Effective Summer 2024 for all graduate programs with the exception of counseling, marriage and family therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, nursing, pharmacy, and physical therapy. These programs are subject to the prior admission policy in the 23/24 Graduate Catalog found here and the standards which are specific to those programs.
The University of Louisiana Monroe Graduate School offers a holistic admission approach to afford applicants multiple pathways to satisfy general admission requirements to the institution. Please note that the admissions criteria listed below refers to requirements for entry to the Graduate School only; individual programs may require additional application materials or criteria. Please see our degree programs page for specific program requirements and program deadlines.
Applying for Admission to the Graduate School
ALL APPLICANTS MUST:
- hold a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited and recognized at the institutional level by the US Department of Education (USDOE) except for special approved programs which require only a specific set of pre-requisite courses and/or award the baccalaureate and master’s degrees simultaneously. Credentials of international students will be evaluated individually.
- complete an application online at ulm.edu/apply;
- submit official transcripts from the colleges or university from which an undergraduate degree was earned.
- submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended where graduate coursework was attempted or earned
- submit official scores when required by the program from either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Administration Management Test (GMAT).
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TRANSCRIPTS AND TEST SCORES
Official transcripts and test scores are those which are sent directly from the issuing institution or evaluation agency in a sealed envelope or electronically. If a transcript indicates that classes are in progress, the transcript will be deemed incomplete. Once the classes have been completed, a final official transcript must be provided.
Undergraduate Transcripts: Official transcripts are required from colleges and universities attended from which the undergraduate degree was earned. Transcripts are required for any post-baccalaureate credit earned.
Graduate Transcripts: All prior graduate coursework that has been completed, even if unrelated to the major being pursued at ULM, will be reviewed. Applicants must be eligible for readmission at that college or university and must have earned no grades lower than a C on any graduate coursework in the last 7 years.
Documents may be sent electronically to gradschooldocs@ulm.edu. or official documentation may be sent by regular mail to:
Graduate School Admissions
University of Louisiana at Monroe
700 University Avenue
Sandel Hall 243
Monroe, LA 71209
gradadmissions@ulm.edu
318-342-1036
Our institutional code for GRE and GMAT scores is 6482.
TYPES OF ADMISSION
Regular Admission
Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree with a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours of attempted coursework to be regularly admitted.
Applicants who have earned any graduate or terminal degree from a from a college or university accredited and recognized at the institutional level by the US Department of Education (USDOE) will qualify for regular admission to a master’s program provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.
Conditional Admission
Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree with a minimum overall GPA of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.50 on the last 60 hours of attempted coursework to be conditionally admitted.
or
Meet a minimum formula score of 622.6 (2.2 GPA x 283 GRE) or for MBA applicants only, 1000 (GPA x 200 + GMAT)
or
With a GPA of 2.2 or higher, some candidates with 5 years of employment in a relevant field of study may qualify for a waiver of test scores in some programs.
- Some programs may require conditional status for undergraduate deficiencies. The conditional status will be satisfied once those deficiencies are completed.
- Applicants who are admitted conditionally because they do not meet GPA and/or GRE requirements, must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of graduate coursework with a 3.0 GPA, and with no grades of C or below to satisfy the conditional status. If this requirement is not met, the student will be denied continuance in Graduate School.
- Applicants who have earned C grades on graduate coursework from other institutions are subject to the C Grade policy for current students when being evaluated for admission. The policy is located In the ULM Graduate Catalog outlined in the section “Requirement for Graduate Degrees” available here.
Ineligibility: Applicants who are ineligible to register in any previously attended institution as a graduate student are not admissible.
Provisional Admission
Provisional status is given to applicants who are in the process of obtaining official transcripts or GRE/GMAT scores. The minimum requirement for taking graduate courses in provisional status is a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 (based on a 4.0 scale). No more than six credit hours of coursework may be completed under provisional status, and students admitted provisionally are not eligible for financial aid or graduate assistantships.
Non-Degree Status
Applicants who wish to enroll in selected course offerings but not pursue a formal degree program may be considered for admission as non-degree students. The minimum requirement for taking graduate courses in non-degree status is a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 (based on a 4.0 scale). Some programs have additional requirements, and/or exceptions to requirement, for taking courses under non-degree status.
A maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit earned in provisional admission status, including credit earned at University of Louisiana at Monroe and approved transfer credit, may be counted toward master’s or doctoral degree. The six semester hours must be included on the student’s approved degree plan to be counted toward the hours required for completion of the degree.
eTEACH programs:
Designed for in-service teachers and pre-service teachers who want a flexible and convenient learning environment to continue their education or earn required certifications. eTeach courses receive a grade of Credit/No Credit and are not eligible to transfer to a degree-seeking program. Students who apply to eTeach are not required to submit transcripts or test scores; however, the School of Education requires submission of a valid teaching certificate, or other appropriate credential, prior to admission. If you do not possess a valid teaching certificate and feel that you are a good candidate for eTEACH, please contact our office at gradadmissions@ulm.edu for more information. Applicants who wish to change their program from eTEACH to a degree-seeking program are not eligible to use the Change of Program form; rather, eTEACH students must apply to degree-seeking programs using the University application for admission.
