Admissions

In this section:

• Applicants for Degree and Certificate Programs
• Non-Degree Applicants
• Adding or Changing Programs
• Second Graduate Degree/Reapplying Graduate Applicants
• Minimum Admission Standards
• Standardized Tests
• Admission Denial
• Admission Revocation

Applicants for Degree and Certificate Programs

Prospective graduate students (including transfers) are encouraged to complete an inquiry form (for on-campus programs or online programs) and are urged to contact the relevant academic department regarding specific admissions requirements and opportunities for pursuing graduate study. For a list of available degree and certificate programs, websites, and contacts, see this list of degree programs. The Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment provides information and links relevant to the application process with additional information regarding programs of interest found on individual programs’ websites.

To be considered for admission to a WVU graduate program, prospective students must complete the WVU graduate admissions application found under the WVU Graduate Admissions How to Apply website.  Some professional programs may require application through another central service before or after completing the WVU Application.

Each degree or certificate program has specific admission requirements that should be carefully reviewed prior to submitting an application. Even if applicants meet the minimum University requirements, admission to degree and certificate programs is determined by each academic program. Final admission cannot be granted until all final transcripts have been received and successful completion of the student’s bachelor’s degree (or master’s degree, if required) has been verified by the Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment.

If both the student and the program agree, an admission term can be changed as long as it is within a year from the original admission decision. An admission term can not be changed more than two times for a previously submitted application. If more than two admission term changes are requested, the admit must reapply. Applicants who fail to enroll within a year after acceptance must reapply. Students admitted to and enrolled in a degree program who have not been enrolled in course work for two or more years also must reapply for admission. Students classified as non-degree must apply for admission if they wish to pursue a degree or certificate program. Applicants who wish to pursue more than one degree must apply separately to each degree program. Because some programs may not allow simultaneous enrollment in another program, both programs will be asked to approve the simultaneous enrollment arrangement.

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Non-Degree Applicants

Students not wishing to pursue an advanced degree may apply for admission as a non-degree graduate student. A student who wishes to take courses as a non-degree graduate student after completing a degree at WVU must submit a new graduate admissions application.

Admission as a non-degree student does not guarantee admission to any course or program. Not all programs allow non-degree students to enroll in their courses; students should check with the program of interest. No more than 12 credits earned as a non-degree student may be applied to a degree (see section on Credit Sharing Limitations for Graduate Degrees and Majors under the Rules for Attaining Multiple Credentials information). 

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Currently Enrolled Students: Adding or Changing Programs

A current WVU graduate student who wishes to pursue a different or additional graduate degree, or to pursue a certificate, must first contact the program to determine the admissions process and procedures.  In most cases, the student must formally apply to the other program by completing the WVU graduate admissions application found under the WVU Graduate Admissions How to Apply website.

When a student changes from one program to another within the University, the faculty of the new program determines if any credit (up to 12 credits) earned while enrolled in the prior program may be applied to the new program (see section on Credit Sharing Limitations for Graduate Degrees and Majors under the Rules for Attaining Multiple Credentials information).

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Second Graduate Degree/Reapplying Graduate Applicants

Students who have previously applied and attended West Virginia University for graduate school are considered a second graduate degree applicant. Students who have previously applied, but did not attend West Virginia University for graduate school, are considered a re-applying applicant. Information can be found on the Second Degree/ReApplying Graduate Application link on the Graduate Admissions website.

A graduate student who is now a second degree applicant may, if certain conditions are met, apply for and receive a retroactive withdraw for a given term even if the 12-month time limit has passed. As with all retroactive withdraw requests, retroactive withdrawals may not be requested for coursework in a degree that has already been awarded. To request such a retroactive withdrawal, the student must not have been enrolled for a period of two years or longer. Additional information can be found in the Course Withdrawal and University Withdrawal Policy in this catalog. The student should meet the standards for a contractual or non-contractual retroactive withdrawal. The student must qualify for admission (regular or provisional) to a different graduate program than any in which they have previously been enrolled. The student may not have been dismissed from a previous graduate program at WVU for reasons unrelated to GPA or grades in individual programs (e.g. failing to meet professional standards or academic dishonesty). A student may utilize this policy only once. For more information or to initiate a request, the student should contact the Office of Graduate Education and Life.

Readmission

Students who have been inactive for two or more years who exceed eight years following their term of admission are required to apply for readmission to the University and their graduate program.

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Minimum Admission Standards

The WVU Graduate Council establishes the minimum standards for admission to graduate study detailed in the Classifications tab. Beyond this point, however, specific graduate programs control who is to be admitted to their graduate program of study. While a student may be admitted to the University to enroll in advanced coursework as a non-degree graduate student, only graduate programs may grant permission for the pursuit of a graduate degree.

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Standardized Tests

Many programs at WVU require specific graduate admission standardized test scores from applicants. These admission requirements are found in the admissions section of each program description in the Academics page on the Graduate Admissions website. If standardized test scores are required, the applicant should ask the testing agency to send the scores to WVU. In addition, applicants are encouraged to upload a copy of their test scores, if available, as part of their online application in order to facilitate the WVU evaluation process.

