Graduate Admission Requirements

Admission to Graduate Study

Contact for graduate admission information:
Graduate Admissions
Missouri State University
Carrington Hall, Room 306
901 S. National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897
Telephone: 417-836-5331
Fax: 417-836-6200
Email: GraduateAdmissions@MissouriState.edu

Admissions decisions are made by each graduate program, based on its admissions requirements, selection criteria, program capacity, and the quantity and quality of the applicant pool. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission. When discriminatory, unfair, or unethical behavior is alleged, the admission decision can be appealed to the Head of the Department in which the graduate program is offered, and if unsuccessful, to the Dean of the Graduate College.

The university reserves the right to suspend or reverse an admission decision in the event that an applicant is charged or convicted with a crime or ethics violation prior to becoming a “student” (which occurs upon the first day of class attended), or the application package becomes suspect or incomplete (eg., letter of reference withdrawn, application document falsified, job history fabricated, etc.). The decision to suspend or reverse an admission decision is left to the discretion of the graduate program. This decision can be appealed to the Head of the Department in which the graduate program is offered, and if unsuccessful, to the Dean of the Graduate College.

Admission Procedures Admission Procedures

All graduate applications to MSU are collected through a centralized application service (CAS). Admission requirements and program deadlines are included in each CAS application. Applicants need to provide program- required materials, submit official transcripts showing coursework for the bachelor’s degree and any graduate level work, and pay the application fee through the CAS. Required materials and fees vary by program and by CAS. 

The chart below indicates the CAS to which students should apply based on desired program.

Masters and Specialist Admission Requirements

Op5.01-4 Graduate Students Admission Policy

The Graduate Council sets the minimum standards for full admission to graduate study. Additional requirements and higher standards may be stipulated for specific graduate programs, and applicants should check for such requirements in the departmental section of this catalog. The minimum requirements for graduate admission are:

1. A bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by agencies recognized by Missouri State University, AND a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale; OR at least a 2.75 grade point average on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 hours of academic course work; OR at least a 2.75 grade point average on a minimum of 9 hours of graduate credits; OR have a combined score of 290 (875 under the old scoring system before August 1, 2011) on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination; OR
2. A bachelor’s degree from a college or university NOT accredited by an agency recognized by Missouri State University, a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale; OR at least a 2.75 grade point average on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 hours of academic course work, AND a combined score of 290 (875 under the old scoring system before August 1, 2011) on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination; OR
3. A bachelor’s degree from a college or university recognized by Missouri State University, AND recommendation in writing by both the department head of the student’s desired major area and the dean of the college in which that discipline is located, and the approval of the Dean of the Graduate College.

Doctoral Admission Requirements

The standards for admission to a doctoral program are more stringent than for a master’s program, in accordance with the higher demands of the degree. The admission standards for a particular program may be even higher than the following university-wide standards, and a program may have additional requirements. Therefore, applicants must review the section in this catalog that pertains to their particular doctoral program of interest, and contact the department for admissions criteria. As a minimum, applicants for a doctoral program must meet the following. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission.

1. A minimum GPA of 3.00, either cumulative or for the last 60 credits of that degree.
2. Submission of a standardized test score may be required. Check individual program requirements.

Accelerated Masters Admission

Undergraduate students who apply for an accelerated master’s degree must submit their application for the semester after which he/she will receive a bachelor’s degree.

If admitted to an accelerated master’s degree program and your bachelor’s degree graduation semester should change, please notify the Graduate Admissions (GraduateAdmissions@MissouriState.edu) as soon as possible so that your information may be updated.

Readmission Requirements

The procedure for readmission of a graduate student who has not maintained continuous enrollment (summer excluded) is based on the period of absence:

Applied and/or accepted, but never attended or completed a class as a degree-seeking graduate student.

• If the time period has been less than one (1) year, students may send an email to Graduate Admissions (GraduateAdmissions@MissouriState.edu) requesting his/her graduate application and/or admission semester be changed.
  • Program exceptions are: Communication Sciences and Disorders, Counseling, Nurse Anesthesia, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, Psychology, and Social Work. Contact the appropriate program director for more information
• If the time period has been more than one (1) year, students will need to submit a new graduate application.

Previously attended and completed a graduate class as a degree-seeking graduate student.

• Complete a new graduate application.

Former Missouri State University graduate degree recipients.

• Students returning to take additional graduate classes and are not seeking an additional degree may be readmitted under the nondegree-seeking student classification. Contact Nondegree-Seeking Services at 417- 836-6929 or by email at NonDegree@MissouriState.edu for information regarding this process.
• Students who wish to pursue an additional graduate degree will need to complete new graduate application and provide any additional materials which are needed by the department/program.

NOTE: Any graduate student who wishes to pursue a second undergraduate degree at Missouri State University should contact the Office of Admissions (Undergraduate) at 417-836-5517 or Admissions@MissouriState.edu.

International Student Admission

Op5.09-2 International Graduate Students

Graduate Admission Requirements

Missouri State encourages applicants from around the world. To apply for admission, please follow these required steps:

1. The International Student Application and Fee
   If you believe you are able to meet all requirements, we invite you to complete and return the “International Student Application” with the $55 USD application fee (non-refundable). We must receive the application and fee before we can begin processing.
2. Academic Requirements
   You must have completed a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution, with a 2.75 (U.S. scale) grade point average for the last 60 credit hours. Please refer to the Graduate Catalog for admission requirements for each individual graduate program. Official proof of any degree, diploma, certificate and/or transcript must be submitted for your file in the original language and a translated copy. If you have completed less than one year of study at a post-secondary institution, regardless of location or length of time attended, you must request these records as well. You must request official documents from each school you have attended. Official documents: To qualify as official, documents must be sent to the Missouri State Office of International Services directly from the issuing institution. Official copies of all documents must arrive before you file can be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies for admission consideration.
3. Proof of English Proficiency
   Proof of your proficiency in English is required if your primary language is not English. Persons who have completed one or more years of university level study in the U.S. may be exempt at the discretion of the International Services Office. Proof can be provided in two ways:
   1. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)*
      The TOEFL score minimum requirement is 79 or more for graduate applicants. You must request that original copies of these scores be sent to Missouri State directly from the Educational Testing Service. If you have a computer-based score, check here to see the equivalent paper based score: TOEFL Concordance Tables
   2. Graduate Study
      Students applying for graduate study (including those who have completed an undergraduate degree but do not yet meet the English requirements for graduate admission), should request an application to the Missouri State English Language Institute. Graduate Students

4. Graduate Required Tests
   Tests Applicants to the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Accountancy programs must take the “Graduate Management Admission Test” (GMAT)*. Some graduate programs require the “Graduate Record Examination” (GRE)*. Scores for the appropriate test must be on file prior to admission. *Information and registration forms for the tests are also available at many U.S. Embassies and Consulates, offices of the U.S. Information Agency, and offices of international education organizations, such as the Institute of International Education (IIE), the African-American Institute (AAI), and the American-Mideast Educational and Training Services (AMIDEAST).
5. U.S. Transfer Recommendation Form
   You must complete the transfer recommendation form if you are currently in the U.S. as an international student and are planning to continue your education at Missouri State. You must submit the transfer recommendation form to your current international student advisor who will mail or fax it to Missouri State International Services office. We cannot complete the I-20 Form until it is received. Be sure to sign the transfer form before submitting it to your current international student advisor.
    

*To register for the TOEFL or GRE see: www.ets.org

To register for the GMAT see: www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT