Toll free in Georgia: 1-800-342-0471. Additional contact information.
E-mail questions and comments to: info@gcsu.edu.
Current Catalogs (Undergraduate and Graduate)
University policies, procedures and catalog information are subject to change.
ADMISSIONSGRADUATE PROGRAMSThe mission of the graduate programs at Georgia College & State University is to educate our students at the highest level in their academic discipline and to provide them with a foundation for continuous learning as future scholars, teachers, and professionals. This is accomplished by providing high quality programs in several specialties of arts and sciences, and in business, education, and health sciences. Admission is based on criteria specific to each program. The programs of study emphasize independent and advanced applied research skills, professional development, cultural breadth beyond the baccalaureate degree, and sophisticated techniques that are applicable to many paths taken by students with superior academic qualifications who are judged capable of performing acceptably in advanced studies. Graduate study is much more than a continuation of undergraduate work and should be contemplated only by students who have demonstrated in earlier studies an exceptional intellectual ability and capacity for independent thought and investigation. Admission requirements serve to maintain the high standards that are characteristic of graduate study and serve to benefit the students in helping them decide early whether they should undertake such a course of action. By means of an admission classification system, Georgia College & State University provides for the maintenance of high standards in its degree programs. It also provides for, and makes its facilities available to, a wide variety of students who are not eligible for advanced degrees, or who do not wish to become applicants for degrees. All graduate programs are administered through the Academic Schools. The Graduate Council, which includes representative faculty from throughout the University, advises the Vice President and Dean of Faculties on all matters appropriate to graduate program development, admission standards and program evaluation. Program coordinators monitor graduate programs, provide assistance to students, make admission decisions, and perform other operational functions for their particular program areas. Graduate programs at Georgia College & State University are designed to provide advanced training in professional studies including business, education, logistics management, management information systems, health services, and public administration as well as disciplinary areas including biology, history, English, and criminal justice. The programs award the degrees of Master of Accountancy, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Master of Management Information Systems, Master of Music Therapy, Master of Public Administration, Master of Science, Master of Science in Administration, Master of Science in Nursing, Joint MSN/MBA, and Specialist in Education. Programs in teacher education at the Masters level (M.Ed.) are provided in educational leadership, early childhood education, middle grades education, health promotion, health and physical education, special education, instructional technology, and the following secondary fields: English, mathematics, natural science (biology), social science, and foreign languages. Masters of Arts in Teaching programs (MAT) are offered in art, health, French, Spanish and the following secondary fields: English, mathematics, history, political science, biology, chemistry, physics, and business education. Programs at the Specialist level include: educational leadership, early childhood education, health and physical education, middle grades education, natural science education (biology), and social science education. ADMISSIONSConsideration for admission to graduate study at Georgia College & State University will be given to applicants who hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution and who present evidence of probable success in graduate work. Students who are presently enrolled in or have taken graduate work elsewhere must be in good standing at that institution to be eligible for admission to graduate study at Georgia College & State University. The application deadlines are July 1 for the fall semester, November 15 for the spring semester and April 1 for Maymester/Summer. International students and other applicants to the program requiring standardized test scores should complete these examinations at least eight weeks prior to matriculation. International students must submit additional documents as required by the Office of International Services and Programs. All applicants desiring to enroll in graduate classes are required to provide the Office of Graduate Admissions with official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate academic work taken at each college attended. An application for admission, including the application fee should be mailed to the Office of Graduate Admissions. The online application fee is $35.00 and the paper application fee is $40.00. Applicants may pay the application fee with a credit card by calling the Graduate Admissions Office at (478) 445-6289 or by sending a check to the Graduate Admissions Office, CBX 107, Milledgeville, GA 31061. Former students of GCSU are exempt from the application fee. All applicants for degree programs must also provide acceptable results of their performance on the applicable graduate test, i.e.: Graduate Record Examination, Graduate Management Admission Test, Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators (GACE), or Miller Analogies Test. Other supporting materials may be required by specific degree programs. Test scores may not be more than ten years old. An application is not considered complete, nor will it be processed, until all required transcripts and examination scores are on file in the Office of Graduate Admissions. The degree program coordinator gives approval for admission to a degree program, subject to the minimum requirements of the University. Program admission requirements are frequently more demanding and specific than general admission requirements. A student will be admitted to a degree program only with the recommendation of the degree program coordinator. A student will not be allowed to register for more than 12 semester hours in any degree program without being regularly admitted. IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTSGeorgia College & State University and The University System of Georgia require immunization documents from every newly admitted and readmitted student. Georgia College & State University will forward to each newly admitted and readmitted student an immunization certificate form to be completed immediately. This form should be returned to Georgia College & State University Office of the Registrar, CBX 069, Milledgeville, GA 31061 for evaluation prior to enrollment. A printable immunization form is available from the web. RESIDENCY DEFINITIONA student is in residence if enrolled in courses offered at an approved Georgia College & State University residential facility. These facilities are the Milledgeville Campus, GCSU at Robins AFB, the Center for Graduate and Professional Learning in Macon. