Guidelines and General Information
You must be registered in any quarter in which you receiving any service from the University or usings its facilities andin the quarter in which you will graduate. Master's degree students must be registered for at least one graduate credit hour, doctoral students for at least two graduate hours.
Profile of Ohio University
Ohio University, established in 1804, was the first institution of higher education in the old Northwest Territory. The total enrollment on the Athens campus is approximately 20,000, while the regional campuses enroll more that 8,900 additional students. The present graduate enrollment is about 3,500, of whom 2,300 full-time students. The full-time faculty numbers 1,056. There are more that 1,500 graduate assistants, graduate staff assistants, graduate research assistants, and graduate teaching assistants.On the graduate level, Ohio University offers master's degrees in nearly all of its major academic divisions and doctoral degrees in selected departments. The College of Osteopathic Medicine offers a four-year professional program leading to the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.
The city of Athens is located about 75 miles southeast of Columbus. The University offers a wide range of cultural activities to the University community and all of southeastern Ohio. Lecturers, poets, singers, dancers, films, and theater or music groups appear frequently on campus. Many events are free, though some have nominal charges.
The University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and by the recognized professional accrediting associations identified with its major academic divisions. It holds membership in leading state and national educational and professional associations.
The University's academic calendar consists of three quarters of 10 to 12 weeks and a summer session with two 5-week terms.
Application and Admission
To apply, submit to the Office of Graduate Studies the two application forms, two official transcripts from each postsecondary school attended (whether or not degree was earned), official test scores as required by the department, the $30* nonrefundable fee for application to a degree program, and any other pertinent information in support of your application. Nondegree and transient application is $20*; application to a second Ohio University graduate degree program, or reapplication to a degree program is $10*. Have letters of recommendation sent directly to the graduate committee of the department to which you are applying. Some departments request that application information be directed to the department. Please refer to the admission processes described in the individual department description elsewhere in this catalog.*Note: Fees subject to change without notice.
Copies of the above materials are forwarded by the Office of Graduate Studies to the department of your choice. The departmental graduate committee grants or denies admission and forwards the decision to the Office of Graduate Studies. Your file is reviewed for completeness, and a letter is sent to you indicating admission, admission pending fulfillment of admission requirements, or denial of admission.
Admission to graduate study is based on possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and such factors as your undergraduate scholastic grade-point average (both overall and in the proposed graduate major), selection of courses, pattern of grades, recommendations, test scores, work experience, and other relevant matters. Each department gives appropriate weight to the factors pertinent to its academic field.
If you have a bachelor's degree from an unaccredited college or university, you usually will be required to supplement your undergraduate record with a satisfactory score on an acceptable standard college ability test.*
Supporting evidence of your ability, in the form of the Graduate Record Examination, Graduate Management Admission Test, Miller Analogies Test, or other college ability tests, may be required.* Consult the specific department about necessary test requirements.
Applications for admission, supporting credentials including official transcripts of all academic work, and the nonrefundable application fee (check or money order payable to Ohio University) should be received at least six weeks before registration for the quarter or summer term in which you wish to begin graduate study. International students should submit all application materials a minimum of nine months prior to the desired quarter of entry. Some programs have earlier deadlines for admission and financial support; see the program listing for deadlines.
All documents received by the University in connection with an application for admission become the property of Ohio University. Under no circumstances will they be returned or forwarded to any agency or other college or university. Documents of students who are admitted to a graduate program but fail to enroll for the quarter for which they are admitted are destroyed. Materials will be held, however, for a maximum of one year if you notify the Office of Graduate Studiesin writing of a postponement of enrollment. Documents of students who are denied admission are held for one year. Students wishing to reapply must complete a new application form, pay the reapplication fee, and submit any additional supporting documents required to complete their application.
All correspondence pertaining to admission to a graduate program should be addressed to the Office of Graduate Studies, Ohio University, Athens OH 45701-2979.
Special note for students in education:If you have earned a master's degree in education at Ohio University and plan to take additional work in education, you must reapply for admission through the Office of Graduate Studies.
*Only original test scores reported by the testing agency are accepted as official. Please have your scores reported to the Office of Graduate Studies, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979. On the Athens campus, GRE registration materials can be obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies. Further information about the tests can also be obtained by contacting the test provider.
Graduate Record Examinationby mail: GRE-ETS, PO Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000 by phone: 1-609-771-7670 by Web: https://www.GRE.org/
Graduate Management Admission Testby mail: GMAT Distribution & Receiving Center, 225 Phillips Blvd., Ewing, NJ 08628-7435 by phone: 1-609-771-7330 by Web: https://www.GMAC.com/
Miller Analogies Testby phone:1-800-622-3231 by Web: https://www.hbtpc.com/mat/ . The MAT is available at Ohio University through Counseling and Psychological Services, Hudson Health Center.
