Applications

Admissions and Registration

NOTE: Returning students should not apply online, or you will be charged an application fee. 

Admission Categories Admission Requirements Admission Test Requirements Re-admission Admission of Students with Three year Bachelor Degrees International Students Registration Registration Procedures Auditing Courses Change in Courses Withdrawal from Courses Course Repeat Continuing Registration

Students must be officially accepted for admission to the School of Graduate Studies before they may register for graduate credit. Application and information can be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies office at E344 Student Union on the main campus or by calling (937) 775-2976. (Apply Online or Download a PDF application) All correspondence pertaining to the admission of a student should be addressed to the School of Graduate Studies, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, Ohio 45435-0001. The School of Graduate Studies will coordinate the processing of the application.

Applications for admission and supporting credentials should be received at least four weeks before registration for the quarter in which the student wishes to begin graduate study.(Apply Online or Download a PDF application)

All documents received by the university in connection with an application for admission become the property of Wright State University. Under no circumstances will they be returned to applicants or forwarded to any agency or other college or university.

Admission to the School of Graduate Studies does not necessarily indicate admission to an advanced degree. Such admission is subject to specific requirements as defined by the individual programs.

Students are identified by the School of Graduate Studies as being in one of the following categories.

Admission Categories

Regular Status

The student is admitted as fully qualified to pursue a program leading toward a graduate degree.

Provisional Status

Under certain conditions, a student may be admitted provisionally (for one quarter only), pending receipt of credentials. If admission requirements are not met during the quarter in which a student was admitted provisionally, registration for future quarters will be denied and the student will lose graduate credit for any graduate courses completed during the quarter.

Conditional Status

The student who does not meet the admission requirements for regular status, or who has conditions placed on his or her admission by an academic program, is admitted to a degree program in this status. Graduate credit earned while in this status will apply toward degree requirements. If all admission requirements are satisfied and the student has completed the first 12 hours of graduate credit, after being admitted into this status, with a 3.0 (a grade equivalent of a B) cumulative grade point average, regular status will be granted upon approval of the graduate program. A student who does not meet these conditions will be dismissed from the School of Graduate Studies.

Nondegree Status

A student who does not plan to work toward a degree may be admitted on a nondegree basis in order to take selected graduate courses. A student cannot receive a degree while in this status. Admission into this status does not imply or guarantee that a student will be granted admission into a degree program; the student must meet all the admission requirements for degree status. Should students be accepted into degree status at a later date, a maximum of one-half (50 percent) of the graduate hours required for completion of degree requirements may consist of applicable graduate courses completed in nondegree status.

A student in nondegree status must maintain a 3.0 graduate grade point average. Furthermore, a student in this status who does not have a 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average during the quarter in which he or she completes 12 hours of graduate course work while in this status will be dismissed from the School of Graduate Studies.

Certification/Licensure Status

A student who wishes to complete teacher certification/licensure requirements at the grad-uate level but who does not wish to pursue a graduate degree may be admitted as a certifi-cation/licensure candidate. A student cannot receive a degree while in this status. Subject to subsequent admission into a degree program and program approval, a maximum of one-half (50 percent) of the graduate hours required for completion of degree requirements may consist of applicable graduate courses completed in certification/licensure status (see Retroactive Graduate Credit, page 44 of this catalog, for additional information.)

Senior Permission Status

Seniors at Wright State who have completed 162 credit hours toward the baccalaureate degree and have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 may apply for permission to elect specified graduate courses for graduate or undergraduate credit. Approval must be granted by these students’ undergraduate advisor, the chair of the department in which graduate or undergraduate credit is being sought, and the School of Graduate Studies. No charges will be granted to the type of credit selected after the course(s) have been completed. Courses taken for undergraduate credit may be applied, with the academics unit's approval, toward undergraduate degree requirements. Normally, only 12 hours of graduate course work taken for graduate credit may be applied toward degree requirements, with the graduate department’s or program’s approval, after the students have been admitted into a graduate program. Students admitted to an approved transition program may be allowed to take and apply more than twelve hours of graduate credit. Senior permission is given for one quarter only. Students in an approved graduate transition program are subject to credit hour restrictions approved for the transition program.

Special Status

Students in special graduate status are not considered to be admitted into the School of Graduate Studies.

Students who have a bachelor’s degree may enroll in certain workshop courses for graduate credit without being admitted to the graduate school. Should students be accepted into degree status at a later date, a maximum of 12 quarter hours of graduate workshop credit can be applied with program approval toward degree requirements (see Retroactive Graduate Credit, page 44 of this catalog, for additional information).

Transient Status

Students actively pursuing a graduate program at another college or university who wish to earn credits for transfer to that institution may be admitted for one quarter. Transient students will normally not be required to submit official transcripts. Students must complete the admission application (Apply Online or Download a PDF application) and request the dean of their graduate school to complete the Wright State transient form indicating they are in good standing.

Admission Requirements

1. Complete an application form.(Apply Online or Download a PDF application)
2. Pay a nonrefundable application fee.
3. Have an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
4. Request all colleges/universities previously attended to send one official transcript directly to the School of Graduate Studies. Official transcripts are required for all previous undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) college work. If courses from one university or college appear on another university's or college's transcript, the applicant is still required to submit an official transcript from the university or college where the course was taken. (Note: Students applying for nondegree status need only submit an official transcript reflecting the award of a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Nondegree applicants having completed graduate work should also submit official transcripts reflecting that work.)
5. Meet the minimum requirements for the appropriate admission statuses as follows: Regular Status Admission into regular status requires an overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 (based on a 4.0 grading system) or an overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5, but with a 3.0 or better for the last 90 quarter hours (60 semester hours) earned toward the undergraduate degree. Admission into this status also requires approval by a degree program.
   Conditional Status
   Students are admitted in this status when their undergraduate grade point average is less than 2.7 but at least 2.5 (based on a 4.0 grading system) or have an undergraduate grade point average of less than 2.5 but above 2.3 if the grades in the last half of undergraduate work constitute 2.7 or better. Admission into this status also requires approval by a degree program. Students having master’s degrees from regionally accredited institutions may be admitted into Wright State graduate degree programs regardless of their undergraduate grade point averages provided the appropriate academic departments or programs recommend them for admission.
   Nondegree Status
   To be admitted into nondegree status, a student must have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
   Certification/Licensure Status
   This status requires a student to have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.5.
   
6. Students who have taken graduate courses prior to seeking graduate admission to
   Wright State University must have an overall graduate grade point average of 3.0 or better and must be in good standing (not holding probationary, conditional, or equivalent status) at all previously attended colleges or universities.
   
7. Submit admission test scores, if applicable. (See the following section for test requirements.)
   
8. To be a degree-seeking student, a candidate must be admitted to a department and college/school for an identified program of study, as well as be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies.
9. For international student requirements, see the International Students section on the following page.
   
10. Admission by Petition An applicant who does not meet minimum requirements for admission, who has been dismissed from a program, or who has been denied admission to a program may submit a petition to the School of Graduate Studies for review. The petition form may be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies. The petition must contain supporting documentation of why any requirement should be waived. Submission of test grades, such as the Graduate Record Examinations and/or the Miller Analogies Test, may be required by the applicant’s prospective graduate program in instances where the applicant has a grade point average below the minimum required for admission. Applicants should contact their graduate program officer for further details. The petition is submitted for review to the college/school petitions committee. The petition with the committee’s recommendation is then reviewed by the dean of the School of Graduate Studies, who will make the decision.

Admission Test Requirements

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

Each applicant for admission to the Master of Business Administration and Master of Accountancy programs, regardless of previous academic record, must submit satisfactory scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test before admission will be considered. The GMAT is available year-round as a computer-based test at noted GMAT test centers. Preregistration directly with the Educational Testing Service is required. Registration information may be obtained from the University College, the graduate school, or the testing service.

Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

Applicants for admission to the College of Education and Human Services must submit satisfactory scores on either the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Information concerning the MAT may be obtained from the University College or the School of Graduate Studies.

Students applying to Teacher Education, Educational Leadership, and Health, Physical Education, and Recreation degree programs need not take the GRE or MAT if their cumulative undergraduate GPA for all undergraduate work completed at regionally accredited universities/colleges is at least a 3.0. Students applying to Human Services degree programs need not take the GRE or MAT if their cumulative undergraduate GPA is at lease a 3.3. (The PRAXIS test will not be waived for students applying to programs requiring this test.)

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) 

Applicants to Ph.D. programs and to graduate programs in computer science, computer engineering, human factors and industrial/organizational psychology, pharmacology and toxicology, social and applied economics, and certain other programs under particular circumstances, may be required to submit scores on the aptitude and advanced portions of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). The GRE consists of two parts: the general test, which contains verbal, quantitative, and analytical portions, and the subject tests, which assess achievement in the student’s major field. Students will be advised by the School of Graduate Studies when the GRE is required as an additional admission requirement.

Graduate Record Examinations, for which fees are charged, are available as follows: General Test—year-round computer-based testing at designated GRE test centers; Subject Test—scheduled throughout the United States at designated GRE test centers in April, November, and December. Preregistration directly with the Educational Testing Service is required. Information and registration forms may be obtained from the University College, the graduate school, or the testing service.

Applicants will be advised concerning GRE test requirements following a review of their admission files.

Students with visual or upper extremity impairments who wish to take the GRE should follow the directions outlined in the GRE brochure, which is available in the University College, from the graduate school, or directly from the testing service.  

