CATEGORIES OF ADMISSION TO DEGREE PROGRAMS
Regular or Full Graduate Status
For admission to this category, an applicant must have received a baccalaureate degree, and if applicable a master’s degree, from a regionally accredited institution (defined above in “Criteria for Admission”) or the U.S. equivalent of a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in another country, and be otherwise fully qualified in the judgment of the individual program and the Graduate School.
Provisional Graduate Status
This designation may be used by the graduate program: 1) when quality of the previous academic record at a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. or abroad is lower than established standards (see Criteria for Admission section above, item 1.) or when there is a lack of adequate prerequisite course work in the chosen field; 2) when applicants have majored in another program area with a creditable record but there is some doubt about their ability to pursue the chosen program of study; 3) when the applicant is engaged in undergraduate or graduate study at another institution but is not able to furnish a transcript indicating completion of course work or degree requirements; or 4) when the applicant has completed a baccalaureate or master’s degree but has not yet submitted official verification of the last semester’s work and receipt of the degree. Final official transcripts indicating receipt of the degree must be submitted before the end of the first semester of enrollment at UMES.
Conditions to correct any deficiencies in preparation for graduate study at UMES will be outlined by the faculty. Full-time matriculated students are expected to remove condition(s) for provisional admission within the time period stated on the admission recommendation form, normally within the first year of matriculation depending upon the program (e.g., the first two consecutive semesters which might include the adjacent summer). Part-time matriculated students are expected to remove condition(s) of provisional admission no later than the end of the second year of matriculation (the fourth semester which might include the adjacent summer, depending on the program).
When all conditions have been met, the program may recommend admission of the student to full or regular status. This statement also applies to any conditions set by the Graduate School, e.g., degree award, final/original transcript, etc. Regular status is required to obtain the degree. Students who are unable to qualify for full admission under the conditions specified, e.g., by failure to fulfill them, will have their admission terminated.
Advanced Special Student Status
The Advanced Special Student Status is designed for individuals who do not have an immediate degree objective in mind, but wish to take graduate level courses for personal or professional enrichment. Although the primary mission of the UMES Graduate School is to conduct programs of graduate instruction leading to advanced degrees, the Graduate Faculty welcomes, to the extent that resources allow, qualified students who have no degree objectives. Unofficial transcripts or photocopies of degrees will be accepted with the application for evaluation purposes, but by the end of the first semester of enrollment, the student must submit official copies of all required documents. Official transcripts must be submitted from all institutions attended except for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; the Graduate Studies office obtains the UMES transcript. Since Advanced Special students enroll in the same classes as degree-seeking students and are subject to the same course prerequisites, standards for admission to this status cannot be lower than what the degree programs would allow for regular or provisional admission.
Applicants for admission to Advanced Special Student Status must hold baccalaureate degree and satisfy at least one of the following criteria:
A. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or the U.S. credit hours equivalent of this degree from another country, with an overall “B” (3.0) average. Applicants must submit official transcripts covering all credits used in satisfying the baccalaureate degree requirements;
B. Hold a Master’s or Doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution, or the equivalent of these degrees from another country. Applicants must submit an official transcript showing the award of a Master’s or Doctoral degree;
C. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution or the U.S. credit hours equivalent of this degree from another country, a cumulative GPA between 2.5 and 2.99 and have successful post-baccalaureate work or professional experience. Applicants must submit an official transcript showing the award of the baccalaureate degree, and summarize their post-baccalaureate work or professional experience on that section of the application form or submit a resume;
D. Achieve a score which would place an applicant in the upper 50 percentile of appropriate national standardized aptitude examinations such as the GRE or Miller’s Analogies Test.
Admission to Advanced Special Student status is granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies for a period of five years. Advanced Special Students must meet course prerequisites and maintain a 2.75 cumulative grade point average. There are restrictions on graduate courses in which Advanced Special Students may not enroll (e.g., Physical Therapy, the MAT, and the doctoral weekend programs). Heavy enrollment programs such as Applied Computer Science require that Advanced Special Students who will earn six credit hours in Applied Computer Science courses with a grade of B or better must apply to the graduate program in Applied Computer Science before taking any further courses in Applied Computer Science if they seek that graduate program. Registration for Advanced Special Students in the Applied Computer Science program will be restricted.
Advanced Special Students must pay all standard graduate fees. Students in this status are not part of any of the UMES graduate programs, and therefore are not eligible to hold any Graduate Assistantships or receive similar forms of financial aid. All other services, e.g., parking, library privileges, etc., are the same as those accorded to other graduate students.
Admission to Advanced Special Student status is not intended to be used as a preparatory program for later admission to a Doctoral or Master’s program. Only six credits earned while in this status may be applicable to a degree or certificate program at a later time, with the approval of the faculty in the desired program, if the student is subsequently accepted for a degree or certificate program. For consideration of admission to a degree or certificate program, a student must submit the application for degree program form and meet all admission requirements, including an overall grade point average of 3.0 among the graduate courses taken at UMES.
Because Advanced Special is a non-degree status, it is not applicable for international applicants on a F-1 (student) visa. Advanced Special is allowable for F-2 visa holders (dependents) and may be allowable in some instances for other visa holders (e.g., H-1).
The application deadline for consideration of Advanced Special Student Status is no later than ten (10) school days prior to the registration date set for each semester or session.
Continuing Education Arrangements
Students who wish to register for graduate level courses and receive graduate credit through a continuing education process must first make application to the UMES Graduate School and be officially admitted. The application guidelines to be followed will be those for the Advanced Special Student Status. The tuition per credit hour and the standard campus fees are the same for all graduate students.
