General Information
Admission to Washington State University is granted without regard to age, sex, race, religion, color, creed, disability, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or marital status. Graduates of WSU and other colleges and universities whose degrees are recognized by this institution and who meet the requirements for admission may be admitted to the Graduate School.
- Inquiries and requests for application material may be sent to the Office of the Graduate School, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-1030, 509-335-1446.
- A variety of information is available online at www.wsu.edu. The home page has links to general information about WSU and provides access to the Graduate School home page: www.gradschool.wsu.edu.
- Applicants for admission must have official transcripts from colleges or universities from which any degrees have been granted or are expected and that show the last 60 graded semester or 90 graded quarter hours of undergraduate work.
- Transcripts are required from colleges or universities showing graded graduate level coursework taken after the bachelor’s degree. Official transcripts are those mailed directly to the Graduate School from the registrar of the institution attended.
- Transcripts mailed by the student are not considered official. Complete credentials should be on file at least one month before registration. Transcripts from other institutions cannot be returned. Records of previous work at Washington State University need not be submitted.
The Dean of the Graduate School may approve admission of a student from a foreign university if the student presents a superior academic record, furnishes satisfactory evidence of adequate ability in English, and has sufficient financial resources. Such applications should be completed by the priority deadline of January 10 for fall semester and July 1 for spring.
International students
Those international graduate students who have undertaken graduate study in other institutions will be accepted only after evaluation of their undergraduate records, as well as their performance in graduate study and the minimum criteria, as described above, will apply.
- In a graduate program, a student is required to complete appropriate advanced courses, to participate in seminars, and to make an original contribution to knowledge. At least one academic year of graduate study, or the equivalent, is necessary for the completion of a program leading to a master's degree. The residence requirement for the master's degree is one academic year.
- The period of study for the Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education degrees is at least three years (six semesters) beyond the baccalaureate degree. For students without a master's degree, at least two of these three years shall be in residence at Washington State University (enrolled full-time and present on a campus where a given program has received approval to grant residency).
- For students with a master's degree, at least one of these three years shall be in residence at Washington State University (enrolled full-time and present on a campus where a given program has received approval to grant residency).
- For the Doctor of Education, at least two of the three years beyond the baccalaureate shall be in residence at WSU, including a minimum of four semesters, with at least one summer session and one semester being contiguous, when the student is enrolled full time and present on the Pullman campus.
- Full time enrollment for four summer sessions may be substituted for two academic year semesters. Summer session cannot be substituted for the semester contiguous with a summer session requirement for the doctoral degree.
- Most advanced-degree programs emphasize the preparation of students for careers as productive scholars, and accomplishments in research constitute an important part of the training. It is recognized also that those who earn advanced degrees often become teachers in institutions of learning. For this reason, in many departments special attention is given to the preparation of students for careers in the teaching profession.
- Departmental approval is required for any admission regardless of grade point average, and departments may require higher levels of performance than those cited. Because of limitations within certain departments, it may be necessary to deny admission to qualified applicants.
- Except as they apply to undergraduate students only, graduate students are subject to the usual procedures and regulations of the institution and to such Graduate School rules and procedures as outlined in the Academic Policies.
Enrollment Requirements
- The normal load for a graduate student is 12-18 credit hours per semester (6-8 hours in an eight-week summer session). Graduate students on half-time teaching or research assistantships are expected to carry 10-14 credits per semester with no more than 12 hours of graded credit (3-6 in an eight-week summer session).
- See the Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual for requirements for graduate students on appointment or taking examinations.
Classification of Students
Regular Student Status
Applicants with at least a B (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) grade point average, or the equivalent in the last 60 graded semester (90 quarter) hours, from a recognized college or university; or at least a B grade point average in any graduate work from a recognized graduate school are eligible for admission to regular student status. Applicants with at least 12 semester hours of approved in-course work from recognized graduate schools with at least a B grade point average are eligible for admission to regular student status.
Provisional Student Status
A student not eligible for regular student status may be admitted on provisional student status upon special recommendation of the chair of the major department and with approval of the Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
Regular Student Status
Applicants with at least a B (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) grade point average, or the equivalent in the last 60 graded semester (90 quarter) hours, from a recognized college or university, or at least a B grade point average in any graduate work from a recognized graduate school are eligible for admission to regular student status. Applicants with at least 12 semester hours of approved in-course work from recognized graduate schools with at least a B grade point average are eligible for admission to regular student status.
Provisional Student Status
A student not eligible for regular student status may be admitted on provisional student status upon special recommendation of the chair of the major department and with approval of the Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
Registration
Instructions for registration and policies and procedures for dropping and adding classes are included in the time schedule of classes available on the Registrar's Office home page at http://www.registrar.wsu.edu/Registrar/Apps/HomePage.ASPX. Students register via the World Wide Web (METRO). Instructions are included in the Admission Packet from the Graduate School or from the Office of the Registrar.
- All graduate students must maintain continuous
enrollment in the Graduate School, registering for each
semester and summer session from the time of first
enrollment until all requirements for the degree are
completed. Continuous enrollment may be maintained by
registering in one of the following
categories:
1) full-time enrollment 2) part-time enrollment or 3) graduate leave status enrollment. - Students on graduate leave status may discontinue enrollment for credit for a period of 12 months without penalty. After that time, graduate leave status students will be assessed a fee of $25. Students on graduate leave status will be considered by the Graduate School to be in good standing for up to four consecutive years. Graduate leave status enrollees who wish to enroll for credit must give the Graduate School one month notice prior to the enrollment date. Graduate students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment will be dropped from the University.
- Special Projects or Independent Study (600), Master's
Research, Thesis and/or Examination (700), Master's
Special Problems, Directed Study, and/or Examination
(702), and Doctoral Research, Dissertation, and/or
Examination (800) shall have as prerequisite regular or
provisional student status in the Graduate School.
Graduate students must register for the required amount of 700, 702, or 800 credit during the semester or summer session in which they take their final examination. - Fall and spring semesters and summer session officially end the last day of finals week. Examinations normally are not scheduled between regular terms. However, students who have received special permission from the Graduate School to schedule final master's or doctoral oral examinations in the interim non-class period after the end of a term will be required to register for the following semester or summer session.