General Admission Requirements
The following information regards all graduate programs with the exception of WCU’s Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctorate of Pharmacy, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, and Master of Occupational Therapy.
Please use the following address, if using the physical mailing option:
William Carey University
Office of Graduate Admissions, WCU #155
710 William Carey Parkway
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Each student who is a U.S. citizen or green card holder applying to graduate programs at William Carey University must:
- complete online application for graduate admission (Apply Here)
- hold a baccalaureate degree or other foundational degree from an approved institution specified by the program of interest from an accredited college or university;
- provide final and official transcripts of all college work completed to date. An official transcript is defined as one issued directly from one institution or agency to William Carey University. A final transcript lists all courses with an associated final grade or notification of withdrawal. Transcripts may be mailed to William Carey University or issued electronically to graduateadmissions@wmcarey.edu.
In addition to these requirements, the applicant must meet any additional requirements as put forth by the respective graduate degree programs.
Applications for admission to graduate programs must be submitted by the due date listed on the applicant portal.
Intentionally giving false information, whether written or oral, to university officials is not permitted. The falsification, alteration, fabrication, omission, or misuse of a form, document, or record provided to the university is prohibited and can lead to rejection, expulsion, or dismissal.
Provisional Acceptance Policy
William Carey University recognizes that requiring final, official transcripts of all college work completed 1) can represent a significant expense without the assurance of acceptance into a graduate program and 2) may delay admission consideration for applicants who are completing a prerequisite degree program.
The Provisional Acceptance Policy allows applicants to a graduate program to submit unofficial copies of required documents (transcripts, test score reports, etc.) in addition to submitting any program-specific requirements (proof of licensure, essays, etc.) to demonstrate satisfaction of the program’s admission requirements and be considered by the admission committee for provisional acceptance into the program.
Applicants granted Provisional Acceptance status must then submit final, official copies of all required documents (transcripts, test score reports, etc.) to update their admission status to Accepted, contingent upon a subsequent application review by the admission committee.
Applicants granted Provisional Acceptance status who are not yet able to provide final, official copies of all required documents will be allowed to register for the first term of courses after signing a Provisional Acceptance Form to acknowledge that:
1. To register for courses in any subsequent term, they must achieve fully Accepted admission status by submitting all outstanding final, official documents by the end of the term. Final admission status is contingent upon a subsequent application review by the admission committee.
2. Financial aid will not be processed or paid to students who have not been fully accepted to the university.
3. The student is responsible for paying any outstanding balance that accrues on their ledger.
- Applicants currently completing a prerequisite degree must submit unofficial transcripts that include grades through the most recent term to be considered for provisional acceptance.
- Provisional acceptance applies to all graduate programs except Doctorates in Osteopathic Medicine, Pharmacy, and Physical Therapy; Master of Occupational Therapy; and any programs with accreditation or regulatory requirements that may preclude it.
Readmission
A student who has not enrolled for courses in their program of study for a period of 12 months or has not begun coursework within 12 months of admission into a program must apply for readmission.
Early Admission
A candidate for a baccalaureate degree at William Carey may apply for early admission to the graduate program and may enroll for graduate credit in courses not required for completion of the baccalaureate degree provided that the student is within six hours of meeting degree requirements and has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. A student may take only six hours of graduate courses prior to meeting the requirements of the baccalaureate degree. Participation in the early admission program is limited to one semester only. Implementation of the early admission option is at the discretion of the program.
International Student Admission
William Carey University is authorized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enroll non-immigrant alien students on the Hattiesburg campus only. International students who wish to be admitted to William Carey University must meet the requirements listed below. The online application, the list of supporting documentation needed, and additional information regarding international student admission is located online at http://www.wmcarey.edu/page/international-student-admissions.
- Application. An application for admission can be submitted online (Apply Here). Applications may also be requested by mail through the Office of Graduate Admissions or Office of International Admissions on the Hattiesburg campus. The application fee, which allows for a student’s application to be processed, should be mailed to the Office of Graduate Admissions at WCU #155, 710 William Carey Parkway, Hattiesburg, MS, 39401, or paid online with a credit card.
