Graduate School: Student Classification

Graduate students fall under one of the following three classifications:

• A Degree student is one who has been accepted into a program leading to a master's degree.
• A Postgraduate student is one who has been admitted for post-graduate work. This classification implies no commitment on the part of the University regarding regular admission at a later time, nor the applicability of the courses taken toward the requirements for a master's degree.
• A non-matriculated graduate student is any student enrolled in graduate courses who is not an applicant for status as a degree student. Non-matriculated students must certify that they are qualified for graduate-level courses by virtue of their undergraduate degree. As with the postgraduate student the non-matriculate graduate student classification does not imply commitment on the part of the University regarding regular admission at a later time, nor the applicability of the courses taken toward the requirements for a master's degree. 

Individual's wishing to apply as a non-matriculate student must completely fill out the Non-matriculated Student Application, Course Registration Form, and submit these materials to the Graduate School office along with a current resume, undergraduate transcript (unofficial or web print-out), and a $50 application fee.

As a non-matriculate student an individual is allowed to take up to 9 credit hours of coursework. After one has reached the 9 credit hour limit they will need to formally apply to one of the University's graduate programs.

Prior to taking courses as a non-matriculate student one may want to contact the program director in the school of interest in order to determine if the courses taken under this student classification will be applicable toward a master's degree should the student decide to formally apply. 

Students may not take more than nine hours of credit in the postgraduate or the non-matriculated status without the permission of the graduate program director and the associate provost. After nine credit hours, a student must establish a program in order to have the hours apply to a degree.