Readmission

A student or applicant who falls into one of these categories must reapply for admission:

1. An applicant who has previously been admitted to the university but did not enroll for the quarter admitted (have file updated).
2. A graduate student at Wright State who was accepted for one degree program and wishes to apply for another program or degree.
3. A graduate student who has not completed at least one course in four consecutive quarters. The term “course” includes formal courses, independent study, thesis research, continuing registration, etc.
4. A graduate student who has completed the degree requirements for which he or she was originally admitted and wants to take additional graduate courses as a nondegree student or start a new degree program.

Admission of Students with Three Year Bachelor's Degrees

Admission to graduate school is normally predicated on completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree. Students seeking admission into graduate status at Wright State who have earned a three-year bachelor’s degree may not be eligible to be admitted. In order to be eligible for admission, the students’ three-year programs must be equivalent to and meet the standards of regionally accredited four-year degree programs in the United States. The determination of equivalency will be made by International Admissions (UCIE) and/or the School of Graduate Studies. Students with three-year degrees that are not equivalent to regionally accredited four-year degrees may be eligible for admission if the students have earned a master’s degree prior to coming to Wright State or completed a minimum of 45 hours of additional course work. The 45 hours should consist of either general education courses or program specific courses as determined by a graduate program or the School of Graduate Studies. Students may be required to take English 101 and 102 as part of or in addition to the 45 hours if it is determined by a program or the School of Graduate Studies that they have difficulty with the English language and/or have not met the requirements of freshman English. Students may be referred to the Department of English Language and Literatures for diagnostic testing for English deficiencies.

International Students

Wright State welcomes applications from qualified international students.(Apply Online or Download a PDF application) Approximately 600 students on F-1 and J-1 student visas currently attend the university. Application materials may be requested from the University Center for International Education (UCIE). Applications for admission must be completed six months prior to the quarter in which the applicant wishes to begin studies at Wright State; applications for fall quarter must be completed by the end of March.

Graduate international applicants are expected to meet the following criteria for admission:

1. Graduate applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent, similar or equal to a degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, from
   a recognized college, university, or other institution of higher learning. Only an official transcript, translated into English, will be accepted as evidence of academic preparation. If the credentials cannot be evaluated by the Office of International Admissions, the applicant will be required to submit the credentials to an evaluation service and pay the cost of the evaluation.
2. All international applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English. If the applicant’s native language is not English, a minimum score of 550 paper based or ibt 79/120 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required. Several departments or programs have set higher requirements for English proficiency. In addition, international students may be required by their academic advisors to take a university-administered English writing placement test. Students failing this test may be required to take supplemental on-campus classes to strengthen their English skills. Students who have earned a degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university are exempted from the TOEFL requirement.
3. Since the only type of internal financial assistance available to international graduate students is in the form of graduate assistantships and academic scholarships, the university must be assured that all international applicants have adequate financial resources to attend Wright State. The financial statement form must be accompanied by an affidavit of support and a bank statement provided by the sponsor, indicating the amount of money available to the applicant for the purpose of studying at Wright State University. International students applying for a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) are required to take the Test of Spoken English (TSE) before they can be assigned to classroom, laboratory, or tutor duties. International GTA applicants will be asked to take the university’s Oral Proficiency Test (OPT) if their TSE scores are older than one year. Those with current TSE scores between 55–60 (250–300 on the OPT) will be allowed to teach in the classroom, laboratory, or other instructional settings; those with current TSE scores between 45–50 (210–249 on the OPT) will be allowed to teach in the classroom, laboratory, or other instructional settings on the condition that they enroll concurrently in English 095, a course designed to help their language, interpersonal, and public speaking skills. International graduate students who do not have TSE scores prior to their arrival on campus may take the OPT at Wright State when they apply for a GTA.
   Those applicants financing their own education from personal funds must also submit an official bank statement together with the financial statement. Wright State University reserves the right to require prepayment equivalent to one year’s expenses.
4. Form I-20 will be issued by the UCIE advisor when the applicant has met the above requirements and has been admitted to the university.
5. All admitted international students are required to purchase and maintain Wright State’s student health insurance for themselves and their dependents during their studies.

Registration

Students must be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies in order to register for and earn graduate credit. Students granted special status may also earn graduate credit but only in workshop courses.

Wright State is on the quarter system. The academic year is divided into three quarters (fall, winter, and spring) and a summer session (two five-week terms and one 10-week term). Registration dates are announced in the quarterly class schedule.

Registration Procedures

Initial Registration

Upon completion of the admission requirements and acceptance by the School of Graduate Studies, students are authorized to register.