- Academic Records. Academic records indicating graduation from any institution(s) of higher education or official transcript(s) from U.S. institution(s) attended are required. An official transcript is defined as one sent directly from one institution to another. All records must be in English before an I-20 from William Carey University is issued.
- Official college/university transcripts. Academic records from each college/university attended must be provided. Transcripts from institutions of higher learning in countries other than the United States must be evaluated by an approved transcript evaluation service before being transmitted to William Carey University. The four approved service providers are: World Education Services (WES) http://www.wes.org; SpanTran - The Evaluation Company (TEC) https://spantran.com/web/; Global Credential Evaluators (GCE) https://www.gceus.com/; and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) https://www.ece.org/. William Carey University must receive an official transcript that has been evaluated by one of the four services before the admission file can be processed. The results from the evaluation must be mailed to William Carey University. This process takes 30 to 60 days.
- Transcripts. Transcripts may be mailed to Office of Graduate Admissions at WCU #155, 710 William Carey Parkway, Hattiesburg, MS, 39401, or sent via an approved electronic transcript platform.
- Language Proficiency. Students who are not from nations where English is considered the official or second language are required to take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score of 523 is required on the paper-based TOEFL; a minimum score of 193 on the computer-based TOEFL; or a minimum score of 70 on the internet-based TOEFL. Students who wish to take the IELTS must meet the minimum requirement score of 5.5. Students who do not meet the minimum English proficiency required are invited to apply for admission to William Carey University’s English Language Center.
- Certification of Finances. Proof of financial support for the duration of the international student’s stay in the United States is required. This document can be found at https://www.wmcarey.edu/page/international-student-admissions.
- Proof of Immunizations. Documented proof of two immunizations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) is required if born on or after January 1, 1957. Additionally, each student must have a chest x-ray and Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) performed in the United States and submit the results to the office of international admissions prior to starting class.
- Proof of Major Medical Coverage. Proof of medical coverage while attending an institution of higher education in the United States is required. All international students are required to take a policy with the university. Students will be assessed for the policy coverage at the beginning of each semester. For information on the health insurance policy adopted by William Carey University visit http://www.wmcarey.edu/page/international-student-admissions
Additional Information. To receive an F-1 visa, international students must schedule an appointment with the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy in their country within 90 days of departure. They must take along their documentation, letter of acceptance, and I-20 for presentation and review. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommends the entering student be honest and have copies of all documentation sent to William Carey University available for review by the U.S. custom official at the consulate, embassy, or U.S. port of entry. Custom officials may at any point of the student’s travel to the United States deny him/her entry into the country. WCU cannot act on behalf of students with pending visa appointments or interfere with U.S. government functions to influence or expedite processes.
The Office of Graduate Admissions may receive faxed copies; however, original documents must be mailed and placed in the student’s file before any decision can be made.
International students should refer to the university and academic calendars for dates of semester breaks and religious and national holidays (i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas) in preparation for holiday travel or end of the year travel.
Questions or concerns should be directed to the director of international admissions on the Hattiesburg campus, 601-318-6405, 1-800-962-5991 (toll free), or internationaladmission@wmcarey.edu.
Transfer Courses
Students who have completed graduate credit at another regionally accredited institution may receive up to 25% transfer credit toward program requirements at the discretion of the program coordinator.
Transfer credit will be accepted only for course(s) that contribute to the plan of study outlined in the graduate catalog
All transfer credit must meet the six-year limit on the completion of the degree.
Independent study credit earned at another institution will not be accepted.
Graduate courses carrying a grade of less than a ‘B’ will not be accepted.
Second Master’s Degree
A student holding a master’s degree may apply for a second master’s degree in another area. Moreover, students holding the M.Ed. may apply for a second M.Ed. in another certification area. Students must meet all admissions and degree requirements for the second degree. A candidate for a second degree may use six hours of graduate credit from the first degree toward a second degree in education or business and nine graduate hours toward a second degree in psychology programs. A student must complete all requirements for the first degree before applying for or beginning a second degree. This applies to all degrees. Courses to be applied toward a second degree must have the approval of the dean, and grades in such courses cannot be below a ‘B’.
Changing Major or Emphasis
When a student changes from one major or degree to another or changes emphasis within the major where there are different requirements for admission, the student must reapply and meet the requirements of the new program.
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