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Graduate Admission Policy

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The decision to admit an applicant to pursue graduate study at Mississippi State University-Meridian is based upon evaluation of both qualitative and quantitative information. All applicants must provide a completed application form, a statement of purpose for graduate study, letters of recommendation, and records of previous academic achievements. Some degree programs may require additional credentials, such as the results of the Graduate Record Examination or another standardized test score.

Standardized test scores required by some degree programs represent only one element considered in the admission decision. Scores are never used as the sole criterion but are considered in conjunction with other factors such as the applicant’s purpose of study relative to the opportunities in the proposed field, the number of positions available in the program, prior professional and employment activities, and/or recommendations of the faculty in the proposed field of study, especially regarding the availability of faculty support for research.

Consequently, an applicant who meets the required grade-point average and/or whose standardized scores fall at or above a competitive level is not automatically granted admission. Admission is granted only to those students considered to have the potential to complete the program successfully and with the knowledge that there are sufficient and appropriate resources available to support the needs of the student.

The decision to admit is restricted to the degree program of study identified in the applicant’s submittal, and the student should not attempt to enroll in a degree program other than the one specified in the applicant’s submittal. A student may request consideration for admission to an area of study or to a degree level different from the original application at the Office of the Graduate School. However, once a student is admitted to a degree program, he/she must remain in that program for one semester before being approved to change to another degree program. Such a request will have the status of a new application for admission, subject to the current conditions. Application is usually made to only one graduate program at a time. Admission to more than one degree program requires the approval of all the degree programs and the academic dean. The decision to admit is valid for 12 months for use in initial enrollment. After the lapse of 12 months without enrollment, an applicant should inquire at the Office of Student Services for procedural instructions.

The academic dean has the authority to grant admission to the Office of the Graduate School, to communicate decisions to applicants, and to exercise value judgment about admission. Only a written notice of admission is valid proof of admission. After applications and supporting credentials have been received, applicants for admission are usually notified within 30 days of the action taken on their application. Admission to graduate study at Mississippi State University-Meridian  is open to qualified students regardless of race, creed, color, natural origin, handicap, sex, or veteran status.

Critical Dates

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Completed applications received after these dates will not be guaranteed admission consideration for the desired academic term. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all supporting materials are received. Some programs may have earlier deadlines for application which override those set by the Office of the Graduate School. These may be found in the description of the specific programs.

Types of Graduate Admission

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Regular Admission

Any person admitted to graduate study for any purpose must hold a bachelor’s degree. Normally, the undergraduate degree must be awarded by an institution having regional accreditation. A prospective applicant who holds a bachelor’s degree from an educational institution that does not have regional accreditation may request consideration from the academic dean prior to making application for admission. In either case, the academic dean may prescribe specific undergraduate level courses as prerequisites to admission.

In addition to the requirements of holding an undergraduate degree, an applicant who receives regular admission must satisfy the following minimum Office of the Graduate School requirements:

Graduate program areas may prescribe requirements in addition to the above conditions described for regular admission. The following additional conditions exist for the designated programs.


Graduate Studies in Business

Applicants for admission to graduate programs in business must fulfill requirements as cited in the descriptive materials pertaining to advanced degree programs in business in other parts of this Catalog Supplement.


Graduate Studies in Education

(See the College of Education Graduate Program Handbook or College of Education Doctoral Students Guide for additional information.) Applicants for admission to advanced degree programs in education must meet the following standards at the different degree levels:


Master of Science Degree

A GPA of 2.75 out of 4.00 points for the junior and senior years in the baccalaureate program and a 3.0 GPA on all graduate work already completed. Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores must also be submitted. Although admission decisions are partially based upon GRE scores, no specific score is required.

Students applying for admission to programs in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction must hold or be eligible to hold a Class A teaching certificate.

Students applying for admission to the master’s program in School Administration who seek Mississippi administrator certification must possess a standard educator’s certificate and document a minimum of three years of successful educational experience. Undergraduate and graduate grade-point averages will be considered for admission. In addition, each candidate will be evaluated on writing skills and reading skills, as well as a structured resume, and an on-campus interview. Finally, an in-depth phone interview will be conducted with appropriate reference persons.

At least 30 semester hours of graduate study are required in all master’s degree programs. Several programs require more than 30 semester hours of course work. For instance, Counselor Education has both a 48- and 60-hour degree. All programs of study that are designed to meet AA certification requirements must include EDF 8353 Principles of Curriculum Development and EDF 8363 Function and Methods of Research in Education or acceptable transfer courses. Ordinarily the student will complete a minimum of 15-21 semester hours in the major area. Students in some departments may select a minor or cognate area. Students pursuing the Master of Science degree who also wish to apply for a Mississippi AA certificate in their area of study must hold a regular (not a provisional) A-level certificate.


