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Graduate School Admission Policy for Degree-seeking Students
Responsible Official: Provost
Responsible Office: Graduate School, College
of Graduate and Continuing Studies
Policy Purpose
This policy specifies the admission process for degree-seeking graduate students to East
Tennessee State University.
Policy Statement
This policy applies only to prospective students who are applying as a part-time or full-time
degree-seeking graduate student.
The Graduate School will consider a prospective student’s completed application and required
supporting documentation for admission as a degree-seeking graduate student to East
Tennessee State University (ETSU). The program will make an admission recommendation to the
Dean of the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School will make the final decision. The
Graduate School will issue a written Notice of Decision. A prospective student may be admitted,
denied, or waitlisted. Students will be notified of the specific program and term to which they are
admitted.
ETSU may charge a one-time non-refundable application fee.
I. Graduate Admissions Requirements.
A. Graduate School Requirements.
The Graduate School will consider a prospective graduate student for admission as a
degree-seeking graduate student at ETSU, if prior to the Application Deadline the
individual:
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1. submits a complete admission application;
2. pays the application fee;
3. submits unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended,
including a transcript that reflects the individual has earned a bachelor’s
degree from a regionally accredited institution;
4. has a GPA of:
- International Applicants: 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
- US Citizens or US Residents: 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
In addition to the requirements listed above, International Applicants must also meet the
requirements listed in Section II of this policy.
Prospective students who do not hold a bachelor’s, but are currently enrolled in or are
graduates of an accredited U.S. college of medicine or pharmacy may be admitted for
graduate coursework without a bachelor’s degree at the discretion of the Dean of the
Graduate School.
B. Program Specific Admission Requirements.
Individual graduate programs may have additional admissions requirements and/or
different minimum admission standards than the Graduate School admission standards,
including but not limited to higher GPA requirements, which a prospective student must
meet to be admitted to the program. These requirements are outlined in the graduate
catalogue. Certain programs may have limited enrollment capacity.
C. Official Transcript Requirement.
Students must submit Official Transcripts, degree certificates, and English translations of
Official Transcripts to the Graduate School following the offer of admission. These
documents must be received no later than the last day of the first semester of enrollment.
If Official Transcripts are not received, the student will be dismissed from the Graduate
School and the program. In rare circumstances, including but not limited to the closure of
an institution previously attended by the applicant, the Dean of the Graduate School at
their discretion may approve alternative verification.
II. International Applicants Additional Requirements.
International Applicants must meet the requirements listed in Section I of this policy and must
also:
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A. Provide a certified translation of unofficial transcripts or attested university records
(including proof of all degrees received) if the transcripts are not in English; notarized
copies and third-party attestations are not acceptable. Individual year marksheets from
Indian institutions are required; summary marksheets will not suffice.
B. Have the minimum equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree with at least a “B” average
based on the home country’s grading scale as approved by the Graduate Council and
published by the Graduate School on its admissions website. European students with
three-year Bologna bachelor’s degrees and Indian students with three-year bachelor’s
degrees from Indian universities ranked A (3.01- 4.0) through the National Assessment
and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation process will be considered to have
equivalent four-year degrees.
C. Provide proof of English proficiency in one of the manners approved by the Graduate
Council and published by the Graduate School on its admissions website.
III. Dual Graduate Degree Program Admission.
A student may pursue two graduate programs simultaneously as follows:
1. Two master’s programs;
2. A master’s program and a graduate certificate program;
3. A doctoral program and a graduate certificate program; or
4. A doctoral program and a master’s program.
The student must submit an application to the second program for a specified start term. Prior
to admission to the second program, approval must be granted by the graduate program
coordinator in each program and by the Dean of the Graduate School. All admission and program
requirements of both programs and the Graduate School, including Matriculation Limits, must
be met.
The Dean of the Graduate School at their discretion can review and approve requests for other
combinations of dual admission.
IV. Change of Program or Concentration.
Students seeking to change from one graduate program to another must formally apply to the
new graduate program. Students are responsible for ensuring that all admissions materials
required by the new program are received by the Graduate School prior to any program
deadlines. Students must resign from the program in which they are currently enrolled prior to
accepting admission into the new program.
