Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
International Student Applications
Reserve Graduate Credit
Offer of Admission to the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs
Admissions Classifications
Change of Program
Continuous Enrollment
Reapplication
Time Limitations
Professional Programs
Admission of Veterans
Foreign Language
Admission Requirements
All applicants to individual graduate programs at JMU must
first satisfy the general application requirements of the College of Graduate
and Professional Programs. These are:
§ Graduation from a regionally accredited
college or university.
§ Satisfactory grade point average.
§ Satisfactory test scores from an
appropriate, national standardized test, such as the Graduate Record
Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Miller Analogy
Test (MAT). Consult the individual programs for specific entry test
requirements.
§ Official transcripts from all colleges or
universities attended.
Once these requirements are
met, each student’s application materials are then sent to the individual
graduate program. An application is not considered complete until all required
credentials and supporting documents have been received by the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs. Prospective students are strongly
encouraged to submit their applications online. Students should be aware that
applications submitted through the mail may take longer to process. Applications
that are not completed within 90 days of initial receipt will not be processed.
Additional application
materials may be required by individual graduate programs. In accordance with
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools guidelines, graduate programs
must establish both qualitative and quantitative requirements that result in
the admission of students whose educational preparation indicates the potential
for a high level of performance. Admission procedures include the requirement
that an applicant submit, as part of the formal application process,
evaluations by professionals in the field as to the readiness of an applicant
for graduate work, and, if appropriate, credential evaluations. Standardized
test admission criteria for each graduate program are established by the
faculty responsible for instruction in that program. Contact the program
directly or see the Web site for specific requirements.
General Application Procedures
While there are two methods for applying to graduate study at
James Madison University, prospective students are strongly encouraged to
submit their applications online through the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs Web site at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/prospective/. Alternatively,
students may download the application form from the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs Web site at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/prospective/ or
acquire an application at the office and submit the application by mail.
JMU does not allow students to apply to more than one
graduate program per application form. Information regarding financial aid may
be accessed online at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/finassist.shtml
or http://www.jmu.edu/finaid. Class
schedules are available online at http://www.jmu.edu/registrar.
The current graduate catalog
may be purchased from the JMU Bookstore in Warren Hall, or accessed online
through the College of Graduate and Professional Programs Web site at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/gradcatalog/04.
Submitting Applications Online
Online submission of applications is preferred by the College
of Graduate and Professional Programs. Apply online through the CGOP Web site
at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/prospective/.
The following information must be submitted online:
§ Official graduate application form
§ $55 nonrefundable fee1
The following information should be mailed to the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs:
§ Official transcripts sent directly from all
previously attended institutions.
§ The official standardized tests scores
(GRE, GMAT, etc.), sent directly from the testing center.
Transcripts and test scores should be mailed to:
College of Graduate and Professional
Programs, MSC 6702
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
All program-specific requirements should be mailed in a
separate envelope directly to the graduate program to which application is
being made. The envelope containing these additional materials should be
clearly marked “Graduate Application Materials.” Many graduate programs have
specific deadlines for application review: Consult the specific academic
program.
Submitting Applications
through the Mail
To expedite processing of mail-in applications, the following
materials should be submitted (preferably in one large envelope) from the
applicant directly to the College of Graduate and Professional Programs:
§ Official graduate application form
§ $55 nonrefundable fee1
§ Official transcripts sent directly from all
previously attended institutions2
The official standardized tests scores (GRE, GMAT, etc.) must
be sent directly from the testing center.
Applications should be mailed to:
College of Graduate and
Professional Programs, MSC 6702
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
All program-specific
requirements should be mailed in a separate envelope directly to the graduate
program to which application is being made. The envelope containing these additional
materials should be clearly marked “Graduate Application Materials.” Many
graduate programs have specific deadlines for application review: Consult the
specific academic program.
Application Deadlines
The College of Graduate and Professional Programs has a
rolling admission policy. However, individual graduate programs may have
different deadlines. Refer to specific academic programs for details. If no
deadlines are given by academic units, applications should be submitted by the
following dates for the best opportunity of admission.
