Admissions Requirements and Procedures

All regulations governing the Graduate School are designed to equal or exceed the minimum criteria recommended by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the State Board of Education, Montgomery, Alabama, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the National League for Nursing. All regulations regarding admission, retention, and completion are minimum, and departments, schools, and colleges may prescribe more stringent requirements. Applicants are advised to check with the Dean, Department Chair, or program advisor in the academic area for special degree requirements appropriate to the degree sought.

Pre-Admission Procedures

Complete the TSU Distance Learning Graduate Admissions Form. Please note that your application WILL NOT be processed until the distance learning center receives your $40 application fee. You may pay the fee with a secure credit card transaction via the Online Credit Card Authorization Form, or you mail your check or money order to the Distance Learning Center.

The application should be completed at least one month before the first day of the semester/term of intended matriculation.

Transcripts

All official transcripts (raised seal and with signature and may not have "Issued to Student" stamped on it) showing the completion of the bachelor’s and master’s or higher degree are required for applicants holding a master’s or higher degree. Official transcripts (raised seal with Registrar ’s signature and may not have "Issued to Student" stamped on it) from all universities attended are required for applicants holding a bachelor’s degree even if credit was not received. These transcripts must be on file in the Enrollment Management Office at the Troy State University campus to which the student is applying. The Enrollment Management Office will assist students in completing transcript requests. Once the Application for Admission is on file, all transcripts in the student file become the property of TSU and cannot be returned.

Other Documents

1. A letter of recommendation. Please address the individual’s potential for success in the selected graduate program and their written and oral communication skills. Note: Letters submitted to meet specific program requirements may be used for admission to the Graduate School to satisfy this admission requirement.
2. Students who previously took a nationally standardized aptitude examination, such as the GRE, MAT, or GMAT, should submit a copy of the score(s) with the Application for Admission. No time limit is established on test scores for admission to Graduate School. (However, most scores are only available for five years.) ENTRANCE EXAM REQUIRED, NO EXCEPTIONS
3. Students who plan to major in the College of Education teacher certification programs must furnish a copy of a “valid” teaching certificate and contact the College of Education for additional information.
4. Students who have completed an Air Force intermediate or senior level Professional Military Education (PME) course must obtain a transcript from the Registrar, Air University. Students who have completed U.S. Army Command and General Staff College as a resident must obtain a transcript. Students who completed any other service-sponsored PME School must submit a course completion certificate.
5. Submission of the completed application, letter of recommendation, application fee, official transcripts, and GRE, MAT, GMAT normally completes an application for admission. Admission to a Graduate School program does not imply official admission to candidacy for the degree.

Unaccredited or Otherwise Accredited Student Admission

Students must submit an official transcript with degree(s) posted at least one semester/term prior to desired date of registration. The Graduate Council will evaluate all transcripts using commonly accepted practices and guidelines. The applicant may be required to submit a copy of the school catalog and other information as needed.

If a student meets regular admission standards and has earned graduate level credit at an unaccredited or otherwise accredited institution of higher learning, the student may receive relevant transfer credit. However, the credits will not be accepted until the student has completed 12 semester hours and has maintained the grade point average necessary for good standing. Credits will be reviewed and approved by the dean of the discipline. A determination will be made based on (1) the unaccredited or otherwise accredited institution’s affiliation with the former agencies: Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA) and Commission on Recognition of Post Secondary Accreditation (CORPA), (2) Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or (3) acceptance of credit by at least three other regionally accredited institutions located in the area of the unaccredited institution.

Back to Admissions Page