For Admission purposes student types are defined as:
First Time Graduate: Applicants with no previous graduate credit
Graduate Transfer: Applicants with previous graduate credit from another institution
Graduate Readmit: Applicants with previous graduate credit from ULM, but not another institution
Graduate Transfer Readmit: Applicants with previous graduate credit from both ULM and another institution
Visting Graduate: Applicants with previous graduate credit that wish to attend ULM, with the intention of returning to their current university
Deferring Admission and Term Changes
An applicant who does not complete their admission application with all required documents by the deadline to apply (deadlines are linked here) will be required to submit a new application to the graduate school for a future term and pay all associated application fees. An applicant who has both completed their application with all required official documents and received an admission decision of regular of conditional admission, but would like to defer their enrollment to a future term, may reapply one time with no additional charge by contacting gradadmissions@ulm.edu. Some programs may not allow admissions deferrals due to program capacity.
Applicants who enroll and maintain academic eligibility will remain eligible for registration until there is a lapse of enrollment for two consecutive terms or until graduation, whichever occurs first. A returning student who has missed two consecutive terms is required to reapply and submit an application fee before enrolling.
Admission of Transfer Students
Applicants to the Graduate School who have attended another graduate school prior to their enrollment at the University of Louisiana at Monroe must meet both of the following additional requirements for admission:
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Be in good academic standing and eligible for readmission at the college or university from which they transfer; and
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Have no grade lower than C in graduate work at the college or university from which they transfer. This includes any I grades.
It is the responsibility of the student to inform ULM of any attendance at other institutions before a decision about admission is made. Students who have been denied further continuance in graduate school at another institution are not eligible for admission at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Should a student earn graduate credits at ULM and fail to inform ULM of attendance at other institutions that renders them ineligible for admission, those graduate credits earned will be voided.
When evaluating applicants, the Graduate School at the University of Louisiana at Monroe uses the applicant’s entire academic history. This includes those courses that have been retaken in a subsequent semester to improve on previous marks.
Admission of International Students
International applicants interested in attending one of ULM’s graduate programs should refer to the website of ULM’s International Student Services for additional requirements of international graduate students.
Applicants Seeking a Second Master’s Degree
A student seeking a second master’s degree may be allowed to apply from a previous or simultaneous graduate degree a maximum of one-half the credits required for the second degree. To be considered transferrable, credits earned must meet degree requirements for intended second degree. All Graduate School regulations apply.
GRE Requirements for Second Master’s Degree
The Graduate School at the University of Louisiana at Monroe will not require applicants for a second master’s degree to have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) if they have previously been successful in attaining a graduate-level degree. The applicant must provide proof of earning this degree from an accredited and recognized program. Please note that while the Graduate School will waive the GRE requirement for applicants interested in pursuing a second master’s degree, not all programs will. It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the individual program to ensure it will waive the GRE requirement when applicable.
Appeals for Admission
A graduate student who is denied admission to the Graduate School or a specific graduate degree program may appeal through the Graduate School or their respective college graduate committee to the Graduate Council for admission. The following supportive information must be provided:
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A personal letter of appeal from the student in which the student builds a case for admission; and
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The student’s scores from the Graduate Record Examination or the Graduate Management Admission Test (MBA only); and
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Three letters of support from those who can attest to the student’s scholarly ability and potential. A minimum of one must be from one of the student’s professors. If the letter of support is coming from an educational institution, it should be on official letterhead and must be signed by the recommending party; and
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Any other evidence of professional competence which will enhance the student’s appeal.
For further information please contact the Graduate School at (318) 342-1036 or the graduate coordinator for the particular major and college involved. All appeal documents must be sent to the Graduate Council at the following email address: gradcouncil@ulm.edu.
Foreign Language Requirement
A reading knowledge of one or more foreign languages is required of candidates for advanced degrees in specified degree programs.
Transfer of Credit and Residence Requirements
Students seeking a master’s degree must complete at least two-thirds of the hours required for their degree through courses offered by the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Transfer credit may not total more than one third of the master’s degree program. With the approval of the student’s graduate advisory committee and the director of the Graduate School, a maximum of six semester hours of C grades earned at ULM may be transferred from one program to another or from non-degree status to a degree program. Transfer credit must meet the following requirements:
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Credit must be earned in residence at a regionally accredited college or university; and
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Credit must be accepted as applicable to the student’s degree program; and
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Grade of B or better must be earned; and
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Credit must meet six-year time limit for master’s degree program.
Transfer credit must be presented and accepted during the first semester or summer term upon entering or re-entering the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Final authorization of transfer credit will be made by the director of the Graduate School upon recommendation of the student’s advisory committee.
After enrollment at ULM, a student may earn and transfer graduate credit from other institutions, provided prior approval of the course or courses is obtained from the student’s major professor and the director of the Graduate School. Transfer credit shall not reduce the minimum residence requirements.
Transfer credit for students in the Master of Business Administration program is ordinarily limited to six semester hours earned at another AACSB-International accredited school, provided that such transfer credit is appropriate and that a letter grade of B or better has been earned. Courses used to complete a previous degree are not approved for transfer credit in the MBA program. Acceptable transfer credits are determined after a student applies for admission to the MBA program.
A student enrolled in the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy must enroll as a full time student for two consecutive semesters, excluding summer terms.
Regulations governing transfer credit and residence requirements for doctoral programs are detailed within program descriptions for individual doctoral programs of study.
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