Admission Policies and Procedures

 

Graduate Council will be responsible for establishing general institutional requirements (both quantitative and qualitative) for admission, retention, and completion. Admission and completion criteria for individual graduate programs (both quantitative and qualitative), especially as they differ from general institutional criteria for admission, retention, and completion, are established by program faculty. Changes in admission, retention, and completion criteria may be initiated by Graduate Council, a body that includes representation from each program faculty, or within the individual academic department, or even in open college deliberations; however, approval of changes for individual graduate programs is achieved as follows:

Department Faculty (action)

College Curriculum and Educational Policies Committee (action)

College Faculty (action)

Graduate Council (action)

Deans’ Council (action)

Vice President for Academic Affairs (action)

Review/Evaluation of Admission Policies
Graduate Council shall review general institutional requirements for admission, retention and completion at least once every five years, and consistent with the SACS review calendar.

Individual academic departments shall review individual program requirements for admission, retention, and completion each year, and consistent with the Graduate Bulletin review calendar.

Admission to the Master’s Degree Programs

Applications and Transcripts
The University of Montevallo welcomes applications from all individuals whose experiences, interests, and academic preparation indicate potential for success in one of the graduate programs. Forms for making application and related information are available upon request by calling 205-665-6350, by e-mailing the Office of Graduate Studies at graduate@montevallo.edu, or online at www.montevallo.edu/grad/applications.shtm.

Please note that there is a non-refundable $25 fee required for the Graduate Application, and there is a non-refundable $25 fee required for the Alternative Fifth-Year evaluation application. Students who wish to apply online may click on the following link to access the Graduate Studies web page: www.montevallo.edu/grad/. Please note that students applying to the Alternative Fifth-Year Program must complete and submit the printable Alternative Fifth-Year Program evaluation application, which is available at: www.montevallo.edu/grad/applications.shtm. Students may submit the application to Graduate Study online and make payment online as well. At this time, all other forms may be downloaded and printed only.

Students applying for a master’s degree program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Collegiate work from unaccredited postsecondary institutions (or institutions that are not in candidacy status for accreditation) is not transferable to the University of Montevallo. Students who have earned an undergraduate degree from an institution not regionally accredited but who have subsequently earned a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution may appeal to the Dean of Graduate Studies for special consideration. A completed application form and official transcripts from each institution of higher education attended must be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies by April 15 for Summer I admission, June 10 for Summer II admission, July 15 for fall admission, and November 15 for spring admission. These deadlines may differ for capped and cohort programs. See individual department sections for possible differences. Even though credits from one institution may appear on the transcript of another institution, it is still necessary to submit all transcripts. Such transcripts must include evidence of graduation with a degree posted.

Applicants who have yet to complete an undergraduate degree must submit a final transcript with a degree posted before the end of the first semester of graduate coursework. Students may not take additional graduate coursework without a final transcript on file in the Office of Graduate Studies.

Credit may not be given for graduate coursework taken by a student who has not been officially admitted to the graduate program at the University of Montevallo.

Students who have been enrolled in but not completed similar graduate programs at other institutions must have left in good standing in order to be admitted to the University of Montevallo graduate program.

General Test Score Requirements
Applicants for entrance to any program must also present a satisfactory, official score on the prescribed graduate examination specified by their respective college and/or department. The test must have been taken within 5 years of the date of application for graduate study.

Unless otherwise indicated in the departmental sections of this Bulletin, the following scores will be satisfactory for admission to graduate study:

GRE 850 (verbal and quantitative portions combined)

MAT 388

The GRE general test is computer based. Contact Prometric Testing Center in Birmingham at (205) 871-7444 for information. The MAT is given at least once a semester at UM through the Office of Counseling, Leadership, and Foundations. Call Kathie Hope at 205-665-6380 for information on the MAT.

Unconditional admission
Minimum requirements for unconditional admission to Graduate Studies are:

1. A grade point average of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) on all undergraduate work attempted or 2.75 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work attempted (with the exception of alternative fifth-year programs), unless higher grade point averages are indicated by a department; and
2. A satisfactory score on the departmentally prescribed examination(s); and
3. Satisfactory compliance with other admission requirements, which may be specified by the various departments. See the departmental sections of this Bulletin for more-specific information.

Conditional admission

1. Conditional admission may be granted to an applicant: Who does not have a satisfactory test score; or
2. Who has not taken the prescribed examination(s); or
3. Who has not complied with other specific departmental requirements.

There is no conditional admission for the Secondary and P–12 Art Alternative Fifth-Year Program. Students must meet criteria for unconditional admission to each phase of the program.

Decisions on admission based on general Graduate Studies requirements are made by the Office of Graduate Studies. Decisions on admission to specific programs are made by the appropriate department and the dean of the college on the basis of requirements by the Office of Graduate Studies, college, and individual department.

