Classifications of Graduate Students

Classified Students

Graduates of accredited institutions who have earned grade point averages of 2.75 or higher for all upper division credits taken at the undergraduate level, regardless of the institution at which the credits were earned, are eligible to be admitted as regular degree-seeking students in masters programs and are given the classification of Classified student upon submission of official GRE scores. Doctoral students must meet individual department GPA requirements; please see department sections of this catalog for complete information. In the case of those students who have not completed the baccalaureate degree, the grade point average shall be recalculated on all upper division credits once the bachelor's degree is completed. Students who achieve at least the 35th percentile in one of the aptitude sections (Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical) may be eligible for this classification if the earned grade point average for all upper division credits taken at the undergraduate level is 2.0 or higher. However, many departments have more restrictive requirements than these for this classification. The College of Business requires the GMAT and the Department of Counselor Education and Special Education accepts the MAT in lieu of the GRE. Please see the department sections for this information.

Conditional Students

A department/college may, at its discretion, admit students in a degree program on a trial basis as Conditional students to ascertain their ability to do graduate work within a particular curriculum. Conditional students are those who do not have acceptable undergraduate grade point averages and/or GRE (GMAT in the College of Business, or MAT in the Department of Counselor Education and Special Education) scores for admission to the university.

Conditional status also may be used by a department for students whose credentials do not meet specific departmental requirements. Conditional students must adhere to regulations established by the Graduate Council. The following criteria must be met by the student before the Conditional status can be changed to Classified:

1. The student must complete at least nine credits and maintain a 3.0 GPA or better;
2. If the GRE (or GMAT/MAT) was not taken by the student at the time of admission as a Conditional student, the student must take the GRE (or GMAT/MAT) the first semester of Conditional status. Upon completion of the above two criteria, a request to change the student's status to Classified may be submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. The following steps must be followed to accomplish this change:
   1. At any time after completion of the above criteria a student may initiate an Approval for Change of Student Status in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. However, the department/college may also initiate the change and should do so by written request when the student has met the required criteria. The department/college also has the option of requesting the change to Classified status before the student has completed nine credits.
   2. If the student's credentials at the time of the request for change in status to Classified reveal a GPA of less than 2.75 for all upper division credits taken at the undergraduate level, regardless of the institution at which the credits were earned, and GRE or MAT scores lower than the 35th percentile for each of the aptitude sections (Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical), then admission to Classified status must be approved by the Graduate Council.
   3. The change from Conditional to Classified status must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Departments/colleges may request that students be shifted to Classified status by written request. Not all departments/colleges exercise this option, and departments may have regulations in addition to those listed above. Students seeking admission as Conditional students should contact particular departments for advice on admission and registration. If a student admitted to Conditional status fails to meet the conditions for admission stated on the Approval for Admission form, the student may be dismissed from the program.

      Unclassified Students

      Applicants holding a bachelor's degree who desire to take courses for graduate credit for personal or professional enrichment but who do not want to pursue a graduate degree are eligible to apply for admission as Unclassified (non-degree-seeking) students. There is no assurance that courses taken under Unclassified status may be used later to satisfy degree requirements. Courses may be taken only in those departments that have approved a student's Unclassified admission. If the student wishes to pursue a graduate degree within the university, the student must (1) notify in writing the department/college of his/her intention to seek admission as a Classified student and (2) apply for change of student status in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. The student must also meet application and admission requirements of degree-seeking students described previously or below. At the option of the departments, students may petition the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research to transfer course work taken while under Unclassified status to a degree program. The total number of such credits transferred shall not be more than 30% of the credits of the program of work required of each student for the degree.

      Admission Requirements For Degree-Seeking Students

      Degree-seeking students must meet the following requirements:

      1. A baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited in the United States or its equivalent from a school in another country.
      2. An earned grade point average of at least 2.75 or higher for all upper division credits taken at the undergraduate level, regardless of the institution at which the credits were earned, for those seeking a master's degree. In the case of those students who have not completed the baccalaureate degree, the grade point average shall be recalculated on all upper division credits once the bachelor's degree is completed. Please see individual department sections for GPA requirements for doctoral programs.
      3. Degree-seeking applicants must submit official scores on the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or in the case of the MBA program, the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT). To register, contact either the Educational Testing Service, Box 899, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540, or the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. Students applying for admission to programs in Counselor Education and Special Education may submit Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores in lieu of the GRE. To register for the MAT contact the ISU Counseling and Testing Center (208) 236-2130. Some departments may admit degree-seeking students on a Conditional basis without submission of GRE scores. However, in such cases, the GRE must be taken in the first semester or summer session of enrollment. Applicants who have achieved at least the 35th percentile in one of the aptitude sections (Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical) are eligible for admission as degree-seeking students if the earned grade point average for all upper division credits taken at the undergraduate level is 2.0 or higher. GRE/GMAT/MAT scores are used for other purposes in addition to admission. Most departments/colleges also use these scores as part of the criteria for awarding graduate assistantships, fellowships, or scholarships. Other parts of the campus also may use these scores in the process of awarding scholarships. Students at Idaho State University may take these tests at the Counseling and Testing Center. Special study sessions are available at the university in the Academic Skills Center (208)236-3662 to aid the student in preparing for the GRE/GMAT.
      4. Approval by the department or college offering the desired degree program. Please see individual department sections of this catalog for additional requirements.
      5. Approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Admission Requirements For Non-Degree-Seeking Students

