The dean of Research and Graduate Studies is responsible for the admission of all graduate students. All students taking graduate courses, whether for credit, noncredit, or audit, must make formal application to the Graduate School prior to enrolling in any graduate course work.
All applications and inquiries should be addressed to:
Research and Graduate Studies
440 H.F. Robinson Administration Building
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723-9022
Telephone: 828-227-7398 or 800-369-9854
The Graduate School welcomes the applications of students without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, or disability. Applicants must possess the interest and maturity necessary for graduate study. In addition to the stated objective criteria described in the application procedure (e.g., letters of recommendation, official test scores, official transcripts, etc.), the dean of Research and Graduate Studies reserves the right to determine, from other appropriate information, whether an applicant will be a suitable candidate for a graduate degree.
The specific requirements for the various degree programs offered are outlined in subsequent sections of this catalog. All prospective applicants are urged to study these requirements carefully prior to initiating an application for acceptance to the Graduate School.
Application Procedure. All applicants to graduate studies at WCU are required to complete a self-managed application packet prior to admission. The self-managed application places the responsibility on the student to obtain all the necessary materials. You should submit the following in a single envelope:
• The completed application for admission.
• The completed application for a graduate assistantship (if you are planning to enroll as a full-time student).
• Official copies of transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
• Required test scores for your chosen program. You may request the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to forward these scores directly to the Graduate School or you may enclose official scores in an unopened, ETS-sealed envelope.
• Letters of recommendation (required for most programs). These should be prepared by former instructors/employers who are in a position to judge your aptitude for graduate study. Please consult the Graduate Catalog to determine specific program requirements.
• Other forms that may be required for your chosen program. (You can access The Record, Western’s Graduate Catalog, and link to the home pages of all graduate programs for additional program information at www.wcu.edu)
• The nonrefundable $40.00 application fee.
The completed application and all credentials should be received by the Graduate School not later than one week prior to the opening of the term for which admission is desired; with the exception of international students, whose applications must be received by these deadlines: April 1 for Fall term and September 1 for Spring term. Application may be made as early as one year preceding the semester of entrance. All materials submitted, including transcripts, become the property of the university and cannot be forwarded or returned. The following programs have application deadlines:
|
Communication Sciences and Disorders |
February 1* |
|
Counseling (School and Community) |
February 1 |
|
Nursing |
February 1* |
|
Physical Therapy |
February 1* |
|
Psychology (Clinical and School) |
February 1* |
*The initial deadline for applications is February 1 and students who submit completed applications by that date will be given preference. If openings are available after the February 1 date, students submitting late applications will be considered accordingly.
All elements of the admissions process must be completed by the application deadline. Some programs require an interview. Applicants should contact the department of their intended major to determine if an interview is required.
Any student that is inactive for one semester (not counting summer term) must RE-ENROLL. No application fee is required.
Any student inactive for one full year or more (example: fall semester, spring semester, and summer school) must file a new application for admission (RE-APPLY) and be reevaluated for admission prior to resuming study. An application fee of $40.00 is required.
Any student that receives a master’s degree from Western Carolina University and elects to do an additional graduate degree will not be required to pay the application fee.
Program Changes. Admission to one degree program does not guarantee admission to another degree program. A student may not be admitted to more than one program at the same time.
Students requesting to change programs, licensures, or degree objectives, after having been accepted into a program of study, must file a new application for admission to the new program, licensure, or degree. For students wishing to change programs within a department, student request forms, available from the Graduate School, may be used rather than a new application. The student is subject to the standards, rules, and requirements in force in the new course of study at the time of admission to the new program.
Admission Requirements
All applicants for admission to the Graduate School must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and must have an undergraduate background appropriate for graduate study in the proposed field. An applicant may be required to take additional coursework to strengthen the undergraduate background. To qualify for Regular Admission to the Graduate School, a student must have earned an overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, or a 2.85 on a 4.0 scale cumulatively. Applicants for the Ed.S. and Ed.D. degrees must hold a master’s degree in the approved field from a regionally accredited college or university.
Each student’s application must be approved by the department(s) in which the student proposes to major.
This page is maintained by Nancy Carden in
the Office of the Provost
Last updated: 7/6/2005
Copyright 2005 by Western Carolina University .