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADMISSIONS REGULATIONSStudents from countries other than the United States who intend to be in F-1 or J-1 student visa status must apply for admission through GCSU's International Education Center. Prospective students may download admissions materials from the International Center website at /international, telephone (478) 445-4789, email intladm@gcsu.edu or write International Admissions, Campus Box 49, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA 31061 USA. At the time of application, prospective international students may apply for the International Student Scholarship, which is equivalent to a waiver of half or all of out-of-state tuition fees. Selection is based upon academic scholarship, extracurricular activity, and financial need. PLEASE NOTE: All first-year (freshman) students under 21 years of age are required to live on campus for two consecutive semesters. The following regulations apply:
The following guidelines apply to students whose native language is other than English and who have chosen majors that require foreign language study:
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE STUDENTSInternational students who will attend GCSU under the terms of an exchange agreement with their home institution will be admitted according to the provisions specified in each agreement. Students should contact their home institution's exchange coordinator or the International Education Center at GCSU for specific guidelines. ACADEMIC POLICYEvery graduate student and every prospective graduate student should become thoroughly familiar with the regulations and requirements for degrees contained in this catalog. Failure to follow the regulations and requirements may result in complications which could cause inconvenience to students. It is especially important that students note that it is their responsibility to keep apprised of current graduation requirements for the degree program in which they are enrolled. A student is advised by the degree program coordinator or by other professors designated for such advising. Advisement in matters pertaining to teacher certification is the responsibility of the Coordinator of Graduate Programs in the School of Education and the appropriate department chairperson. Courses numbered 6000 and above are exclusively for graduate students. Courses numbered 5000 are primarily for graduate students, but, on occasion, are open to qualified seniors or special students. A graduate student will not be permitted to take a graduate level course with the same title/name previously taken at the undergraduate level. Admission to graduate standing is a prerequisite for enrollment in graduate courses for graduate credit. Each graduate student is responsible for consulting with the appropriate faculty adviser for the completion of individual courses. Unless noted otherwise under specific degree program requirements, all credit applied to the planned program must have been earned within the prescribed period of seven years after initial acceptance to the graduate program. However, the requirements for individual programs may vary. Please refer to the degree program sections of the catalog for individual program requirements. At least 18 semester hours of graduate work must be completed in regular Georgia College & State University courses on campus or at a Regents' approved Residence Center. Courses taken at a facility other than an approved commuter campus or center do not meet the residence requirement. No more than nine semester hours of required work may be taken in or under the auspices of another graduate school. Such work must have been completed within the prescribed period of seven years, must have a relationship to the student's program, must be recommended by the adviser in the major field of study, must be approved by the graduate coordinator, and must comply with other requirements specified by the University. No student will be allowed to pursue two degrees simultaneously. No graduate credit will be allowed for correspondence work. Georgia College & State University, with the approval of the Board of Regents, provides degree credit programs in specific majors through commuter locations located in Macon and the Warner Robins Air Force Base. Students admitted to these programs must satisfy the same requirements for a degree as those who attend classes on the Milledgeville campus. CLASSIFICATION OF GRADUATE STUDENTSA student admitted to Georgia College & State University who already has a baccalaureate degree will be classified as a graduate student. Students admitted to Georgia College & State University graduate programs will be classified in the following degree categories: REGULAR ADMISSIONAn applicant who has been determined by the coordinator of the program to have met all requirements for admission to a degree program as described in the degree program section of the catalog may be admitted as a regular graduate student. In no instance will more than a total of 12 semester hours from any other classification(s) be applied toward a degree program. REGULAR ADMISSION TO THE GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE PROGRAM INCLUDES ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY. The admission to candidacy includes a program of study which serves as a mutual agreement between the student applicant and Georgia College & State University. This agreement (program of study) must be followed and cannot be changed without the prior written approval of the coordinator of the student's graduate program. A program of study form will be forwarded to each student upon admission. A student will not be able to register for more than 12 semester hours before the program of study form is completed. PROVISIONAL ADMISSIONStudents who have submitted all requirements for admission but do not meet minimum standards for regular admission may be placed in the provisional admission classification by the graduate coordinator in the student's degree program. Students may take no more than 12 semester hours of course work in conditional and provisional status combined. CONDITIONAL ADMISSION *Applicants who apply too late for full consideration for admission and/or have not submitted all required documents for evaluation may be assigned conditional