Application
GRADUATE CATALOG INDEX

To apply to the School of Graduate Studies, complete a graduate application (available on paper or online) and arrange to have official transcripts sent of all your undergraduate and graduate coursework.

Transcripts from Mountain State University are provided automatically; those from all other colleges and universities must be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies. Transcripts issued to the student or hand carried are not accepted. All transcripts must bear official seals or signatures. Regardless of your admission category, you will not be permitted to begin coursework until all transcripts are received.

Some programs have different application and admissions processes or require additional materials. See the listing for the program to which you plan to apply for details.

While admission to the School of Graduate Studies is granted on a rolling basis throughout the academic year, some programs restrict initial enrollment to a specific term or have a recommended application date. You should complete your application as early as possible, since your admission may be delayed if all available spaces in your program are filled.

Specific application information for each program is included in the program
description.

International Applicants
International applicants are required to meet all School of Graduate Studies and program admissions standards. Contact the Office of International Student Services for more information or for assistance with submitting an international application.

Submit the following items to be considered for admission if you wish to attend Mountain State University on an international student visa:

• A completed application for admission.
  
• Official transcripts from your undergraduate degree. Transcripts for any college-level credit earned at an institution outside the United States must be submitted for evaluation to Educational Credential Evaluators, www.ece.org. The course-by-course method is preferred for ECE evaluation.
  
• Proof of proficiency in English. See the following section for details.
  
• Statement from a recognized financial institution or responsible sponsor showing sufficient funds in U.S. dollars to cover academic and living expenses.

Whenever possible, all documents should be received at least three months before the beginning of the semester in which you plan to enroll.

Once you have been admitted to the University and your financial arrangements have been verified, you will receive a Form I-20 for presentation to an American embassy or consulate in application for a nonimmigrant F-1 student visa.

New federal regulations require that students applying for first-time attendance at a college or university in the United States pay a fee that goes toward maintaining the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. This fee, known as the SEVIS I-901 fee, is generally $100 and must be paid before your interview. You may be required to pay this fee if your Form I-20 was issued on or after September 1, 2004. You can pay the SEVIS I-901 fee online at https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml.

While international students are ineligible for most forms of financial aid, you may be able to qualify for part-time employment on campus through an International Fellowship. See International Fellowship in the financial aid section of this chapter for details.

International graduate students at Mountain State University should expect to spend a minimum of US$15,000 each year for educational and living expenses. You will be required to register as a full-time graduate student each semester (fall and spring) during the academic year.

Language Proficiency Requirement for International Applicants. If your native language is not English, official scores are required from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Results must be sent directly to Mountain State University by the testing agency.

Graduate admission requires a minimum online composite TOEFL score of 75 with desired subscores of 22 for writing, 15 for speaking, 20 for reading, and 20 for listening; a paper-based TOEFL score of 550 or better; or an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or better. For information on taking exams or to request that your scores be sent to Mountain State University, contact TOEFL at www.toefl.org or IELTS at www.ielts.org.

If your language score does not qualify you for regular admission, you may be eligible for study at the University’s English Language Training Program, which offers intensive training to help you meet the language requirement for admission to other University programs. For more information, contact the Office of International Student Services.

Transfer Credits
Depending on the program in which you enroll, you may be able to transfer previous graduate credit toward your degree requirements. To have credit evaluated for transfer, submit a request to your program administrator along with an official copy of your graduate transcript and a catalog from the institution.

Courses submitted for transfer credit must be relevant to the program and have an earned letter grade of B or higher. Your program administrator will evaluate any courses you submit for transfer and notify you and the registrar if they are accepted.

If you are a transfer student, all credit, regardless of grade, is placed on your MSU transcript. Transfer credits are not included in the calculation of your grade point average but are included in hours attempted and hours earned in evaluating academic progress. The computation of your grade point average at MSU is determined by the local grade point average using only coursework completed at MSU.

Currently enrolled students who wish to take coursework at another institution for transfer into a graduate program at Mountain State University should obtain the approval of their program administrator to ensure that the course will be accepted for transfer.

Access to Admissions Records
If you have been admitted to and enrolled in a graduate program, you may examine the contents of your admissions folder—with the exception of reference forms and other specific documents for which you have waived your right of review—in the presence of a staff member from the Admissions office. Access to admissions records falls within the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, or FERPA. Additional information is available online at www.mountainstate.edu/current/policies/family_ed.aspx or from Student Affairs.