Graduate Admissions
20
Graduate Admission Standards 21
Admission Processes 21
Unconditional Admission 21
Conditional Admission 21
Unclassified Admission 21
Non-Degree Graduate Admission 21
Graduates of Nonaccredited Institutions 22
Early Master’s Admission of MSU Seniors 22
Visiting Students 22
Readmission 22
International Graduate Student Admission 23
Graduate Admissions
Graduate Admissions and Records
B2 Sparks Hall
(270) 809-3779 or 3756
3
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Graduate Admissions
21
Graduate Admission Standards
Although the student advising program at Murray State University is specically designed to assist students as they progress through
degree programs, it is the responsibility of all students to be thoroughly familiar with rules, regulaons, and requirements that apply to
their programs of study.
In addion to a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited instuon, an applicant must sasfy the admission standards and
prerequisites of the department and college/school in which the applicant plans to study. Prerequisites and requirements for specic degrees
will be found in the appropriate departmental secons of this Bullen. Applicants for doctorate degrees should also consult the specic
program coordinator for admission details.
Admission Processes
Requests for admission to master’s or doctorate study at Murray State University should be addressed to Graduate Admissions and
Records, Murray State University, Murray KY 42071. Applicants must submit an admission applicaon and the $40 nonrefundable ap-
plicaon fee. A graduate student may be required to submit a new applicaon for admission if the level of program or their graduate
program objecve changes, or if the student does not enroll for a period of ve or more consecuve semesters. Under the requirements
of 12KAR2:045 as cited later in this chapter, review of residency for tuion purposes is a required part of the admission/readmission
process. Documents to verify residency may be requested by Graduate Admissions for residents of AL, IL, IN, KY, MO, and TN, and must
be provided before the beginning of the term for which the applicant seeks admission.
Ocial transcripts reecng all previous college credit should be forwarded to Graduate Admissions of Murray State University by the
registrar(s) of the school(s) the applicant aended. In the event the student aended more than one college, an ocial transcript must be
sent from each college. These credenals should be on le in Graduate Admissions and Records no later than one month prior to the date
the applicant expects to register.
Following the receipt of all required credenals, materials will be forwarded for departmental approval. Aer departmental review, the
applicant will be sent an ocial leer indicang admission status.
The following standards represent minimum campus-wide requirements. Higher minimum standards for grade point average (GPA) and
Graduate Record Examinaon (GRE) may be set by individual departments or colleges. In lieu of the GRE, some units may select other naon-
ally recognized tests that are more appropriate to their disciplines. Detailed informaon about any program-specic admission requirements
beyond these campus-wide requirements is provided in the individual program lisngs.
Unconditional Admission
Minimum university requirements for uncondional admission are an overall 2.75 grade point average (based on A equals 4.0). Some
degree programs have addional requirements for uncondional admission. Refer to the program lisngs for addional informaon.
Conditional Admission
Condional admission may be granted to a student with an overall grade point average between 2.25 and 2.74. Condional admission
may also be granted to a student with an overall grade point average of 2.0 to 2.24 if the academic college/school’s review of the student’s
record indicates the likelihood of success. Some degree programs have addional requirements for condional admission. Refer to the ap-
propriate chapter in this bullen for requirements relang to specic degrees.
Upon the compleon of nine hours of graduate work a student admied condionally must have a 3.0 grade point average, or the student
may be dropped from the graduate program. A graduate student dropped for failure to meet this requirement may reapply aer having been
out of the graduate program for one semester.
Any excepons to this policy must be approved in wring by the departmental graduate coordinator, the department chair, and the col-
legiate graduate coordinator.
Unclassied Admission
A
n applicant holding a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited instuon may be admied as an unclassied graduate student if:
1. the student demonstrates promise but is not qualied for admission to a graduate program;
2. the student does not intend to complete a degree program at Murray State University;
3. the student has no degree objecve; or
4. the student has les that are incomplete and cannot be processed for either condional or uncondional admission.
Regulations Governing Unclassied Admission
1. A student whose les are incomplete as specied in point 4 above would have one month from the date of enrollment to complete
the les and change to a degree status.
2. Students with incomplete les will be restricted to one- term enrollment only.
3. Up to 12 hours earned as an unclassied graduate student may be applied to a degree if approved by the appropriate graduate advi-
sor.
