Admission to the University and Graduate Programs
Graduate Studies (AD 144) coordinates the admissions process with the appropriate program coordinator and the dean of the college to admit prospective students to graduate study in areas for which they are applying. Graduate Studies also admits students who are not applying for a degree program as post-baccalaureate students. Please note that post-baccalaureate admission to UCF does not guarantee admission to graduate status in a degree program.
Accreditation
For the purposes of this catalog, "accredited institutions" means those institutions accredited by the six regional associations. Students with degrees from nonaccredited institutions will not be accepted into graduate programs at the University of Central Florida. Due to Florida Board of Regents rules and accreditation, this policy will not be waived. The six regional associations are:- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools, Commission on Higher Schools
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities and Accrediting Commission for Junior Colleges
Applications
Applications for admission to the university for degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking (post-baccalaureate) study may be obtained from Graduate Studies - Admissions (AD 144). Completed applications must be submitted to the same office.UCF students who graduate with a baccalaureate degree and wish to continue their studies must file an application for admission to either a graduate degree program or for non-degree (post-baccalaureate) admission. No fee is required of returning UCF students who have previously paid an application fee.
Official Transcripts
To be granted admission to UCF in either graduate or post-baccalaureate status, all applicants must submit official transcripts showing a baccalaureate degree and the grades for the last 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of attempted undergraduate work directly to Graduate Studies - Admissions (AD 144). If grades were transferred in from other schools in the last 60 semester hours, official transcripts from those schools also must be sent. If applying to the Business, Social Work, or Psychology programs, all transcripts from all colleges attended are required. Final acceptance into degree-seeking graduate status is not granted unless an applicant's official transcripts and necessary test scores are on file so that they can be evaluated for admission.Graduate Examinations
The Board of Regents of the State of Florida requires that every student take either the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) before the student can be accepted into graduate student status. Some programs may also require the GRE subject test before admission into graduate student status. Official copies must be mailed directly from the Educational Testing Service to Graduate Studies - Admissions (AD 144) and be on file before graduate student status can be granted. UCF recommends that any individual contemplating class work beyond the bachelor's degree take the GRE or GMAT at the earliest possible date to avoid problems associated with a delay of acceptance into a graduate program. Both the GRE and the GMAT are given four times a year on the UCF main campus. For registration dates and procedures, contact the UCF Counseling and Testing Center at (407) 823-2811. Computerized GRE examinations are available daily at Sylvan Learning Centers. Preparatory courses are offered through the Division of Continuing Education at (407) 823-6100.Educational Testing Service's policy, effective with the October 1985 GRE test, is to report scores only until September 30 following the fifth anniversary of the test date. If ETS cannot provide an official copy, students will need to repeat the GRE or GMAT and have an official score reported to Graduate Studies - Admissions (AD 144).
Records Deadline - Supporting Documents
If the program has a specific deadline, all supporting documents are due by that deadline (see "Application Deadlines" at the front of this catalog). For all other programs and post-baccalaureate applicants, all supporting admissions documents should be received by Graduate Studies no later than July 15 (fall admission), December 15 (spring admission), or April 15 (summer admission). In some cases, applicants may be allowed to register on a temporary basis (without all records), assuming it can be determined from available records or consultation with the students that they appear admissible. Failure to submit records will result in registration holds for all succeeding terms.Social Work, Nursing, Communicative Disorders, and all Psychology programs require all admission documents to be submitted simultaneously in a packet. Transcripts should be sealed in an envelope by the registrar of the former institution.
