Tennessee Tech University

Procedures

Applications for admission to the Graduate School must be made to the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies at least 4 weeks prior to the anticipated date of registration. (International students must submit applications at least 6 months in advance.) Applications for readmission should be filed not later than 2 weeks before the first day of registration.

All applicants for admission into the following programs must submit satisfactory official scores on the required admission test.

Each application must be supported by official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate credit from an accredited institution (for a list of accrediting agencies recognized, refer to the U.S. Department of Education website) and letters of recommendations if required by the major department from persons acquainted with the applicant's scholastic and professional accomplishments. If admission is granted pending receipt of application credentials, the student must submit the required items before the end of the first semester during which the student is enrolled. Within the limits of academic reason, either the departmental chairperson or the Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies may require additional information and verification of credentials submitted in support of an application for admission.

The requirement of minimum test scores either for admission, readmission, or candidacy is determined by individual departments or divisions, subject to approval by the respective college-level committees, college dean, and the Graduate School Executive Committee.

All application materials become the property of the University and will not be returned to the applicant regardless of whether admission is approved or denied.

It is a Class A misdemeanor to misrepresent academic credentials. A person commits the offense of misrepresentation of academic credentials who, knowing that the statement is false and with the intent to secure employment at or admission to an institution of higher education in Tennessee, represents, orally or in writing that such person:

1. Has successfully completed the required course work for and has been awarded one (1) or more degrees or diplomas from an accredited institution of higher education;
2. Has successfully completed the required course work for and has been awarded one (1) or more degrees for diplomas from a particular institution of higher education; or
3. Has successfully completed the required course work for and has been awarded one (1) or more degrees or diplomas in a particular field or specialty from an accredited institution of higher education.

International Students

International students having adequate preparation for graduate study may apply for admission, but applications should be filed at least six months prior to the anticipated date of enrollment. Midyear enrollment is strongly discouraged. In addition to the requirements mentioned in the paragraphs above, all students from non-English-speaking countries must submit proof of adequate training and ability in the use of English as evidenced by a satisfactory score on recognized and acceptable tests administered in the student's home country. Normally, it is expected that an applicant will submit a score of at least 525 (71 internet-based or 197 computer-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or base score of 5.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). (A score of at least 550--79 internet-based or 213 computer-based--is required for Engineering and M.B.A.) If admitted to the Graduate School such students shall have as a condition attached to their admission the requirement of the English Placement Test, prior to enrollment, at Tennessee Technological University. If the examination reveals that the student does not possess an adequate command of English, the student will be required to enroll in noncredit remedial English courses (ESL 1010-20) and will be required to reduce the graduate course load accordingly. Applicants must also give satisfactory proof of sufficient funds to cover all of their expenses including travel.

The Graduate School will not knowingly consider for admission any person who has entered the United States via an immigration visa issued for another university until that person has been enrolled in that university; thereafter, the usual transfer procedures would be implemented. International students who wish to transfer from another university to Tennessee Tech must submit the usual materials required for initial admission; additionally, each applicant must furnish:

1. official transcripts from the current institution;
2. a verification statement from that institution's international student advisor;
3. photocopies of Form I-20ID (front and back), the passport, the visa, and Form I-94.

Only transfer credit from an accredited university is permitted; each student is expected to complete a full program of study at Tennessee Technological University.

In cases where the undergraduate record may furnish insufficient evidence of any applicant's potential for success in graduate study, additional qualifying examinations may be administered by the department in which the applicant proposes to study. The cost of the tests will be borne by the applicant.

If admission is approved, Form I-20 will be issued as follows: not later than June 1 for the fall term, November 1 for the spring term, and April 1 for the summer term. These dates are consistent with immigration regulations and apply to all F-1 nonimmigrant students including those transferring from other U.S. institutions and those who are already enrolled at Tennessee Tech who wish to change from one degree program to another.

International students who are deficient in either written or spoken English are required to enroll in ESL 1010-1020 and to earn a grade of at least "C" in each course; waiver of this requirement may be permitted on the basis of satisfactory scores on the English Placement Test.

Resident Alien

A lawful permanent resident of the United States (holder of a "green card") may be required to take the English Placement Test or other tests to determine proficiency in English and the necessity for taking courses in English.

Admission Classifications

Students admitted to a master's program will be placed in one of the following categories:

Full Standing

This category indicates that in the opinion of the appropriate department and the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies the student has an adequate background for pursuing graduate work, and that all minimum requirements for admission to graduate standing have been met. The minimum requirements for Full Standing are:

• an overall undergraduate quality point average of 2.5 upon completion of a baccalaureate degree program. The degree grade point average used for admission purposes, for those students who have transferred schools, will be the one presented on the transcript by the degree-granting institution.
• three letters of recommendation for graduate study, if required by major department, from faculty members or other persons who have adequate knowledge of the applicant's professional qualities or potential for success as a graduate student.
• scores on an admission test, as described under the college and/or department. Specific tests are:
  • the Graduate Record Examination General Test for the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the Ph.D. program in the College of Education;
  • the Graduate Management Admission Test for the College of Business Administration;
  • the Miller Analogies Test or the Graduate Record Examination General Test for the Master's and Ed.S. programs for the College of Education.

