ADMISSION TO GRADUATE SCHOOL

GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to Graduate School does not imply admission to a graduate degree program. Applicants must meet the necessary departmental requirements to be admitted to a specific degree program. For departmental requirements, refer to the section of the catalog detailing the specific degree program.

1. An applicant for admission into Graduate School must submit the following:

a.  An application for admission. An application may be obtained from the Enrollment Information Center, the Office of the Registrar, or the University’s Web site at http://www.mcneese.edu/admissions/forms.asp.

b.  Official copies of transcripts from each college attended. Transcripts should be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar by the institutions attended.

c.  Official copies of the required standardized test scores (GRE or GMAT). Official test scores should be sent directly from the testing agency to McNeese and cannot be more than five years old at the date of submission and application for admission.

      i. GRE test scores are required of degree-seeking applicants as well as non-degree-seeking applicants. Applicants for the MBA degree program are required to submit GMAT, rather than GRE, test scores.

     ii. GMAT test scores may not be substituted for GRE test scores. Additionally, GRE test scores may not be substituted for GMAT test scores.

    iii. Proof of a master’s degree may waive the GRE requirement; however, the GRE waiver is at the discretion of the academic department head or dean of the Graduate School.

    iv. Information about the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) can be obtained from the Graduate School, the Office of Scholarships and Testing, or from Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 955, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 (http://www.ets.org/).

d.  Proof of immunization. According to Louisiana law, students entering McNeese for the first time who were born after 1956 must provide proof of immunization against preventable and/or communicable diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus-diphtheria (MMR, Td) prior to admission. The Proof of Immunization form may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar or the University’s Web site at http://www.mcneese.edu/admissions/forms.asp.

e.  A non-refundable application fee of $20.00 (check or money order).

f.   Proof of Selective Service registration. Males 18-25 years old, entering McNeese for the first time, are required to register for the federal draft under the federal Military Service Act and must submit proof of their registration with the Selective Service System.

2. All records submitted become the property of the University and cannot be returned to the applicant or any other party.

3. Applications and records should be on file at least 30 days prior to registration. Applications are accepted after this, but the student should contact the Office of the Admissions for further information.

4. Falsification of any information when applying for admission may result in the refusal of the applicant or dismissal from the University.

5. No applicant shall be denied admission to McNeese University on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, creed, or national origin.

6. Individual academic departments have their own standards for admission. These standards incorporate both qualitative and quantitative criteria which are more specific than those established by the University. Therefore, admission into Graduate School does not guarantee admission into a specific degree programs.

7. Students may be admitted on a provisional basis for one term of enrollment while in the process of obtaining required credentials; however, academic transcripts are required prior to admission. Students, who are admitted provisionally and subsequently are ineligible for admission, may have their registration cancelled with no refund of fees. Additionally, any student whose admission records are incomplete 30 days after the first day of classes may have the registration cancelled with no refund of fees and future registration blocked.

Admission of New Graduate Students

New graduate students must meet all general admission requirements as outlined above.

Readmission of Former Graduate Students

1. A former graduate student who has not been enrolled at McNeese for one calendar year or who has graduated with a degree from McNeese must submit an application for admission and a non-refundable application fee of $20.00.

2. Additionally, a former graduate student must meet all general admission requirements in effect at the time of readmission.

Admission of Transfer Graduate Students

1. To be admitted to Graduate School at McNeese University, transfer students must meet all general admission requirements.

2. Applicants must be eligible for readmission to the Graduate School of the college or university from which they are transferring.

3. Applicants who have graduate grade point averages below 3.0 but not lower than 2.0 with no grades of “D” or “F” may be eligible for admission on probation upon the recommendation of the applicants’ prospective major professor, department head, and Dean of Graduate School.

4. Applicants with an extant grade of “I” from another school will be denied admission or readmission to Graduate School.

Admission of International Graduate Students

1. International students must submit the following application materials before eligibility for admission can be determined:

a.  Application for admission. The international student application may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar or the University’s Web site at http://www.mcneese.edu/international/.

b.  A non-refundable application fee of $30.00 (check or money order). Checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank.

c.  Complete and official college transcripts depicting all undergraduate and graduate courses taken and all grades received. All documents must be properly attested by either the Registrar, Attestation Officer, or Controller of Examinations. Transcripts must be in English or accompanied by an official line-by-line English translation.

d.  English language proficiency as demonstrated by ONE of the following:

      i. Minimum TOEFL score of 525 on the paper-based exam or 195 on the computer-based exam;

     ii. Minimum IELTS band score of 6.0;

    iii. Completion of the advanced level of the ESLI University Language Center program (located on the McNeese campus); OR

    iv. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution.

    Information about the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which is administered in many cities of the world, may be obtained by writing: TOEFL, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08540; or by visiting their Web site: http://www.toefl.org/. Information about the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) may be obtained by writing: IELTS, Inc., 100 East Corson Street, Suite 200, Pasadena, California 91103; or by visiting their Web site: http://www.ielts.org/. An applicant is responsible for making testing arrangements with the agency administering the exam.

e.  Affidavit of financial support. This form may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar or the University’s Web site at http://www.mcneese.edu/international/.  A bank statement or letter must accompany the affidavit of financial support and must reflect the minimum balance required as determined by the Office of Admissions. (This requirement only applies to applicants seeking to enroll with an F-1 visa status.)

f.   Official GRE or GMAT test scores which, combined with the appropriate undergraduate grade point average, meet the admission formula for the intended program of study. The official score report must be received by the University directly from the appropriate testing agency.

2. Items listed above must be on file by the following dates in order for the student to be considered for admission:

a.  March 15 for the summer semester

b.  May 15 for the fall semester

c.  October 15 for the spring semester

3. International applicants who meet all Regular Admission status requirements except for the grade point average requirement may be admitted to Graduate School on a conditional basis. To qualify for Conditional Admission, international applicants must have earned a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.0 and a minimum upper division grade point average of 2.5.

4. International applicants seeking to enroll with an F-1 visa status cannot be admitted under Temporary Admission status.

5. Admission of international students is considered on an individual basis by the Office of Admissions and the appropriate department head or graduate faculty advisor. International students must meet all University and departmental requirements for Degree Status. McNeese State University reserves the exclusive right to determine whether the documentation provided meets the minimum criteria necessary for the admission of international students to Graduate School.

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