Graduate Admissions

Those seeking admission to the School of Graduate Studies at SAU must submit an application whether or not they intend to pursue a degree. Applicants must be in good standing with the institution they last attended (and eligible for re-admission) in order to be eligible for admission to SAU.

Admission to the School of Graduate Studies at SAU does not imply admission to a graduate degree program. Some graduate programs have additional admission requirements.

The Admissions Process

The application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies may be completed online by visiting our website at web.saumag.edu/graduate/admissions. There is a $25 fee required to submit an application. After the deadline, the fee will increase to $100.  The Doctor of Education program has a $100 application fee.

Applications must be submitted based on the following deadlines:

• Fall semester: August 5
• Spring semester: December 5
• 1st Summer session: May 1
• 2nd Summer session: June 1

All application materials are submitted to the graduate office. Admission status will be determined when all required materials (listed below) have been submitted. Students will be notified in writing when they have been admitted.

Unconditional Admission

Applicants may be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies on unconditional status if they earned a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university and meet the following minimum requirements:

1. A cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or above out of a 4.00 system or a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
2. Application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies (apply.saumag.edu).
3. Official transcript reflecting a bachelor’s or master’s degree sent directly from the college or university.
4. Proof of MMR immunization.

Conditional Admission

Applicants may be admitted on conditional status if they do not qualify for unconditional status because of GPA. The minimum requirements for conditional status are ALL of the following:

1. A cumulative grade point average of 2.20 or above out of a 4.00 system.
2. Application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies (apply.saumag.edu).
3. Official transcript reflecting a bachelor’s or master’s degree sent directly from the college or university.
4. Proof of MMR immunization.

Note: Some colleges/programs may not allow conditional status. Students on conditional status are limited to six hours per semester.

The conditional status will be removed after the student earns a minimum of 12 semester hours of graduate credit at Southern Arkansas University with a 3.0 GPA, no grade lower than a C, and not more than one course with a grade of C. If a student fails to meet the requirements for removal of conditional status after earning 12 hours of graduate credit, he/she will be denied continuance in graduate courses at SAU.

Transient Students

Graduate students at other institutions are eligible to take graduate courses at SAU with a letter of good standing from the current university’s dean of graduate studies or registrar (Note: If your current university will not supply this letter, an official current transcript will be accepted).

Workshop Credit

Students taking workshops for graduate credit are required to follow all graduate school admission procedures. Workshop students have a choice of continuing education credit through the Office of Continuing Education or graduate credit through the School of Graduate Studies. Students must complete all admission requirements before the workshop begins to receive graduate credit. 

​​Re-Application Policy

Students who have not been enrolled in graduate school at SAU for one calendar year are required to re-apply for admission. The application fee, deadlines and current admission requirements apply. The application can be found on the Graduate Studies website at web.saumag.edu/graduate/admissions.

Transfer Student Admissions

Transfer students must be in good standing with the institution they last attended in order to be eligible for admission to Southern Arkansas University.

• Transfer students must fulfill all general admission requirements
• Applicants with a cumulative graduate grade point average between 2.5 and 3.0 will be placed on academic probation.
• Applicants with a cumulative graduate grade point average of 2.49 or below will not be admitted to Graduate School at Southern Arkansas University.
• Transfer students with incomplete “I” grades on the transcript from a previous institution will not be accepted for admission.

Transfer of Credit

Graduate courses completed at an institutionally accredited college or university may be transferred to Southern Arkansas University and applied toward a graduate degree program, provided that all of the following criteria are met:

• The graduate-level course is comparable to SAU graduate-level work
• The student earned a grade of A or B in the course (or the equivalent if another grading system were used)
• The course was not applied toward another degree
• The advisor/program director approve the acceptance of the transfer course(s)

For master’s degree programs, no more than 30% of the required credit hours for the degree can be transfer credits (e.g., a student in a 30-credit hour degree program may use no more than 9 transfer credit hours, a student in a 60-credit hour degree program may use no more than 18 transfer credit hours). Faculty of a particular graduate program may restrict the number of transfer hours permitted to a lower maximum than permitted by the general graduate school policy. For doctoral degree programs, a student may use no more than 9 transfer graduate credit hours. Doctorate students admitted into the Ed.D. program with 30+ post-graduate or doctoral hours (e.g., Ed.S./ABD), 21 credit hours may transfer for credit allowance of selected coursework.

