Graduate Admissions Requirements

Conditional Admission

Students are conditionally admitted to the Graduate School at A&M-Central Texas.  Full admission occurs at the graduate program level.

Conditional admission is awarded to applicants who meet the following requirements:

  • For current A&M-Central Texas undergraduates: completion of the Quick Admissions application;

  • For new students: successful submission of a completed application through https://applytexas.org/;

  • Attainment of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an approved accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a foreign institution;

  • A minimum 2.5 GPA earned at the time of degree conferral, or on the last 60 hours of coursework completed, to include all courses in the semester where the 60th hour occurs;

  • If an applicant's GPA is between 2.5 and 2.99, students will be limited to 12 semester credit hours (SCH) of graduate coursework. If the student maintains a 3.0 GPA in this coursework, the student will be fully admitted, and allowed to continue. Any GPA below a 3.0 after 12 SCH will result in dismissal from that program.

  • Proof of bacterial meningitis vaccination for students aged 21 and under.

Admission will not be granted to a student with a GPA less than 2.5 on the last 60 hours (to include all courses in the semester where the 60th hour occurs) for coursework completed. Students who know they have a GPA less than 2.5 on the last 60 hours (to include all courses in the semester where the 60th hour occurs) for coursework are encouraged to improve their GPA through the post-baccalaureate or non-degree seeking (NDS) option.

When a student entering the program on conditional admission has satisfied all conditions, he/she may be granted full admission after receiving a recommendation by the academic department. The graduate program coordinator will inform the student when he/she has obtained full admission. Conditional admission is intended for one semester only.

Applicants who, for reasons beyond their control, cannot provide official documents required for admission to the Graduate School by the time of initial enrollment may be admitted as a Conditional Admission/Requirements Not Met for one semester pending receipt of the required documents. If a graduate student does not submit all official documents within the first semester, the student will not be allowed to continue until the documents are on file.

With conditional admission, a student may proceed to take classes at a full load or lower each semester. All graduate students are encouraged to maintain a full load or lower to support full retention of learned skills.

Full Admission

Admission to any graduate degree program is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School upon recommendation of the department of proposed study. Full admission is awarded to applicants who meet all of the following requirements:

  • Conditional admission to the Graduate School at A&M-Central Texas;
  • Admission to the graduate program; and
  • Current degree plan on file.

Completion of specific program requirements may be required for full admission to selected graduate programs. Conditional admission may be granted by the Graduate School until full admission is obtained. Please contact the specific graduate coordinator for additional graduate admission requirements. Contact information is available from the Graduate School.

Full admission allows a graduate student to progress at maximum loads or lower. All graduate students are encouraged to carry a full load or lower to support full retention of learned skills. Maximum loads are discouraged unless graduate students are not working.

Other Categories of Admission

Provisional Admission (A&M-Central Texas Undergraduates Only)

An undergraduate enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at A&M-Central Texas may be considered for provisional admission to the Graduate School. Provisional admission is awarded to applicants who meet all the following requirements:

  • Student must be within 12 hours of completion of a bachelor's degree;
  • Student has submitted a completed "Graduate Provisional Form"; and
  • Student has a minimum GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 hours (to include all courses in the semester where the 60th hour occurs) of undergraduate coursework.

Provisional admission allows undergraduate students to take up to 12 hours of graduate credits, with no more than 6 graduate hours per semester. Provisional admission students must register for classes through the Graduate School.  No graduate coursework may be counted toward an undergraduate degree.

Provisional admission students must complete a Graduate Admission application through ApplyTexas and meet university admission requirements when ready for admission to the Graduate School. NOTE: Provisional students are subject to graduate student policies.

Post-Baccalaureate Student

Post-baccalaureate admission allows prospective graduate students to improve their GPA if significant GPA issues exist for admission to the Graduate School. Post-baccalaureate students are subject to the same requirements and regulations that apply to undergraduates; they must meet the academic progress standards applicable to undergraduates and are subject to the same probation/suspension policies. 

Non-Degree Seeking Graduate Student

Applicants who indicate that they do not choose to seek a graduate degree but who hold a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college may be enrolled in graduate courses as a non-degree seeking (NDS) graduate student. The NDS option also allows potential graduate students to improve their GPA.  In addition: 

  • NDS graduate students are not required to submit GRE or GMAT scores; however, official transcript(s) which indicate the conferral of a bachelor’s degree or higher and good standing at the last college attended are required;

  • NDS graduate students may take up to 18 hours of coursework; however, they waive the right to count more than 12 hours toward an advanced degree at A&M-Central Texas; and

  • NDS graduate students have no assurance that coursework completed while in this classification will be applicable toward degree requirements with subsequent admission to a degree program. All graduate courses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis for transfer.

Program Entry Requirements 

Most graduate degree programs at A&M-Central Texas have program entry requirements beyond those for general admission to the university. Students admitted to the university interested in one of these programs may be eligible to enroll in certain coursework prior to program entry. The number of courses a student may complete prior to official program entry may vary by department. For additional information regarding graduate degree programs offered at A&M-Central Texas, please see the Graduate Programs section of the catalog.