Provisional Standing

This category indicates that in the opinion of the appropriate department and the Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies the student does not qualify for full standing and that before Full Standing can be granted certain deficiencies must be removed prior to the completion of 15 graduate hours. Deficiencies may be either (1) insufficient undergraduate grade average or (2) insufficient background preparation for the specific field, indicating the necessity for certain prerequisite courses as preparation for pursuing the proposed graduate program. If admitted in provisional standing due to lack of acceptable test scores, the student will not be permitted to register for more than nine credit hours or beyond the first term of enrollment. The student must apply for reclassification after having satisfactorily removed all deficiencies and met any special conditions or requirements. The minimum requirements for Provisional Standing are:

• an overall quality point average of 2.25 upon completion of a baccalaureate degree program. The degree grade point average used for admission purposes, for those students who have transferred schools, will be the one presented on the transcript by the degree-granting institution.
• three letters of recommendation for graduate study, if required by major department, from faculty members or other persons who have adequate knowledge of the applicant’s professional qualities or potential for success as a graduate student.
• scores on an admission test as described under the college and/or department.

Special Standing

Students who declare a nondegree graduate objective or transient students who have been admitted to graduate schools of other institutions are assigned to Special Standing. This classification enables a student to enroll for graduate credit in certain academic areas but it does not guarantee that such credit will be counted toward a degree objective. When a student in Special Standing has been reclassified to Provisional or Full Standing (at Tennessee Tech), a maximum of 9 semester credits earned in Special Standing may be counted toward a degree objective provided approval is given by the department in which the student wishes to major and the Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies. Special Standing is reserved for graduate students and should not be confused with Special Student or Additional Bachelor's status which are explained in the undergraduate catalog. (Students registered in "Special Student" or "Additional Bachelor's" categories are enrolled at the undergraduate level; credit earned in either of these categories cannot be counted for graduate credit.) Since students who are admitted into Special Standing are not at that time potential degree candidates, they may be denied permission to enroll in certain courses.

Admission to the Graduate School in any of the categories described above does not imply acceptance to candidacy for a graduate degree. The requirements for candidacy are explained elsewhere in this publication.

Individuals who wish to enroll in graduate level courses and who do not wish to seek graduate degrees (nondegree graduate students under the category of Special Standing), must submit 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.

Change of Classification

Students who have been admitted to graduate study with Provisional Standing may, upon the approval of the departmental chairperson (or Program Director for students in the Ph.D. programs) and the Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, request and be granted Full Standing after removing any entrance deficiencies noted at the time their applications for admission were approved. Deficiencies may be removed by:

• establishing credit in the courses recommended by the departmental chairperson as necessary to remove a deficiency, or any group of courses which the departmental chairperson may approve as a suitable substitute for the listed courses; the courses used for removal of deficiencies must be passed with a grade of "C" or better and these courses will not be counted in the graduate program nor in the computation of the graduate quality point average;
• the completion of at least 9 semester credits of graduate work, including 6 semester credits in the major field, with a minimum quality point average of 3.0 for students who entered with a questionable undergraduate background; and obtaining satisfactory scores on admission tests.

In any instance, a student must apply for reclassification to Full Standing prior to the completion of 15 graduate hours.

Students who have been admitted to graduate study with Special Standing are not eligible for reclassification until their graduate and undergraduate records have been evaluated by the department in which they wish to major. Credit earned while in Special Standing may not be counted toward a degree until approved by the major departments but in no case will more than 9 semester credits be counted.

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 for 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 for 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 for 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 for 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, I20-ID and I-94.

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 on an F1 Visa 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 for Research and Graduate Studies.

Admission as a nondegree graduate student is not the same as admission as an "additional bachelor's" student. The admission status of an additional bachelor's student is explained in the following section of this catalog.

Admission as an Additional Bachelor's Student

An additional bachelor's student is a postbaccalaureate student but is not a graduate student and should not be confused with a nondegree graduate student. An additional bachelor's student is usually working toward a second undergraduate degree or taking undergraduate or graduate courses for undergraduate credit with no degree objective in mind. Additional Bachelor's students apply through the undergraduate admissions office and are not counted as graduate students. An additional bachelor's student should not register for a graduate course without prior consultation with the Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies; graduate credit will not be granted for graduate courses taken while in the additional bachelor's 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 here 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.