Doctoral Degree Programs

To be considered for admission to a doctoral program, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree (or its US equivalent) from a regionally accredited college or university.  Some programs admit baccalaureate (bachelor’s degree) students directly to the doctoral program, while others require applicants to have earned a master’s degree.

To be admitted to a doctoral program after a master’s program, an applicant should have earned an overall grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in the master’s degree program.  To be admitted to a doctoral program after a bachelor’s program, an applicant should have earned an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in the bachelor’s degree program.  Applicants must also be in good academic standing at the last institution of higher education attended.

Applications generally consist of the items listed below.  Any materials submitted in support of an application for admission to graduate study become the property of the University and cannot be returned to the applicant.

1. The application form must be submitted online through the Graduate School’s application system.The online application system can be accessed via mygradschool.uncc.edu. Submission of the application form requires payment of an application fee, which is paid online by credit card; the fee is neither deductible nor refundable.
    
2. A Statement of Purpose (essay) must be submitted online as part of the application submission process. The Statement of Purpose describes the applicant’s experience, objectives for undertaking graduate study and research interests, if known.  [Note: Some graduate programs request specific items to be included in the Statement of Purpose. Applicants should check the department’s website or contact the department directly for further clarification on specific requirements related to the Statement of Purpose.]
    
3. Generally, three recommendations from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or professional qualifications should be submitted.The recommendations must be submitted via the online application system; letters of reference in support of an individual’s admission may also be uploaded directly to the online recommendation form.Recommendations or letters sent to the Graduate School in any other format, including surface mail and email, will not be processed.
    
4. Official (officially certified) transcripts/mark sheets/degree certificates of all academic work attempted beyond high (secondary) school are required of all students offered admission who enroll at UNC Charlotte.  For the application and admission processes, unofficial transcripts of each academic institution of higher education ever attended must be submitted (and should be uploaded directly to the online application); transfer credit posted on the records of other institutions is unacceptable and transcripts of these credits must be supplied. Applicants who have taken early college credits during high school must provide transcripts showing college credit.
    
5. If required by the program, official agency reports of satisfactory test scores as specified in the section on graduate programs in this Catalog.GRE/GMAT scores are reportable from ETS for a period of five years from the date of the exam.Likewise, the Graduate School accepts GRE/GMAT scores which are up to five years old as part of the application process.GRE/GMAT scores older than five years are therefore not acceptable since they cannot be officially reported.Likewise, MAT scores more than five years old are not accepted.MCAT scores are accepted by some graduate programs and should be no older than five years.For additional information regarding test score requirements, please see the “Test Information” section of this Catalog.
    
6. Official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if English is not the applicant’s native language and he or she has not earned a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution..  Required is either a minimum score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 557 on the paper-based TOEFL, or a minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS.

Notes:

1. Applicants with records of high quality who do not fulfill these requirements should discuss with the Graduate Program Director other factors that may have a bearing on admission.Some programs have higher standards or additional admission requirements.Additionally, there may be prerequisites for certain programs and applicants should consult the Graduate Program Director to identify prerequisites.A separate application for admission is required for each graduate, post-baccalaureate, and certificate program of study at UNC Charlotte.
2. All applicants submitting transcripts and degree certificates from non-U.S. educational institutions should note that bachelor’s degrees awarded by non-U.S. schools may or may not be considered equivalent to the U.S. bachelor’s degree.  Recipients of degrees that are not at least equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree may not be eligible for graduate study at UNC Charlotte.
3. International Students should see the “Additional Admission Requirements for all International Applicants” section of this Catalog for additional requirements.

Master’s Degree Programs

The applicant must possess at least a bachelor’s degree, or its U.S. equivalent, from a regionally accredited college or university, and must have attained an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) on all of the applicant’s previous work beyond high school.  If an applicant has earned or attempted a post-baccalaureate degree (i.e., a master’s, doctoral, or other), grades in that program will also be taken into consideration.  Applicants must also be in good academic standing at the last institution of higher education attended. 

