EIU Graduate School

Degree and Certificate Programs: Admission to the Graduate School is the first stage of admission required for all of the following degree and certificate programs:

Non-degree Study: Admission to the Graduate School is required for the following non-degree study options:

Domestic Application Procedures

Application Access:

Materials: An application, fee, and transcripts are required to complete admission to the Graduate School. Test scores may be required of some programs. The categories below will guide applicants regarding the specific application requirements.

Applicants New to EIU: Applicants who have never attended EIU must submit an application, fee, and official transcripts verifying that they have obtained a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution approved by Eastern Illinois University.

EIU Applicants: Applicants who are completing or who hold a baccalaureate degree from EIU and who are seeking continued enrollment as graduate candidates are required to submit an application and fee.

EIU Employees

McNair Scholars: McNair Scholars are strongly encouraged to apply for graduate study at Eastern Illinois University. Application fees are waived for McNair Scholars. McNair Scholars are required to submit an application and transcripts. McNair applicants should check the section of the application that verifies their enrollment as McNair Scholars and must include a copy of their certificate of candidacy in the McNair Scholars program.

Domestic Applicants with Degrees from Non-English Speaking Institutions: Domestic applicants or permanent resident aliens who hold baccalaureate degrees from a non-English speaking institution must apply for graduate admission as do other domestic applicants and also must submit copies of their green card in order for their application to be processed. All applicants who hold baccalaureate degrees from non-English speaking institutions are required to provide documentation of English language mastery. English language mastery may be documented in one of the ways listed below:

International Application Procedures

BCIS Regulations: All international applicants are subject to the regulations established by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services of the United States Department of Justice. International applicants may seek admission only as degree candidates.

Materials: A complete application packet includes an international application, an application fee, an approved financial affidavit form, an official raised seal transcript, any required admission test scores, and documentation of English mastery. The approved financial affidavit form must verify the applicant’s financial status for study. The raised seal transcript must be from an internationally accredited university and must document completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent, comparable to that awarded by an accredited institution in the United States. The transcript must also verify that the applicant earned a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

English Requirements: English language mastery may be documented in one of the ways outlined below.

  1. You have successfully completed 24 semester hours of academic credit from a U.S. college or university, or
  2. You have completed Level 112 courses with a Certificate of Proficiency from an ELS Language Center in the U.S., or
  3. You have successfully completed two consecutive years of courses in a country where English is the primary language and medium of instruction within the past two years.

Conditional Admission for International Applicants: Applicants who meet all of the requirements for admission, but do not meet the criteria for English mastery, may be offered conditional admission while they seek to fulfill the requirements for English language mastery. Conditional admission for international applicants is granted only by the Graduate School through a recommendation of the Office of International Students and Scholars. Students offered conditional admission must provide evidence of meeting English language mastery to the Office of International Students and Scholars in one of two ways. Students must earn a 550 or higher on the paper-based TOEFL or a score of 79 or higher on the internet-based TOEFL taken in their home country. International students offered conditional admission are admitted to the Graduate School and to degree candidacy only after providing evidence of English mastery and acceptance by the academic department.

Candidacy Requirements for International Applicants: International applicants must be eligible for degree candidacy at the time of admission to the Graduate School. To achieve candidacy, applicants must meet any additional requirements established by academic programs. Additional requirements may include, but are not limited to, a higher cumulative GPA, a GPA for courses in the undergraduate major, or valid standardized test scores for the Graduate Record Examination, Miller’s Analogies Test, or Graduate Management Admission Test. Program requirements for candidacy are outlined in the “Academic Program Requirements” section of this catalog. Applicants must review this section of the catalog for the program in which they seek candidacy to insure that all of the requirements are met at the time of application. Completed files are copied to the Graduate School and to the program in which degree candidacy is requested.

Timelines for International Applicants: International applicants normally apply for a student visa (F-1) at the nearest United States Consulate. Applicants must be admitted and approved for issuance of appropriate documents by the deadlines outlined below. Late applications will be processed on a case-by-case basis. Upon request, files may be updated for admission the following semester or term.

