The College of Graduate Studies offers graduate students the following types of admission– unconditional, conditional, and special. In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate study at Virginia State University, academic program requirements must be satisfied. The specific requirements for each program are found under the description of the program.

Unconditional Admission

1. Graduates of a regionally accredited college, with a minimum grade-point average of 2.6 (on a 4- point scale) may be granted unconditional admission provided all other prerequisites have been met. The grade-point average is based on either the last two years of college or the entire undergraduate record, whichever is better, except that the grade-point average of a student who attended more than one college is based on the entire record.

2. Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to the program of their proposed majors. (See program descriptions.)

Conditional Admission

Students are granted conditional admission to the College program under the following guidelines:

1. A graduate of an institution approved as a four-year college by the State Department of Education in the state where it is located, but not accredited by its regional accrediting agency, may be admitted conditionally; however, he/she must have an undergraduate average of at least 2.5. 38

2. An applicant who is a graduate of a college fully accredited by its regional accrediting agency, but whose academic average is lower than 2.6 will only be considered on an individual basis.

3. Applicants who have met the general admission requirements of the Graduate College but who have not cleared program area admissions requirements may be admitted conditionally, pending program area action.

Removal of Conditional Status

The student must remove his/her conditional status and attain unconditional status by

1. Earning an average of 3.0 in the first nine hours of courses in an approved program of study.

2. Meeting all program area requirements for unconditional admission, and

3. Earning an average of 3.0 in all undergraduate prerequisites listed in the approved program of study.

Special Admissions for Non-Matriculating Students

Students who possess baccalaureate degrees and wish to study for their own personal growth may be allowed to take course work as non-matriculating "special" students.

Students admitted to resident workshops and institutes and approved off-campus graduate courses, but who are not pursuing a program of study, will be considered special students.

A visiting student pursuing graduate work at another institution may, with the approval of the appropriate official(s) of that institution, take courses at Virginia State University for credit to be transferred to the graduate school in which the student is enrolled. Such a student has special status at Virginia State University.

Transfer to a Degree Program

A special student who wishes to become a degree-seeking student may have his/her classification changed by presenting his/her request to the Chair of the department and submitting all required credentials. Not more than nine (9) semester hours of credit earned by a special student may be credited toward the master's degree.

Offer Admission to Graduate Study

A written acceptance or rejection of the offer of admission should be sent to the Graduate Office as soon as a decision on graduate study has been made by the student.

A student who enrolls at another institution is considered to have rejected the University's offer of admission.

An individual whose offer of admission has lapsed must submit a new application and fee to be reconsidered for admission at a later date.

Re-Application

Students who are accepted but do not enroll within a one-year period from the semester date for which they were accepted must obtain new application forms from the Office of Graduate Admissions, initiate the application process the same as new students, and pay all fees as required in the application process.

Reactivation

Records of students who have enrolled previously but have taken no course work during a two-year interval will be deactivated. Once records are deactivated, a student must reapply, submitting a new online application to continue with graduate studies. Transcripts of any course work taken during the two-year interval from any other college or university will also be required.

Registration

Dates of registration are listed in the University Calendar. Registration is done via the VSU Banner website. Prior to registration, graduate students who are already enrolled in a program should consult with their advisors and work out programs for the ensuing term. For this purpose, the students should bring with them their Student Program and Data card and copies of their most recent grade reports.

Graduate faculty from program areas and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies are available in their office during registration to assist students.  A late registration fee is charged after the date specified in the University Calendar. The amount charged is listed under Special Fees. Registration is not completed until all financial obligations pertaining to it are met.