Graduate Admissions

To apply for a master’s degree program at SFA, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Be in your final year of undergraduate work;
• Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university; or
• Have 95 or more semester hours of undergraduate work at SFA and be approved as an Overlap Student (an undergraduate pursuing graduate and undergraduate studies at the same time).

Generally, all applicants must have an overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Minimum GPA requirements vary depending on your academic major. Visit your major department’s website to check its admission requirements.

Depending on the graduate program you’re pursuing, you may be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

• The GRE General Test is a multiple-choice exam designed to measure verbal, analytical and quantitative skills. There also are GRE Subject Tests in 17 fields of study.
• The GMAT measures prospective students’ likelihood of success in graduate management programs.

Letters of recommendation and/or essays may be needed, depending on your academic major. Visit your major department’s website to check its admission requirements.

Our doctoral and terminal degrees — the highest degree offered in a field of study — have more application requirements. You can find them on the programs’ webpages:

• Doctor of Education in educational leadership
• Doctor of Philosophy in forestry
• Doctor of Philosophy in school psychology
• Doctor of Social Work
• Master of Social Work
• Master of Fine Arts in filmmaking
• Master of Fine Arts in studio art

This admission status allows students to work toward a graduate degree.

Generally, if you have an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and a 2.8 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, you are a candidate for clear admission. You’ll also need recommendations from the department you’re interested in and the appropriate academic dean.

This admission status allows you to work toward a graduate degree, but you must earn a B average on coursework in your first twelve semester credit hours of study (or the number of hours set by the graduate advisor). Probationary students who do not meet that objective will be placed on academic suspension.

To be considered for probationary admission, you must have an overall GPA of 2.3 and the consent of a program advisor, and you must be recommended by the major academic department and the appropriate academic dean.

Probationary admitted students aren’t eligible for financial aid.

This status allows students who already hold a bachelor's or master's degree to take graduate courses on a limited basis. This may be a good option if you want to take courses to qualify for a graduate degree program, professional development or personal enrichment.

Maximum of 12 credit hours of graduate work is allowed.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Overlap Program, you must have 95 or more semester hours of undergraduate work at SFA and be currently enrolled.

95-110 undergraduate semester hours: You also must have an overall and upper-level 3.0 GPA.

110 or more undergraduate semester hours: You also must have an overall 2.5 GPA and an upper-level 2.8 GPA.

Graduate assistantships

Graduate courses taken in the program aren't applicable toward your undergraduate degree and you're ineligible for a graduate assistantship while in the overlap program.

Students enrolled in the five-year BBA/MPAc program are eligible for a graduate assistantship when they have fewer than 12 credit hours remaining in their undergraduate coursework.

Applying to the Overlap Program

To be admitted to the Overlap Program, you should:

1. complete an overlap application
2. and obtain the approval of the graduate program advisor in the major department, appropriate academic dean, and dean of the Office of Research and Graduate Studies.

Transitioning to graduate admission upon earning bachelor's degree

Overlap Program students must reapply for full graduate admission when the undergraduate degree is completed.

Post-baccalaureate students may apply a maximum of six credit hours — earned with grades of B or better — to a thesis program OR 12 credit hours — earned with grades of B or better — to a non-thesis program. There is an exception: ALL hours earned in an SFA certificate program can be considered for transfer into a graduate degree program.

To transfer credits from other institutions, you’ll need to submit an official transcript of the courses to be considered and have the approval of the appropriate academic department and academic dean.

If you are not accepted and wish to appeal the decision, you will need to submit a written appeal to the university’s Graduate Council through the dean of the Graduate School.