General Information
Admission to Kennesaw State University is made without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age. Admission to Kennesaw State University is based on a number of factors depending upon your admission type of entry and previous educational experience. The admission requirements for the University have been developed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia.
How To Apply
Graduates holding a baccalaureate degree from colleges or universities accredited in a manner accepted by Kennesaw State University may apply for admission to the Graduate College. Applicants must submit the credentials deemed necessary by the chosen degree program. Individual programs may have additional requirements or higher standards than those listed for general admission. Applicants are accepted to one graduate program specifically and must reapply in order to change programs.
- Decide which Graduate Program you would like to pursue. See: http://graduate.kennesaw.edu/admissions/programs.php.
- View the Admission Requirements Checklist for your chosen program, located here: http://graduate.kennesaw.edu/admissions/apply/checklists.php.
- Complete the Online Graduate Application, including the $60 Non-Refundable application processing fee, found here: http://graduate.kennesaw.edu/admissions/apply/online-application.php.
- Schedule any testing, as appropriate (see program checklist)
- Gather and submit all supporting documents by the stated deadline found here: http://graduate.kennesaw.edu/admissions/resources/deadlines.php.
All documents become the property of Kennesaw State University and cannot be forwarded or returned. Incomplete files and files of accepted applicants who never enroll in classes are destroyed after one year. Applicants wishing to apply again must file a new application and resubmit all documents, and meet current admissions criteria for the desired program.
Once an applicant’s file is complete, the respective department will review the file. The department will recommend admission or denial to the Graduate Admissions Office. The official notification of the admission status will come from the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Admission Categories
Regular Student
Students who fully meet the admission criteria specified by the admissions requirements for the university and the specified graduate program are classified as regular admits to the degree program.
Provisional Student
Applicants whose scholastic records are below admission standards but who show promise, based upon the professional judgment of graduate program faculty and the Graduate College.
Provisionally admitted students must meet any special conditions attached to their admission, by either the Graduate College or their major department, no later than upon the completion of nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit.
Full graduate status is granted when these students complete each prescribed graduate level course with a grade of “B” (3.0) or better or otherwise satisfy deficiencies.
A graduate student admitted provisionally is not eligible for appointment to an assistantship, fellowship, or tuition waiver until full graduate status is achieved.
Provisionally admitted students who do not meet the prescribed requirements will be dismissed.
Conditional Student
Applicants whose records indicate they need additional coursework or other training prior to beginning their degree program, based upon the professional judgment of graduate program faculty and the Graduate College.
Conditionally admitted students must meet any special conditions attached to their admission, by either the Graduate College or their major department, prior to enrolling in any graduate courses that will count towards the degree.
Full graduate status is granted when these students complete the stated conditions.
A graduate student admitted conditionally is not eligible for appointment to an assistantship, fellowship, or tuition waiver until full graduate status is achieved.
Conditionally admitted students who do not meet the prescribed requirements will be dismissed.
International Applicants
In addition to meeting specific requirements for each degree program, international students must meet the following additional requirements:
English Proficiency Tests
International students must have earned the following score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Internet Based (IBT) - 80; or a score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. The TOEFL or IELTS will be waived for any applicant who has graduated from a college or university in the United States accredited in a manner accepted by Kennesaw State University or is from one of the following countries: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tobago, Trinidad, United Kingdom, United States or Zimbabwe.
Immigration Documents
International applicants who are requesting an I-20 for an F-1 visa must submit an affidavit of support from the sponsor and a certified financial statement from the sponsor’s bank showing that funds are available for one year of study. Students must have a valid passport and must be in current, valid immigration status in order to enroll at Kennesaw State University.
Evaluation of Foreign Credentials
Graduates of foreign schools of higher learning must be able to document the fact that their degree is the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree awarded by an accredited United States college or university. International applicants, regardless of their country of origin or their native language, must have their foreign credentials evaluated by one of the following agencies:
Each evaluation must include the following: course-by-course description, equivalence to an accredited four-year U.S. undergraduate degree (or number of years toward completion), and grade point average.
See kennesaw.edu/graduate/admissions/international_admissions for additional information for international students.
Transient Student Status
Incoming Graduate Students
Applicants who are currently enrolled in a recognized graduate program at another institution may seek temporary admission to graduate study at Kennesaw State University. Applicants must submit the following to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
- A completed Transient Application
- A letter of Good Standing from the home institution
Outgoing Graduate Students
Kennesaw State graduate students may attend another institution as a transient student. KSU students must seek written approval from their program director prior to applying to or enrolling in classes at another institution. Students must be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 Individual programs may have additional criteria. Transient work will be considered as transfer credit and an official transcript reflecting the credit must be received in order to grant the credit.
Appeals
Applicants may appeal an admissions decision by contacting, in writing, the Dean of the Graduate College. Applicants may appeal denial of admission only if additional relevant information is provided for review.
Statement of Competitive Admission
All qualified persons are equally welcome to seek admission to Kennesaw State University, and all persons may apply for and accept admission confident that the policy and regular practice of the University will not discriminate against them on the basis of race, religion, sex, or national origin.
Projections of the number of graduate students to be admitted and enrolled in any year will be determined (a) by the capacity of the University, (b) by the capacity of the admitting program, and (c) by approved enrollment levels. If the number of eligible applicants for admission exceeds the number of applicants who can be admitted and enrolled, those to be offered admission will be selected on the program director’s judgment of the applicant’s relative qualifications for satisfactory performance in the University/program/research area.
Verification of credentials and certification of compliance with University policies shall be the responsibility of the Office of Graduate Admissions. Policies and procedures that are approved by the Office of the President, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the Graduate Policies and Curriculum Committee shall be applied in determining eligibility for consideration for graduate study. From those eligible candidates, final admission decisions will be the responsibility of the admitting program. Satisfying minimal standards, however, does not guarantee admission, since the number of eligible applicants generally far exceeds the number of places available. As a result, many well-qualified applicants cannot be accommodated.
The criteria used in determining each applicant’s eligibility for consideration shall include: (1) evidence of award of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent (prior to matriculation) from a regionally accredited recognized institution; students must show evidence of preparation in their chosen field sufficient to ensure profitable graduate study; (2) for international applicants, satisfactory completion of requirements listed at: kennesaw.edu/graduate/admissions/
international_admissions.
From eligible candidates, programs may make final admission decisions based on a combination of factors, including academic degrees and records, the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, test scores, and relevant work experience. Also considered is the appropriateness of the applicant’s goals to the degree program in which they are interested and to the research interests of the program’s faculty. In addition, consideration may be given to how the applicant’s background and life experience would contribute significantly to an educationally beneficial mix of students.
Right of Refusal
If an applicant (a) is on probation, suspension, expulsion, or any other type of academic warning at any previously attended institution, (b) is ineligible to enroll at any previously attended institution, (c) is currently charged with, or has been found guilty of, any violation of academic honesty, honor code, or conduct regulations of a previously attended institution, (d) left a previous institution while there were pending charges of any violation of academic honesty, honor code, or conduct regulations, (e) is currently charged with or has been found guilty of any violation of a federal, state, or municipal law, regulation or ordinance other than minor traffic violations, including offenses for which any type of first offender status has been granted, (f) has ever entered a plea of guilty, no contest, nolo contendere, or an Alford plea, or has otherwise accepted responsibility for the commission of a crime, (g) has received any type of discharge from military service other than honorable discharge, then the applicant’s case will be reviewed to insure that the applicant meets the satisfactory academic performance, good character, and good conduct requirements noted above. If, after a letter of acceptance has been issued, information comes to light that shows that an applicant did not meet all admission requirements, or that an applicant’s application contained omissions or misrepresentations, the applicants offer of admission will be automatically revoked. If this information comes to light after the student has enrolled, the applicant’s enrollment at Kennesaw State University will automatically be terminated and earned credit may be revoked.
Any changes in a student’s record prior to enrollment will necessitate a new review of the application. Any omissions or misrepresentations on a student’s application for admission will automatically invalidate consideration by, acceptance to, and continuation at Kennesaw State University.
Readmission to Graduate Study
Students who have an absence of three or more consecutive terms (including Summer) of matriculation at Kennesaw State University and who are not academically dismissed must apply for readmission.
Students must complete the Graduate Application for Readmission. If the student has attended any other institution since last attending KSU, transcripts are required.
KSU Masters Students Applying for Doctorate or Specialist Degrees
KSU students who are currently completing or have already completed a Masters at KSU and wish to be considered for a Doctorate or Specialist Degree at KSU, must complete a new application through the Online Graduate Application. You may need updated supporting documents or test scores. Please refer to the appropriate program’s section of the catalog for admission requirements.
Six-Year Time Limit
Any student who exceeds the six-year time limit for completing a degree must apply for admission to the degree program as a new student and begin a new planned program of study. Course credit over six years old will not be accepted in the new program.
Other previous course work will be evaluated on the basis of its applicability to the new program of study. Individual degree programs or departments may add additional requirements regarding readmission. The time limit for doctoral students varies by program. Please see the specific program section of this catalog to confirm the time limit for a doctoral program.
Immunization Requirement
All students are required to satisfy immunization requirements for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) before registering for courses. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has instituted this policy in order to minimize potential outbreaks of measles, mumps, and rubella on college campuses. This requirement applies to all admissions classifications (i.e. Freshmen, Transfer, Joint Enrollment, Adult Non-traditional, Graduate, Transient, and Non-degree). Exemption categories are available for circumstances regarding medical conditions or religious convictions. Proof of immunization must be submitted to:
Office of the Registrar
Kennesaw State University
1000 Chastain Road, MD 0116
Kennesaw GA 30144
admissions.kennesaw.edu/acceptedstudents/immunization
Verification of Lawful Presence
During the October 2010 meeting, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved 2 new policies: Policy 4.1.6, Admission of Persons Not Lawfully in the United States, and Policy 4.3.4, Verification of Lawful Presence
Policy 4.3.4, Verification of Lawful Presence
Each University System institution shall verify the lawful presence in the United States of every successfully admitted person applying for resident tuition status, as defined in the section 7.3 of this Policy Manual, and of every person admitted to an institution referenced in Section 4.1.6 of this Policy Manual.
Students may provide any of the following to verify Lawful Presence
- Certified Copy of a U.S. Birth Certificate showing the student was born in the U.S. or U.S. territory.
- U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS form N-550 or N-570)
- U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS from N-560 or N-561)
- U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (SD-1350) or Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)
- Current U.S. Passport
- Current Driver’s License issued by the State of Georgia after Jan. 1, 2008
- Current ID issued by the State of Georgia after Jan. 1, 2008
- Current Military ID (service member only, not dependent)
- Current, valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form I-151 or I-55)
Special Accommodations
KSU does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s disability and is committed to providing students with full and equal enjoyment of services, facilities and goods on campus as required by law. If you are a student with a qualified disability and are in need of a reasonable accommodation, you must contact the Office of Disability Services. That office will provide you the necessary information and assistance to make your accommodation request.
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