Categories of Admission
Ohio University has four categories of graduate student admission: degree, nondegree, postbaccalaureate, and transient.
Any admission to a graduate program must be regarded as provisional until you have provided a final official transcript from your undergraduate institution showing receipt of the bachelor's degree, and transcripts from your undergraduate institution showing receipt of the bachelor's degree, and transcripts from any other postsecondary school attended. You should submit transcripts before you are admitted to a program, but if this is not possible it is your responsibility to see that final official transcripts are on file in the Office of Graduate Studies no later than the end of your first quarter of registration in a graduate program. Failure to produce final transcripts will result in a registration hold being placed on your account and may result in dismissal.
Degree
Unconditional Admission.Students approved by the major department for unqualified admission to a graduate degree program are given unconditional admission. Only students on unconditional admission status are eligible for University-funded assistantships, fellowships, Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) stipends, and tuition scholarships.
Conditional Admission.Students who have some deficiency in the entrance requirements, such as a grade-point average below 2.5, may be approved by the department for conditional admission. Students in this category may achieve unconditional admission by satisfactorily completing a prescribed program to remove any academic deficiencies and attaining a 3.0 or better grade-point average on the first 15 hours of graduate course credit. The departmental graduate committee will specify whether undergraduate courses required as further preparation for admission will be taken for audit or credit. Grades earned in such courses may be used by the graduate committee in evaluating your capability for graduate work. Undergraduate or audited courses will not satisfy requirements for any graduate degree. You are eligible for University-funded assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships only after you have received unconditional admission. You must maintain a 3.0 or better grade-point average to retain University financial support.
Nondegree
To take graduate courses if you have no intention of working toward a graduate degree at Ohio University, apply for admission in the regular manner but as a nondegree student. Approval for such admission does not constitute admission to a degree program. Credit earned prior to admission to a degree program as a degree-seeking student cannot normally be applied toward a graduate degree at Ohio University. In exceptional cases the appropriate academic department will determine which courses, if any, that you take while in nondegree status may be applied subsequently toward degree requirements.
You may take no more than 18 hours of academic work, within a time limit of six years, as a nondegree student.
Postbaccalaureate
This status is applicable to the regional campuses for all quarters and to the Athens campus for summer only. The conditions of postbaccalaureate admission are the same as for nondegree graduate status: (a) admission status terminates after completion of 18 graduate hours, (b) admission to nondegree status does not constitute admission to a graduate degree program, and (c) credit earned cannot normally be applied toward a graduate degree at Ohio University. Some graduate courses are not open to students admitted to postbaccalaureate status. If in doubt about the acceptability of postbaccalaureate status for a specific course, check with the department offering the course.
Transient
A student currently working toward a graduate degree at another university may earn graduate credit at Ohio University to be transferred to the other university.
You may be admitted to a transient status by submitting an application, the appropriate application fee, and an official statement of good standing from the dean of the graduate school in which you are enrolled.
You must request permission each quarter to register at Ohio University as a transient student.
Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses
Except for Honors Tutorial students and those who meet the conditions listed below, no undergraduate student may take a graduate course for credit. Honors tutorial students seeking to obtain graduate credit for courses must complete a Senior for Graduate Credit application as described below.
Senior for Graduate Credit
An Ohio University student who has not yet completed all requirements for the bachelor's degree may be eligible for graduate study as a senior. This privilege is normally granted for one quarter only. You must have an overall grade-point average of at least 2.5 and be within nine credits of completing all requirements for your bachelor's degree. Permission to take such courses does not constitute admission to a graduate degree program.
You may apply to take graduate courses carrying graduate credit by securing the written recommendation of the dean of your undergraduate college and the graduate chair of the departments offering the graduate courses. If you are admitted as a senior for graduate credit, you pay undergraduate fees and are not eligible for graduate assistantship or scholarship support. A $10 application fee is charged for this privilege, and you must apply in advance of registration through the Office of Graduate Studies. This privilege may also be extended to a well qualified senior at another university who has nine or fewer credits to complete for the bachelor's degree.
Early Admission to a Graduate Degree Program
A superior undergraduate student may seek early admission to a graduate degree program. You must have an overall grade-point average of at least 3.5 and have completed all undergraduate requirements, except the total credit-hour requirement, by the time of your entry into the graduate degree program. After obtaining the written recommendation of your department, the departmental graduate committee, and the dean of your undergraduate college, you may be admitted into a graduate degree program and enroll in graduate courses for graduate credit. You can use these courses to satisfy both graduate degree requirements and undergraduate total credit-hour requirements. You must apply for this privilege in advance of registration through the Office of Graduate Studies. If you qualify for early admission to a graduate degree program, you are eligible for graduate assistantship or scholarship support.
International Students
To be eligible for admission, international students must have attained high scholastic distinction and must possess an earned degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, awarded by an accredited college or university.