Admission to Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs

Admission to the Graduate School: Admission to the Graduate School is the first stage of admission for students seeking candidacy for master’s or specialist degrees or graduate certificate admission offered through an academic program. To be eligible for admission to the Graduate School and for degree candidacy or certificate admission, applicants must have obtained a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution approved by Eastern Illinois University. Admission to the Graduate School does not guarantee degree candidacy in an academic program. For post-graduate candidates, the Graduate School criteria include completion of a graduate degree from an accredited institution approved by Eastern Illinois University and a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Admission to a Degree or Certificate Program: Admission as a degree or certificate candidate is the second stage of graduate admission. Candidacy is granted only by an academic program. Academic programs may establish requirements for degree or certificate candidacy in addition to those established by the Graduate School. Additional requirements may include, but are not limited to, a higher cumulative GPA, a GPA for courses in the undergraduate major, or a valid standardized test score for the Graduate Record Examination, Miller’s Analogies Test, or Graduate Management Admission Test. Program requirements for candidacy are outlined in the “Requirements for All Degree and Certificate Candidates” section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must meet the program requirements in order to achieve degree candidacy. The Graduate School requests a candidacy decision from the academic program. If the program approves candidacy, the Graduate School admits the student as a degree candidate in the designated program. If the academic program restricts that applicant to certain provisions, then the Graduate School admits the student as a provisional candidate in the designated program. Applicants who are denied degree candidacy or provisional candidacy are automatically re-classified as post-baccalaureate non-degree graduate students.

Admission as a Provisional Candidate and Limitations: Provisional degree or certificate candidacy may be granted by a program to students who do not meet the minimum criteria established by the program, or who do not have the required undergraduate preparation for degree or certificate candidacy. Students who are granted provisional candidacy are required to meet the requirements of the program before they become eligible for degree or certificate candidacy. The Graduate School provisions require completion of 12 or more semester hours of graduate course work while earning and maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher and completion of all of the provisions required by the program. Programs specify individual candidacy provisions and dates for completion of the provisions. The provisions and dates are maintained in the Graduate School. The Graduate School and the program will review the work of students in provisional candidacy. If candidates meet both the Graduate School requirements and the program provisions, they may be recommended for degree or certificate candidacy.

Provisional Candidacy for Applicants from Non-Accredited Institutions and Limitations: Provisional degree or certificate candidacy may be granted by the Council on Graduate Studies to students who have not completed baccalaureate degrees from regionally accredited institutions recognized by Eastern Illinois University. Applicants submit a letter to the Graduate Coordinator in the degree or certificate program and request that the Coordinator petition the Council to waive the regional accreditation admission criteria and substitute alternative institutional criteria and/or alternative student admission criteria. Alternative institutional criteria may include but is not limited to alternative forms of institutional recognition such as accreditation or affiliation with non-regional agencies or documents that summarize the mission and goals of the institution. Alternative student admission criteria may include but is not limited to test scores, portfolios, interviews, and/or other related student documentation. If the Coordinator agrees to petition the Council on the student’s behalf, the Council will review the substitute documentation and render an admission decision. If granted provisional admission, the candidate will be required to complete 12 semester hours of graduate course work while earning and maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher and completion of any additional provisions required by the program. The provisions and dates are filed in the Graduate School . The Graduate School and the program will review the work of students in provisional candidacy. If candidates meet both the Graduate School and the program provisions, they may be recommended for degree or certificate candidacy. The same limitations outlined for other provisional candidates apply to provisional candidates admitted with alternative accreditation criteria.

Examinations Required for Candidacy:
While examinations are not required for admission to the Graduate School, examinations may be required for degree or certificate candidacy in a program. Candidates should check the admission requirements of individual programs to ensure compliance. Information on other examinations managed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), including the GRE and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), may be accessed from the ETS/GRE web site. The Graduate School adheres to the policies of Educational Testing Services regarding the management of test scores. Only official test scores are accepted from ETS. Scores will be maintained for 5 years. The Graduate School will not forward test scores to other institutions or to the student. Students must request scores be forwarded to other universities or to themselves directly from ETS.

Undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average

Admission for Additional Baccalaureate Degrees

Students holding a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution approved by Eastern Illinois University may seek an additional baccalaureate (undergraduate) degree. Admission to pursue an additional baccalaureate degree requires admission through the Graduate School by submission of an application, fee, and official transcripts. Students pursuing an additional baccalaureate degree are considered graduate students even though they are completing the requirements for an undergraduate degree program. The following regulations apply to students seeking an additional baccalaureate degree:

Following admission to the Graduate School, copies of the student’s file are forwarded to the program in which the additional baccalaureate degree is requested and the program assigns an advisor. Students should consult with programs regarding the requirements for the additional baccalaureate degree. Whether an additional baccalaureate degree or a graduate degree is the more appropriate choice will depend upon the student’s educational objectives. Students are urged to consult with coordinators of graduate study or other academic advisors to make this choice. The student’s classification may also determine eligibility for types of financial assistance. Students are advised to contact the Financial Aid Office for information.