All transfer hours submitted for master’s degree program credit must have been completed no more than six years prior to the completion of the SAU graduate program. All transfer hours submitted for the doctoral degree program credit must have been completed no more than ten years prior to the completion of the SAU graduate program. Transfer credit is not allowed for a graduate certificate. Some programs in the College of Education will accept up to nine hours of credit from the American Council of Education (ACE).

A student wishing to transfer credits from other institutions must notify their advisor of their plan to transfer credits prior to registering for their first semester by submitting a Graduate Course Substitution Request Form (web.saumag.edu/graduate/forms/substitution). Also, the student must provide the advisor a course description or syllabus, and an official transcript from the transferring institution if the transcript is not on file with the registrar.

Transfer credits will be accepted only from institutions that have accredited programs similar to those of SAU. Transfer credits will be posted on the SAU transcript; however, grades earned at other institutions will not be used to calculate a student’s cumulative grade point average. Students should be aware of the difference in quarter hours and semester hours. Quarter hours do not equate to semester hours.

Institutional (formerly described as regional) Accreditors

• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
• The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSOC)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Off-Campus Enrollment

If, after admission to an SAU master’s degree program of study, a student wishes to take a course at another institution to count toward program requirements at SAU, the student must secure, in advance of enrollment, advisor approval and submit an off-campus approval form to the School of Graduate Studies. Additionally, students who wish to take a course off-campus during the semester of graduation must submit a request to take off-campus courses during the semester of graduation form. Both forms can be found on our website web.saumag.edu/graduate.

Concurrent Graduate Enrollment

Concurrent Enrollment for SAU Undergraduates

An undergraduate senior in the Colleges of Education and Human Performance, Liberal and Performing Arts, or Science and Engineering at SAU may request permission to enroll in a maximum of six hours of graduate coursework fall and spring semesters of the senior year. The student’s total course load (undergraduate and graduate) that semester may not exceed 18 hours. A student fulfilling the student teaching requirement is not permitted to take any additional coursework beyond the Student Teaching Block. The student must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and the written approval of the undergraduate advisor and the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. The permission form must be submitted by the advisor and approved by the dean prior to registration by the Registrar’s Office. The graduate courses may not be used to satisfy baccalaureate degree requirements, unless approved by the department chair, college dean, and the vice president for academic affairs.

An undergraduate senior in the College of Business at SAU may request permission to enroll in a maximum of six hours of graduate coursework per semester in their senior year. The student’s total course load (undergraduate and graduate) during those semesters may not exceed 18 hours. The student must have a 3.5 cumulative grade point average and the written approval of the MBA Director and the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. The permission form must be submitted by the advisor and approved by the dean prior to registration by the Registrar’s Office. The graduate courses may not be used to satisfy baccalaureate degree requirements, unless approved by the department chair, college dean, and the vice president for academic affairs.

Concurrent Enrollment for Non-SAU Undergraduates

Concurrent enrollment occurs when a student is enrolled as an undergraduate at one institution and at SAU as a graduate student. The Concurrent Enrollment Program is an opportunity for current undergraduates to get a head start on graduate school.

Who can apply?

If you are a student who:

• Is a graduating senior currently enrolled in an institutionally accredited institution (referred to as home institution from this point forward)
• Has a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate work attempted.
• Is within 30 semester credit hours of completing bachelor’s degree requirements.

What are the requirements and rules of the program?

• The student retains undergraduate status at the home institution until awarded their bachelor’s degree.
• While in the Concurrent Enrollment Program, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and remain in good academic standing at the home institution.
• Students must enroll in at least one graduate level course (5000 level or above) in the admitted term.
• Continuous enrollment is required. If a student sits out a semester, they will need to reapply to take courses concurrently.
• Students cannot earn more than 6 graduate credit hours while concurrently enrolled.
• Non-SAU students are required to submit a letter from the registrar of their home institution each term certifying the student is continuing to make satisfactory progress towards the bachelor’s degree.

How do I apply for Concurrent Admission?

