Admission to graduate certificate and master’s programs in the UA Little Rock Graduate School requires a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally or regionally accredited institution with substantially the same undergraduate program as at UA Little Rock (typically at least 120 hours or the equivalent of a 4-year baccalaureate degree). Most programs will also require a 2.7 GPA on the last 60 undergraduate hours (including post-baccalaureate hours) for admission. International students should refer to the Graduate School International Student Admission Policy for additional required application materials. Admission to an educational specialist or doctoral program usually requires a master’s degree from an institutionally or regionally accredited institution. Official transcripts, which are sent directly from the college or university that issued the degree, are required from all prospective graduate students.
Students must satisfy Graduate School requirements as well as those of the program to which they seek admission. Applications and official transcripts should be submitted to the Graduate School as quickly as possible, as an application will not be passed on to the student’s prospective program—regardless of the program’s standards or requirements—if it does not first meet the standard Graduate School admission requirements. The section of this catalog on each degree program includes admission requirements for that program.
Some degree programs require the Graduate Record Examination, (GRE), Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Scores more than five years old are not accepted. Test scores alone do not determine admission to a program but are one considered piece of data. Letters of recommendation, statements of purpose, and personal interviews are also used to assess a student’s preparedness for and probability of success in a program. It is important to note that meeting all Graduate School and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate certificate, master’s, specialist, or doctoral program. Applicants who do not meet all minimum admission criteria may, in rare instances, be admitted conditionally.
The Application Process
All prospective students are required to apply to the UA Little Rock Graduate School. After submitting an application, students must notify ALL institutions attended for undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate work to send official transcripts to:
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Attention: Graduate School Ottenheimer Library – Fifth Floor
Suite 527
2801 South University Avenue
Little Rock, Arkansas 72204-1099
A non-refundable application fee of $40.00 is required of all applicants except for McNair Scholars and military members. In addition, all applicants, except for those in solely UA Little Rock Online programs, must submit proof of two MMR vaccines to the Graduate School. Please refer to the prospective program of study to find out if additional items are needed to complete the application file. International students should also see the section later in this catalog about additional application requirements.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all admission documents are received at the Graduate School in a timely manner. All credentials submitted by or on behalf of an applicant become the property of UA Little Rock and will be retained for one year. Materials from applicants who do not submit all requested materials will be shredded and discarded.
Once an application has been submitted, applicants should notify the Graduate School of any change in plans regarding enrollment at UA Little Rock. Students admitted to the university must either enroll in the semester to which they applied, or they may defer admission for up to a year one time. On such occasions, students must officially request the deferral in writing.
Falsifying the Graduate School Admissions Application
Section 5-37-105 of the Arkansas Code makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment, “to present a transcript, diploma, or grade report from a post-secondary educational institution in a fraudulent manner.” Misrepresenting or deliberately lying about one’s background (including omitting any institution of higher education you have attended) or submitting inaccurate information may make applicants ineligible for admission (see Academic Policies and Procedures ).
Application Deadlines
Deadlines for admission applications vary from program to program and are subject to change. Applications and all supporting materials should be submitted as early as possible. To be considered for financial aid, materials should be received by the Graduate School by:
- August 1 for fall admission;
- December 15 for spring admission; and
- May 1 for summer admission.
These dates will normally assure an admission decision in time for enrollment in the designated semester; however, specific program deadlines take precedence. For program deadlines, contact the program coordinator, the Graduate School, or the graduate program webpage.
Reapplication
It is the expectation of the Graduate School that once admitted, students will remain enrolled until they graduate. However, a graduate student who has not been enrolled for a period of two calendar years will be classified as inactive. To resume graduate study, the student must reapply for admission. Some programs have shorter periods before classifying the student as inactive. Applicants dismissed from, on probation, or otherwise not in good standing in another graduate or post-graduate program will not be admitted.
Undergraduate Dual Credit Programs
Early Entry Programs
Exceptional UA Little Rock undergraduate students may apply to be accepted to select graduate programs and begin working toward their graduate degree/certificate while completing their baccalaureate degree. The early entry program will allow participating students to combine their undergraduate studies with related graduate-level work. Additionally, it will enable them to complete their graduate degree in a shorter amount of time than the traditional path. To find out more about the program and its requirements, please visit the website.
Credit Reservation Program
UA Little Rock undergraduate students may take up to six hours of graduate-level courses and reserve the credit for their graduate degree. Unlike the early entry program, these graduate-level courses will not count toward both the baccalaureate and the graduate degrees. Instead, the student will choose to use the credit towards either one degree or the other. Once a student’s undergraduate degree has been awarded, he or she cannot change the level of credit received for a class. Additionally, students participating in the credit reservation program do not need to be admitted into a graduate program in order to take graduate-level courses. To find out more about the program and its requirements, please visit the website.
International Students
International students must provide credentials and detailed information before being considered for admission. Requirements are:
- Application Form: available on the UA Little Rock Graduate School website
- Application Fee: nonrefundable $40 fee must be received.
- Academic Records: originals or certified official copies with certified English translations of the applicant’s entire academic record in college or university, showing a level of achievement that satisfies the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the degree program to which the student seeks admission.
- International applicants must submit articulated transcripts only under the following circumstances:
- If the degree(s) awarded did not come from an accredited international institution recognized by the International Association of Universities
- If the student wants to transfer in credit from another institution
- If the applicant’s intended graduate program requires articulation.
If the articulated transcripts are required, applicants must request an articulation be sent to the UA Little Rock Graduate School from one of the agencies listed at NACES.org.
- English Proficiency Certification: applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with the application. Master’s or educational specialist applicants must achieve a score of 525 on the paper-based test, 197 on the computer-based version, or 71 on the Internet-based version. Doctoral applicants must achieve a score of 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based version, or 79 on the Internet-based version. On the IELTS, all applicants must make at least a 6.5. Students who have studied full-time for two or more years at a college or university where English is the language of instruction located in a country where English is the native language may be exempt from the TOEFL or the IELTS Applicants will not be admitted as regular students nor allowed to enroll into academic programs until the requirement is met. In rare cases, international applicants may request and receive conditional acceptance to take IELP courses at UA Little Rock to assist them in making the necessary scores for regular admission into an academic program. Some programs require higher scores or other proof of proficiency such as the Test of Spoken English (TSE). TOEFL application forms and information are available from the UA Little Rock Office of Testing Services and Student Life Research (ualr.edu/testing) or from the Educational Testing Service (www.ets.org), Box 899, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 U.S.A. Information for the IELTS can be found at ielts.org/default.aspx. United States consulates and embassies may provide information. Students may also be asked to take additional tests on campus at the Office of Testing Services to demonstrate their proficiency. The Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency is given the Thursday before every UA Little Rock semester begins and costs the student $40.00.
- Financial Statement: students must provide certified proof that they are financially capable of pursuing an education in the US. The estimated cost for books, tuition, fees, and living expenses will be $24,200 in U.S. currency each year. Tuition payments are due at the beginning of each semester and do not include the cost of books, supplies, and miscellaneous fees. In some instances, UA Little Rock will require cash deposits for tuition and living expenses before admission is granted.
- Health and Accident Insurance: admitted students must purchase health and accident insurance provided by UA Little Rock and maintain coverage year-round.
- Tuberculosis Screening and MMRs: all international applicants must be screened for tuberculosis according to an Arkansas Department of Health directive. Screening can be done at Student Health Services or through a primary care provider. All students must also provide proof of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella to the Graduate School. One MMR must be provided at admission time and the other MMR is due by the end of the first semester.
- Change of University: applicants transferring from another institution within the U.S. must submit a Transfer and Visa Form for International Students completed by the applicant and the foreign student advisor of the institution the applicant is currently attending.
- Deadlines: no action will be taken on an application for admission until all credentials have been received. They must be received no later than July 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester, and March 1 for the summer semester. Transfer students must have all credentials on file one month before the date of registration.
Additional Information for International Students
- Housing Facilities: UA Little Rock now has a complex dedicated to upper-class and graduate student housing. For more information visit the housing website or contact housing@ualr.edu.
- Employment: U.S. immigration laws do not permit international students to apply for permission to accept off-campus employment until they have been in this country for at least one year. Note: graduate assistants are not allowed to work off-campus.
Admission Status
A student may be granted admission to the Graduate School in one of the following categories:
Regular
Regular admission to a UA Little Rock graduate program requires that the applicant be in good standing with all previous institutions and meet at least one of the following requirements:
- A baccalaureate degree with a GPA of 2.7/4.0 in the last 60 hours from an institutionally or regionally accredited, domestic institution or an international institution recognized by the International Association of Universities with substantially the same undergraduate program as found at UA Little Rock
- An advanced degree (master’s or doctoral) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 from an institutionally or regionally accredited, domestic institution or an international institution recognized by the International Association of Universities.
International students must meet additional requirements: see Policy 509.9 Graduate School International Student Admission
In addition to the minimum requirements stipulated above, students must satisfy the requirements for the program to which they are applying in order to be granted regular status. Students should consult the Graduate Catalog for program-specific admission requirements. Some degree programs require that scores from standardized tests, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), be submitted as part of the application portfolio. Generally, scores more than five years old are not accepted. Test scores alone do not determine admission to a program but are one piece of data used in the consideration process. Letters of recommendation, statements of purpose, writing samples, and personal interviews may be used to assess a student’s preparedness and probability of success.
