Apply to Graduate School Academic Degree Programs Degree Program Contacts Federal Assistance Opportunities Graduate Admissions Office Search for Off Campus Housing Test Score Information U of M Financial Aid Office

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Domestic Applicants: Fall Semester - July 1 Spring Semester - December 1 Summer Semester - May 1

International Applicants: Fall Semester - May 1 Spring Semester - September 15 Summer Semester - February 1

The following Graduate School admissions requirements are minimum standards that identify the pool of masters level applicants from which each academic unit makes its selection. Prospective students should check with the appropriate degree program for specific deadlines. For admission to a degree program, applicants should allow a reasonable amount of time for necessary documents to be processed by the appropriate department and Graduate Admissions (approximately three to six weeks).

International applicants should allow at least four months for necessary documents to be processed by the appropriate degree program and Graduate Admissions. Please consult Admission of International Students for additional requirements.

1. Baccalaureate Degree: The applicant must provide an official transcript showing that a bachelor's degree was awarded by an accredited college or university. The applicant must have earned an acceptable grade point average. In addition, transcripts from any other college or university attended may be requested. (Students who received bachelor's degrees from The University of Memphis may disregard this requirement.) Only transcripts received directly from an issuing institution are considered official. For domestic students, signed and sealed transcripts that have been in the applicant's possession can be used for admission purposes; however, official transcripts may later be requested. Personal copies are not acceptable as official documents.
2. Entrance Examinations: New applicants to the Graduate School (except to the MALS program) must have taken an appropriate entrance examination within five years of the application date. Contact the appropriate program for information on which test(s) and what score(s) are acceptable. Scores on MAT exams written in less than 2 month intervals are not acceptable. Test scores must be sent directly to Graduate Admissions from the testing agency. The University of Memphis institution code number for reporting ETS scores is R-1459. See program descriptions for more information on requirements. Some programs may waive the entrance examination requirement for applicants with exceptional credentials, extensive professional experience, or a prior graduate degree from an accredited institution. These waivers are at the discretion of the academic program. See individual program descriptions for details.
3. Program Requirements: Many academic units have separate departmental applications and/or additional requirements for admission. See program descriptions for more information on requirements.

The Education Specialist degree is designed for the educator-practitioner who desires post-masters training but who does not wish to earn a doctorate. This program is administered by the College of Education; please refer to the appropriate section of this catalog for a more complete description or contact the dean's office in the College of Education for additional details.

The following Graduate School admissions requirements are minimum standards that identify the pool of doctoral level applicants from which each academic unit makes its selection. International applicants should consult Admission of International Students for further requirements.

1. A Baccalaureate or Master's Degree as specified by the program: The applicant must provide an official transcript showing an earned bachelor's or master's degree, depending on program requirements. The degree must have been awarded by an accredited college or university. Only transcripts received directly from an issuing institution are considered official. For domestic students, signed and sealed transcripts that have been in the applicant's possession can be used for admission purposes; however, official transcripts may later be requested. Personal copies are not acceptable as official documents.
2. Entrance Examinations: New applications to the Graduate School require submission of an appropriate entrance examination test score that is not more than five years old. Contact your program for information on which tests and what score(s) are acceptable. Test scores must be sent directly to Graduate Admissions by the testing agency. The University of Memphis institution code number for reporting ETS scores is R-1459. Some programs may waive the entrance examination requirement for applicants with exceptional credentials, extensive professional experience, or a prior doctoral degree from an accredited institution. See individual program descriptions for details.
3. Program Requirements: Some academic units may have separate departmental applications and/or additional requirements, such as portfolios, proficiency examinations, auditions, etc. Refer to the appropriate program description in the Graduate Bulletin for details.

Graduate Non-Degree

The Graduate Non-Degree classification is for domestic students who wish to enroll in graduate courses but who do not wish to pursue a graduate degree at the University or whose applications are incomplete. Graduate non-degree applicants must show proof of having earned a baccalaureate degree at the time the application. At the end of the first semester of course work, the Graduate Non-Degree student may be required to furnish an official transcript showing at minimum a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university. Before registering for a second semester of graduate level coursework, the non-degree student is required to sign a release form agreeing that additional coursework will not apply to degree programs.

Academic units may restrict non-degree students to designated courses only. Graduate Non-Degree students who decide to matriculate for a degree must make application to The Graduate School and must meet all admissions requirements. Master's students in programs requiring 36 hours or fewer are limited to 12 credit hours while in non-degree status. Students in degree programs requiring more than 36 hours must take at least 2/3 of the credit hours required in that program after acceptance into the program. Students should note that some academic units count course work toward a degree only after admission or have more restrictive policies regarding the number of non-degree hours that count toward the degree.

Graduate non-degree students are responsible for being thoroughly familiar with the rules, regulations, and degree requirements of the Graduate School and of the academic units, as well as with the Code of Student Conduct. Non-degree students must also maintain a 3.00 GPA in graduate courses in order to re-enroll and are not eligible for graduate assistantships.

Combination Senior

An undergraduate senior student at The University of Memphis may earn up to 12 hours of graduate credit while enrolled on a Combination Senior/Graduate Non-Degree basis. The student must have a total cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and must have filed with his or her graduation analyst a plan for completing the bachelor's degree within two semesters. Eligible students must apply for admissions to Graduate School and may enroll concurrently in undergraduate and select graduate courses. Approval to register for graduate credit does not imply approval for admission into a graduate program at the University or that the credit earned will be accepted towards a graduate degree. After the bachelors degree is awarded, a Combination Senior/Graduate Non-Degree student must make formal application in order to be admitted to a graduate degree program. Courses taken for graduate credit may not be used for both the baccalaureate and graduate degree. Combination Seniors are not eligible for graduate assistantships.

Once accepted into a degree program, a student is expected to enroll every semester thereafter (excluding summer sessions) and make satisfactory progress toward the degree. A student who does not enroll for a fall or spring semester must apply for readmission. Submission of an application for readmission does not ensure acceptance. An application for readmission may be rejected or additional requirements may be imposed on the student. A readmitted student must follow the rules, prerequisites, and degree requirements listed in the Graduate Catalog. Students writing a thesis or dissertation or engaged in a culminating project must enroll on a continuous basis (fall and spring) until the thesis, dissertation, or project is complete. If, however, a student completes a thesis, dissertation, or project during a summer session, they must be enrolled in the applicable credit during the summer.

Academic Common Market

The Academic Common Market is designed to allow students from southern states to pay in-state tuition while attending The University of Memphis. This arrangement is available only for students whose home states do not offer the designated program. The participating states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. A list of available programs can be obtained from the state coordinator in a students home state or from the office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Programs.

There are two requirements: (1) Students must be fully admitted to a degree-seeking program that has been approved as an Academic Common Market program (non-degree and conditional students are ineligible); (2) Students must obtain a letter certifying residency from their home states Academic Common Market coordinator.

Last revised on: November 7, 2007.