Students who meet the above criteria as determined by the Southern Arkansas University must complete the following prior to the appropriate graduate school deadline:

• Attain approval from the relevant SAU graduate program director using the Concurrent Enrollment form (for non-SAU students) at web.saumag.edu/graduate/admissions.
• Complete an application for admission through SAU’s Graduate School website at apply.saumag.edu (along with payment of the application fee).
• Submit a letter from the applicant’s registrar at the home institution certifying that the applicant is within 30 hours of completing the requirements for the bachelor’s degree, along with the applicant’s cumulative gpa.

What is required for official admission to a graduate degree program after graduation?

• Official transcript reflecting a bachelor’s degree.
• Any additional program admission requirements.

International Student Admissions

International students who wish to gain admission to the graduate school must provide, in addition to the requirements to the School of Graduate Studies, the following:

1. Official transcripts indicating that the student has completed a baccalaureate degree (and master’s degree for doctoral program admission). Verification of the degree and cumulative grade point average may be necessary if the student’s degree is from a college or university outside of the United States.
2. Evidence of the ability to read, write, speak, and understand English at a level sufficient to enable the student to profit from graduate courses.
3. An affidavit of support showing sufficient funds to pay tuition, fees, and room and board. In addition, the student should have enough financial resources to buy books, medical insurance, and personal items.
4. Proof of medical insurance OR purchase medical insurance prior to registration for classes.

International students who have graduated with a G.E.D. in the United States or a degree (high school, bachelor’s, or master’s degree) from an accredited school in the United States or another English-speaking country must meet the same admission requirements as U.S. students. Other English-speaking countries include Anguilla, Antigua/Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Guyana, Cameroon (West/English-speaking), Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica/other West Indies, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, South Africa (English schools), St. Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks and Caicos Isles, United Kingdom, and the Virgin Islands.

For other international students, the English language requirement of SAU will be met when the applicant has submitted proof of ONE of the following:

• A score of 79 or higher on the Internet TOEFL.
• A score of 550 or higher on the written TOEFL.
• A score of 173 or higher on the computerized TOEFL.
• A score of Band 6/6.5 (overall) on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
• Completion of Level 112 at an ELS Language Center or its equivalent.
• Duolingo score of 100 or higher.

When officially admitted to Southern Arkansas University, an international student will receive a Form I-20. This form should be taken to the U.S. consulate to apply for a student visa.

The completed Application for Admission to the School of Graduate Studies and the other listed requirements must reach SAU by the deadlines stated on the website. An application fee of $90 must accompany the application. This application fee is non-refundable.

Transcript Evaluation for International Students

In cases where international applicants have completed their coursework at non-U.S. universities very familiar to the faculty in a given program, external transcript evaluation may be waived if the following conditions are met:

1. The request for waiver is approved by the vice president for academic affairs after consultation with the graduate dean and the dean of the appropriate college.
2. Sealed transcripts which have not been altered in any fashion are sent to the International Student Office.
3. The evaluation of each transcript is conducted by the appropriate department chair and/or program director, or the department chair’s designee(s). Designees must be fully qualified to review academic transcripts; such designees must be full-time employees of SAU. No current SAU students may participate in the process of evaluating transcripts.
4. The chair of the appropriate department is responsible for informing the International Student Office in writing of the results of each evaluation.
5. The internal evaluation will only apply to admissions decisions and does not include evaluation for transfer credit.

Full-Time Requirements for F-1 International Students

Full-Time Status

Students must maintain full-time enrollment and normal full-time progress toward their degree as defined below:

For graduate students, six (6) credit hours or more are considered full-time in a regular academic semester. Please consult the Office of International Student Services and an academic advisor to determine the precise requirements of your program.

Exceptions

• An F-1 student at an academic institution is considered to be in full-time status during the summer vacation if the student is eligible and intends to register for the next fall term (if they attended the previous semester full-time).
• The student has a medical reason for needing to be registered less than full-time and has a written medical excuse.
• A student in the final semester of course work is permitted to take only the number of credits required to complete the degree objective, even if it is less than the full-time course load.
• Graduate students are considered full-time if they are taking fewer than six credits if their academic advisor certifies that there are no other courses available on their plan of study during a particular semester.
• The Department of Homeland Security permits only one distance learning course (three credits) per semester to be credited towards full-time requirements.

