Doctoral Degree Programs

To be considered for admission to a doctoral program, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree (or its U.S. equivalent) from a college or university that is accredited by an accepted accrediting body.  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.  Individual programs may have additional application/admission requirements as specified in program descriptions in this Graduate Catalog and/or the program’s websites.  Applicants must also be in good academic standing at the last institution of higher education attended; otherwise, the individual must not have been enrolled for two years prior to being considered for admission to a graduate program at UNC Charlotte.

Master’s Degree Programs

The applicant must possess at least a bachelor’s degree, or its U.S. equivalent, from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body, 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.  Individual programs may have additional application/admission requirements as specified in program descriptions in this Graduate Catalog and/or the program’s website. Applicants must also be in good academic standing at the last institution of higher education attended; otherwise, the individual must not have been enrolled for two years prior to being considered for admission to a graduate program at UNC Charlotte.

Graduate Certificate Programs

The applicant must possess at least a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body, 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.  Individual programs may have additional application/admission requirements as specified in program descriptions in this Graduate Catalog and/or the program’s website. Applicants must also be in good academic standing at the last institution of higher education attended; otherwise, the individual must not have been enrolled for two years prior to being considered for admission to a graduate program at UNC Charlotte.

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 gradadmissions.charlotte.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 (personal 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. Transcripts 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, current/unofficial transcripts of each academic institution of higher education ever attended must be submitted (and must 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. International transcripts must be issued in English by the institution or be accompanied by an English translation by an official, certified translation company.

4. If required by the program, one to three recommendations from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or professional qualifications should be submitted.Note that many graduate certificate programs do not require recommendations.If required, the recommendation forms 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, may not be processed or considered as part of the application file.

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, LSAT, and PAEP 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 the applicant has not earned a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution.  The Graduate School requires 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 graduate programs require higher scores.

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.

Post-Baccalaureate (Non-Degree) Program

The applicant must possess a bachelor’s degree, or its U.S. equivalent, from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body.  UNC Charlotte students having less than 12 credit hours to complete their first undergraduate degree may be allowed to enroll as a post-baccalaureate (non-degree) student; see “Dual Undergraduate and Graduate Registration” in the Degree Requirements and Academic Policies section. Applicants must also be in good academic standing at the last institution of higher education attended; otherwise, the individual must not have been enrolled for two years prior to being considered for admission to a graduate program at UNC Charlotte.

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 gradadmissions.charlotte.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. 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 the applicant 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 their 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

Success at UNC Charlotte depends upon a student’s ability to converse in, write, and understand (U.S.) English. To assure such competence, any applicant whose native language is other than English must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score. To be considered official, the scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to UNC Charlotte. Typically, testing agencies retain scores for two years.

Applicants who meet one of the following criteria are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement:

1. Has completed at least one academic year of post-secondary (academic) study in the U.S. (or an approved country*) within five years of the proposed term of enrollment.
2. Has completed at least one full calendar year of professional work experience in the United States (*or an approved country) in a position where English is heavily used in writing and speaking.

*Approved Countries with English as the Primary Language

Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada (exception of the Province of Québec), Dominica, Fiji, Gambria, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St. Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States and territories, and Zimbabwe.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language proficiency requirement cannot be admitted.  They may, however, choose to enroll at UNC Charlotte’s English Language Training Institute (ELTI) and e-apply to the Graduate School once English language proficiency is obtained.  See ELTI’s website for details.

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 to programs that require submission of test scores should have their official 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.charlotte.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.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The GRE is administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS).  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.

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.charlotte.edu/apply-now/application-requirements/test-scores for the school codes. 

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS)

• Minimum Score Required:  83 Internet-based
• Official scores sent directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS) are required.
• UNC Charlotte’s school code is 5105. A department code is not necessary.
• MyBest Scores are accepted.  Applicants must send all individual scores and not just their “MyBest Scores.”
• Registration: Visit the TOEFL website.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESO Examinations, British Council, and IDP:IELTS Australia

• Minimum Score Required: Overall band score of 6.5
• Official scores must be sent directly from the testing center to UNC Charlotte.
• Request scores be sent electronically to University of North Carolina Charlotte Graduate Admissions.
• Registration: Visit the IELTS website.

Duolingo English Test

• Provided by Duolingo
• Minimum Proficiency Score Required: 115
• Official scores should be made available electronically to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Graduate School via the Duolingo test taker portal.
• Registration: Visit the Duolingo English Test website.

English Language Training Institute (ELTI)

UNC Charlotte accredited intensive English program for academic language development in a university setting

• Minimum proficiency: Completion of the last level of the program (Level 5) with a final grade of B (80%) or higher.
• Curriculum, application requirements, dates and schedule, and tuition and fees schedule: Visit the ELTI website.

The ELTI will work with the Graduate School to identify current ELTI students who seek admission to UNC Charlotte graduate programs. The ELTI Program Director will send a memo of completion along with a final grade report for any eligible student to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School at the conclusion of the semester.

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, they 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 their decision to the applicant-appellant 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.charlotte.edu/policies/up-207/appendix-a.