4. Unclassied graduate students will pay graduate fees for all courses.
5. An unclassied graduate student is allowed to take no more than 13 hours per semester.
Non-Degree Graduate Admission
An applicant holding a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited instuon may be admied as a non-degree graduate student.
An ocial transcript reecng all previous college credit must be submied to Graduate Admissions and Records at Murray State Univer-
sity by the registrar(s) of each school(s) the student aended. An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 is required for admission as a non-degree
student.
Graduate Admissions
22
Graduates of Nonaccredited Institutions
An applicant with an undergraduate degree from an instuon not regionally accredited may enter an MSU graduate program if the ap-
plicant meets the following requirements:
1. A score of 300 on the aptude poron (V+Q) of the Graduate Record Examinaon (GRE).
2. Compleon of 32 hours of undergraduate course credit at MSU or a regionally accredited instuon which fulll the following cat-
egories:
A. Communicaon and Basic Skills (6 hrs)
B. Sciences and Mathemacs (8 hrs)
C. Humanies and Fine Arts (6 hrs)
D. Social Sciences (6 hrs)
E. Elecves (6 hrs)
with a GPA for the 32 hours of 2.5 or beer.
3. Any addional requirements of the department in which the student will do graduate work.
An applicant with an undergraduate degree from an instuon not regionally accredited, who has completed fewer than nine graduate
hours at an accredited instuon, must fulll the requirements of this policy. Aer the student’s admission to a graduate program at MSU,
the graduate hours earned previously will be evaluated by the student’s graduate department for transfer credit.
Early Master’s Admission for MSU Seniors
Seniors at Murray State University who are within nine hours of compleng the baccalaureate degree, who have a cumulave grade point
average (GPA) of at least 3.0, and are meeng all undergraduate GPA requirements, may be admied to graduate study provided they meet
departmental and general admission requirements. Seniors admied on this basis are considered graduate students, and will be charged
graduate tuion for all courses scheduled. Note: This type of admission may cause problems with nancial aid.
Students who fail to complete all undergraduate requirements during their rst semester as graduate students will be denied gradu-
ate credit. All courses taken during that term will be permanently recorded as undergraduate, with no refund of graduate tuion. Early
admission graduate students may apply for graduate assistantships.
Seniors enrolled at instuons other than MSU who meet the requirements outlined above may peon Graduate Admissions and Re-
cords for early admission. However an ocial transcript with bachelor’s degree posted will be required prior to registraon.
Visiting Students
Any student in good standing in a recognized graduate school may enroll for graduate study at Murray State University for either a sum-
mer session or one regular semester as a vising student.
A vising student is not required to submit an ocial transcript, but must secure a vising student form from Graduate Admissions and
Records of Murray State University. This form must be completed by the appropriate ocial of the student’s home college/university and
forwarded to MSU Graduate Admissions and Records. A vising student who elects further graduate study at Murray State University must
either fulll all requirements for admission to graduate study or have a new vising student form submied by the student’s “home” gradu-
ate school.
Graduate Program
All candidates for the master’s or doctorate degrees at Murray State University are required to follow a planned program of graduate
study. Although a student may be required to take prerequisite courses, only approved courses completed while enrolled as a graduate
student may apply toward a graduate program.
A graduate program form, bearing the name of the student’s academic advisor, will be forwarded with the leer of acceptance to gradu-
ate study. The student’s academic advisor should be consulted prior to registraon for assistance in planning a program. During the rst
nine weeks of the rst term enrolled, the student should complete the graduate program form and submit it to the specied advisor, who
will secure the required signatures and return the form to Graduate Admissions and Records. To be approved, a program must meet all
requirements spulated in the Bullen.
Any subsequent change in the program must be approved by the student’s advisor and the collegiate/school graduate coordinator. The
student and the collegiate graduate coordinator are responsible for nofying Graduate Admissions of the program changes on an ocial
substuon form, available from www.murraystate.edu/students/graduate/forms.
