Office of Graduate Admissions
4th Floor, Welcome Center, 42 W. Warren Avenue, PO Box 2759,
Detroit MI 48202
Telephone: 313-577-3577; Fax: 313-577-3376
Website: http://www.gradadmissions.wayne.edu
The Graduate Admission application is available at the web site (see above).
To be considered for graduate admission, an applicant must hold or be completing an earned baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing and have adequate preparation with discernible ability to pursue graduate studies in the major field elected. These criteria are subject to standards set by the individual Colleges and Schools, which reserve the right to revise or amend their entrance requirements beyond the minimal requirements of the University.
A completed Application for Graduate Admission form, the graduate application fee ($50.00) and an official transcript from each college or university attended are required before any student can be considered for admission to graduate study. A transcript is considered official only if it is sent directly from the institution where the course work was completed and bears an official seal. The applicant is also responsible for arranging to take any examinations that may be specified by the Office of Graduate Admissions, the College, or the Department.
Several academic areas of the University require an additional Departmental application. Students are advised to contact the Department to which they are applying and request full particulars on admission procedures.
In most Departments (see Departmental sections of this bulletin for variants), a regular admission may be authorized for the master's degree applicant upon the Department's recommendation, if the applicant's grade point average is 2.6 (`C'=2) or above for the upper division (approximately the last 60 semester credits) of his/her undergraduate course work and if he/she holds a degree from a regionally accredited institution.
All baccalaureate graduates of unaccredited institutions must present a 3.00 (`B') or better upper-division grade point average to be considered for graduate admission. Course work completed after the baccalaureate which is presented as the qualifying basis for graduate admission cannot be applied toward a graduate degree at Wayne State University.
Doctoral applicants must present higher entrance qualifications than those required of master's degree applicants. A doctoral applicant is required to have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (`B'=3) or above for the upper division of the undergraduate course work and must have completed an undergraduate major or substantial specialized work in his/her proposed doctoral major field. Certain departments require the completion of a master's degree with superior scholarship before considering acceptance of a student as a doctoral applicant. Applicants with less than a 3.0 g.p.a. in undergraduate course work may be eligible for admission to doctoral study if they have subsequently achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or better in substantial graduate course work in the proposed doctoral field.
The individual colleges reserve the right to refuse a non-resident admission if such admission prevents registration of a qualified Michigan resident. This ruling may not be invoked to secure admission to a Michigan resident if his/her grade point average entitles him/her to qualified status only.
In most Departments, qualified admission to a master's or certificate program may be authorized if an applicant's grade point average is between 2.25 and 2.6 or if his/her degree is from a non-accredited institution, provided the major Department and the Graduate Officer of the appropriate School or College have reviewed the applicant's academic experience, extra-scholastic qualifications and reasons for pursuing graduate study and have recommended, in writing, his/her admission to the Graduate School.
Upon recommendation of the Department and the Graduate Officer of the appropriate College or School, qualified status may be granted to an applicant whose grade point average is below 2.25, if, since the time his/her baccalaureate degree was conferred, he/she has shown substantial evidence of academic or extra-scholastic qualifications of such merit as to warrant special consideration.
Applications from students who have completed substantial course work at, and/or graduated from, institutions which were not accredited by one of the six regional U. S. accrediting institutions (MSA/CHE, NEASC, NCA, NASC, SACS, or WASC-Sr.) at the time studies were undertaken, will have a special review. If requested, the applicant will be required to furnish documentation of the nature and level of the credit obtained, the bases on which the credit was awarded, institutional operating practices, library holdings, physical facilities, faculty qualifications, and any other matters that may be relevant to an evaluation of credit. The director of admissions is authorized to deny admission to any applicant whose previous education does not conform to Graduate School standards. The Office of Graduate Admissions may also make recommendations concerning the appropriateness for transfer of previously completed graduate course work.
All graduate admission procedures and regulations are subject to revision by the University Graduate Council at any time.
The Office of Graduate Admissions will make every effort to process applications in time for the semester of the student's choice. However, only complete applications received by the last recommended dates shown below are ensured a decision before the semester starts. Unless an application and all supporting materials are received by the date indicated, there may not be adequate time for the desired program to review the application and make the admission decision.
Fall Term - Classes begin Early September: apply by June 1
Winter Term - Classes begin Early January: apply by October 1
Spring Term - Classes begin Early May: apply by February 1
For international students, the application form and all transcripts and documents must be on file in the Office of Graduate Admissions Office at least four months prior to the start of the term in which the applicant plans to begin graduate studies.
Several Colleges and Departments have earlier deadlines. Doctoral programs also have earlier application deadlines. Students should consult the School/College and Department sections of this bulletin, the program's website, or the Office of Graduate Admissions for complete information.
An applicant who wishes to take graduate courses but does not wish to be in a degree program may request admission on a non-degree basis. The eligible applicant will be admitted to a particular College but not to an individual major program. In most instances, a non-degree student may, with the Department's approval, register for any courses for which he/she has the necessary preparation.