Summer session – April 1
Spring semester – November 1
Fall semester – July 1
International Student Applications
JMU encourages applications
for graduate study from qualified international students. In order for the university
to qualify with the U.S. government as an educational institution for
international students, certain criteria must be met.
All initial inquiries for
international admissions must be conducted through the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs. Correspondence with particular departments or program
coordinators is strongly discouraged. Applicants residing outside the United
States must allow 12 months between application for admission and the requested
enrollment semester.
In addition to the general
application requirements of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs,
all international students applying for admission to a graduate program must:
§ Have the necessary ability and educational
background to benefit from experiences in this institution.
§
Demonstrate proficiency in English sufficient to carry
a full program of graduate study through submission of a satisfactory score on
the Test of English as a Foreign Language TOEFL). Examples of acceptable scores
include 570 on the paper-based version and 230 on the computer-based version.
For more information, visit http://www.toefl.org.
§ Have all funds necessary for expenses
during the entire period of the student’s stay without resorting to employment
while in the United States. A form for this purpose is accessible at:
http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/prosective/international.shtml. Although the
university has no financial assistance reserved exclusively for international
students, after being enrolled for at least one full semester international
students are permitted to compete for financial aid with other graduate
students.
§ Have official transcripts sent directly to
the College of Graduate and Professional Programs from the accredited institution
granting the baccalaureate degree. An external evaluation of the academic
record must be submitted to ensure that it is comparable to a U.S.
baccalaureate degree. External evaluators are listed online at:
http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/prospective/international.shtml.
§ Submit an application and $55 nonrefundable
application fee (in U.S. dollars) six months in advance of the intended term of
entry if transferring from another college or university in the United States
or after completing a baccalaureate degree in a U.S. institution. If in the
United States attending or having completed a degree from a U.S. college or
university, an International Student Adviser Form must be completed by that
institution and submitted with the application. Students should request the
form from Dr. Elizabeth T. Puckett.
§ Enter the United States on a valid student
or other visa.
For further information regarding international student
applications, contact:
Dr. Elizabeth T. Puckett,
Director
International Graduate Admissions, College of Graduate and
Professional Programs, MSC 6702
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
(540) 568-7065
pucketet@jmu.edu
Requests for information concerning federal regulations, visa
and health should be directed to:
Director, Office of
International Student and Faculty Programs, MSC 8003
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
http://www.jmu.edu/international/intlstudents/
Reserve Graduate Credit
During their senior year at
James Madison University, undergraduate students who have been admitted into a
JMU graduate program may take up to nine hours of graduate course work for
reserve graduate credit. Graduate credit earned prior to completion of an
undergraduate degree is held in reserve to be applied later toward the graduate
degree. These graduate credits cannot be used as part of the student’s
undergraduate degree.
Written permission to seek
reserve graduate credit must be obtained from the dean of the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs prior to enrollment in the graduate courses.
Forms are available in the College of Graduate and Professional Programs office
or online at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop. It is the student’s responsibility to
obtain all required signatures. Students enrolled in five-year programs must
abide by the policies governing reserve graduate credit.
Approval for reserve graduate
credit applies only to graduate work at James Madison University.
Offer of Admission to the College
of Graduate and Professional Programs
The dean of the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs will send official written offers of
admission to applicants who have been accepted. This letter specifies the
effective date of admission (which normally coincides with the semester
requested on the application), the classification of admission being offered
(conditional or unconditional) and the name of the faculty adviser assigned to
the applicant. After being accepted into a graduate program, students can defer
enrollment only with the written approval of the graduate coordinator of their
academic program and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs. In no circumstances may the deferral be for more than one calendar
year.
The applicant must send a
written acceptance or rejection of the admission offer to the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs as soon as a decision on acceptance is made,
but no later than the deadline specified by the graduate program. Refer to
individual graduate programs for deadline dates. This allows the specific
program to invite other candidates. A student who enrolls at another
institution is considered to have rejected the university’s offer of admission.