Procedures

If a student has to take less than the number of credits normally considered full-time in a particular semester, they must have on file a Request for Reduced Enrollment Form (signed by their academic advisor) at the Office of International Student Services (ISS). This form should be turned in ONLY to the ISS Office. The ISS Office Director must also approve in advance all forms before any student is authorized to enroll for fewer than the number of credits normally considered full-time, or to drop below full-time or withdraw from SAU during the course of a semester.

Attendance

All international students are expected to attend classes beginning with the first day of the semester. A student may be dropped from a class for excessive absences at the request of the instructor (see class attendance policy). Should this happen, the student will not be eligible for a Request for Reduced Enrollment Form.

Doctoral Program Admissions

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Rural and Diverse Educational Leadership program admits students through a competitive process based on holistic admission review criteria to help ensure students are able to excel and maximize growth as educational leaders. Holistic review considers a broad range of candidate qualities, including personal and professional experiences. Holistic review is a growing strategy for widening the evidence base graduate schools consider when evaluating a candidate for admission at the highest scholarly level. [For more information on holistic admission, see Kent, J.D. and McCarthy, M.T. (2016). Holistic Review in Graduate Admissions: A Report from the Council of Graduate Schools. Washington, DC: Council of Graduate Schools.]

 A rolling review of completed Ed.D. applications will begin each calendar cycle and continue until each annual cohort is filled. Foundational doctoral courses begin each fall semester. Those who apply and are invited into the program earlier in the calendar cycle may take program electives or focus courses until the fall term begins.

Requirements for Doctoral Admission

Applicants may be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies and accepted into the Doctor of Education program if the Ed.D. Admission Committee reviews and approves the following minimum requirements:

1. An application must be submitted through the online admission portal at apply.saumag.edu.

• There is an application fee required to submit an application.
• There is no standardized test (GRE, MAT) required for applicants who are United States citizens.
• Applicants must be in good standing with the institution they last attended (and eligible for re-admission) in order to be eligible for admission to SAU.

1. Official graduate transcripts from an institutionally accredited institution, which reflect a master’s degree (or student’s most recent post-graduate degree) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25, must be sent directly from the prior institution to gradstudies@saumag.edu
2. Two recommendations must be received through the online admission portal. The forms gather feedback regarding the applicant’s professional and academic experiences, leadership capacity, and potential for scholarly research and writing. The portal’s recommendation form must be used.
3. A current and comprehensive curriculum vitae or resume must be submitted through the online admission portal.
4. A statement of purpose must be submitted through the online admission portal expressing the applicant’s professional trajectory, career goals, value of rural and diverse educational experiences in life, and reasons for pursuing a doctoral degree. The statement of purpose will be evaluated as a writing sample. Additional guidance on the statement of purpose may be found at web.saumag.edu/edd/sop.

Rolling review of completed applications will begin once the application is complete and submitted. Doctoral students will not be admitted on a conditional or part-time basis.

If admitted, additional coursework or documentation may be required for the following reasons:

• Students without a graduate degree in the field of education may require a master’s level research course.
• Other courses may be required due to academic deficiencies determined by the committee.
• Students who seek additional certification by pursuing the Superintendent Leadership or Teacher Leadership focus require evidence of a building-level administrator (SL) and/or a K-12 educator (TL) license.

International Doctoral Applicants

• All international applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting official Test of English as a Foreign Languages (TOEFUL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and the IELTS Indicator tests are accepted.

  • For IELTS, the recommended minimum overall band score is 7.

  • For TOEFL, the recommended minimum score for admission consideration is 577 on the paper-based test and 90 on the Internet-based test.

• Since the Ed.D. is a fully online program, residency requirements are not required of those living internationally. Check with the Ed.D. program director to determine if there are any additional admission requirements.
• International applicants can begin the application process online at web.saumag.edu/international/admissions/international-doctorate-admissions. 

Doctoral Application Process

1. Application submission (applicant)
   • Application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies
   • Official transcripts reflecting a graduate degree and all recent post-graduate work
   • Current curriculum vitae/resume
   • Recommendations from two professional references
   • Statement of Purpose writing sample
   • Documentation of English proficiency for international applicants (see above)
2. Application review (Ed.D. Admission Committee)
3. Interview (if necessary)
4. Notification of admission status