admission status. While in this status a student may register for one semester only, by completing a Georgia College & State University Conditional Registration Agreement for Graduate Students; this form requires the signatures of both the student and the graduate coordinator. Any student who registers under this agreement must be admitted to either regular or provisional status by the end of the first semester of enrollment. Students may take no more than 12 semester hours of course work in conditional and provisional status combined. Provisional and conditional students who are able to remove the condition which caused them to be designated as provisional or conditional may be eligible for assignment to another classification. A maximum of 12 semester hours earned in this classification can be applied toward meeting the requirements of a degree program. This maximum will be reduced according to the number of hours a student has earned in the enrichment, certification, or transient categories. For example, a student who has earned 12 semester hours of credit while in the enrichment category is not eligible to apply any of the hours earned as a provisional student toward a degree program. In no instance will more than a total of 12 semester hours from any one or a combination of the provisional, conditional, enrichment, certification or transient designations be counted toward a degree program. *Conditional registration provisions may vary by degree program. Please refer to degree program sections of the catalog for individual program requirements. PROVISIONAL ADMISSION EXIT REQUIREMENTSTo exit provisional admission and to be classified as a regular student, all admission criteria for the degree program as described in the provisional admission exit requirements section of each program included in the catalog must be satisfied and approved by the degree program coordinator. BIOLOGY AND LOGISTICSStudents on provisional admission who complete nine to 12 semester hours of graduate courses at Georgia College & State University with no grade less than a B may be admitted to a degree program without having to make the required score for the program. The B grade must be earned in courses approved by the graduate coordinator for the degree program in which the student is seeking admission. ENGLISHA provisionally admitted student may gain regular status through the completion of the first nine to 12 graduate hours in English with grades of B or better in all courses attempted. MASTER OF FINE ARTSAfter completing nine hours of coursework (at least one course should be in literature) with at least a B in each course, the student may be granted regular admission status. Students enrolled with provisional status are not eligible for graduate assistantships. HISTORYApplicants who only meet four of the five requirements for regular admission may be granted provisional status. Provisional students who take 12 semester hours of graduate history courses with no grade less than a B will be granted regular status. The B grade must be earned in courses approved by the graduate coordinator for the degree program in which the student is seeking admission. BUSINESSProvisional admission status may be granted to students who do not meet the score requirements for regular admission. Provisional admission score requirements will be 50 points below the formula for regular admission with a minimum GMAT score of 400. Students may take no more than 12 hours of class work in conditional and provisional status combined. Students who complete 12 hours of courses in provisional status (or a combination of conditional and provisional status) with no grade lower than a B, and have a minimum admission score of 50 points below the formula for regular admission with a minimum GMAT score of 400, may be granted regular admission status. All classes taken in conditional (5000-level courses only) and provisional status must be approved in advance by the Director of Graduate Programs in Business. EDUCATIONProvisional admission to M.Ed. programs may be granted by either of two sets of criteria. A person may:
For those persons who meet provisional admission requirements by (1) or (2) above, regular admission may be acquired by earning a B or better in the first nine to 12 hours taken under provisional admission, providing those 9-12 hours include EDFS 6230, and six hours in the content field through advisement. If these conditions are met, the student's status will change to regular admission after meeting with an assigned adviser and submitting a Program of Graduate Study. Persons who do not meet these conditions will not be permitted further enrollment in the M.Ed. program. HEALTH SCIENCESRegular Admission GRE score (verbal + quantitative) + [GPA (upper division coursework) X 100] = 1200 or more MAT score (minimum 385) + [GPA (upper division coursework) X 100] = 700 or more Provisional Admission GRE score (verbal + quantitative) + [GPA (upper division coursework) X 100] = 1100 to 1199 MAT score (minimum 385) + [GPA (upper division coursework) X 100] = 660 to 699 Students admitted under provisional status must complete a minimum of nine semester hours of graduate course work at Georgia College & State University, earning no less than a 3.00 GPA for regular admission. The nine semester hours of course work must be earned in courses approved by the Coordinator for Graduate Programs in Health Sciences. MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICEApplicants who score under 1200, but over 1000, on the admissions formula may be granted provisional status. While holding this status, students must take the equivalent of a semester's full load of graduate courses (i.e., 9 to 12 hours) and earn no final course grades below B to qualify for regular status. Provisional students who prefer to take lighter course loads will need two or more semesters of satisfactory work (not to exceed a total of 12 hours of credit) to become eligible for regular status. Courses taken under provisional status with satisfactory grades will be counted as part of the regular degree program. Earning a final course grade of less than B while in provisional status will cause one to be dismissed from the program. All courses taken must be approved by the program coordinator. NON-DEGREE CATEGORIESENRICHMENTA person who holds a baccalaureate degree and wishes to enroll in graduate courses for purposes of self-improvement or enjoyment may be admitted for graduate study as an enrichment student. Should the student later decide to transfer to a degree seeking category, no more than 12 semester hours of credit earned while in this category may be applied toward a graduate degree program and then only if approved by the coordinator of the degree program desired. (See additional limitations under the provisional category.)