Students in the following programs must meet additional requirements before registration will be authorized:

1. Students admitted to the biomedical sciences Ph.D. program will be given registration instructions during the fall quarter program orientation period.
2. Students admitted to the geological sciences program will receive their registration instructions at the orientation meeting in the geological sciences department prior to fall quarter.
3. Students admitted to the M.B.A. program and the M.S. program in social and applied economics are advised in their admission letter to contact an advisor for an appoint-ment in order to complete a program of study form. After this advising session, the advisor will authorize students to register.
4. Students in biological sciences, biomedical sciences, microbiology and immunology, pharmacology and toxicology, and physiology and biophysics will not be able to register without first meeting with an academic advisor. Students should contact the academic program for an appointment to meet with an advisor.

Registration must be completed by the date indicated in the quarterly class schedule. Students who register early will be mailed fee statements.

Registration will not be accepted after the first week of the quarter unless the department chair or dean of the college or school approves the late registration. Students who register with permission after the 14th day of the term will be charged a late registration fee. Fees must be paid by the date indicated in the quarterly class schedule. No students may be admitted to classes for which they have not been properly registered.

Telephone Registration

After new students have met with their advisor, they are ready to register for classes. Registration information and dates are announced in the quarterly schedule of classes. Once students have advisor approval (if required), they may register through the Raider Express Telephone System using a touch-tone phone or in person at the windows of the Office of the Registrar. Students in the School of Professional Psychology, Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program, or Department of Theatre Arts may not use Raider Express for registration. Students must register in person in these cases.

Continuing students should check the quarterly class schedule or their registration information on WINGS Express for the specific date they may begin to register.

Paying Fees

Students will find fee payment information and deadlines in the quarterly class schedule
and online. Students who register during the early registration period and online but do not pay the fees by the required due date may have their registration canceled in order to make classroom space available to other students. Mailed payments received after the deadline will
be returned.

Registrations will not be canceled for students who register during the open registration period but do not pay their fees on time. These students will be responsible for payment of fees and are subject to deadline dates as stated in the quarterly class schedule for dropping and receiving refunds.

Students may pay fees by check or money order, made payable to Wright State University, and sent to the Office of the Bursar. Students may also use Discover, MasterCard, or Visa credit cards to charge most fees paid to the university. In addition, students have the option of using the Student Installment Payment Plan (SIPP) to spread quarterly fees for tuition, insurance, and university housing (if applicable) over a three-month period.

Refunds

A current schedule of refund dates and other information about refunds can be found in the quarterly class schedule, online, and in the Office of the Registrar.

Subsequent Registration

Students who have registered for graduate classes at Wright State University for any of the four preceding quarters will be authorized to register for the current quarter. Students who have not registered during the preceding year must reapply to the School of Graduate Studies to have their files updated.

Auditing Courses

If class space permits, students admitted to the School of Graduate Studies may audit a course with written approval from the instructor before they enroll. The amount of participation required of auditing students is left to the discretion of the instructor, but it cannot exceed that required of regular students. Audited courses may not be used to establish full-time status, and students may not change their registration from audit to credit or from credit to audit after the first week of class.

Change in Courses

A change in registration is made through WINGS Express or submitting a drop and add form to the Office of the Registrar. Students should refer to the quarterly class schedule for specific deadlines for dropping courses and receiving refunds. The deadline for adding classes is the end of the first week of classes. There is no fee for adding courses, although instructional and general fees are charged where applicable. A late registration fee will be assessed for students who register or add classes on or after the 15th day of the term.

Withdrawal from Courses

Students may drop a course without a grade of W appearing on their transcript if the course is dropped by the date specified in the quarterly class schedule. Students should refer to the quarterly class schedule for deadline dates for dropping a class or withdrawing. A student who stops attending a course and does not officially withdraw will receive a grade of F or X at the instructor’s discretion. The X grade remains on the student’s permanent record and is computed in the grade point average as an F.

Course Repeat

Students may repeat once any graduate course previously taken for credit in which the grade received was below a B. Only the hours and grade points earned from the repeated course will be included in the computation of the grade point average and in meeting degree requirements.

Students should indicate that they are repeating a course when registering. Repeats are permitted only twice in any master’s degree program.

Continuing Registration

A student’s registration each quarter should reflect the level of academic participation in university life and anticipated progress toward the degree. This is particularly true of students involved in thesis, dissertation, and special project research. Academic units may set minimum registration requirements for continuing and readmitted students which represent the unit’s supervision of those students’ efforts to complete degree requirements.

Students must be registered for at least one hour of graduate credit as designated by the department during the quarter in which the successful defense of a thesis or dissertation is accomplished.

Any exception must be approved by the student’s advisor, department chair, and the dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

School of Graduate Studies
E344 Student Union
Voice: (937) 775-2976
Fax: (937) 775-2453
E-mail: wsugrad@wright.edu

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