Students must submit all the Graduate School and program admission materials to be considered for regular admissions. After submitting an application, graduate applicants must request official transcripts from any college or university where they earned their graduate and or undergraduate degrees
If a bachelor’s degree transcript(s) contains fewer than 60 graded course credits, additional official transcripts from other institutions the applicant attended will be required so that at a minimum, the applicant’s most recent 60 hours can be evaluated
Individual graduate programs may require additional transcripts
Conditional
There are two paths by which a student may be conditionally admitted:
1. Applicants who have supplied all admission materials and have met the Graduate School minimum requirements, may be admitted as conditional students at the discretion of the program
2. Applicants who do not meet the Graduate School minimum GPA requirements may, in rare instances, be admitted conditionally if they meet alternative program requirements approved by the Graduate Council. The number of students that may be admitted without meeting the Graduate School’s minimum GPA requirements is limited to 10% of the official 3-year average program enrollment. Programs may petition the Graduate School for an exception to this limit. Test scores, grades in the undergraduate major, or other pertinent data approved for the program must indicate the student will perform satisfactorily in graduate studies.
Conditionally admitted students may be converted to regular admission status after completing 9 hours if he or she maintains a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Conditionally admitted students will be dismissed after the first 9 hours if their GPA is not at least 3.0 or satisfactory progress is not made toward meeting the admission requirements
Special Conditional
Students who have supplied all admission materials and did not meet all admission requirements may be admitted as conditional students. Applicants with an undergraduate cumulative GPA between 2.0 and 2.7 or a GPA between 2.7 and 3.0 in their last 60 hours may, in rare instances, be admitted conditionally if they meet alternative program requirements approved by the Graduate Council. The number of students that may be admitted without meeting the Graduate School’s minimum GPA requirements is limited to 10% of the official 3-year average program enrollment. Programs may petition the Graduate School for an exception to this limit.
Test scores, grades in the undergraduate major, or other pertinent data approved for the program must indicate the student will perform satisfactorily in graduate school.
The student may be converted to regular status after completing 9 hours if he or she maintains a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The student will be dismissed after 9 hours if his or her GPA is not at least 3.0 or satisfactory progress is not made toward meeting the admission requirements.
Non-degree seeking
Students not seeking a degree at UA Little Rock who meet the Graduate School minimum requirements may be admitted as non-degree-seeking students. Not all programs allow non-degree-seeking students to enroll in their courses. Some programs allow special students to enroll in a limited number of courses. Applicants interested in this category should contact the Graduate School.
Transient
Students enrolled in another institutionally or regionally accredited graduate school and who secure a letter of good standing from the dean of that graduate school may be admitted to UA Little Rock as transient students.
New Student Orientation
Orientation is available online at any point during the semester.
Contingent Enrollment Privilege
Students not yet admitted to the Graduate School may be granted contingent enrollment privileges (with minimum requirements of an unofficial transcript showing conferral of a baccalaureate or graduate degree) until an admission status is granted. Failure to present adequate and official admission materials within four weeks of enrollment may result in administrative withdrawal from all courses and loss of tuition and fees, and failure to gain admission will prevent enrollment in future graduate courses. The phrase “Admitted to Graduate School” will not appear on the transcript.
Short-Term, Off-Campus, and Distance Education Courses
To enroll in graduate-level workshops, institutes, or other credit offerings through the Graduate School or Off-Campus Programs, students must apply online for admission to the Graduate School at least four weeks before the course starts and must provide evidence of admissibility before being enrolled. Applicants cannot attend a class without being enrolled. It is important that all required documents are received in the Graduate School at least one week before the course begins. Deadline dates are enforced. Application and enrollment assistance may be provided on-site in some situations, but not as a rule.
In general, for domestic applicants, materials for the fall semester (begins in late August), should be received by June 1; for the spring semester (begins in mid-January), by October 15; for the first summer session (begins in mid-May), by March 15; for the second summer session (begins in early July), by May 1. For international applicants, materials for the fall semester (begins in late August), should be received by February 1 and for the spring semester (begins in mid-January), by October 15.
Deferment
Occasionally, students who have been admitted into a graduate program are unable to enroll in classes in the term for which they are admitted. On such occasions, students may officially request a deferment for up to one year from the Graduate Coordinator in the program of interest. Approval of students’ requests is not guaranteed but is considered on a case-by-case basis. Upon completion of the agreed-upon deferred period, it is expected that the student will begin enrolling in graduate coursework in their respective programs. For advising purposes, the catalog year under which a student falls will reflect the academic year that the student first enrolls in courses if that is different than the academic year the student is admitted. If a student fails to file a deferment or fails to register for classes after the completion of a deferment, he or she must reapply for admission
Undergraduate Senior Admission
UA Little Rock seniors near completion of their baccalaureate degree may apply for admission to the Graduate School, which provides limited enrollment privileges. If accepted, they will be awarded the appropriate status upon confirmation of their baccalaureate degree. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the Graduate School of degree completion. Students may not be eligible for financial aid while being considered for admission to the Graduate School
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