Records - Validity of Documents
All supporting admission documents must be received directly from the issuing institution or testing agency. If the university finds that an applicant has made a false or fraudulent statement or a deliberate omission on the application, residency affidavit, health report, or any accompanying document or statement, that applicant may be denied admission. If the student is enrolled when such fraud is discovered, the student may be immediately withdrawn (with no refund), further enrollment denied, and credit earned and any degree based on such credit invalidated. Actions for this type of offense are handled administratively by the Office of Student Affairs after notification to the alleged violator and hearing by that office.Confidentiality of Student Records
State regulations and the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 guide the procedures for confidentiality of student records. Students who have questions or specific requests concerning the confidentiality of records should contact the Office of the Dean of Students. The university does sell mailing lists, on request, to independent vendors, so if students do not wish their names on such a list, they should notify the Dean of Students. The Golden Rule outlines the university procedures for confidentiality.Medical History Report
All new students must furnish medical history reports on the approved university health form before registration will be allowed. The Medical History Report will be mailed to the applicant upon receipt of the application for admission. Immunizations and diagnostic procedures may be required of students by the university prior to any registration. University requirements for vaccinations or immunizations may be waived upon receipt of appropriate documentation from the student that the waiver is requested on the basis of religious grounds or on the recommendation of a university physician.Where physician examinations or certificates are required, they must be signed by a doctor of medicine or by a doctor of osteopathy. The university reserves the right to refuse registration to any student whose health record or report of medical examination indicates the existence of a condition that may be harmful to members of the university community.
Reactivation of a Student's File
A student who has submitted an application for admission to the University of Central Florida, but never attended, may reactivate the original application within a year with no additional application fee. Reactivation is the process by which the original application can be reactivated and considered for admission without having to resubmit all application materials. Admission is not guaranteed by completing a reactivation form. After a year, student application files are destroyed. An application fee is required if a student applies again after the one-year period. When reactivating an application, please check program deadlines and requirements to ensure that all requirements are met.Admission to the University
Admission as a post-baccalaureate student is not admission to a graduate program. The admission process begins with the receipt of the Graduate/Post-Baccalaureate Application form and fee at Graduate Studies. Within two weeks, Graduate Studies acknowledges receipt of the application form and fee and notifies the applicant of any deficiencies in the application (e.g., official transcripts, GRE or GMAT test scores, letters). Providing Graduate Studies with the required information in a timely manner expedites the admission process. Many departments do not view an application until it is complete.The application information is forwarded to the appropriate degree program. Copies of transcripts, test scores, recommendations, and personal statements are also forwarded to the degree program as soon as they are received.
Non-degree-seeking post-baccalaureate applicants will receive notice of acceptance to the university and registration information from Graduate Studies.
Readmission to the University
A regularly admitted student who has not been registered for two major semesters (spring/fall) must make application for readmission through Graduate Studies approximately one month before classes begin for the new semester. (See "Continuous Attendance" below.)Continuous Attendance
Graduate students should be aware of two policies regarding continuous attendance at the university. The first may affect continuing status as a graduate student. The second affects the student's option to fulfill degree requirements under any UCF catalog in force during the student's most recent period of continuous attendance.- A student may not be guaranteed continuing graduate status if he or she does not enroll in the university for a period of two major semesters (spring/fall). When a student applies for readmission, after having been out two or more semesters, the program will review the student's record to determine if he or she will be continued in graduate status or be reverted to post-baccalaureate status.
- Graduation policy allows a student to fulfill degree requirements as listed in their official program of study on file in the office of their major. The program of study should use the catalog associated with the entry term into graduate status of the student. Continuous attendance is interrupted when a student drops out of school for any term other than the summer term. Because students must occasionally interrupt their attendance for a brief period, a student will be considered to have interrupted continuous attendance only if the interruption is for two or more consecutive terms (spring/fall). Under these circumstances, a student may lose the option of fulfilling the degree requirements originally listed in their official program of study already on file, and will graduate using the latest graduate catalog.
Admission to a Graduate Program
After receiving copies of all transcripts, standardized test information, and other documents required by the department from Graduate Studies, the degree program coordinator will admit (either regular or provisional) the applicant as a degree-seeking graduate student or deny the applicant.Appeals Procedure for Admissions
Students who are not accepted by a program but who meet the SUS minimum standards for admission to graduate status are allowed under Rule 6C-6.03 to appeal that decision. The appeal procedure consists of the student writing a letter to the program coordinator indicating the desire to appeal and the reasons for the appeal. The program coordinator may ask the department or program graduate committee to examine the necessary information and recommend a response to the appeal. The program coordinator will recommend an admissions action to the department chair.Should the department chair deny the appeal and there are new circumstances, facts, or other matters that the student feels warrants consideration the student may request further consideration from the College by writing a letter to the graduate coordinator of the college indicating the desire to appeal further and the reasons why an appeal is sought. The graduate coordinator may ask the College Graduate Committee to examine the necessary information and recommend a response to the appeal. The graduate coordinator will recommend an admission action to the college dean.
