Graduate Admissions Requirements

Whether you are looking for online or in-person graduate degree options, we know what it means to support students seeking to build their skills or advance their career. Find out which admissions path is right for you and the admissions requirements you’ll need to meet before you apply.

Degree-Seeking – Unconditional Admission

Students seeking unconditional (standard) admission to the graduate program must:

  • Meet the minimum overall grade-point average required department offering the program, AND,
  • Have an earned bachelor’s degree in a field approved by the department offering the program AND;
  • Have earned the minimum total score on the appropriate admissions exam (i.e., GMAT or GRE) as required by the department offering the program within the last five (5) years; OR
  • Submit a professional portfolio in lieu of exam scores if allowed by the department offering the program (student seeking admission using portfolio may be admitted unconditionally only after departmental review and approval); AND
  • Meet all other program-specific requirements.

Degree-Seeking – Conditional Admission

Following a departmental review of composite factors (bachelor’s degree, GPA, GMAT score, etc.), students who demonstrate the reasonable potential for success in the program and who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 may be admitted conditionally. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in a non-related field but who otherwise satisfy all requirements for standard admission will also be admitted conditionally. Conditional status will be removed upon successful completion of all required undergraduate prerequisite courses as determined by departmental review. Students who lack undergraduate prerequisite courses will not be allowed to register for graduate courses until all prerequisite courses are completed.

Degree-Seeking – International Students

In addition to meeting the requirements listed above for Unconditional or Conditional Admission, all international students will be required to meet all F-1 VISA requirements for admission into any Graduate Program.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

A student who does not meet the requirements for a degree-seeking graduate student may be admitted as a non-degree seeking graduate student. Records are kept of the work completed and credits are transferable. Non-degree seeking graduate students are ineligible for federal aid funding under Title IV.

Students seeking admission as non-degree seeking students must:

  • Submit a completed graduate non-degree seeking admission application and pay any required application fees.
  • Submit official transcripts from the last institution attended, and from at least one regionally accredited college or university documenting conferral of a bachelor’s or higher degree.
  • Official transcripts must indicate that the student is in good standing at the last institution attended.

Students admitted as non-degree seeking students will only be allowed to register for graduate courses in a given term subject to space availability and/or cohort restrictions. Non-degree seeking students may complete no more than one-half of the total program hours; in order to register for additional courses, students must submit a degree-seeking application and all required materials, and be approved for degree-seeking status. Non–degree-seeking students will not be awarded a graduate degree from Athens State University.

Athens State University Graduate Admissions
256-233-8130
gradadmissions@athens.edu