Students who have been admitted to a doctoral program may complete a master's degree in the same discipline enroute to completion of the doctoral degree if this option has been previously requested by the program and approved as a program modification for this degree program through the curriculum approval process. Students should contact the Graduate School for details concerning this policy.

Admission Expiration

Upon approval from the program, admission to any graduate program will remain valid for one calendar year following the first day of the applicant's proposed semester of enrollment. If a student does not begin course work during that year, the student may be required to submit a new application with the appropriate processing fee and documents to satisfy the new admission requirements.

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission refers to applicants admitted pending the receipt of admission requirements specified by the Graduate School. No student will be permitted to register for an additional semester, receive financial aid or take the comprehensive examination or its equivalent unless the specified requirement(s) is met during the first semester of the student's program.

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission refers to applicants admitted pending the completion of certain requirements stipulated by the program which must be met before granting regular admission. A student has one year to meet all requirements. No student will be permitted to register for an additional semester, receive financial aid or take the comprehensive examination or its equivalent unless the specified requirement(s) is met during the first semester of the student's program.