Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2018-2019 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Admission Policies and Procedures


 

Graduate Council will be responsible for establishing general institutional requirements (both quantitative and qualitative) for admission, retention, and completion. Admission and completion criteria for individual graduate programs (both quantitative and qualitative), especially as they differ from general institutional criteria for admission, retention, and completion, are established by program faculty. 

Application and Admission

See the departmental sections of this Bulletin for more-specific information. 

The University of Montevallo welcomes applications from all individuals whose experiences, interests, and academic preparation indicate potential for success in one of the graduate programs. Forms for application and related information are available on the University’s website. Applications for the Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology are to be submitted through CSDCAS at https://csdcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login.

Decisions on admission to specific graduate programs are made by the appropriate department and the dean of the college based on of requirements listed in this Bulletin. There is a non-refundable fee required for the Graduate Application. Students may submit the Application for Graduate Study online and make payment online as well. At this time, all other forms may be downloaded and printed only.

Students applying for a master’s degree program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Collegiate work from unaccredited post-secondary institutions (or institutions that are not in candidacy status for accreditation) is not transferable to the University of Montevallo. Students who have earned an undergraduate degree from an institution not regionally accredited but who have subsequently earned a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution may appeal to the dean of the appropriate college for special consideration. A completed application and one official transcript from each institution of higher education attended must be submitted to the University by April 15 for Summer admission, July 15 for fall admission, and November 15 for spring admission. Please note: These dates reflect priority deadlines. Applicants may submit materials after the deadline with the understanding that submitting materials after the priority deadline does not guarantee consideration for admission for the following term. These deadlines may differ for capped and cohort programs. See individual department sections for possible differences. Even though credits from one institution may appear on the transcript of another institution, it is still necessary to submit all transcripts. Such transcripts must include evidence of graduation with a degree posted.

Applicants who have yet to complete an undergraduate degree must submit a final transcript with a degree posted before the end of the first semester of graduate coursework. Students may not take additional graduate coursework without a final transcript on file in the student’s college.

Credit may not be given for graduate coursework taken by a student who has not been admitted officially to the graduate program at the University of Montevallo.

Students who have been enrolled in but not completed similar graduate programs at other institutions must have left in good standing in order to be admitted to the University of Montevallo graduate program.

General Test Score Requirements

Some programs require a satisfactory, official score on a prescribed graduate examination. See each program listed in this Bulletin for specific requirements. The test must have been taken within 5 years of the date of application for graduate study. The MAT is given through the College of Education. Contact the office directly at (205) 665-6380 for information on the MAT and to make an appointment. Visit www.ets.org for more information about the GRE. Visit www.mba.com for information about the GMAT.

Special Admissions

Conditional Admissions

Some programs may offer conditional admission to an applicant who does not have a satisfactory test score, has not taken the prescribed examination(s), or has not complied with other specific departmental requirements. Some programs do not offer a conditional admission. A conditionally admitted student will be allowed to take no more than 12 graduate hours. Graduate credit toward a degree at the University of Montevallo will not be awarded until the requirements for unconditional admission have been met. No student who has been admitted conditionally will be allowed to register after attempting 12 hours of graduate work. Any student who has attended another institution as a graduate student must be in good standing at that institution in order to be admitted for graduate study in the same field at the University of Montevallo. Exceptions may be made if the appropriate departmental chairperson and college dean agree that there have been mitigating circumstances.

Non-Degree Status

Students taking courses for personal enrichment or to comply with certification requirements may be allowed to enroll with non-degree status. If these students later apply for admission to a graduate program, credit for the course(s) taken will be evaluated on an individual course basis.

Students who desire non-degree status must submit an official transcript with a degree posted. By the end of the first term of enrollment, official transcripts from all institutions attended must be on file in the student’s college.

Special Status

Special-status admission may be granted to a student under some circumstances. Special-status admission may be granted for no more than three (3) graduate hours and for no more than one term, based on a review of the student’s transcript (unofficial or official). A special-status student may register only on the day of registration. Students admitted by special status must complete their application and be admitted into a program in order to continue with graduate coursework.

Students Who Have Not Completed a Degree

Undergraduate students who are in the last semester of their senior year may take up to six (6) hours of graduate credit at the University of Montevallo with permission of the department chairperson and the dean of the college housing the graduate program they wish to enter. Permission is granted to a student provided he/she has sufficient content background to indicate success at the graduate level. The student must apply and be accepted to the graduate program before taking graduate courses. Course credit cannot be counted toward the undergraduate degree at the University of Montevallo.

Second Master’s Degree

A second master’s degree may be earned with a minimum of 18 semester hours of additional credit beyond the first master’s degree. Students seeking a second master’s degree must meet the entrance requirements for the program they wish to enter unless the appropriate departmental chairperson and college dean agree that those requirements or their equivalent were met in the first master’s degree. Requirements for the second degree will be decided by the department chair and approved by the college dean.

Readmission to the University

Students who have been absent two years or more more must apply for readmission. Readmitted students may be required to meet the requirements of the University Bulletin in effect at the time of readmission.

International Student Admission

The University of Montevallo welcomes qualified applicants from other countries. Information pertaining to international student admissions is available on the University’s website. It is recommended that international students begin the application process at least three (3) months prior to the posted application deadline.

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements, international students are required to submit the following original credentials:

  • A completed application for admission with the required application fee;
  • One (1) official college transcript from each foreign institution, evaluated by World Education Services, Lisano International, Josef Silney and Associates, Inc., or other UM-recognized agency. The academic department chair determines course equivalency.
  • An affidavit of financial support indicating that sufficient funds are available to the student to pay the cost of attendance. There is no financial aid program for international students at the University, nor do immigration laws permit part-time employment except in special cases.
  • A score of at least 550 on the paper-based, or a score of at least 71 on the Internet-based TOEFL. On the IELTS, the University requires a minimum overall score of 6.0, with a minimum score of 5.0 on any individual section on the academic module. Score reports should be sent to the student’s intended college of study. Students should write to the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6155, Princeton, NJ 08540-6155, U.S.A., to complete arrangements for the TOEFL.
  • Students may find more information regarding the TOEFL at www.toefl.org.
  • Students may find more information regarding the IELTS at www.ielts.org.
  • Students may find more information regarding the PTE at www.pearsonpte.com.
  • A completed original International Medical Form signed by a physician. Downloadable form with instructions can be found on this web page: https://www.montevallo.edu/admissions-aid/international-admissions/requirements/
  • Tuberculosis (TB) skin or blood test, in English, dated within 12 months of class start date.
  • Medical document, in English, showing two dates of MMR vaccinations (measles, mumps, rubella).
  • Health Insurance Policy, see this web page for details: https://www.montevallo.edu/admissions-aid/international-admissions/health-insurance/

    ​​Note: After admission to the University, students are expected to notify the University of any change in health status that represents a potential risk to others. Students who may need disability-related accommodations may contact Disability Support Services.


Although federal immigration laws do not permit part-time employment for international students except in special instances, prospective students who meet the requirements previously listed are encouraged to contact the University for information regarding financial aid options.

Complete international student admission information is available on the University’s website.