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If a program does not allow a change in concentration, the student must submit an application
to the program and follow all requirements for admission. If a program does permit a change in
concentration, the student follows the program’s requirements for change in concentration.
V. Admission of ETSU Faculty Members as Degree-Seeking Graduate Students.
Tenure track, clinical faculty, or administrative staff may be admitted to a graduate program at
ETSU as a degree-seeking or non-degree seeking student and may retain graduate faculty status.
Before offering admission into a graduate program as a degree-seeking student, the Dean of the
Graduate School will review any potential conflicts of interest with the dean, department chair
or supervisor of the faculty or staff home unit and as necessary with the dean of the college of
the program in which the student plans to enroll. Faculty may maintain graduate faculty status if
the conflict is deemed insignificant to affect the student and faculty roles. If there is the likelihood
of a conflict of interest, graduate faculty status may be placed on hold while the graduate faculty
member is matriculating in a graduate program. Significant potential for conflicts of interest are
grounds to deny admission.
VI. Readmission for Inactivity.
Any individual who was previously admitted as an ETSU graduate student and who has not
actively taken courses in a graduate program for more than two regular terms, excluding summer
terms, up to the Matriculation Limits, may apply for readmission. The individual will file a
Readmission Form with the Graduate School and if applicable, submit official transcripts for any
courses taken at a higher education institution during their absence from ETSU. The program
coordinator and the Dean of the Graduate School or designee must approve the request.
VII. Application Materials.
All application materials become the property of the university and will not be forwarded or
returned.
VIII. Application Fee.
ETSU does not waive the application fee except in these circumstances:
A. McNair Scholars receive an application fee waiver;
B. A currently enrolled ETSU graduate student seeking admission to an additional graduate
degree or certificate program; and
C. On occasion, the Graduate School may provide a limited fee waiver as part of a special
promotion at the discretion of the Dean of the Graduate School.
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IX. Accreditation.
Degrees from non-accredited institutions and from foreign institutions will be evaluated on an
individual basis at the discretion of the Dean of the Graduate School.
X. Accommodations.
To the extent possible and subject to the approval of the Program Coordinator, the Dean of the
Graduate School or their designee may grant accommodations and other academic adjustments
when necessary.
XI. Discrimination.
In accordance with ETSU’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment, ETSU does not discriminate
against applicants for admission on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran,
genetic information, or any other legally protected class.
XII. Appeals.
The appeals process is governed by the Graduate School Admission Appeals Policy. If a
prospective student is denied admission to ETSU, the individual may qualify to file an appeal as
indicated in the Graduate School Admission Appeals Policy. The written Notification of Decision
will detail the process by which the prospective student may appeal the decision, if applicable.
XIII. Residency.
A prospective student’s classification as in-state or out-of-state for residency purposes will be
determined pursuant to ETSU policies, ETSU regulations, federal, and state law.
Authority:
Tennessee Code 49-7-10 Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008 Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Non-discrimination on the Basis of Handicap); Tennessee Code
Annotated, Section 49-6-1009, amended 2019.
Defined Terms
A defined term has a special meaning within the context of this policy
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Application
Deadline
International
Applicant
Notice of Decision
Official Transcript
Matriculation
Limits
Unless a graduate program has earlier admission deadlines or admits for
a single term as stated in the catalog, admission deadlines are those
published on the Graduate School admission website.
Any individual who applies to ETSU who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S.
permanent resident.
A written communication from the Graduate School to a prospective
student notifying of admission or denial to ETSU.
A transcript that is sent directly from the issuing institution to the ETSU
Graduate School and is sent either electronically or in a sealed envelope.
Time limit as defined by the Graduate School Policy on Graduate Degree
and Certificate Requirements
Policy History
Effective Date:
Revision Date:
Procedures
All prospective Degree-seeking Graduate Students should review the Graduate School
Admissions website before applying to ETSU. The procedures for the application and review
process related to this policy are as follows:
I. Application to Master’s Degree Program.
A. Procedure for Applying to ETSU.
The procedure for a prospective student to apply to ETSU under this section is as follows:
1. Submit a completed admission application;
2. Pay the application fee;
3. Submit unofficial transcript(s) for all higher education institutions previously
attended; and
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4. Submit additional required document as indicated under the policy or as
required by the applicable program.