         Non-degree-seeking students who apply for admission must meet the following conditions:

         1. A baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited in the United States or its equivalent from a school in another country.
         2. Proof of graduation must be shown by evidence of a degree. Students must submit one of the following: copy of an unofficial transcript showing proof of degree, copy of the diploma, copy of Idaho Teacher Certification, or a letter from an appropriate college or university official.
         3. A properly completed application form which includes signing an agreement that the applicant will provide evidence that he/she holds a baccalaureate degree. Admission Requirements for Professional Development Students (597 Courses)

            The Office of Graduate Studies and Research recognizes the need for individuals in their particular occupations to improve their professional capabilities by taking particular courses which would provide that service. Many of these students, particularly public school teachers, are best served if these courses are offered for graduate credit. In some cases the courses are workshops or short courses which can be taken in a short time period. These types of courses are "advanced" with respect to the students who enroll but are not courses which a particular discipline offers to a student with the goal of earning an advanced degree. Therefore, professional development courses are offered by many departments to meet the perceived need and are treated differently in the following respects:

            1. Students may enroll in professional development courses offered under the 597 number without the necessity of being admitted to Graduate School. However, they must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution at the time they enter the class or receive special permission from the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research if they are last semester seniors.
            2. The credits earned will not count toward an advanced degree nor may they be petitioned to count at a later date.
            3. There is no limit to the number of 597 credits which a student may earn.
            4. All instructors of 597 courses must have an advanced degree.
            5. Students must certify for each 597 course for which they enroll that they possess a baccalaureate degree and agree to the conditions by which they are permitted to register for the course.
            6. Students who have not been admitted previously to Graduate School at Idaho State University will be classified as Unclassified, Master's, Professional Development students. They will not be permitted to register for any graduate level courses except 597 courses unless they apply for admission and are accepted into the Graduate School.
            7. Students who have been admitted into Graduate School are permitted to take 597 courses but must register for these courses by signing the special registration form in addition to the regular procedures for registration.
            8. Departments shall determine if and when professional development courses are to be offered with their prefix. Admission of International Students

               Applications for admission to graduate studies will not be processed in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research until cleared by the International Admissions Clerk in the Office of Admissions. In addition to the admission requirements listed previously, international students must meet the following conditions:

               1. International students must submit a financial statement to the Office of Admissions verifying that they will be able to support themselves financially for one year while attending Idaho State University. This must consist of a statement or letter from a bank indicating that funds are available and accessible. The amount of money available to the student must be listed on the financial statement. A graduate assistantship or fellowship awarded by a department or college may be used as part of this amount.
               2. International students who have not graduated from an accredited college or university in the United States and whose native language is not English, normally must achieve satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Specifically, students must achieve a total score of 550 and a score of 55 on Section l (Listening Comprehension). Information about the TOEFL test, including test dates and locations in foreign countries, can be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, Box 899, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540. Registration forms must reach Princeton at least five weeks before the test is taken. PHOTOCOPIES OF TOEFL SCORES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
               3. International students may not enter the United States for graduate study without a U.S. Immigration (I-20) form. This form will be supplied by the International Admissions Clerk in the Office of Admissions after a department or college chooses to accept a student and items l and 2 above are met in addition to the admission requirements listed previously. International students are urged to remain in their own countries until they receive notice of acceptance.
               4. International students transferring from a school within the United States must be "IN STATUS" with Immigration and Naturalization Services to be issued an I-20 form from ISU. A transfer form will be sent after the application has been received, to be completed as verification of acceptable immigration status. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the International Admissions Clerk at (208)236-2314, or FAX number (208) 236-4231.

                  Admission of Last-Semester Seniors

                  Seniors in residence at ISU, with permission of the Office of Graduate Studies and Research, may register for no more than six graduate credits during the semester or summer session in which they will complete the work for a bachelor's degree at ISU. This option is reserved for outstanding seniors who are seriously considering attending ISU for graduate studies. The option must be approved not only by the Ofice of Graduate Studies and Research but also by the student's advisor, the department chairperson, and the course instructor. ONLY COURSES NUMBERED 500-599 MAY BE TAKEN WITH THIS OPTION. If a senior admitted to graduate study under this provision fails to complete graduate requirements for a bachelor's degree, all graduate credits earned revert to undergraduate credit. The student's load, including both graduate and undergraduate credit, may not exceed 16 credits or nine credits in the case of summer school. A senior selecting this option must file an Application for Admission with the Office of Graduate Studies and Research when he/she requests permission to take graduate level courses.