Applications generally consist of the items listed below, most of which are submitted online. Any materials submitted in support of an application for admission to graduate study become the property of the University and cannot be returned to the applicant.

1. The application form must be submitted online through the Graduate School’s application system.  The online application system can be accessed via mygradschool.uncc.edu.  Submission of the application form requires payment of an application fee, which is paid online by credit card; the fee is neither deductible nor refundable.
    
2. A Statement of Purpose (essay) must be submitted online as part of the application submission process. Applicants must upload the Statement of Purpose into their application record.The Statement of Purpose describes the applicant’s experience and objectives for undertaking graduate study. [Note: Some graduate programs request specific items to be included in the Statement of Purpose. Applicants should check the department’s website or contact the department directly for further clarification on specific requirements related to the Statement of Purpose.]
    
3. Generally, one to three recommendations from persons familiar with the applicant’s personal, academic, and/or professional qualifications should be submitted. The recommendations must be submitted via the online application system; letters of recommendation in support of an individual’s admission may also be uploaded directly to the online recommendation form.Recommendations sent to the Graduate School in any other format, including surface mail and email, will not be processed.
    
4. Official (officially certified) transcripts / mark sheets / degree certificates of all academic work attempted beyond high (secondary) school are required of all students offered admission who enroll at UNC Charlotte. For the application and admission processes, unofficial transcripts of each academic institution of higher education ever attended must be submitted (and should be uploaded directly to the online application); transfer credit posted on the records of other institutions is unacceptable and transcripts of these credits must be supplied.
    
5. Official agency reports of satisfactory test scores as specified in the section on graduate programs in this Catalog. GRE/GMAT scores are reportable from ETS for a period of five years from the date of the exam. Likewise, the Graduate School accepts GRE/GMAT scores which are up to five years old as part of the application process.GRE/GMAT scores older than five years old are therefore not acceptable since the scores cannot be officially reported. Likewise, MAT scores more than five years old are not accepted.MCAT scores are accepted by some graduate programs and should be no older than five years.For additional information regarding test score requirements, please see the “Test Information” section of this Catalog.
    
6. Official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if English is not the applicant’s native language and he or she has not earned a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution.  Required is either a minimum score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 557 on the paper-based TOEFL, or a minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS.

Notes:

1. Acceptance into each program must be approved by the department or college offering the program and by the Graduate School. Meeting minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee acceptance into a program. There may be prerequisites for certain master’s programs and applicants should consult the coordinator for the master’s program to identify prerequisites. A separate application for admission is required for each graduate, post-baccalaureate, and certificate program of study at UNC Charlotte.
2. All applicants submitting transcripts and degree certificates from non-U.S. educational institutions should note that bachelor’s degrees awarded by non-U.S. schools may or may not be considered equivalent to the U.S. bachelor’s degree. Recipients of degrees that are not at least equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree may not be eligible for graduate study at UNC Charlotte.
3. International Students should see the “Additional Admission Requirements for all International Applicants” section of this Catalog for additional requirements.

Graduate Certificate Programs

The applicant must possess at least a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from a regionally accredited college or university and must have attained an overall grade point average of at least 2.75 (based on a 4.0 scale) on all previous work completed beyond high school (secondary school).  If the applicant has earned or attempted a post-baccalaureate degree (i.e., master’s, doctoral, or other), grades in that program will also be taken into consideration.  Applicants must also be in good academic standing at the last institution of higher education attended.

Applications generally consist of the items listed below. Any materials submitted in support of an application for admission to graduate study become the property of the University and cannot be returned to the applicant.

1. The application form must be submitted online through the Graduate School’s application system. The online application system can be accessed online at mygradschool.uncc.edu.  Submission of the application form requires payment of an application fee, which is paid online by credit card; the fee is neither deductible nor refundable.
    