An applicant who has received an offer of admission but who has not responded
by the deadline is considered to have rejected the university’s offer of
admission and must submit a new application and fee to be reconsidered for
admission at a later date.
Admissions Classifications
Applicants may be admitted to
the College of Graduate and Professional Programs under three classifications:
unconditional, conditional or provisional admission.
Unconditional Admission
Unconditional admission is
admission to a graduate program without reservation and indicates that
applicants have met all the entry criteria of the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs and the specific graduate programs.
Conditional Admission
Conditional admission
indicates that applicants have met all the entry criteria of the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs, but the graduate program has identified
specific conditions that must be met before the applicant attains unconditional
admission status.
Provisions of conditional
acceptance are usually determined at the programmatic level and can only be
removed or modified at the same level. After the conditions have been addressed
students may make a written request to their adviser, who decides if the
conditions have been met. The adviser then contacts the dean of the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs indicating the change of status. While
students are encouraged to attain unconditional acceptance as soon as possible,
some programmatic conditions often cannot be completed until just before
graduation, e.g., teacher licensure and competency in a foreign language or
languages. Master’s and Educational Specialist students have a maximum of six years
and doctoral students have a maximum of eight years to complete their programs.
All students attain unconditional status prior to program completion.
Provisional Admission
Students
who have not fully met the requirements of the program or department to which
admission is sought may be granted admission under a provisional status as
prospective candidates for a degree. Such students must have as their initial
objective the removal of provisional conditions to achieve advancement to
unconditional status. A student may be admitted to a graduate program under
provisional status if
§ the
previous academic record is weak,
§ prerequisite
course work is insufficient, or
§ the
applicant has majored in another field and has not yet clearly demonstrated
abilities in the proposed new field.
Provisional admission is a probationary status; the
requirements for advancement to unconditional status are specified in each
student’s provisional admission letter. To change from provisional to regular
status, students must submit a written request to their major adviser. The
adviser then contacts the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs indicating the change of status.
Approval for graduate credit
earned while enrolled in a provisional status will be determined by the dean of
the College of Graduate and Professional Programs upon recommendation of the
appropriate academic unit head. No more than nine hours of graduate credit
taken in this status may be applied to the degree program upon the
recommendation of the academic unit head and approval of the dean of the
College of Graduate and Professional Programs. Regulations concerning
unsatisfactory progress apply to this classification. (See Unsatisfactory
Progress.)
Change of Program
Admission to CGOP and a
graduate program does not entitle a student to transfer to a program in another
academic unit.
Any student wishing to change
graduate programs must submit a new application for admission, fee and any
updated standardized test scores to the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs. The student is responsible for meeting all academic unit requirements
for the desired program.
Continuous Enrollment
All students enrolled in
graduate degree programs must enroll each regular semester for a minimum of one
graduate credit hour. This registration must continue with no breaks from
enrollment in the first graduate program course to graduation. This policy does
not include summer sessions.
It is preferable that students
enroll in courses relevant to their graduate program to facilitate timely
completion. If it is not possible to do so, however, the College of Graduate
and Professional Programs has established a one-credit Continuous Enrollment
course, GRAD 597. The tuition for this course is $50.00. No grade will be
assigned for this course. For more information, refer to Page 17.
Reapplication
Students who are accepted but
who cannot enroll at the time of the offer and wish to reapply at a later date
must complete a new application form and pay all fees as stated in the
application process.
Time
Limitations
Master’s and Educational Specialist Students
Master’s and educational
specialist students must complete all degree requirements within six years.
Academic work, including transfer credits taken before enrollment in the
graduate program, that was completed more than six years before the date at
which the master’s or educational specialist degree is awarded may not be
used to satisfy the degree requirements. Students may submit a written petition
through their adviser, graduate program coordinator, and academic unit head to
the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs to receive
extensions of time in the event of extenuating circumstances. Such requests
must be received at least one month prior to the end of the student’s original
six-year time limit.
