Admission to Graduate Studies

Regular Admission

1. Applicants should complete the Application for Graduate Programs and return to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) with a non-refundable $25 fee (waived for Malone University Alumni). Forms are provided in the application packet. Online application forms are also available for some of the graduate programs.
    
2. Applicants should arrange for official transcripts to be sent directly to GPS from previously attended colleges or universities.
    
3. Applicants should ask two or more people who are in positions to judge their potential as graduate students to recommend them, using the forms provided in the application packet. Completed forms should be sent to GPS.
    
4. Entry interviews with the appropriate Director are scheduled for applicants as part of the application process. Upon receipt of the application documents, the Director will review them and appropriately recommend the applicants.
    
5. Applicants must meet the individual requirements of their chosen programs. Please refer to the specific program section of the catalog.

Conditional Admission

1. Applicants must complete the steps in the Regular Admission process.
    
2. Applicants who do not meet the individual program’s minimum requirements may be admitted conditionally. Please refer to specific program requirements in the appropriate section of the catalog.

Provisional Admission

Provisional admit status may be granted for degree-seeking students for the first semester of enrollment to applicants who are unable to provide all required documents by the registration deadline.

Graduate Readmission

A degree-seeking graduate student who has not been registered at Malone University for one calendar year is required to complete a Readmission Form before registering for courses. The Program Director determines the official length of academic absence. Students are readmitted under the current catalog year, unless an exception is made by the Graduate Academic Review Committee. Students seeking readmission should contact the Office of GPS.

Graduate Academic Review Committee

Any requests for exceptions to the stated policies for admission or readmission into a graduate program or for a time extension for completion of a graduate program must be approved by the Graduate Academic Review Committee. The Graduate Academic Review Committee consists of the Directors of the Graduate Programs.

Change of Program

Admission to graduate programs at Malone University is program-specific. If a graduate student changes plans and wishes to enroll in a program other than that to which he or she was accepted, then the student must submit another application and meet the admission requirements for the specific program.

Non-Degree Admission

Non-degree admission is available for students who wish to enroll for courses or workshops offered for graduate credit. The admission requirements will vary based on the non-degree classification. Also, the program in which the courses or workshops are offered may have specific requirements for admission. If a student decides to pursue a degree program at a later time, then admission requirements must be met for the degree status. The credits earned as a non-degree student may be reviewed for transfer into the degree program. Please note that financial aid is not available as a non-degree student.

Non-Degree Classifications

Workshops: Workshops are offered to meet the needs of professional development. Students with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree may be admitted as non-degree to enroll for workshops. Admission is for the term of the workshop. Graduate credit is awarded for workshops. Students should consult the appropriate Program Director to determine application of workshop credit toward a degree.

Special: As a non-degree student with a special admit classification, graduate credit may be obtained for courses offered by a Graduate Program. To be admitted, an official transcript must be submitted. Also, the Program Director must grant permission to enroll in the course(s). The Program Director may limit the number of credits completed as a special student.

Licensure/Endorsement: Students admitted to this classification complete a set of courses required for some professional licensure or endorsement. To obtain admission, the student must submit those documents required by the graduate program of study. Refer to the program for specifics.

Visiting Student: A visiting (transient) student must present a letter from the dean or registrar of the college/university of current enrollment that indicates approval of the specific courses to be taken at Malone University, and certifying that the student is in good academic standing at the home institution.

Admission of Undergraduate Students: Senior undergraduate students meeting the following criteria may enroll in graduate courses if they:

• Are within 15 semester hours of graduation.
   
• Have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
   
• Have secured the written permission of the undergraduate Department Chair and the Graduate Program Director with final approval by the appropriate Dean.
   
• Secure two recommendations from undergraduate faculty attesting to their ability to succeed in graduate course work.

Administrative criteria include the following:

• Students may not apply a course to more than one degree.
   
• Regular undergraduate tuition and fees apply unless the senior desires graduate credit and will not be applying the hours to the undergraduate degree.
   
• If graduate credit is requested, the student must apply and be accepted into a Graduate Program prior to registering for graduate courses. The student would then pay the graduate tuition rate; however, these hours may not count toward the full-time status required for receipt of financial aid.

Auditing: Students classified as auditors are those who are taking courses for interest or the development of their own skills and not with the intention of seeking credit or a degree. Auditors are not required to do course work or to take examinations but are expected to attend class regularly. It is not possible to change from an audit status to a credit status after registration. Students wishing to audit classes should apply for non-degree status. Auditing registration requires the approval of the professor and Program Director. Approval of the Program Director is required to change from credit to audit status after the course has begun, and no tuition will be refunded as a result of the change. Enrollment in the courses for audit (non-credit) is limited to six hours. Tuition to audit courses is 50% of the current tuition fee.

International Student Admission

International students (holding F-1 visas) are expected to meet the program-specific admission requirements. In addition, the following requirements must be met in order to be considered eligible for admission:

1. An affidavit of financial support must be submitted.
    
2. A minimum score of 550 must be achieved on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination.
    
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning must be evaluated by an agency specializing in the evaluation of academic institutions outside the United States. An official report must be submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies from this agency.
    
4. An I-20 form must be issued to the student by the designated Malone University official.

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer credits from appropriate graduate work at regionally accredited colleges, universities, and seminaries. Credit will be transferred on a course-by-course basis as applicable to the program. All transfer work must have a letter grade of “B” or better. A maximum of 25% of the credit hours needed for the graduate degree may be transferred into any of the graduate programs. Of the transferred hours, a maximum of three workshop credits may be applied to Education, Counseling and Human Development, and Theological Studies. All graduate work to be transferred will be evaluated individually for appropriateness. Generally, course work more than seven years old will not be accepted. Courses accepted by transfer will be recorded with the course number, title, and credit value. No grade point average will be calculated for the courses listed.

Senior Citizen Enrollment

To audit: Students who are age 60 or older may audit courses free of charge on a space-available basis.

For credit: Students who are age 70 or older may take courses for credit for 50% of tuition on a space-available basis.

Students must meet the graduate program admission criteria and registration prerequisites and are responsible for notifying the University of eligibility for these policies.