Doctoral Program Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to graduate study toward a doctoral degree, a student must

• Hold an earned baccalaureate or equivalent degree from a regionally accredited institution recognized by Ball State University with a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 on hours earned from the degree-granting institution. A student with a baccalaureate degree not considered the equivalent to that of Ball State University may be admitted under conditions to be determined by the department concerned and the dean of the Graduate School. Credentials from international colleges, universities, and their equivalents outside the United States are evaluated by International Admissions.
• At the time of application, students must submit required transcripts of previously conducted college work.
• Meet any additional admission standards established by the academic unit responsible for each doctoral degree program.  A prospective student should contact the department or consult the department’s website and/or handbook for specific program requirements.
• Be recommended for admission by the academic unit responsible for the doctoral degree program.

Some programs may require an earned master’s degree or equivalent for consideration for doctoral study. In such cases applicants must have a cumulative GPA on the master’s degree of at least 3.2 on a scale of 4.0. Applicants to any doctoral program who have achieved a 3.2 GPA in a master’s degree, but have less than a 3.0 on their baccalaureate work, meet the Graduate School’s minimum GPA criteria. If a master’s degree is not required for admission but an applicant has earned a 3.2 on a scale of 4.0 on their master’s degree, they meet the Graduate School’s minimum GPA criteria. Specific programs may have higher GPA requirements than the Graduate School minimums. Please see admission requirements on the departmental website and in departmental or program handbooks. The fulfillment of the minimum Graduate School admission standards listed above does not guarantee admission to a specific degree program. 

The faculty of the various graduate programs make recommendations for admission to the dean of the Graduate School. Offers of admission are not official until approved by the dean of the Graduate School. Official admission decisions are communicated to applicants by email from the dean of the Graduate School. 

Students may register for graduate courses leading to the doctoral degree only upon official acceptance into their program.

After official admission to a doctoral program, the student, with permission from the department, may defer enrollment for up to one year.  A deferral request must be approved by the program director or designee by the Thursday before the first week of classes for the original application term.  If the deferral is longer than a year, or the request is not approved within the allotted time, the student must reapply for admission, submit new application materials, and meet all current admission requirements.

Transcripts

Doctoral programs have two options for collecting applicant transcripts, and they will communicate transcript requirements on their website and/or handbook:

Option 1, Transcripts Showing Complete Academic Record: At the time of application, students must submit unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended. Students who are recommended for admission by their program will be admitted conditionally by the graduate dean and allowed to enroll in courses for one term. The student must submit an official transcript from the highest earned degree within the first semester of enrollment to continue in the program.  

Option 2, Transcript From Highest Earned Degree: At the time of application, students must submit an unofficial transcript from the highest earned degree.  Students who are recommended for admission by their program will be admitted conditionally by the graduate dean and allowed to enroll in courses for one term. The student must submit an official transcript from the highest earned degree within the first semester of enrollment to continue in the program.  Programs choosing option 2 may request additional unofficial transcripts from specific applicants when needed to confirm if applicants have taken required pre-requisite courses or have met minimum admissions criteria.  In these cases, programs will require applicants to upload transcripts into the application portal.

Students who are admitted conditionally with unofficial transcripts will have a hold placed on their transcript release and on course registration for the following term until the required final official transcript is received and reviewed for eligibility. A student will not be officially admitted until the required final official transcript is received. 

Students wishing to transfer graduate credit from another college or university also need to submit an official transcript from that institution.  

An official transcript is one that has been received directly from the issuing institution, either by mail or electronically. It must bear that institution’s seal, the date, and an appropriate signature. Transcripts received that do not meet these requirements will not be considered official and will be rejected for any permanent use. All transcripts become the property of Ball State University. Applicants who are currently attending, or who have previously attended, Ball State University are not required to provide a Ball State transcript.  Applicants who have earned credits and degrees from institutions outside the United States may have different transcript submission procedures, as well as earlier deadlines, and they should contact International Admissions for specific information and requirements.

Standardized Tests

The Graduate School does not require programs to consider standardized test scores in admission.  Programs have complete discretion concerning whether they require standardized test scores. You should refer to your program’s graduate program handbook for more information about the admissions requirements and process for the program(s) you are interested in. 

Other Documents

If the program(s) you are applying to require letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, a personal statement, or other documents, these can be submitted or requested through our online application process. A prospective student should contact the department or consult the department’s website and/or handbook for specific program requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure all deadlines and requirements are met.