Graduate Admissions

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. Applicants are accepted to a specific graduate program and must reapply in order to change programs.

1. Decide which Graduate Program you would like to pursue. See: http://graduate.kennesaw.edu/admissions/programs.php.
2. View the Admission Requirements Checklist for your chosen program, located here: http://graduate.kennesaw.edu/admissions/apply/checklists.php.
3. Complete the Online Graduate Application, including the $60 Non-Refundable application processing fee, found here: http://graduate.kennesaw.edu/admissions/apply/online-application.php.
4. Schedule any testing, as appropriate (see program checklist)
5. 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, the application fee, and meet current admissions criteria for the desired program.

Once an applicant’s file is complete, the respective graduate program will review the file. The graduate program will recommend admission or denial to the Office of Graduate Admissions, The Graduate College. Upon receipt of the graduate program recommendation, the Office of Graduate Admissions will make an official determination of admission status and will notify the applicant.

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.

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:

Test of English Proficiency.

1. Applicants from the following countries are exempt from the English Language Proficiency requirement: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tobago, Trinidad, United Kingdom, United States or Zimbabwe.
2. Applicants who have graduated from a college or university in the United States accredited in a manner accepted by Kennesaw State University are exempt from the English Language Proficiency requirement.
3. Applicants not exempt by A or B above can take either of the following tests:
   1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Minimum required score: Internet version (iBT) - 80
   2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)* Minimum required score: 6.5

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:

• WES (www.wes.org/)
• Joseph Silney & Associates (www.jsilny.com/)
• Evaluations Service, Inc. (www.evaluationservice.net/)
• SpanTran: The Evaluation Company

Each evaluation must include the following: course-by-course description, equivalence to a regionally accredited U.S. baccalaureate degree (or number of years toward completion) and grade point average.

See http://graduate.kennesaw.edu/admissions/apply/international-students.php 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:

1. A completed Transient Application
2. 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 

Process for Graduate Admissions Appeals

Appeals of graduate admissions decisions at Kennesaw State University are made to the Dean of The Graduate College. KSU Graduate Catalog, “Graduate Admissions.” This memorandum details the process such appeals will follow.

1. Notice to applicants.
   Applicants will be apprised of their ability to appeal admissions decisions through postings on the University’s Office of Graduate Admissions and The Graduate College’s websites, as well as contemporaneously with admissions decisions
   1. Website Posting. The Office of Graduate Admissions website will prominently feature a link regarding admissions appeals, which will link to an explanation of the appeals process. This will also be included on The Graduate College’s website under web resources for graduate students.
   2. Notification of Admissions Decisions. Contemporaneously with notifications of admissions decisions, applicants will be informed of their ability to appeal those decisions and directed to the University’s web resources detailing the appeals process.
       
2. The Appeal.

A. Basis for appeal. Appeals of admissions decisions may follow different processes based on the grounds of the appeal.

1. Discrimination. If the applicant believes her or his admissions decision is impermissibly based upon the applicant’s real or perceived gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, spiritual beliefs, physical abilities, racial and ethnic background, and economic status, the applicant may directly contact the University’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion at 470-578-2614.
2. Other basis. If the applicant wishes to appeal his or her admissions decision based on other factors, the applicant needs to submit a written appeal to the Dean of The Graduate College.

B. Written Appeal. Within fourteen (14) days of the mailing date of the admissions decision, the applicant may file an appeal. The appeal should, at a minimum, contain the following:

1. An explanation of the admissions decision;
2. An explanation of why the applicant believes the decision was incorrect;
3. Identification of any evidence the applicant believes supports her or his position. The applicant may be asked to provide this information to permit The Graduate College to process his or her appeal;
4. Any other information the applicant believes is relevant to her or his appeal.

Effective appeals will typically involve information the applicant may not have provided in his or her original application, but which might have influenced the University’s decision regarding her or his application.

For example, following notification of an unsuccessful application, an applicant for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice might speak to a professor regarding his or her application. During that conversation, the applicant notes her or his five (5) years of successful service as a law enforcement officer. The professor notes this was not included in the original application and states the program faculty might believe it relevant to their consideration of the application. The professor then suggests the applicant file an appeal, providing specific evidence of his or her successful law enforcement record and an explanation of why the applicant believes it contributes to his or her strength as a graduate student in that discipline.

Please note The Graduate College is unlikely to be influenced by arguments in which the applicant is challenging the judgment of a program’s faculty regarding particular aspects of the program’s application. This is particularly true regarding the faculty’s assessment of an applicant’s undergraduate grade point average or his or her scores on an admissions examination required by the program (e.g., GRE, MAT) or the weight to give such items in the faculty’s evaluation of the applicant.

3. Submission of Appeal. The appeal may be submitted electronically or in writing to The Graduate College. It should be submitted to:

Assistant Dean for Graduate Students
The Graduate College
Kennesaw Hall 3423MD 0112
585 Cobb Avenue
Kennesaw, Georgia  30144

The Graduate College will acknowledge receipt of the appeal electronically or through US Mail.

3. Review Process.

Upon receipt of the appeal, The Graduate College will identify an appropriate process for reviewing the appeal. This process may

vary based upon the grounds of the appeal (such as a need to solicit input from the graduate program faculty).

After identifying and receiving information and evidence relevant to the appeal, The Graduate College will empanel a group of at least three (3) members of the University’s Graduate Faculty to review the appeal. The Graduate Faculty members will make a recommendation regarding the appeal to the Dean of The Graduate College.

4. Decision.

In the absence of exceptional circumstances, within fourteen (14) of the receipt of the appeal, the Dean of The Graduate College will issue a decision regarding the appeal. It will be communicated to the applicant through U.S. or electronic mail.

Appeal of The Graduate College’s Decision. Within fourteen (14) days of the mailing date of the Dean’s decision, the applicant may appeal The Graduate College’s determination by sending a written appeal to the Provost of Kennesaw State University.

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, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, 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 recommendation 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 Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Office of the President, The Graduate College, and the Graduate Policies and Curriculum Committee shall be applied in determining eligibility for consideration for graduate study. From those eligible candidates, final admission recommendations will be the responsibility of the admitting program. Satisfying minimal standards, however, does not guarantee admission since the number of eligible applicants generally exceeds the number of places available. As a result, many qualified applicants may not be accommodated.

The criteria used in determining each applicant’s eligibility for consideration shall include: (1) evidence of award of a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent (prior to matriculation) from a regionally accredited institution; (2) evidence of preparation in their chosen field correlating to likely success in graduate study; (3) other qualifications consistent with standards in their degree and discipline. For international applicants, satisfactory completion of requirements listed at: http://graduate.kennesaw.edu/admissions/apply/international-students.php From eligible candidates, programs may make final admission recommendations 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 holistically contributes to creating a community of scholars.

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 Graduate Students Applying for Additional Graduate Degrees

KSU students who have completed or are currently completing a graduate degree at KSU and wish to be considered for an additional graduate degree at KSU (e.g., doctorate, specialist, or masters) must complete a new application through the Online Graduate Application. This may include updating supporting documents and/or test scores. Please refer to the appropriate program’s section of the catalog for admission requirements.

Immunization Requirement

All students are required to satisfy immunization requirements of Kennesaw State University.

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.