Policy Number: 67
ADMISSION POLICIES
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Any student who holds a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and who wishes to enroll for course work must gain admission to the University through the Office of the Graduate Dean. This includes any student who intends to pursue a second bachelor's degree or who wishes to enroll in course work without seeking a graduate degree.
DEGREE STATUS
Applicants who wish to complete a graduate degree at the University must be admitted to the Graduate School as a degree status student. Degree status may be attained only after final approval of the appropriate academic unit. For special departmental requirements, see the Graduate Catalog.
Applicants must fulfill one of the following sets of criteria. Criteria for applicants seeking admission to the M.B.A. degree program are listed elsewhere.
The applicant must provide an official undergraduate transcript which certifies completion of the baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States with a grade point average of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale and valid documentation of an admissions test score (GRE or MAT) as specified by the appropriate academic department.
The applicant must provide an official undergraduate transcript which certifies completion of the baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States and documentation of a combined score of 1000 or more on the Graduate Record Examination-General Test, or 50 or more on the Miller Analogies Test.
The applicant must provide an official undergraduate transcript which certifies completion of the baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, valid documentation of an admissions test score (GRE or MAT) as specified by the appropriate academic department, and an official transcript indicating that 12 semester hours of graduate course work has been completed at Eastern as a provisional-degree student, with no grade below "B".
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Because of United States Immigration Office requirements, applicants from foreign nations must enter graduate work as degree status students. Applicants must meet all requirements for obtaining proper immigration clearance (I-20) through the Office of International Student Services and must present official evidence to the Graduate School Office which satisfies the following criteria:
An official (raised seal) transcript from an internationally accredited university which certifies the areas for courses of study and the completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree comparable to that awarded by a regionally accredited institution in the United States with a 2.50 grade point average on a 4.00 scale (evaluation to be made by the Graduate Dean) and valid documentation of an admissions test score (GRE or MAT) as specified by the appropriate academic department. (Admission requirements for M.B.A. are listed elsewhere.)
Documentation of mastery of English language ability as demonstrated by one of the following:
A score of 550 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or residency in a nation whose official language is English, or
An official transcript indicating the completion of 24 semester hours of college credit at an accredited college or university in the United States, or
A Level IX Certificate of Proficiency from an ELS approved intensive language institute.
Applicants who are found to be academically admissible but lacking in English language abilities may be granted Conditional Admission Status with the understanding that they must complete an approved ELS English Language Institute and receive a Level IX Certificate of Proficiency.
Deadlines for International Student Applications: All support documents must be on file with the appropriate University office according to the following schedule before an I-20 will be issued:
|
For Fall Semester: |
August 1 |
|
For Spring Semester: |
December 15 |
|
For Summer Term: |
June 1 |
Applications which remain incomplete by the above dates will be considered for the next semester or term following file completion. The deadline dates will not be extended.
PROVISIONAL DEGREE STATUS
An applicant who has indicated an intent to pursue a graduate degree but lacks the results of the appropriate entrance examination or formal admission to degree status by the major department may be admitted as a provisional degree candidate.
NON-DEGREE STATUS
An applicant not seeking a graduate degree and who presents valid evidence of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in the United States may be allowed to take graduate courses on a non-degree basis. Admission to take graduate courses is not to be interpreted as permission to seek a degree. Should a non-degree status student seek admission to a degree program, the applicant must apply for and meet admission requirements for degree status as outlined above. In such case, graduate work completed by a non-degree status student may be evaluated by the major department and the Graduate Dean for possible inclusion in a degree program. Although there is no assurance that any credit earned while in non-degree status may later apply toward a degree program, the maximum which may be counted is 12 semester hours. An exception to this limit may be granted only by petition through the Departmental Graduate Committee to the Graduate Dean.
GRADUATE COURSE ADMISSION FOR EIU SENIORS
During the final semester of residence in undergraduate work, or the penultimate semester of residence if the final semester is to be spent in student teaching or internship, a senior may apply for permission to take graduate level courses numbered 4750 through 5499 for reserve graduate credit. Reserve graduate credit is subject to a maximum of nine semester hours and may not exceed the difference between that required to complete the undergraduate degree and the maximum enrollment allowed a graduate student in that term. Graduate credit will not be granted for any course which is used in any way for fulfilling the undergraduate degree requirements. Students enrolling in courses numbered 4750 through 4999 for graduate credit will be expected to achieve a level of understanding and performance above that expected for undergraduates.
Qualified seniors may elect to enroll in courses numbered 5000 through 5499 for undergraduate credit.
To qualify for either of the options above, a student must have a 2.75 grade point average and obtain permission from both the instructor of the course and the Graduate Dean, prior to enrollment.
No undergraduate may enroll in courses numbered 5500 or above.
GUEST STUDENTS
A Guest Student is one who is not seeking a degree at Eastern Illinois University and is not a former Eastern student, but wishes to take graduate courses for credit. The applicant is permitted to apply without official transcript(s) but is required to sign a Disclaimer Statement at the time of application. An application and Disclaimer Statement must be completed and signed for each term the student wishes to enroll as a Guest Student.
Enrollment as a Guest Student does not constitute admission to the University and credits earned in courses taken as a guest student may not be applicable to a degree program.
SPECIAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE M.B.A. DEGREE PROGRAM
Admission to the M.B.A. Degree Program is similar to that of the Graduate School with the following exceptions:
Applicants must have earned a minimum score of 450 on the GMAT and a grade-point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate credit, or
Applicants must have a total of 1000 based upon the formula: 200 times (junior-senior grade point average) plus GMAT score, with the proviso that a minimum GMAT score of 400 must be attained. The applicant must have received the grade of "C" or higher in all prerequisite courses.
An applicant must meet the following deadlines for completed application, transcripts, GMAT and TOEFL scores:
|
For Fall Semester |
July 1 |
|
For Spring Semester |
December 1 |
|
For Summer Term |
April 15 |
Additional criteria may be established by the Lumpkin College of Business Graduate Committee to evaluate applicants for admission.
READMISSION
Any applicant who has previously attended the University as an undergraduate, graduate non-degree, provisional, or degree status student and who returns to the University after a lapse of one or more semesters (excluding summer term) must make application for readmission to the Records Office at least ten calendar days prior to the official registration day of the term in which the student intends to enroll. An earlier closing date may be announced in the public media.
Applicants holding the baccalaureate degree who have not completed an application for admission to the Graduate School must also complete the appropriate forms in that office.
TIME LIMIT ON VALIDITY OF ADMISSION
When an applicant has been admitted to a degree program, that admission is valid only for the initial or two subsequent terms for which admission was granted. If the applicant fails to enroll in any of these three terms, the applicant may be readmitted to the degree program in subsequent terms. Such readmission is not automatic and the applicant must meet any new admission requirements for the term of reapplication.
Approved:
President
September 20, 1989
Monitor: Vice President for Academic Affairs