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Special Admissions
ADMISSION OF FACULTY MEMBERS TO GRADUATE STUDY
Any faculty member may register for credit courses offered by the University. Faculty members with full-time responsibilities to the University may not register for more than 6 credit hours per semester. No member of the faculty who holds tenure or professorial rank is eligible to become a candidate for a graduate degree; however, an instructor on temporary appointment may qualify for candidacy. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Graduate School Executive Committee; such approval will be granted only in unusual circumstances.
ADMISSION OF SENIORS TO GRADUATE COURSES
A senior who needs less than a normal semester's work to complete the requirements for the bachelor's degree, and who gives indication of being able to achieve Full Standing in the Graduate School at the conclusion of the undergraduate program, may take sufficient graduate credit (6000 level or below) to fill out a normal schedule, subject to the approval of the departmental advisor, course instructor(s), chairperson of the department(s), and the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies. If the student would not qualify for Full Standing but would qualify for Provisional Standing, he/she may take such 5000-level courses for graduate credit as may be approved by his/her departmental advisor, chairperson of the department(s), and the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies. A Tentative Graduate Advisory Committee and a program of study must be developed prior to the completion of 9 credit hours of graduate work to be counted toward degree requirements.
A senior who gives indication of being able to achieve Full Standing in the Graduate School may elect up to 9 hours of graduate courses (6000 level or below) for undergraduate credit upon approval of his/her departmental advisor, course instructor(s), chairperson of the department(s), and the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies. Credit earned in this manner may not later be counted as graduate credit. If the senior would not qualify for Full Standing but would qualify for Provisional Standing, he/she may elect up to 9 hours of 5000-level courses upon approval of his/her departmental advisor, course instructor(s), chairperson of the department(s), and the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies.
When a senior earns graduate credit, that credit falls under the Special Standing regulation that is described in a previous section of this catalog regarding "Admission Classification." Specifically, the student is cautioned to remember that not more than 9 semester credits earned in Special Standing can be counted for graduate degree purposes.
ADMISSION OF TRANSFER STUDENTS
An applicant for admission who has begun a graduate program at another college or university may be considered for admission to the Graduate School of Tennessee Technological University on a transfer basis. Coursework transferred or accepted for credit toward a graduate degree must represent graduate coursework relevant to the degree, with course content and level of instruction resulting in student competencies at least equivalent to those of students enrolled in the institution’s own graduate degree programs. It is anticipated that such an applicant will have maintained a "B" average in prior graduate study and will be in good standing at the institutions previously attended. If transfer admission is approved, the student's credit hours and grades that are accepted for transfer will be included in this institution's GPA calculations. The number of transfer credits utilized for degree purposes is limited to 9 semester credits in a master's program (12 semester credits in the RODP Master of Education program) and 6 semester credits in an Ed. S. program and is approved by the appropriate officials in the college. The number of transfer credits permitted in the doctoral programs must be determined by officials in the appropriate college. In certain instances a competency examination may be administered to validate credit.
International students who wish to transfer to Tennessee Tech from another Graduate School must submit the usual materials required for initial admission. Additionally, each applicant must furnish official transcripts from the current institution as well as a statement from that institution's international student advisor. The applicant must also submit a bank statement verifying that sufficient funds are available for the applicant's living and collegiate expenses, as well as photocopies of the passport, visa, and I20-ID.
ADMISSION OF NONDEGREE GRADUATE STUDENTS
Admission to some graduate courses is available to persons who do not seek a graduate degree. Each applicant must submit to the Graduate School an application, application fee, and proof of having earned the baccalaureate degree. Students admitted under this category of Special Standing must submit official transcripts of degree conferrals no later than the end of the first semester of enrollment, or will be denied registration in subsequent semesters.
International students are not eligible for admission as nondegree students.
Nondegree graduate students are placed in Special Standing (see Special Standing section) and are permitted to take such undergraduate and graduate courses as are approved by individual advisors. Not all courses offered at the University are available for nondegree students. Information concerning the availability of specific courses can be obtained from individual departments.
Nondegree students who later decide to seek a degree must satisfy all regular admission requirements. Not more than 9 semester credits earned while a nondegree graduate student may be used for degree purposes and only then when approved by the major department and the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies.
Admission as a nondegree graduate student is not the same as admission as an "unclassified" student. The admission status of an unclassified student is explained in the following section of this catalog.
ADMISSION AS AN UNCLASSIFIED STUDENT
An unclassified student is a postbaccalaureate student but is not a graduate student and should not be confused with a nondegree graduate student. An unclassified student is usually working toward a second undergraduate degree or taking undergraduate or graduate courses for undergraduate credit with no degree objective in mind. Unclassified students apply through the undergraduate admissions office and are not counted as graduate students. An unclassified student should not register for a graduate course without prior consultation with the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies; graduate credit will not be granted for graduate courses taken while in the unclassified status. A student who wishes to pursue a graduate degree should make application in the Graduate School Office.
ADMISSION TO CLASS AS AN AUDITOR
An auditor is one who enrolls in classes on a noncredit basis, is expected to attend class, but is not required to hand in assignments or to take examinations. If the instructor is not satisfied with the attendance, the instructor may assign a grade of "W." A student who audits must be admitted to the University as a regular or special student.
Admission to class as an auditor requires the consent of the instructor and the approval of the Director of Records and Registration. The applicant should secure the Audit Registration form from the Office of Records and Registration. Fees for audit courses are the same as those for credit courses.
READMISSION OF FORMER STUDENTS
A former graduate student at Tennessee Technological University who is not currently enrolled at the University must file an application for readmission. The application may be obtained at the Graduate School Office and should be filed no later than 2 weeks before the first day of registration of the semester of anticipated enrollment.
RESIDENT CLASSIFICATION
The residence of a dependent student is presumed to be that of his/her parents. Residence (for fee-paying purposes) is interpreted to mean where the parents are domiciled. Unless the contrary appears from clear and convincig evidence, it is presumed that an emancipated person does not acquire domicile in Tennessee while enrolled as a full-time student at any public or private institution of higher education in the state. A student once classified as an out-of-state student will continue to be so classified unless a review of classification is requested. An emancipated individual who is working full time (30 hours per week or more) in Tennessee may register for up to 7 hours per term at in-state rates while establishing permanent residency.
A graduate assistant is classified as an in-state resident for fee-paying purposes only while he/she is an assistant. Residency will be reviewed when assistantship ends.
Change of residence status for tuition purposes is never automatic. A request for review must be made to the Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and adequate information must be provided by the student to warrant a review of resident status. Many factors, such as full-time employment for an extended period, are taken into consideration when a student's resident status is reviewed. If the review is negative, a request for exception may be filed with the Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and, then, the Graduate School Executive Committee.
If Tennessee residency is approved, the classification change shall be effective at the next registration after the approval has been granted.
VETERANS BENEFITS
Many student enroll for graduate study with financial benefits provided by the Veterans Administration. A student who anticipates receiving VA benefits should keep in mind that enrollment cannot be verified until the student files with the Graduate School an approved program of study or teacher licensure plan. Certificate of satisfactory process can be verified for no more than two semesters of academic probation.
Page last updated: 10/7/06
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Graduate Studies
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