Official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities attended, showing:

1. That a bachelor’s degree has been earned,
2. The cumulative grade point average (GPA) attained, and
3. Undergraduate preparation and licensure appropriate to the graduate program selected.

1. Official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities attended, for all graduate coursework completed.
2. Official scores on the General Test of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) on the verbal and quantitative sections of the exam, that are not more than five years old. (See page 21 for specific program requirements that may apply to GRE scores.)  APSU code for GRE is 1028.  Another test may be required or accepted by some departments.  Please review specific departmental requirements in this bulletin.
3. Three letters of recommendation from former college professors and/or university instructors verifying that the applicant has demonstrated evidence of the ability to do graduate level academic work successfully.  If one or more college/university professors are not available, students may provide a letter from someone (i.e., supervisor) who can verify the applicant has the ability to complete graduate course work successfully.  (See page 21 for specific program requirements related to these recommendations.)  Any exceptions should be requested through the departmental Graduate Coordinator.
4. All military personnel (active duty and veterans) must submit the following documents as appropriate:

Categories of Admission

Degree Seeking

I  Regular admission status will be granted to applicants who have met all entrance requirements prescribed by the College of Graduate Studies, the department and the program to which they apply.  (See page 22 for specific program requirements.)  The minimum requirements for regular admission established by the College of Graduate Studies:  (1)  a calculated score of 600, based upon the cumulative GPA (2.5 minimum required) attained on all undergraduate coursework, times 100, plus the score attained on the verbal section of the GRE and (2) a calculated score of 600, based upon the cumulative GPA attained on all coursework, times 100, plus the score attained on the quantitative section of the GRE.

II  Applicants who do not meet the requirements for regular admission may seek provisional admission status.  Provisional admission decisions are made in accordance with guidelines approved by the Graduate and Research Council.  These decisions are based on the cumulative GPA in all undergraduate coursework, the GPA in either the last two years or the upper-division credits of the bachelor’s degree and the total of the scores attained on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE.  Provisional admission denials may be appealed to the Graduate Research Council.  Decisions made by the Graduate Research Council regarding provisional admission are final and may not be appealed. Students granted provisional admission status must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 during the initial nine graduate hours completed at Austin Peay State University.  For students admitted provisionally, failure to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA during the first nine semester hours of graduate coursework results in suspension from Graduate School.

III Conditional status may be granted to an applicant who is ineligible for provisional admission.  In consultation with the department that agrees to allow a conditionally admitted student to enroll in specified courses, the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies stipulates conditions of the student’s admission, to which he/she will be required to agree in writing.  Conditional admission decisions are made by the department, are final and may not be appealed.  Students admitted conditionally must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 during the initial 15 graduate hours completed at Austin Peay State University.  Compliance with all established conditions enables students to be upgraded to regular admission status.  For students in the conditional admission status, failure to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 during the first 15 semester hours of graduate course work results in suspension from Graduate School.

Non-Degree Seeking (Limited to nine graduate semester hours, unless specified below.)

I  Unclassified status may be granted to applicants who desire to enroll in graduate studies for reasons other than to seek a degree.  With the approval of a department, students who change their minds and decide to pursue a degree while they are in the unclassified status, may apply up to nine acceptable graduate semester hours toward that degree.  Admission to Graduate School must be sought and attained prior to the completion of more than nine semester hours in order for those credits to be applied toward a degree.  Applicants who have been denied regular, provisional or conditional graduate admission are ineligible to enroll in courses as an unclassified student.

II Undergraduates Taking Graduate Credits.

  A.  Senior I status is for graduating APSU students who are within nine hours of completing baccalaureate requirements, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and satisfactory scores on the GRE as prescribed by the intended graduate program.  Students admitted to this status are eligible to hold a graduate assistantship.  Graduate credits may not be applied to the bachelor’s degree.

  B.  Senior II status is for APSU students who are within 21 hours of completing a baccalaureate degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.   Students may register for only one graduate class per term, reapply for each subsequent semester and are not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship.  Graduate credits may not be applied to the bachelor’s degree.

  C.  Selective Admission (Psychology) – Seniors may enroll in graduate level psychology courses and apply the credit to their undergraduate degree.  These students must have completed 24 hours of undergraduate credit in psychology, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, a minimum GRE of 400 verbal and 400 quantitative, completed all necessary course prerequisites and approval of the psychology department chair.  The credit for the course may not be counted toward a graduate degree.