Readmission
A graduate student in good standing who has previously aended Murray State University but has had four semesters of non-aendance
will be readmied upon compleon of the graduate applicaon and the $40 nonrefundable fee. All graduate applicants must apply through
the Graduate Admissions and Records for an inial review of their applicaon and transcripts. At that point, it may be determined that the
applicaon and transcripts will be forwarded to the appropriate academic department for approval. Before applying again or requesng
new transcripts, the student should call Graduate Admissions and Records to see if previous transcripts are sll on le. Graduate Admissions
and Records will accept electronic transcripts from other accredited instuons. Students who applied for admission as a graduate student
but did not enroll may need to complete a new applicaon for admission. Before applying again or requesng new transcripts, the student
should call Graduate Admissions and Records to see if the materials sent before are sll on le. Vericaon of residency for tuion purposes
may be required. Subming with the applicaon a copy of the applicant’s driver’s licence and vehicle registraon will assist with this
process. The applicant will be noed if other documents are required.
A student who has been enrolled at other instuons since last aending Murray State must request an ocial transcript be mailed
directly to Graduate Admissions and Records from each college aended. Failure to furnish such ocial transcripts as required will delay
admission and may aect the student’s academic standing at Murray State. A student who withholds or gives false informaon or docu-
ments can be denied admission or administravely withdrawn from school. For further informaon, contact 270-809-3756.
Graduate Admissions
23
International Graduate Student Admission
In addion to meeng departmental, collegiate, and general graduate study requirements, an internaonal student must submit the
following to Internaonal Admissions before an admission decision can be made:
1. A completed applicaon for admission, including the nonrefundable applicaon fee of $50 (US).
2. Ocial transcripts reecng all previous college credit should be forwarded to Internaonal Admissions at Murray State University
by the issuing ocer (e.g. Registrar, Controller of Examinaons) of each school the applicant aended. An ocial copy of the diploma or
graduaon cercate will also be required if a student received a degree and it is not indicated on the ocial transcript. Copies must be
cered by the issuing instuon. Copies notarized by a third party will not be accepted. Credenals will be evaluated to determine if the
course of study completed is equivalent to a four-year degree.
3. An ocial translaon of any document not originally in English, sent directly from the translator.
4. Proof of adequate funds to nance their enre course of study. A statement of nancial responsibility should be sent directly from the
person and/or organizaon providing nancial support. In addion, the appropriate documentaon to verify that funds are readily available
to the student will be required.
5. Proof of English language competency by one of the following:
a. Ocial TOEFL score report with acceptable score,
b.
Ocial Internaonal English Language Tesng System (IELTS) score report with acceptable score,
c. Bachelor’s degree from a recognized US or UK instuon,
d. Successful compleon of MSU’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program.
Condionally admied students may be assigned to full-me language study in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program or en-
tered into a graduate transion program and permied to take classes on a condional basis along with further designated language study,
or admied uncondionally to graduate study if the student meets all other specic program requirements.
A student who has successfully completed the advanced level of the MSU English as a Second Language (ESL) program, and has been
cered in English competency by the designated ESL/College Graduate Program Assessment Commiee, and met all other specic program
requirements will be allowed to enroll in the designated graduate program. Performance in ESL classes, TOEFL scores, and wrien and oral
prociency in the specic area of graduate study will form the basis for language prociency assessment.
Notes: 1) Academic departments may set standards for English prociency requirements higher than the minimums listed above. Students must
meet the specic language prociency requirements listed in each respecve department’s admission requirements of this Bullen.
2) Condional Admission requires compleon of MSU’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program and achievement of the Instuonal
TOEFL score required by the applicant’s desired program.
3) The Computer-Based TOEFL test is no longer available, however scores maintained by ETS will be honored.
ADMISSION STATUS BASED ON LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
Graduate Programs
TEST FULLY ADMITTED FULLY ADMITTED WITH FULLY ADMITTED WITH
WITHOUT CONDITION AEP CONDITION
1
ESL CONDITION
2
Paper-Based TOEFL 527 or more 500-523 497 or below
Internet-Based TOEFL 71 minimum on Academic 61-70 on Academic Test 60 or below on Academic
(iBT) Test with no band less or any band score of Test or any band score of
than 16 13-15 12 or less
IELTS 6.0 minimum on Academic 5.5 on Academic Test with 5.0 or below on
Test with no band less any band score of 4.5 or Academic Test or any
than 5.0 5.0 band score below 4.5
Departmental approval No TOEFL or IELTS scores
required.
1
AEP - Academic English Program for Non-Native Speakers
2
ESL - English as a Second Language Program