Should the college dean deny the appeal, and there are new circumstances, facts, or other matters that the student feels warrants consideration, the student may request further consideration from the university by writing a letter to the Director of Graduate Studies indicating the desire to appeal further and the reasons why an appeal is sought. The Director may ask the Graduate Council to examine the necessary information and recommend a response to the appeal. The Director will recommend an admission action to the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies.
Admission Classifications
Admission to graduate status can be in either of two categories: regular status or provisional status. (Post-baccalaureate status is considered non-degree-seeking.)
Graduate Status - Regular
All students who wish degree-seeking status must submit an official
GRE General Test score (or an official GMAT score as required). Some programs
also require the GRE Subject Test. The minimum system-wide requirements
of the Board of Regents for admission to REGULAR graduate status are listed
below. Additional requirements are specified by individual degree programs.
Programs may require a minimum GRE General Test score more stringent than
the Board of Regents requirement.
- A baccalaureate degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited university and GPA of 3.0 or more (on a 4.0 maximum) while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student (normally based on the last sixty attempted semester hours); OR, a total score of 1,000 or higher on the General Test (quantitative-verbal sections) of the Graduate Record Examination (or a GMAT score of 450 or higher as needed) or an equivalent score on an equivalent measure approved by the Board of Regents; OR, a previous graduate degree and official GRE or GMAT score. Even though an applicant may qualify for minimum admission on the basis of the undergraduate grade point average or having a previous graduate degree, an official GRE or GMAT score must be on file before admission to Graduate Status.
- A student must be accepted by the program coordinator and the dean of the college offering the particular degree program sought. Requirements in addition to the minimums stated above may be specified by the individual degree programs.
- International students must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language as one of the conditions of admission. International students, except those who are from countries where English is the only official language or those who have earned a degree from an accredited American college or university, are required to submit a score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before they can be admitted to the university.
A student who does not fulfill the academic conditions for REGULAR admission may be admitted provisionally upon recommendation of the dean of the college to which admission is sought.
PROVISIONAL admissions may at no time exceed 10 percent of the graduate students admitted for any academic year in any single degree program. PROVISIONAL students may be admitted to REGULAR status following satisfactory completion of 9 semester hours and upon recommendation by the program coordinator and college dean.
If a student does not maintain a 3.0 GPA in the graduate program of study, he or she will be placed on ACADEMIC PROVISIONAL status for 9 semester hours, then reverted to post-baccalaureate status if the GPA is still unsatisfactory. A student, with regular or provisional status, whose overall GPA falls below 2.0 will be reverted immediately to post-baccalaureate status. (See "Appeals" in the "University Graduate Regulations" chapter.)
Post-Baccalaureate Status
Post-baccalaureate status is considered to be non-degree-seeking. Students
are generally placed in this category at their request. International students
are not eligible for post-baccalaureate status unless they hold a baccalaureate
degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.
A student may elect to remain in post-baccalaureate status for various reasons (e.g., requirements in a graduate program at another institution, personal improvement, meeting job requirements, and removing academic deficiencies). While in post-baccalaureate status, students are allowed to take graduate courses, in some departments, on a space-available basis. Post-baccalaureate students register the last day of registration. Not all departments accept post-baccalaureate students and the procedures for enrollment into graduate-level classes vary with each department. Students should check with the individual departments or colleges before attempting to register.
All students who take graduate-level course work while in post-baccalaureate status should be aware of the limit of 9 semester hours of graduate-level course work that can be transferred into a graduate degree program if a student is given graduate status.