2. A Statement of Purpose (essay) must be submitted online as part of the application submission process. Applicants must upload the Statement of Purpose into their application record. The Statement of Purpose describes the applicant’s experience and objectives for undertaking graduate study. [Note: Some graduate programs request specific items to be included in the Statement of Purpose. Applicants should check the department’s website or contact the department directly for further clarification on specific requirements related to the Statement of Purpose].
    
3. Official (officially certified) transcripts/mark sheets/degree certificates of all academic work attempted beyond high (secondary) school are required of all students offered admission who enroll at UNC Charlotte. For the application and admission processes, unofficial transcripts of each academic institution of higher education ever attended must be submitted (and should be uploaded directly to the online application); transfer credit posted on the records of other institutions is unacceptable and transcripts of these credits must be supplied.
    
4. Official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if English is not the applicant’s native language and he or she has not earned a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution.  Required is either a minimum score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 557 on the paper-based TOEFL, or a minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS.

Some programs may also require:

• Standardized test scores such as GRE, GMAT or MAT
• Recommendations
• Additional admission requirements as specified in program descriptions available at the departments’ websites

Notes:

1. There may be prerequisites for a graduate certificate program and applicants should consult the coordinator for the graduate certificate program to identify prerequisites. Admission to a graduate certificate program does not ensure admission into a master’s or doctoral degree program. A separate application for admission is required for each graduate-level program of study, whether master’s, doctoral certificate or post-baccalaureate (non-degree) programs.
2. All applicants submitting transcripts and degree certificates from non-U.S. educational institutions should note that bachelor’s degrees awarded by non-U.S. schools may or may not be considered equivalent to the U.S. bachelor’s degree. Recipients of degrees that are not at least equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree may not be eligible for graduate study at UNC Charlotte.
3. “Additional Admission Requirements for all International Applicants” section of this Catalog for additional requirements.

Post-Baccalaureate (Non-Degree) Program

The applicant must possess a bachelor’s degree, or its U.S. equivalent, from a regionally accredited college or university.  Applicants must also be in good academic standing at the last institution of higher education attended.

Applications generally consist of the items listed below and should be submitted online. Application materials submitted in support of an application for admission to graduate study, including non-degree study, become the property of the University and cannot be returned to the applicant.

1. The application form must be submitted online through the Graduate School’s application system. The online application system can be accessed via mygradschool.uncc.edu.  Submission of the application requires payment of an application fee, which is paid online by credit card; the fee is neither deductible nor refundable.
    
2. Students seeking K-12 teacher licensure through the Regional Alternative Licensure Center (RALC) may apply for admission as a post-baccalaureate/non-degree student and must also submit a copy of their RALC plan of study directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
    
3. Official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if English is not the applicant’s native language and he or she has not earned a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution.  Required is either a minimum score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 557 on the paper-based TOEFL, or a minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS.

Notes: 

1. A separate application for admission is required for each graduate-level program of study, whether post-baccalaureate (non-degree), certificate, master’s, or doctoral programs.A post-baccalaureate (non-degree) student who subsequently applies and is admitted to a graduate degree program may, with the permission of his/her advisor and the Graduate School, apply a maximum of six credit hours completed in the post-baccalaureate (non-degree) status toward a graduate degree or certificate program.
2.  International Students should see the “Additional Admission Requirements for all International Applicants” section of this Catalog for additional requirements.

Additional Admission Requirements for all International Applicants and/or Applicants Whose Native Language is Not English

The following items must be submitted as part of the application process and are required before an admission decision can be rendered.

1. Official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if English is not the applicant’s native language and he or she has not earned a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution.  Required is either a minimum score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 557 on the paper-based TOEFL, or a minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS.

Additional Enrollment Requirements for International Applicants on, or Intending to be on, F-1 or J-1 Visa Status

Upon admission, students will be asked to confirm their enrollment.  Additionally, the International Student Scholar Office will request students to complete an online Financial Certificate Form and upload financial documents.    The International Student and Scholar Office is responsible for issuing I-20s and DS-2019s.