The applicant for a non-degree graduate classification is cautioned that only one semester of full-time graduate study, or part-time registrations not to exceed nine credits, is normally permitted in this classification. Beyond these limits, registration as a non-degree student requires the approval of the Graduate Officer of the student's College. Not more than nine credits, subject to the approval of the Graduate Officer, may be applied at a later date toward the residency and credit requirements for either the master's or Ph.D. degree. For the Ed.D. degree, credit earned beyond the nine-credit limitation will be reviewed by the appropriate Division and the Education Graduate Officer for possible application toward the degree.
If the student decides to seek admission to a graduate degree program, he/she should apply to the appropriate College Graduate Office for a Change of Status before completing nine credits. There is no assurance that credits earned while holding a non-degree classification will be acceptable in a degree program, or that prerequisites may not have to be specified if the student later becomes a degree applicant.
Depending on previous degrees, applicants may request admission to one of the following Graduate Non-Degree classifications:
A student with an acceptable grade point average and an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited institution may apply for this rank.
Students holding Wayne State master's degrees should apply for a Change of Status in the Graduate Office of the College they wish to enter. Those with master's degrees from other institutions must submit an Application for Graduate Admission and transcripts.
This rank is reserved for persons holding earned doctoral degrees.
Graduate students from other accredited colleges and universities may be admitted to elect a limited number of credits at Wayne State University. Interested students may obtain a Graduate Guest Application from the Office of Graduate Admissions or their website; this must be signed by their home institution before it can be accepted for consideration. A guest admission is valid for only one semester and must be renewed with each subsequent registration. A maximum of twelve semester credits may be earned as a Graduate Guest Student. Admission as a Graduate Guest student does not constitute permission to register as a degree applicant.
In their last undergraduate semester, Wayne State students with a 3.0 (or above) upper division grade point average have the option of taking a limited number of graduate credits. Graduate credit is awarded only for those courses taken in excess of baccalaureate degree requirements. Undergraduate and graduate courses combined may not exceed sixteen credits for the final semester of baccalaureate degree course work. A Senior Rule student must register for at least one credit which is required for the undergraduate degree in order to be eligible for this status. Students who have completed all required registrations for the baccalaureate may not obtain Senior Rule status. Completion of the Application for Graduate Admission form is required, and students are advised to consult their advisers and the Office of Graduate Admissions. Application deadlines for Senior Rule admission are the same as for regular graduate admission. Students who qualify and are recommended by the Department or College will be admitted for one semester. Graduate admission will be regularized upon evidence that the student has completed all requirements for the bachelor's degree; it is the student's responsibility to provide this transcript.
As a courtesy, the University permits a student to pay undergraduate fees for the graduate courses elected in a Senior Rule status. It is recommended that students elect only courses numbered 5000-6999 in their Senior Rule semester.
Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: Undergraduate pharmacy students may register for one of their last two semesters of their fifth year under Senior Rule status.
College of Nursing: Applicants must submit a graduate College of Nursing Application to the College's Office of Student Services, 225 Cohn, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202.
Several Colleges have established an accelerated combined undergraduate and graduate program (AGRADE) in which highly qualified seniors in the college may enroll simultaneously in some undergraduate and graduate programs of the College. A maximum of fifteen credits may be applied towards both undergraduate and graduate degrees in a student's major field if that program is an AGRADE participant. Those who elect the AGRADE program may expect to complete the Bachelor's and Master's degrees in five years of full-time study.
AGRADE Credits: Students may elect a minimum of three and a maximum of fifteen AGRADE credits. These will be used to complete the baccalaureate degree as well as to serve as the beginning of graduate study. Upon formal admission to a master's program, AGRADE credits are transferred as if they were graduate credits transferred from a graduate program at another university. The remaining graduate credits required for the master's degree will be earned in the conventional manner following formal admission to the graduate program.
ELIGIBILITY: AGRADE applicants must have an outstanding overall g.p.a. and have performed at a superior level in their major, as determined by the major department. The earliest date by which a student may apply for the AGRADE program is during the semester in which he/she completes ninety credits toward the undergraduate degree.
APPLICATION: A student seeking AGRADE status should present to the Graduate Admissions Committee of his/her major department all of the materials which that department requires for normal admission (except the GRE; where required, the GRE scores should be forwarded at the normal point in the formal graduate admission process).
Admission and program requirements are described in the College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and College of Nursing sections of this bulletin and available in their graduate offices.
This is a one-term-only admission status granted to applicants with incomplete applications for graduate admission, upon presentation of evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree with an acceptable grade point average. Registration beyond the initial semester requires the submission of a regular graduate admission application, the processing fee, and official transcripts. Admission as a graduate Permit-to-Register student does not obligate Wayne State University to accept the applicant in the future for a graduate degree, nor is there any assurance that credit earned in this status will be accepted toward a graduate degree.
This option is not available in all University Schools and Colleges. Applicants are encouraged to discuss admission options with the staff of the Office of Graduate Admissions.
The Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate Studies (MIGS) Program enables graduate students of Michigan public institutions to take advantage of educational opportunities at other Michigan public institutions offering graduate degrees. Any graduate student in good standing in a master's, specialist, or doctoral program at a member institution is eligible to participate with approval of the appropriate academic unit. Students on a MIGS enrollment pay tuition and other fees at the host institution. All credits earned under a MIGS enrollment are accepted by a student's home institution as if offered by that institution. This type of enrollment is limited to one term for master's or specialist degree students, or two terms for doctoral degree students. Students interested in this program should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for further information.
Wayne State University and the University of Windsor have entered into an exchange agreement whereby students from each institution may enroll in selected courses at the other institution. Courses available are limited to those not offered at the student's home institution. Limitations also apply to the number of courses and credits a student may take under this agreement. Wayne State University and the University of Windsor students who wish to participate in the program must be in good standing at their home institution and must have prior approval of the appropriate academic unit that the course(s) will be accepted as part of the student's course of study. Students who participate in the Wayne State University/University of Windsor program pay tuition and fees at the home institution and receive credit for the course(s) only at the home institution. Students should consult the Director of International Programs, Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, for further information.
The Post-Bachelor status is granted to college/university graduates who wish to take Wayne State University courses through the 6000 level for undergraduate credit only. The status serves two groups of students:
a) Those who wish to pursue vocational or avocational interests without intending to use Wayne State University credit to earn another degree at Wayne State University;
b) Those who seek admission to the Graduate School but need to raise their undergraduate grade point average and/or fulfill specific undergraduate course requirements for Graduate School consideration.
The following special rules apply to Post-Bachelor Admission:
a) Under no circumstances will credit earned in this status apply toward a graduate degree program.
b) The applicant must present evidence of a degree earned from an accredited institution (official transcript or diploma).
c) Post-Bachelor status students are not eligible for financial aid from Wayne State University, except if a student is taking prerequisite course work for a graduate program; in the latter case, he/she is eligible for a Stafford Loan for one twelve-month period for a maximum amount not to exceed the equivalent tuition for a first-year undergraduate student.
d) Applications for Post-Bachelor status from students new to Wayne State University should be made to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 42 W. Warren, Wayne State University.
e) An applicant who earned an undergraduate degree from Wayne State University, or who was previously admitted and registered in a Wayne State graduate program, should contact the Records Office to be re-admitted to the University as a Post-Bachelor student. Post-Bachelor applicants in the Colleges of Education and Nursing must obtain authorization directly from the College.
For complete information, see International Students and Scholars.
Students from other countries must contact the Office of Graduate Admissions or their prospective Department for appropriate application materials and deadline dates. To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must have completed an appropriate university-level program comparable in subject matter and credits to a program for which a bachelor's degree is awarded at Wayne State University.
The fact that a degree in another country may have a similar name to a degree offered in the United States does not mean the two degrees require similar lengths and content of study or that they should be accepted as equivalents. All graduate applicants must 1) present an excellent scholastic record; 2) have sufficient financial resources for minimum tuition, supplies and living expenses; and 3) have a sufficient proficiency in English (see the section on Graduate Admission English Proficiency Requirement).
FINANCIAL AID: University sponsored financial assistance for international students is severely limited and unconfirmed awards should not be included in financial projections.
Graduate applicants who graduated from colleges/universities in other countries must demonstrate proficiency in English. To fulfill this requirement an applicant must satisfy one of the following criteria:
1) Complete baccalaureate degree requirements at an accredited U.S. institution or in a country where English is the native language.
2) Present an acceptable score on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB).
3) Present an acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or equivalent test such as the IELTS.
Some units may elect to grant qualified graduate admission to academically-talented International Students whose TOEFL scores fall slightly below the University minimum score. Interested students should contact the chairperson or director of their prospective program, to determine whether the program offers such qualified admission. For further information on the English Proficiency policy, please consult the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Tenured Wayne State University faculty members holding the rank of Assistant Professor or above may be admitted to Wayne State graduate degree programs outside the faculty member's school/college, under certain specified conditions. Untenured tenure-track faculty are not eligible to pursue a graduate or professional degree at Wayne State while in University employment. Faculty who are not tenured and not on the tenure track may enroll in degree programs outside their own unit with the approval of the dean of their college. For further information, contact the Dean of the Graduate School.
The Graduate School may issue a Visiting Doctoral Guest certificate to persons with an earned doctorate who come to Wayne State for scholarly study under the sponsorship of a department. Such Guests may obtain University library privileges and attend classes upon invitation of the department. No official record of attendance is kept on such Guests. For further information, contact the Graduate School.
The Graduate School may issue a Visiting Scholar certificate to persons who have an advanced degree, such as an M.D., or are earning a doctoral degree, and who have come to Wayne State for scholarly study under the sponsorship of a department. Scholars may obtain University library privileges and attend classes upon invitation of the department. No official record of attendance is kept on such Scholars. For further information, contact the Graduate School.