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Admission Denial

If an application for admission into a graduate program is denied, the applicant may request the reasons for refusal of admission by writing to the specific graduate program coordinator (see Academics page). Note that meeting the minimum requirements for admission into a graduate program does not ensure admission. Many programs restrict the number of admissions by selecting among the qualified applicants. An applicant may appeal to the graduate program coordinator for reconsideration if the applicant can document either factual errors in processing the application or that the decision was arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory in nature. The graduate program/department will review the appeal. Appeals must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the admission denial.

The decision about the appeal is communicated to the student within 20 calendar days. If the student does not accept the department's decision, the student may continue by submitting a written appeal via email to the dean of the college or school no more than 20 calendar days from the receipt of the department's decision. The decision of the dean, as the provost's designee, shall be rendered within 20 calendar days of the receipt of the appeal and is final. 

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Admission Revocation

An offer of admission can be revoked if an applicant's application materials are found to be falsified or if an admitted student engages in behavior that is not in compliance with the WVU Student Conduct Code or degree program's published professional standards prior to the first day of classes in the term of admission.  If admission is revoked prior to the first day of classes, the admitted student may appeal the action to the Associate Provost for Graduate Academic Affairs.  An enrolled student may be dismissed from the program or University if the student's application materials are found to be falsified, consistent with applicable policies or procedures on Academic and Professional Standards.

 In this section:

• Regular Graduate Students
• Provisional Graduate Students
• Non-Degree Graduate Students
• Reclassification of Graduate Students

Regular Graduate Students

Regular graduate students are degree- or certificate-seeking students who meet all the criteria for regular admission to a program of their choice. Regular graduate students must have earned a baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or an international institution approved by the Ministry of Education or other appropriate agency in the institution’s country); must have had an undergraduate or graduate grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale; and must have met all the criteria established by the degree or certificate program. International applicants must meet WVU's English language proficiency requirements.

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Provisional Graduate Students

Provisional graduate admission may be offered to students when they have earned a baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or an international institution approved by the Ministry of Education or other appropriate agency in the institution’s country) but do not meet the criteria for regular admission. Provisionally admitted graduate students may have incomplete credentials, program-defined deficiencies, or an undergraduate or graduate scholastic record that shows promise but is below the 2.75 grade point average required for regular admission. The offer of provisional admission from the graduate program must specify the requirements that must be met for a student to be re-classified as a regular graduate student.

In addition, undergraduate students who have not yet completed their baccalaureate degree may be given provisional admission to allow them to take graduate courses as part of an approved combination program that allows simultaneous undergraduate and graduate work (such as accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs, pathway programs, and other combination programs that include graduate work prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree).

International students may not be admitted provisionally because such students are not eligible to receive a student visa. WVU will only submit visa paperwork for regularly admitted graduate students.

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Non-Degree Graduate Students

To be admitted as a non-degree graduate student, students must present evidence of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or an international institution approved by the Ministry of Education or other appropriate agency in the institution’s country). International applicants must also meet English proficiency requirements. Non-degree graduate students must also earn a 2.5 grade point average in the first twelve credit hours of coursework taken at WVU and then maintain this average to continue to enroll as non-degree graduate students.

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Reclassification of Graduate Students

Provisional graduate students who are not in an approved combination program may be reclassified as regular graduate students when they meet the program requirements specified in the offer of admission from the student’s program and the WVU minimum grade point average of 2.75 in all coursework taken while a provisional graduate student. A unit must review provisional students’ records no later than the end of the term in which the students complete 18 credit hours. Provisional graduate students who fail to meet the provisions of admission or who fail to achieve the required grade point average will be dismissed from the program and reclassified as non-degree. Dismissed students may reapply for admission to another program or continue as non-degree students. Further registration by provisional graduate students who have completed 18 or more credit hours will only be permitted when students are in an approved combination program, or are reclassified as regular graduate students, provisional graduate students in a different program, or non-degree graduate students. An exception may be granted by an academic dean.

Students admitted provisionally to a certificate program must be reclassified as specified in the Graduate Certificate guidelines. Guideline information can be found on the Graduate Certificates page of this catalog.

Provisional graduate students in approved combination programs (such as accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs, pathway programs, and other combination programs that include graduate work prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree) may continue in the provisional status until they are reclassified as regular graduate students when their baccalaureate degrees are completed.

Non-degree graduate students must have earned a 2.75 or higher-grade point average in all coursework taken since admission as a non-degree graduate student to be eligible to be admitted to a degree program as a regular graduate student.

Regular and provisional students may become non-degree graduate students by choice.

Regular graduate students who are dismissed or suspended from a program will be reclassified as non-degree graduate students.

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International Student Admission

WVU is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant foreign nationals as students. International students wishing to enroll for graduate study at WVU must comply with the academic requirements for admission listed on the Classifications tab and with certain additional academic and nonacademic requirements listed on the Information For International Graduate Students page.

Details regarding application requirements for international graduate students are provided by the Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment. Applicants are encouraged to contact the academic program of interest for program-specific information about requirements other than the general admissions criteria listed above, and to begin the process of applying for admission well in advance of the desired admission deadline.

International students who are seeking or who have been offered financial support as graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) may need to pass the TrueNorth test. Students required to submit English proficiency test scores for admission must also pass the TrueNorth test (or demonstrate proficiency with an acceptable score from another approved source). The TrueNorth test must be passed before a student may begin any classroom instruction. Information can be found on the WVU ELLI English Proficiency for GTAs webpage and the Office of Global Affairs webpage.