Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements and Timelines for Executive Master of Public Administration, Master of Education, Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Science Programs:
Unconditional Admission Status
Applicants may be admitted to Graduate School on unconditional status if they earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on all undergraduate work (4.0 scale), have met undergraduate prerequisites, and have submitted satisfactory GRE/MAT scores. The minimum requirements for unconditional status are:
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or above out of a 4.00 system
- Application for admission to Graduate Studies (see deadlines below)
- Official transcript(s) from all institutions of higher education (one should reflect a bachelor’s degree) which the student has attended sent directly from the college/university*
- Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and/or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (MAT/GRE scores must be no more than five years old)
- Scores should meet requirement A or B below
- A. A GRE score of 900 or above (verbal plus quantitative scores) or A GRE admission index of 1300 or above.
Admission index is obtained by computing the formula: (GPA x 200) plus the sum of the verbal and quantitative scores of the GRE. - B. A score of 35 or above on the Miller Analogies Test or A Miller Analogies Test admission index of 850 or above.
Admission index is obtained by computing the formula: (GPA x 200) plus the MAT score x 10.
- A. A GRE score of 900 or above (verbal plus quantitative scores) or A GRE admission index of 1300 or above.
- Scores should meet requirement A or B below
- Proof of immunization (requires 2 shots; first one has to be received after the first birthday and second one has to be at least 6-8 weeks after the first shot)
Applications will not be considered until all required materials (listed above) have been submitted based on the following deadlines:
- Fall Semester: July 1
- Spring Semester: December 1
- Summer Sessions (I & II): May 1
*Students earning a bachelor’s degree after the appropriate deadline should submit a current official transcript by the deadline and have a transcript reflecting the degree on file by registration day.
Conditional Admission Status
Applicants may be admitted on conditional status if they do not qualify for unconditional status because of GPA and /or GRE/MAT scores. The minimum requirements for conditional status are ALL of the following:
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.2 or above out of a 4.00 system
- Application for admission to Graduate Studies (see deadlines below)
- Official transcript(s) from all institutions of higher education (one should reflect a bachelor’s degree) which the student has attended sent directly from the college/university*
- Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and/or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (MAT/GRE scores must be no more than five years old)
- Scores should meet requirement A or B below
- A. A GRE score of 750 or above (verbal plus quantitative scores)
- B. A score of 30 or above on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
- Scores should meet requirement A or B below
- Proof of immunization (requires 2 shots; first one has to be received after the first birthday and second one has to be at least 6-8 weeks after the first shot)
Some colleges/programs may not allow conditional status. Students on conditional status are limited to six hours per semester.
For applicants who are admitted on conditional status because they did not meet GPA and/or GRE/MAT requirements for unconditional admission, the conditional status will be removed after the student earns a minimum of 12 semester hours of graduate credit at Southern Arkansas University with a 3.0 GPA, no grade lower than a C, and not more than one course with a grade of C. If these applicants fail to meet the requirements for removal of conditional status after earning 12 hours of graduate credit, they will be denied continuance in graduate courses.
Applications will not be considered until all required materials (listed above) have been submitted based on the following deadlines:
- Fall Semester: July 1
- Spring Semester: December 1
- Summer Sessions (I & II): May 1
*Students earning a bachelor’s degree after the appropriate deadline should submit a current official transcript by the deadline and have a transcript reflecting the degree on file by registration day.
Non-Degree Admission to the School of Graduate Studies
Graduates of accredited colleges and universities who wish to enroll in selected course offerings of the Graduate School but not pursue a formal degree or additional licensure may be considered for admission as non-degree students. The minimum requirement for taking graduate courses in non-degree status is a GPA of 2.5 (based on a 4.0 scale). Some colleges/programs have higher requirements for taking courses in non-degree status. Non-degree status does not constitute admission to the Graduate School, or to a specific degree or licensure program.
Application Materials and Timeline
- Application for admission to Graduate Studies (see deadlines below)
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education which the student has attended sent directly from the college/university*
- Non-Degree intent/waiver form
- Proof of immunization (requires 2 shots; first one has to be received after the first birthday and second one has to be at least 6-8 weeks after the first shot)
Applications will not be considered until all required materials (listed above) have been submitted based on the following deadlines:
- Fall Semester: July 1
- Spring Semester: December 1
- Summer Sessions (I & II): May 1
*Students earning a bachelor’s degree after the appropriate deadline should submit a current transcript by the deadline and have a transcript reflecting the degree on file by registration day.
Exceptions to non-degree application deadlines are based on programmatic needs only.
Students in non-degree status, who apply for admission to a graduate program to pursue a formal degree or a license, must meet the same GPA and GRE/MAT requirements stated for an applicant seeking initial entry. No more than 6 (six) credit hours earned with non-degree status may apply toward a degree.