Educational Specialist Degree

A GPA of 3.20 out of 4.00 on all prior graduate study.


Provisional Admission

Students who have not fully met the requirements stipulated by the university and the appropriate department for admission to graduate study may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status. Such students must have as their initial objective advancement to regular status. Students admitted to provisional status are eligible for advancement to regular status after receiving a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of regular graduate-level courses taken at Mississippi State University (transfer hours will not apply). Normally, it is expected that students will remove their provisional admission status during their initial semester of enrollment. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student will be dropped from the graduate program.


Unclassified Admission

Unclassified admission is available to students desiring graduate-level study for purposes other than an advanced degree, such as for teacher certification. Students admitted in an unclassified status must remain unclassified for one semester before being admitted to a degree program. Nine graduate hours of work completed as an unclassified student may be transferred to a degree program. However, hours completed in this status may not be used to satisfy provisional admission to a program of study. Applicants desiring unclassified admission to take graduate-level courses in business and economics must have a GPA of 3.00 out of 4.00 points.


Graduate Re-Admission

Once enrolled in graduate study, a student who subsequently fails to enroll for three consecutive semesters (excluding summer) must complete an Application for Readmission to register again (Graduate Council, November 2005). The application form is available in the Office of the Graduate School or online at http://www.grad.msstate.edu/prospective/admissions/domestic/
NOTE: This process does not negate the continuous registration requirement. Please refer to the Continuous Registration section under General Requirements of the Graduate School.

Each applicant must submit a $60.00 non-refundable application fee along with the re-admission application. If the student has attended another college or university since leaving MSU, an official transcript must be submitted. Readmission to a program requires departmental approval only if the student is not in good standing or if the student requires an extension of time to complete the program. However, academic departments may set higher standards for readmission to specific programs. A student seeking readmission to an academic program should contact the graduate coordinator for specific departmental requirements prior to completing a readmission application. Readmission to any graduate degree program in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, the College of Veterinary Medicine, or any school administration (educational leadership) program in the Department of Leadership and Foundations requires that a student who has not been enrolled for one regular semester (fall or spring) submit a readmission form to be approved by the graduator coordinator. A student in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, in the College of Veterinary Medicine, or a school administration program in the Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development who has not been enrolled at Mississippi State University for one calendar year must submit a new application and statement of purpose to be considered for readmission.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses

An undergraduate student at Mississippi State University who has 12 or fewer hours of undergraduate credits remaining to complete the undergraduate degree may seek approval to enroll in courses for graduate credit in the semester or term he/she is graduating. The undergraduate student should meet the grade-point average requirement for regular admission to graduate study. Prior to enrollment, the head of the department of the undergraduate student’s major must seek approval of the academic dean by written request endorsed by the instructor or appropriate administrator of the unit in which graduate courses are to be taken. The maximum load of enrollment will conform to policies for a graduate student’s load.


Graduate Admission Tests

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) are administered by the Computer Based Testing Center, 195 Magruder Street (Starkville Campus). Appointments may be set up by calling 662-325-6610 or by visiting the center’s Web page at http://www.ats.msstate.edu/testing/cbt.php. The mailing address is Computer Based Testing Center, P. O. Box 9747, Mississippi State, MS, 39762.


Graduate Admission Procedure

An individual who desires consideration for admission to the Office of the Graduate School and who possesses qualifications appropriate to the above described criteria may request information from the Office of Student Services MSU-Meridian by calling 601-484-0132.

The academic year comprises two regular semesters, beginning in August and January, and a summer session, beginning in May or June. An individual who submits an application for admission to the Office of the Graduate School should act promptly to see that all required supporting documentation also reaches the Office of Graduate School . Applicants are advised that all documents needed to support an application for admission should reach the Office of Student Services at least by the dates given in the Critical Dates chart in this section. An individual must have a valid admission status in the Office of the Graduate School to secure enrollment. Admission to graduate study is limited to the pursuit of requirements for the degree and the field of study as specified in the student’s application and statement of purpose.

Application for graduate admission, including the application and other requirements listed on the application, must be submitted in the following instances:
1.  An individual who is pursuing the requirements of one graduate degree and desires to pursue the requirements of another graduate degree
2.  An individual who is enrolled in one graduate degree program but wishes to change to a different program
3.  An individual who received a "letter of admission" but did not enroll for the semester admitted within one year
4.  An individual who is pursuing a graduate degree and desires to pursue a second degree simultaneously (dual degrees)

Last Updated: 3/9/10