Admission as a Certificate Student

Certificate nondegree students must meet the following admission criteria:

• A baccalaureate degree from Ball State University or an equivalent degree from a USDE accredited institution recognized by Ball State University is a prerequisite for admission to graduate study for a certificate nondegree program. An applicant with a baccalaureate degree not considered the equivalent of that of Ball State University may be considered for probationary admission.
• Have an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale on credit hours earned from the degree-granting institution.
• Meet departmental or program admission requirements.
• Departments may recommend to the graduate dean that students with a latter half undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 be granted regular admission to their program.
• Students with 9 credits or more of graduate coursework with a GPA of 3.0 or students with a conferred graduate degree may be granted regular admission to their program.

Certificates are classified as a non-degree programs; please check with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to see if these programs are aid eligible. Specific programs may have higher GPA requirements than the Graduate School minimums. An applicant who meets minimum Graduate School admissions standards is not guaranteed admission to a specific certificate nondegree program. A prospective student should contact the department or consult the department’s website and/or handbook for specific program requirements. Nondegree students who later apply to a degree program must complete the regular admission procedure, must meet all entrance requirements of that program, and must have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA in their nondegree coursework after completing 9 credits. Credits must have been completed within the six-year time limit allowed for completion of a master’s degree.

Probationary Admission for Certificate Students

Ball State University recognizes that some students who do not meet the Graduate School GPA minimum may still be able to make a strong case for admission to a certificate program. In these cases, certificate programs may petition the dean of the Graduate School for probationary admission of a student whose grade point average from their degree-granting institution is less than 2.75 if there is sufficient evidence of the student's academic and/or professional achievement indicating their potential for success in a certificate program. Probationary admission requires the approval of the certificate program director and dean of the Graduate School. Programs may also choose to not allow probationary admissions in their programs.

Students admitted on a probationary status must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their first 9 semester credits of graduate work or be academically dismissed. The program director may also specify a specific probationary course plan for students admitted on probation, and will communicate this with them directly. Upon the successful completion of 9 credits of graduate coursework with a minimum cumulative graduate 3.0 GPA, a student admitted under probationary status will be eligible to assume regular graduate student status. Students admitted under probationary status are not eligible for an assistantship until they assume regular student status.

Applicants who have a bachelor's degree from an institution that is not recognized by its regional accrediting association but who otherwise meet all Graduate School and department requirements for regular admission may request probationary admission. A recommendation for probationary admission from the graduate program director must be accompanied by a rationale and be approved by the dean of the Graduate School. Upon the successful completion of 9 credits of graduate coursework with a minimum cumulative graduate 3.0 GPA, a student admitted under probationary status will be eligible to assume regular graduate student status. Students admitted through the probationary admission process who are academically dismissed will not be granted reinstatement into the Ball State Graduate School.

Deferral Policy

After official admission to a master’s degree, certificate, or licensure program, the student, with permission from the department, may defer enrollment for up to a year. A deferral request must be approved by the program director or designee within the first forty-five (45) days of semester start for the original application term. If the deferral is longer than a year or the request is not approved with the allotted time, the student may reapply for admission but must submit new application materials and meet all current admission requirements.

Transcripts

Graduate 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.

Satisfactory Grade Point Average (GPA)

At any time after completion of 9 credits of graduate study, students must have and maintain at least a 3.0 graduate GPA.

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Admission as a Nondegree Student