CERTIFICATIONA person who holds a baccalaureate degree and certificate to teach in the State of Georgia and wishes to enroll in graduate courses for the purposes of certificate renewal, may be admitted to graduate study as a certification student. Students admitted to certification classification are not considered to be in pursuit of a degree. Should the student later decide to transfer to a degree seeking category, not more than 12 semester hours of credit earned while in this category may be applied toward a graduate degree program and then, only if approved by the coordinator of the degree program in consultation with the adviser of the planned field of study. (See additional limitation under the provisional classification.) GRADUATE TRANSIENTA student in good standing at another regionally accredited graduate school who wishes to take courses at Georgia College & State University may be allowed to enroll as a transient student for one semester. In lieu of the usual transcripts and test scores, this student must submit a letter from the registrar of the institution in which the student is regularly enrolled, which certifies that the student is in good standing and recommends admission to Georgia College & State University as a transient student. Transient status means that a student is admitted to Georgia College & State University for a specified period of time, normally a single semester, with the understanding that the student is to return to the student's own institution at the opening of the next term. ENROLLMENT IN GRADUATE CLASSES BY UNDERGRADUATESAn undergraduate student who is within 6 hours of graduation and who has at least a B academic average in the major subject may enroll for courses carrying graduate degree credit. Approval must be obtained from the degree program coordinator prior to registration. No course taken without this approval may be counted for graduate credit. Graduate work taken under this provision may not be used to meet undergraduate requirements. An undergraduate who is permitted to enroll for graduate work as indicated above will be classified as a non-degree undergraduate student until such time as the student has attained regular admission to a graduate degree program. No more than six semester hours of graduate work may be completed prior to the completion of baccalaureate degree requirements and admission to the Graduate Program as an applicant for a graduate degree. No student will be allowed to pursue two degrees simultaneously. APPLICANTS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 23 ADMISSION (STUDENTS AGED 62 AND OLDER)Georgia residents who are 62 years of age or older and who meet all regular and special admission requirements for this category may register for classes and receive credit without payment of tuition and fees (except the technology fee and laboratory fees which are required of all students) on a space available basis. Contact Office of the Registrar for detailed information. RE-ADMISSION TO GRADUATE SCHOOLA student previously registered in a graduate program at Georgia College & State University who has failed to maintain continuous enrollment and who wishes to resume studies after one or more semesters of absence must file an application for re-admission. Applications for re-admission are available in the Graduate Admissions Office and must be submitted to that office prior to the published deadlines for each term. The student will register during the usual registration period. If the student has attended any other institution during the period when not registered at Georgia College & State University, official transcripts must be submitted before being classified as having regular status. TRANSIENT STUDENT PROCEDUREStudents wishing to attend another college/university and take courses to count toward their degree at Georgia College & State University must be in good standing, petition the degree program coordinator and obtain the approval of their faculty adviser prior to enrolling at the other institution. The petition must specify the courses to be taken at the other college/university and the student must have the other college/university send a transcript of the courses taken to the Office of the Registrar at Georgia College & State University to receive credit for the work at Georgia College & State University. Ordinarily, students are permitted to be transient students away from the University for only one semester. In order to be eligible for transient status a student must have been enrolled within the last five years. RESIDENCY CLASSIFICATIONNON-RESIDENT STUDENTSEach semester, students who do not qualify as residents of the state of Georgia will pay out-of-state tuition. RESIDENCY FOR IN-STATE TUITION PURPOSESThe following general descriptions are by no means all-inclusive, nor do they super cede existing regulations concerning in-state residency. This should only be used as an explanatory guide for Georgia residency. Detailed official guidelines are listed in the codes of the University System of Georgia. Since the GCSU is a state-supported institution, students must show documented proof of residency and the duration of their residency in order to qualify for in-state tuition. Following admission, students who are classified as non-residents may apply for in-state residency by completing the Petition for Classification as an In-State Student, which is available from the Office of Enrollment Services. In reviewing petitions, the GCSU Residency Committee looks at three primary items of proof.