Notification of Admission to Degree and Certificate Programs

Admission Offer Limitation
An offer of degree or certificate candidacy is limited to the term in which it is offered or the two subsequent terms. Candidates seeking to initiate study in one of the subsequent terms must provide a request to the Graduate School to update the admission file by submitting this form http://www.eiu.edu/graduate/appupdate.php to the desired subsequent term of study. Applicants are advised that programs may establish restrictions on initiating study in terms other than the one originally offered and may delay or deny subsequent term admission. Applicants who do not enroll within one calendar year must seek candidacy through a formal readmission process. Readmission requires submission of the readmission form, and official transcripts for candidates with undergraduate degrees from institutions other than EIU. Candidacy through readmission is not automatic. Applicants must meet any new admission requirements for the new term of candidacy. Programs may establish other restrictions on the limit of a candidacy offer.

Admission Offer Limitation Exemption for Military Deployment
Students who are offered degree candidacy but are subsequently required to delay enrollment due to military deployment are exempt from the Admission Offer Limitation. Students in deployed status retain their degree candidacy during their deployment.
Candidates must alert the Graduate School via electronic communication of their deployed status and anticipated re-enrollment. Candidates in military deployment are eligible for immediate re-enrollment at the conclusion of military service. Upon return to the University, candidates contact the Graduate School to request an update to their term of enrollment. There are no fees or applications required.

Change of Status
http://www.eiu.edu/graduate/forms_statuschange.php A student who wishes to change from candidacy in one degree program to another or a student with a post-baccalaureate non-degree classification must submit a change of status form in the Graduate School to be eligible for candidacy in the new program. The Graduate School will request a decision from the new program when status changes require a degree or certificate candidacy decision. If degree or certificate candidacy is approved by the new program, the student will be notified of the change. Students are required to meet all of the degree or certificate candidacy requirements of the new program in order to be eligible for candidacy.

Admission to Non-Degree Study

Post baccalaureate students may pursue graduate study as non-degree students. To be eligible for admission to the Graduate School for non-degree options, applicants must have obtained a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution approved by Eastern Illinois University. Non-degree areas of study typically have specific admission criteria. Applicants should consult the sections that outline the admission requirements for non-degree study options.

Post-baccalaureate Teacher Certification

Admission to the Graduate School: Students seeking admission as post-baccalaureate non-degree teacher certification students are advised to consult with the College of Education before making a formal application for admission to the Graduate School. The consultation will provide information regarding the student’s eligibility for admission to teacher education. Following consultation and completion of any pre-application requirements, students should apply for admission to the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate School for post-baccalaureate teacher certification options. Admission to the Graduate School does not constitute admission to teacher education and does not guarantee admission to teacher education.

College of Education Review & Requirements: To initiate post-baccalaureate teacher certification, applicants complete a request for a transcript evaluation, pay the transcript evaluation fee in the Office of the Dean of the College of Education, and provide evidence of having achieved a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.65 on a 4.0 scale or having completed a master’s degree with a minimum graduate cumulative GPA of 3.00. The College of Education will then provide the student with an evaluation of coursework completed and additional coursework required for certification in the field identified. Post-baccalaureate students seeking a teaching certificate through any of EIU’s state approved certification programs must meet the full intent of the respective programs. All previous course work, either graduate or undergraduate, will be evaluated in terms of current requirements. This will include general education, a major, and the professional education requirements.

Courses for Licensure, Professional Development, or Personal Goals

Students seeking post-baccalaureate courses for licensure, professional development, or personal goals, but who do not seek to complete the requirements for a degree, may request enrollment as non-degree students. In addition, applicants who were denied degree or provisional degree candidacy may enroll for course work as post-baccalaureate non-degree students. However, non-degree students may be limited to enrollment in certain graduate or undergraduate courses. Students pursuing graduate courses as post-baccalaureate non-degree students are subject to the regulations governing graduate education and must fulfill the standards for study required of any graduate student. Should a non-degree student later apply for admission for degree candidacy, that student must meet all of the admission requirements for candidacy. There is no assurance that credit earned as a non-degree student will later apply toward the degree. With program approval, a student may apply no more than 12 semester hours earned as a post-baccalaureate non-degree graduate student toward a degree. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

The student is encouraged to appeal early in the semester in which the 12 semester hours will be completed. The appeals decisions of the Executive Officer of the Council on Teacher Education are final.