Materials required for admission to Ohio University are thetwo application forms, the $30 nonrefundable application fee, official test scores as required by the department, official transcripts from each postsecondary school attended, and any other pertinent information in support of your application. If transcripts are not in English, they must be translated and signed and certified as true copies by the registrar of the institution or an official of the country's consulate. You should submit final , official transcripts before you are admitted to a program, but if this is not possible it is your responsibility to see that final official transcripts are on file in the Office of Graduate Studies no later than the end of the first quarter of your program. Failure to produce final transcripts may result in dismissal.
All prospective students whose native language is not English must submit evidence of proficiency in the English language. You must send results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to the Office of Graduate Studies to complete your application.
It is recommended--required by some departments--that you score 550 or above on the TOEFL, or 213 or above with essay of 5 or above on the computer TOEFL. If you achieve scores this high or higher, you might not have to study English before being admitted as a full-time graduate student. A score of 510-549 on the paper TOEFL, or 180-212 with essay of 4 or above on the computer TOEFL, indicates that you will need to take at least one quarter of part-time English study; a score of 450-509 on the paper TOEFL, or 133-179 with essay of 3.5 or above on the computer TOEFL, indicates that two or more quarters of English study may be necessary, and a score below 449 or below on the paper TOEFL, or 132 and below on the computer TOEFL, indicates that at least three quarters of intensive English may be required.
You are required to be tested by the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) to determine your level of proficiency. This on-campus test is the criterion for English proficiency evaluation regardless of other test scores that you may have submitted with your application materials. The results of this test will determine if you will be required to take English courses in the Ohio Program of Intensive English. Students who are required to enroll in OPIE English courses are financially responsible for all associated tuition and fees. University financial aid cannot be used to cover these expenses.
Only after you have passed the on-campus English proficiency test or satisfactorily completed the Ohio Program of Intensive English and enrolled in your graduate program are you eligible for Ohio University-funded assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships.
To be considered for a teaching stipend, all prospective international graduate students who will be responsible for classroom or laboratory instruction and whose native language is not English must submit their scores on the Test of Spoken English (TSE; Educational Testing Service, Princeton NJ, 1982). You must score 6 on the TSE to be offered a teaching stipend. In addition to the TSE, you must take the SPEAK test after you arrive at Ohio University if you are offered a stipend that requires instructional responsibility.
International applicants must submit evidence of the financial responsibility that is stated on the Affidavit of Financial Support. In the event that you receive a University-funded assistantship, fellowship, or scholarship upon admission, that financial assistance will be cancelled if you do not demonstrate English proficiency after being tested by the Ohio Program of Intensive English upon your arrival at Ohio University.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service requires that international students, while in the United States, be full-time students in the first three quarters after arrival. You may then take a vacation in the next quarter as long as you intend to register in the quarter after the vacation. You must be making reasonable progress toward the completion of your degree. In the event that a problem should arise with enrollment, you are required to consult with your advisor and the international student advisor.
Faculty and Administrators
All Ohio University faculty and administrators on full-time presidential contract, except senior administrators (vice presidents, vice provosts, associate provosts, and deans), are eligible to apply for admission to a graduate program or to nondegree status. The associate provost for graduate studies and the Graduate Council will review all applications for potential conflict of interest. See the stipulations regarding conflict of interest in the Faculty Handbook, Policy IV-E. If the Graduate Council determines that a conflict exists, the faculty member or administrator shall not be admitted to a graduate program. It is the responsibility of the associate provost for graduate studies to see that this review takes place at the earliest possible date.
If you are a full-time faculty member or full-time administrator at Ohio University who is admitted to a degree program or to nondegree status, you may normally register for no more than eight hours per quarter. To register for 9 or 10 hours, you must have written approval from the graduate chair of your academic program and from the administrative supervisor for your employee position. You may not receive a graduate stipend. Course loads taken during breaks in regular employment, however, such as summers for nine-month faculty, will be limited only by Graduate Catalogregulations. See the stipulations regarding residency requirements in this catalog and the Policy and Procedure Manual, Policy 40-015.
If you are currently in a graduate degree program and are offered a presidential contract appointment, your situation will be reviewed by the associate provost for graduate studies and the Graduate Council at the earliest possible date. The Graduate Council will determine whether conflict of interest or unfair competition would result from your dual status as a student and a presidential contract employee that might affect your academic performance and evaluation. If the Graduate Council determines that such a conflict would exist, they will inform you that you may not continue in your graduate program if you accept the presidential contract appointment.
It is your responsibility to notify the University of your employment on the Graduate Admissions Application. If you are a current graduate student and are offered a presidential contract appointment, it is your responsibility to notify the associate provost for graduate studies of that appointment.
Athens, OH 45701
(740) 593-1000