A student whose status is
deactivated, but later is reactivated through reapplication to the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs, may not count the six-year time limit as
beginning on the date of reactivation.
Doctoral Students
Doctoral students must complete
all degree requirements within eight years. Academic work, including transfer
credits taken before enrollment in the graduate program, that was completed
more than eight years before the date at which the doctoral degree is awarded
may not be used to satisfy the degree requirements. Students may submit a
written petition through their adviser, graduate program coordinator, and
academic unit head to the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs to receive extensions of time in the event of extenuating
circumstances. Such requests must be received at least one month prior to the
end of the student’s original eight-year time limit.
A student whose status is
deactivated, but later is reactivated through reapplication to the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs, may not count the eight-year time limit as
beginning on the date of reactivation.
Professional Programs
(formerly
Continuing Education)
The Professional Programs unit of the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs administers credit courses, certificate programs and
noncredit continuing education programs.
Credit courses are offered off campus when there is demand
and sufficient enrollment to support the course. Off-campus credit courses
feature the same academic rigor as courses available on campus. Special
customized training is provided when requested by community or institutional
groups.
Professional Programs offers
only courses and programs existing in the university. Non-credit programs
follow national guidelines for recording Continuing Education Units. The
university provides resources and services in support of outreach and service
programs and such programs are evaluated in the same manner as on-campus
courses. Academic credit is not awarded for work taken on a non-credit basis.
Non-Degree Seeking Student Enrollment
The College of Graduate and
Professional Programs administers non-degree seeking student enrollment at JMU.
Non-degree seeking students must re-enroll each semester at JMU and may take up
to 11 credit hours per semester. Non-degree seeking students who have not
completed a baccalaureate degree may not earn more than 18 credit hours as a
non-degree student.
Post-baccalaureate or Post-master’s Students
Graduates of accredited
institutions who wish to take courses, but do not wish to pursue advanced
degrees may enroll as non-degree seeking students. Non-degree-seeking,
post-baccalaureate or post-master’s students may register for classes but may
not be admitted to a graduate program.
Post-baccalaureate or post-master’s
students may enroll in undergraduate and 500-level courses. They may also
register, with prior written approval from the instructor, for 600 or 700
graduate-level courses.
Completion of graduate credit
courses as a non-degree seeking student does not imply preferential
consideration when applying to a specific graduate program at James Madison
University. If a non-degree seeking student is accepted into a JMU graduate
program at a later date, a maximum of one third of the credit hours taken as a
non-degree seeking student may be transferred into a degree program. The
transfer of credit hours taken at the post-baccalaureate or post-master’s level
must be approved by the program coordinator, academic unit head, and dean of
the College of Graduate and Professional Programs. All such transfer courses
must have been completed with a grade of B or better during the six years
immediately prior to the conferring of the master’s or Educational Specialist
degree or during the eight years immediately prior to the conferring of the
doctoral degree.
Graduates of an accredited
institution who wish to enroll in 600-level graduate courses offered by the
College of Business must be admitted as degree-seeking graduate students.
Transient and Term Students
A graduate student holding a
baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and presently working
toward a graduate degree at an accredited institution other than JMU is known
as a transient student. An undergraduate student from an accredited institution
and presently working toward an undergraduate degree at an accredited
institution other than JMU is known as a term student.
In addition to the enrollment
form for non-degree seeking students, transient students and term students must
submit documentation of good standing at their home college or university and
must specify that the courses taken at JMU are to be transferred to the home
institution. These requirements must be completed prior to registration each
semester. For further information, contact:
College of Graduate and
Professional Programs, MSC 6702
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
(540) 568-6131
Admission of Veterans
The College of Graduate and Professional Programs encourages
veterans to apply for admission as full- or part-time students. For
information, contact:
Veterans
Coordinator
Office of the Registrar,
MSC 3528
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
(540) 568-6569
Foreign Language
Passing a third year foreign
language course, a reading knowledge of a foreign language or successful
completion of a foreign language exam is required in those academic units which
so specify. Consult the degree requirements of the academic programs for
individual requirements.