Change of Major or College
When students wish to change their major or college, after having been admitted to a graduate program, they must file a new application form for the new program at Graduate Studies (AD 144). The program coordinator of the new program will then decide whether to admit the student. Post-baccalaureate students wishing to apply to a degree program must also file an application for that degree program. Students who have been admitted in provisional status in a degree program must file a new application if they wish to be accepted by another graduate program.Second Master's Degree
Completion of one master's program at UCF may qualify a student for a second master's degree. Individuals seeking a second master's degree must file a separate application for that program and complete the normal UCF master's degree requirements for the second degree.Up to nine (9) semester hours from a completed master's program at UCF or any other institution may be transferred into a second master's program if the courses are not more than seven years old when the second degree is completed.
Transcript Requests
Transcripts of a student's UCF academic record may be requested by the student through the Office of the Registrar. A student's academic record can be released only upon written authorization by the student. When requesting a transcript be sure to include your full name and social security number and indicate the names and complete addresses to whom transcripts are to be sent. If grades or degree statements for the current term are needed, indicate that the transcript request is to be held until the final semester reports are posted. The first two transcripts are provided at no cost to the student. For additional transcripts, there is a charge of $5.00 each. The check or money order should be made payable to: UCF. Cash payments can be accepted only by the Cashier's Office (Monday 8:30-6:30; Tuesday-Friday 8:30-4:00). Students requesting transcripts may do so in person or by writing to: Transcript Request, Office of the Registrar, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 160114, Orlando, FL 32816-0114.International Students
UCF adheres to the principle that the university is primarily a community of scholars, both national and international, in pursuit of knowledge, and active in teaching, studying, and doing research. The presence of international students on the campus contributes substantially to the quality of the educational experience for everyone. It can bring to the classroom learning environment unique viewpoints and perceptions which would otherwise be lost to the U.S. students. Effective personal contact across cultures can reduce errors in understanding one another's problems and foster a climate of international peace and cooperation among people of the world today.International students, except those who are from countries where English is the only official language or those who have earned a degree from an accredited American college or university, are required to submit a score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before they can be admitted to the university. When the official test score is received in Graduate Studies, a copy will be sent to the graduate program coordinator, who evaluates the student's record and determines admission or denial to the program. Students who are offered Graduate Teaching Assistant positions must also take and pass the Test of Spoken English before they will be allowed to teach.
Each program has determined the minimum required TOEFL score, as shown below.
Program...................................TOEFL College of Arts and Sciences...............550 Biology................................550 Chemistry, Industrial..................500 Communication..........................550 Computer Science.......................550 English................................575 Foreign Languages and Literatures......550 History................................575 Mathematical Science...................550 Physics................................550 Political Science......................500 Psychology.............................500 Sociology, Applied.....................500 Statistical Computing..................500 College of Business Administration.........575 College of Education.......................550 College of Engineering.....................550 College of Health and Public Affairs.......500 Public Administration..................550 Molecular Biology and Microbiology.....550International applicants should have their transcripts evaluated and the evaluation sent directly (by the evaluating agency) to Graduate Studies - Admissions (AD 144) at the University of Central Florida along with an official copy of their transcripts and a certified English translation. Transcript evaluators include Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 248233, Coral Gables, FL 33124-8233; and World Education Services, Inc. (WES), P.O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY 10011. Students will be notified if additional information is required to clarify a transcript. The following programs require only document evaluation: Computer Science, Engineering, English, Health, Mathematical Science, Political Science, and Statistical Computing. All other departments require course-by-course evaluations. Students must adhere to deadlines published in the catalog.
International students are not eligible for post-baccalaureate status unless they hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. university.
International students cannot be accepted provisionally or conditionally; if accepted, they must be accepted in regular graduate status.
International Student Mandatory Health and Accident Insurance
Each international student accepted for admission must, prior to registration,
submit proof of compliance with the Board of Regents mandatory health and
accident insurance (effective fall semester 1992). Written proof of insurance,
must be provided to the International Student Services Office and must
be valid at all times. Cancellation of the policy or stoppage of the premium
will result in administrative withdrawal from all classes.
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