Graduate Admissions - Interim (Policy 33)

Purpose

This policy defines graduate student admission eligibility and classification criteria at Governors State University. Persons may be admitted as graduate students in one of the following two classifications:

1. Degree Seeking, which includes: 
   1. Degree 
   2. Certificate 
2. Non-Degree Seeking

Admission of Graduate Degree Seeking Students

Degree Seeking Students are persons who plan to pursue a major leading to a master's degree or certificate.

1. Persons are eligible for admission as graduate degree-seeking students if they: 
   1. Have earned (or will have earned by the term they wish to enroll) a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and 
   2. Were in good standing at the last institution attended, and 
   3. Have satisfied collegial and/or major criteria, if applicable, for graduate study in a specific major. 
2. All applicants must: 
   1. Complete and submit a graduate application form to the Office of Admissions and 
   2. Ensure that official transcripts or other official documents indicating the achievement of the criteria described in sections II.A.1 – II.A.3 are submitted to the Office of Admissions prior to the admission/credential deadline for the term in which enrollment is desired.

Admission of Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Students 

Non-Degree Seeking Students are persons who do not intend to earn a degree, and who meet the minimum admission requirements.

1. Persons are eligible for admission as graduate non-degree seeking students only if they have a bachelor's or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution. 
2. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible to earn a Governors State University degree while in non-degree seeking status. If, at some later date, a non-degree seeking student chooses to pursue a degree program, formal application and admission to a specific major is required. 
3. Coursework completed as a non-degree seeking student does not automatically apply to a degree program. The application of such courses to degree requirements is governed by the policies established by the University and the dean and faculty of each college in effect at the time of admission to a degree program. No more than six (6) credit hours earned while in non-degree status may be applied toward the requirements of any graduate degree program. Transfer of credits earned in non-degree seeking status to a degree program requires approval of the appropriate academic dean. 
4. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for University-administered financial aid.
5. A person on an F-1 visa issued by another university is not eligible to enroll as a non-degree seeking student unless the sponsoring university verifies enrollment in a degree program.

Graduate Special Admissions

Graduate applicants who are not eligible for admission as defined elsewhere in this policy, but who have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution, may petition for admission as degree-seeking students under the Policy on Readmissions and Special Admission and procedures established by the University and the Office of Admissions.