A conditionally admitted student will be allowed to take no more than 12 graduate hours. Graduate credit toward a degree at the University of Montevallo will not be awarded until the requirements for unconditional admission have been met. No student who has been conditionally admitted will be allowed to register after attempting 12 hours of graduate work unless he or she has been unconditionally admitted.

Any student who has attended another institution as a graduate student must be in good standing at that institution in order to be admitted for graduate study in the same field at the University of Montevallo. Exceptions may be made if the appropriate departmental chairperson and college dean agree that there have been mitigating circumstances.

Admission to the Educational Specialist and AA Certification programs

Applications and Transcripts
The University of Montevallo welcomes applications from all individuals who have completed their master’s degrees from a regionally accredited institution and who hold an Alabama Class A teaching certificate. Forms for making application and related information are available upon request by calling 205-665-6350, by e-mailing the Office of Graduate Studies at graduate@montevallo.edu, or online at www.montevallo.edu/grad/applications.shtm. The completed application form, application fee, and official transcripts from the institution(s) at which the student completed other graduate work should be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies by April 15 for summer admission, July 15 for fall admission and November 15 for spring admission. If a student chooses to submit the application online through the online application process, he/she will have the opportunity to make payment through the web.

The Ed.S. degree and the AA certificate are earned simultaneously.

The following requirements must be met by all persons desiring entrance to the AA/Ed.S. program:

1. The candidate shall present proof of successful completion of a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
2. The candidate shall hold Class A certification in educational administration for the Ed.S. in Education Administration. Class A certification in any teaching field or grade level designation is acceptable for the Teacher Leadership Program. Candidates who have applied for Class A certification must submit proof of certification before the end of the second semester of coursework. Students may not take additional coursework without a copy of certification on file in the Office of Graduate Studies.
3. The candidate shall have a record of success as a teacher or support person in the area of specialization. The EXP form that is used to verify required years of teaching experience for the Education Administration program and for the Teacher Leadership program may be obtained in the Graduate Studies Office. It must be submitted with the application for Teacher Leader.
4. The candidate shall meet program-specific requirements as well.

No credit toward the AA/Ed.S. will be awarded to students who have not been officially admitted to the program(s).

Special Admissions

Special Status
Special-status admission may be granted to a student under some circumstances. Special-status admission may be granted for no more than 3 graduate hours and for no more than one term, based on a review of the student’s transcript (unofficial or official). A special-status student may register only on the day of registration. Students admitted by special status must complete their application and be admitted into a program in order to continue with graduate coursework.

Non-Degree Status
Students taking courses for personal enrichment, to improve their undergraduate grade point average, or to comply with undergraduate certification requirements may be allowed to enroll with non-degree status. If these students later apply for admission to a graduate program, credit for the course(s) taken will be evaluated on an individual course basis.

Students who wish non-degree status must submit an official transcript with a degree posted. By the end of the first term of enrollment, official transcripts from all institutions attended must be on file in the Office of Graduate Studies.

Students Who Have Not Completed a Degree
Undergraduate students who are within 6 hours of completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Montevallo may take courses for graduate credit with permission of the department chairperson and the dean of the college housing the graduate program they wish to enter, provided they have sufficient content background to indicate success at the graduate level. The student must apply and be accepted to the graduate program before taking graduate courses.

Second Master’s Degree
A second master’s degree may be earned with a minimum of 18 semester hours of additional credit beyond the first master’s degree. Students seeking a second master’s degree must meet the entrance requirements for the program they wish to enter unless the appropriate departmental chairperson and college dean agree that those requirements or their equivalent were met in the first master’s degree. Requirements for the second degree will be decided by the department chair and approved by the college dean.

International Student Admission

The University of Montevallo welcomes qualified applicants from other countries. Questions concerning admission to a graduate program should be addressed to the Office of Graduate Studies, Station 6350, Montevallo, AL 35115, U.S.A., by emailing the Office of Graduate Studies at graduate@montevallo.edu, or by accessing the OGS website at:  www.montevallo.edu/grad/.

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements, International students are required to submit the following original credentials:

1. A completed application for admission with the required application fee.
2. An official copy of the student’s college transcripts from foreign institutions, evaluated by World Education Services, Lisano International, or Josef Silney and Associates, Inc. Course equivalency is determined by the academic department chair.
3. An affidavit of financial support indicating that sufficient funds are available to the student to pay the cost of attendance. There is no financial aid program for international students at the University, nor do immigration laws permit part-time employment except in special cases.
4. A score of at least 550 on the paper-based and 213 on the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Score reports should be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies, Station 6350, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL 35115, USA. Students should write to the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6155, Princeton, NJ 08540-6155, USA, to complete arrangements for the TOEFL.
5. A complete medical report by a physician, on a form provided by the University.
6. Verification of current, University-acceptable medical insurance. This insurance must provide health and accident coverage and must include repatriation and medical evacuation.

Complete international student admission information is available at www.montevallo.edu/Records/InternationalAdmissionsList.shtm.

Transfer credit practices are consistent with American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions officers (AACRAO).