Test Information

Applicants should have their test scores sent directly from the testing agency to the Office of Graduate Admissions (not to the department in which they wish to study).  For the GRE and TOEFL, UNC Charlotte’s institution code is 5105.  For the MAT, UNC Charlotte’s institution code is 1370.  For the GMAT, please visit gradadmissions.uncc.edu/apply-now/application-requirements/test-scores to determine the code of the program to which you plan to apply for admission.

Some graduate programs have specific test waivers for applicants to their programs; check the Graduate Catalog for details regarding program-specific waiver criteria and/or communicate directly with the Graduate Program Director.

A student who has already earned a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. from a U.S. institution will not be required by the Graduate School to take a standardized test.  The Graduate Program Director, however, has the right to request that the student take a test and submit official scores.  This policy does not apply to the TOEFL/IELTS requirement.

A student who has already earned a Master’s degree will not be required by the Graduate School to retake a standardized test IF the student can demonstrate that he or she has completed the test in the past.  In such cases, the Graduate School will accept the official Student’s Copy of the official test scores (note that a photocopy is not acceptable) or an official university transcript on which the scores are printed or a letter on official university letterhead attesting to the score.  The Graduate Program Director, however, has the right to request that the student re-take the test and submit official scores.  Please note that the above exception does not apply to the TOEFL/IELTS.

A student who has taken the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, or MAT but has not earned a Ph.D., M.D. or J.D. from a US institution or a Master’s degree (see above) must submit official scores that are less than five years old.  If the student has not taken the test within five years, he or she must re-take the test.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The GRE is not administered by UNC Charlotte.  To obtain information about and schedule a test for the GRE, please visit the GRE website at gre.org.  UNC Charlotte’s school code is 5105.

Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

Harcourt Assessment, Inc administers the MAT.   For additional information on the MAT, please visit milleranalogies.com.  To register for the test at UNC Charlotte, please visit caps.uncc.edu/counseling-and-consultation-services/miller-analogies-test or call 704-687-0311.  To register in another city or for more information, visit milleranalogies.com or call 1-800-622-3231.

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

The GMAT is sponsored, owned, and directed by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and is administered by Pearson VUE.  Visit the GMAC website at mba.com for additional information and to register for the GMAT.  The GMAT Customer Service Telephone in the Americas is 1-800-717-GMAT (4628).  See the Graduate Admissions website at gradadmissions.uncc.edu/apply-now/application-requirements/test-scores for the school codes. 

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

The TOEFL is offered at Educational Testing Service (ETS) Centers.  To obtain additional information about the TOEFL or to register for the TOEFL online, please visit the TOEFL website at toefl.org.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

The IELTS assesses the complete range of English language skills which students studying in English commonly encounter.  For further information, visit ielts.org. 

Appeal Procedure for Applicants Denied Admission

Applicants denied admission may appeal the decision but only on the grounds that the denial was based on a violation of Section II of the University’s Admissions Policy.  Essentially, the policy maintains that if an applicant is denied admission to the Graduate School, he or she may appeal the decision based solely on the grounds that the denial violates University admissions policy not to discriminate in offering access to its educational programs and activities on the basis of age, gender, race, color, national origin, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

The appeal must be in writing, must set forth with specificity the grounds for the appeal, and must be directed and delivered to the Dean of the Graduate School.  Upon receipt of the appeal, the Dean will review the applicant-appellant’s file and appeal letter and will communicate his decision to the applicant-appelant in writing within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the appeal.  Appeals must be received prior to the term for which the applicant is seeking admission.  If there is insufficient time to complete the appeal process before the beginning of the term for which the applicant seeks admission, the Dean of the Graduate School may decline to review the appeal.  For more information, see Appendix A to University Policy 207 online at legal.uncc.edu/policies/up-207/appendix-a.