Welcome to the NCCU Graduate Studies Program.  At North Carolina Central University, the Graduate School offers distinctive programs that promote diversity and cultural awareness among graduates and professionals.

PROCEDURES

3. After evaluating the student's credentials, the Graduate Office will notify the student of the admission decision by letter.

TYPES OF ADMISSION

A student holding the bachelor's degree from North Carolina Central University or any other accredited institution is eligible for unconditional admission to the Graduate Division under the following provisions:

a. The applicant's over-all undergraduate average must be at least "C" (2.5) and his record must show the completion, with an average of "B" (3.0) or better, of an undergraduate major of at least 30 semester hours in the area of the proposed graduate major, or in a related area.


b. Applicants who intend to qualify for graduate secondary school teaching certificates must hold the Class "A" High School Certificate or its equivalent.
c. Most of the various departments which offer graduate work have departmental minimal requirements in addition to those listed above.

With the approval of the department of his/her proposed graduate major and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, conditional admission may be granted to the applicant who lacks course prerequisites or is judged on the basis of factors other than academic proficiency to need a trial period to qualify for unconditional admission. Such students may be required to complete prescribed prerequisite work without graduate credit. If the work is of graduate quality, the student may be given full graduate status. On the other hand, full graduate status may be denied due to low performance during the trial period. The trial period usually lasts one semester.

Probational Admission:
Probational admission is granted when the applicant is an academically high-risk student who does not meet the established minimum admission requirements, but is judged to be admissible on a trial basis. Such students will be required to complete prescribed work. If the work is of graduate quality, the student may be given full graduate status. Full graduate status may be denied, however, due to low performance during the trial period. The trial period usually lasts one semester.

Special Graduate Students:
The Graduate Division recognizes the admission classification of special graduate students. This designation is a temporary classification for persons who wish to take courses for certificate renewal, for transfer to another institution, or for personal satisfaction. This classification terminates on the date of the student's completion of a successful application for admission to a program in the Graduate Division. Students admitted as special graduate students are not candidates for a degree. They may take courses for graduate credit but may not later request that more than nine semester hours apply to any program leading to a master's degree. Up to nine credit hours earned while a student is designated a special graduate student may later be applied toward the fulfillment of the requirements of a graduate degree program provided:

a. The action is recommended by the chairperson of the major department and approved by the dean;


b. The work is not more than two years old;
c. The amount of credit does not exceed nine semester hours;
d. The work is all of "B" level or better; and
e. The work has not been taken to remove deficiencies. Deficiencies are defined as qualifications needed in order to meet Graduate Division admission standards.

ADMISSION OF INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

1. Demonstrate proficiency in the English language by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). An interview may be required. The TOEFL score (minimum of 500 required for admission) must be submitted directly to the Graduate Admissions Office, North Carolina Central University from TOEFL, Box 889, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-0008, U.S.A. Proficiency may also be demonstrated by passing a full academic year of college level freshman English (i.e., the equivalent of ENG 1100, ENG 1200) with a grade of "C" or better at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States, or by successfully completing the English Language Program at one of the many ELS Language Centers in the U.S. Exceptions will be made for those whose native language is English, or whose medium of instruction has been English.
2. Generally, international applicants with academic credits from institutions outside the United Sates should have academic documents submitted directly by the institution to the graduate admission office. Where original documents are impossible to obtain, properly notarized documents will be considered. The notarization should be done by a proper government official or proper representative of the American Embassy in the country. If it is necessary for the graduate admission office to have the transcript translated and/or evaluated by an outside agency, the applicant must pay all costs involved.

3. International applicants are required to submit documentation certifying their capacity to meet the financial requirements necessary to complete the master's degree program.