In reviewing petitions for in-state residency, GCSU considers each student's situation as unique, and so there are no universal formulas. In general, though, the three items mentioned previously are key. GCSU does understand that there are situations, such as parents living in separate states or a family in the military, which may alter the review process. SPECIAL SITUATIONS INVOLVING RESIDENCYThe following descriptions should help in understanding what the Committee considers when reviewing certain situations. Dependent versus Independent Students
Separated Family Situations If a student lives outside Georgia, but a parent is a Georgia resident, it is sometimes possible for the student to be considered a Georgia resident for tuition purposes. The student and the parent must document that the parent has lived in Georgia for the twelve consecutive month period prior to enrollment. Military Personnel and U.S. Citizens Living Abroad
Non-U.S. Citizens Non-U.S. citizens are only eligible for in-state residency if they are lawful permanent residents as documented by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service or have been granted a visa in an eligible category. F-1 student visas are not eligible. These students must still provide documentation of in-state residency for the twelve month period. Waivers of Out-Of-State Tuition Students may be eligible for a waiver of the out-of-state tuition difference if they are in one of the following categories: full-time employees of the University System, their spouse and dependent children; full-time teachers in a Georgia public school and their dependent children; active-duty military personnel and their dependents while stationed in Georgia. These students should contact the Business Office for more details about the required documentation needed, and do not need to complete the Petition for Residency. State of Georgia HOPE Scholarship Situations Residency decisions and qualifications surrounding the state-sponsored HOPE scholarship program are made by the Georgia Student Finance Commission and the HOPE Program, and so any questions regarding the HOPE scholarship should be directed towards these programs specifically. As stated before, all petitions for in-state residency are considered in their entirety, so every file must be reviewed based upon it's own merit. As well, this page is meant as a general guide about Georgia residency for tuition purposes, but does not super cede any existing policies for in-state residency found in the codes of the University System of Georgia. APPEALS PROCEDUREAny student wishing to appeal a decision of institution officials concerning residence classification shall file a Notice of Appeal with the appropriate review committee at the institution. Following a review at the highest level at the institution, a student may apply to the Board of Regents for a review of the final decision of the President. Procedures are provided in the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIESStudent Responsibility to Register under Proper Classification - It is the student's responsibility to register under the proper tuition classification. If there is any question of the right to in-state tuition status, it is the student's obligation, prior to or at the time of registration, to raise the question with the administrative officials of the institution in which the student is registering and have tuition status officially determined. The burden rests with the student to submit information and documentation necessary to support the argument for a particular tuition classification under Regents' regulations. Notification of Change in Circumstances - A student who is classified as an in-state student must immediately notify the proper administrative officials of the institution of any change in residency status or any other change in circumstances, which may affect tuition classification. Official Change of Tuition Status - Every student classified as out-of-student shall retain that status until such time as that student shall have petitioned for reclassification in the form prescribed by the institution and shall have been officially reclassified in writing as an in-state student by the proper administrative officers. No more than one application may be filed for a given semester. Reclassification - Every student who has been granted in-state tuition, as a legal resident of Georgia shall be reclassified as an out-of-state student whenever anyone shall report, or there have been found to exist, circumstances indicating a change in legal residence to another state. |
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Campus Mailing Addresses Milledgeville, GA 31061-0490 ยท
Phone: (478) 445-5004 Toll free in Georgia: 1-800-342-0471. Additional contact information. E-mail questions and comments to: info@gcsu.edu. Current Catalogs (Undergraduate and Graduate) University policies, procedures and catalog information are subject to change. |