B. Procedure for Review of Application.
If prior to the required Application Deadline, a prospective student has: (1) submitted a
completed admission application; (2) paid the application fee (if required); (3) submitted
unofficial transcript(s) for all higher education institutions previously attended; and (4)
submitted supporting documentation required by this policy or the applicable program,
a graduate specialist will review the application and required documentation to
determine if the minimum requirements have been met. The graduate specialist will refer
all applications that meet the minimum requirements to the program for review. The
program will make an admission recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School.
C. Procedure for Notification of Decision.
The Graduate School sends the Notification of Decision to the prospective student.
II. Application to a Graduate Certificate Program.
A. Procedure for Applying to ETSU.
The procedure for a prospective student to apply to ETSU under this section is as follows:
1. Submit a completed admission application;
2. Pay the application fee;
3. Submit an unofficial transcript(s);
4. Submit additional required document as indicated under the policy or as
required by the applicable program.
B. Procedure for Review of Application.
If prior to the required Application Deadline, a prospective student has: (1) submitted a
completed admission application; (2) paid the application fee (if required); (3) submitted
unofficial transcript(s) for all higher education institutions previously attended; and (4)
submitted supporting documentation required by this policy or the applicable program,
a graduate specialist will review the application and required documentation to
determine if the minimum requirements have been met. The graduate specialist will refer
all applications that meet the minimum requirements to the program for review. The
program will make an admission recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School.
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C. Procedure for Notification of Decision.
The Graduate School sends the Notification of Decision to the prospective student.
III. Application to an Educational Specialist Degree Program.
A. Procedure for Applying to ETSU.
The procedure for a prospective student to apply to ETSU under this section is as follows:
1. Submit a completed admission application;
2. Pay the application fee;
3. Submit unofficial transcript(s);
4. Submit a photocopy of the teaching certificate;
5. Submit four (4) letters of recommendation; and
6. Submit additional required document as indicated under the policy or as
required by the applicable program.
B. Procedure for Review of Application.
If prior to the required Application Deadline, a prospective student has: (1) submitted a
completed admission application; (2) paid the application fee (if required); (3) submitted
unofficial transcript(s) for all higher education institutions previously attended; (4)
submitted a photocopy of the teaching certificate; (5) submitted four (4) letters of
recommendation; and (6) submitted supporting documentation required by this policy or
the applicable program, a graduate specialist will review the application and required
documentation to determine if the minimum requirements have been met. The graduate
specialist will refer all applications that meet the minimum requirements to the program
for review. The program will make an admission recommendation to the Dean of the
Graduate School.
C. Procedure for Notification of Decision.
The Graduate School sends the Notification of Decision to the prospective student.
IV. Application to a Doctoral Program.
A. Procedure for Applying to ETSU.
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The procedure for a prospective student to apply to ETSU under this section is as follows:
1. Submit a completed admission application;
2. Pay the application fee;
3. Submit unofficial transcript(s);
4. Submit three letters of recommendation; and
5. Submit additional required document as indicated under the policy or as
required by the applicable program.
B. Procedure for Review of Application.
If prior to the required Application Deadline, a prospective student has: (1) submitted a
completed admission application; (2) paid the application fee (if required); (3) submitted
unofficial transcript(s) for all higher education institutions previously attended; (4) three
(3) letters of recommendation; and (5) submitted supporting documentation required by
this policy or the applicable program, a graduate specialist will review the application and
required documentation to determine if the minimum requirements have been met. The
graduate specialist will refer all applications that meet the minimum requirements to the
program for review. The program will make an admission recommendation to the Dean
of the Graduate School.
C. Procedure for Notification of Decision.
The Graduate School sends the Notification of Decision to the prospective student.
V. Change of Graduate Program.
The procedure for changing a graduate program is as follows:
A. submit an application to the new program; and
B. follow all requirements outlined in the Graduate Admissions Policy.
Procedure History
Effective Date:
Revision Date:
Related Form(s)
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Scope and Applicability
Primary: Academic
Secondary: Students