III  Post-Masters status is for applicants with a master’s degree or above who are not seeking another degree.  No credit limitation applies to the post-masters status.  Students enrolled in post-masters study may enter the Educational Specialist degree program by meeting all regular admission requirements for the Ed.S.  Students may only utilize credit that is six or less years old at the time of completion of the Ed.S.  (Applicants for a teaching endorsement in Educational Leadership Studies should refer the “Programs with Special Admission Requirements”, see page 22.)

IV  Transient Status is granted for applicants enrolled in graduate programs at other colleges or universities who wish to take courses at APSU for transfer credit.  A letter of  good academic standing from the Graduate Dean at the other institution must be secured by a student prior to granting him/her transient admission at Austin Peay.

Education Specialist Programs Admission Requirements

Admission to the education specialist program is based on an application for admission and the following minimum credentials:

Admission to the education specialist program is based on an application for admission and the following minimum credentials:

I  An official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university showing:

  A.   That the master’s degree has been earned,
  B.   A minimum graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0
      scale) and,
  C.   Academic preparation and licensure appropriate to
      the graduate program.

II  An official transcript from each regionally accredited college or university for all graduate course work, if applicable.

III  Official scores on the General test of the Graduate Record Examination with minimum 350 verbal and 350 quantitative scores. 

IV  Three recommendation forms in support of the applicant from faculty members who taught courses within the student’s master’s degree program. 

V  All military personnel (active duty and veterans) must submit the following documents as appropriate:

Air Force:  Community College of the Air Force transcript or DD Form 295
Army:  AARTS transcript or DD Form 295
National Guard:  AARTS transcript of NGB Form 22
Marine Corps:  ITSS MATMEP or SMART
Reserves:  Enlisted contract 4-1 or 4-2 or DD Form 2586
Navy:  DD Form 295 or SMART
Veterans:  DD Form 214 Member Copy 4 with characterization of service (Retired or Discharged)
 

Programs with Specific Admissions Requirements

Students applying to one of the following degree programs must also meet specified admissions requirements.

Masters Degrees

 Educational Leadership Studies (M.A.Ed)
Applicants for the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Studies must have: (1) a calculated score of 650, based upon the cumulative GPA attained on all undergraduate coursework, times 100, plus the score attained on the verbal section of the GRE and (2) a calculated score of 650, based on the cumulative GPA attained on all undergraduate coursework, times 100, plus the score attained on the quantitative section of the GRE or a minimum combined calculated score of 1300. Two professional letters of recommendation for admission to the Educational Leadership Studies degree program from two school administrators must be sent to the Austin Peay State University Licensure Office; ATTN: Mary Kay Feinberg; P.O. Box 4428; Clarksville, TN 37044.

Music (M.MU.)
Applicants for the Master of Music degree must take diagnostic examinations in music history and theory. These exams will be administered by the Music Department at the beginning of the first term of enrollment.

Psychology (M.A.)
Applicants for the Master of Arts in Psychology will select from three concentrations: Community Counseling, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or School Counseling. In addition to meeting the requirements of the College, students must meet the following four conditions to be offered regular admission to the Psychology Department – 1) achieved a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 on undergraduate work taken as part of a bachelor’s degree, AND 2) achieved a minimum GRE – Verbal score of 300, AND 3) achieved a minimum GRE-Quantitative score of 300, AND 4) attain a calculated score of 2000 or greater based on the following formula:  (GPA x 400) + GRE-V + GRE-Q >=2000.  All four conditions must be satisfied to be offered regular admission.  Provisional admission may be granted to an applicant who fails to meet any of the first three conditions, but whose calculated score using the formula in condition 4 is 2000 or above.  The Psychology Department does not grant conditional admissions.  Review of applications for Fall admission begins March 1st and for Spring admission it begins November 1st.  Later applications will be considered based upon openings.  Applicants to the Department of Psychology must be formally admitted to the department before they can enroll in classes.

Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S)

Administration and Supervision Concentration
Applicants for the Ed.S. concentration in Administration and Supervision and special non-degree students seeking endorsement must submit official transcripts for all graduate and undergraduate course work, minimum graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0, minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.75, GRE scores that total a minimum of 800 with a minimum verbal and quantitative score of 350 for each and three recommendation forms from school administrators. Upon written request and approval by the College of Education, applicants for the non-licensure option may substitute recommendation forms from graduate faculty members.

Counseling School Concentration
Applicants for the Ed.S. concentration in Counseling and Guidance must have a minimum graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0, GRE scores that are no more than five years old with a minimum verbal and quantitative score of 400 for each, completed the competency courses or their equivalent necessary for licensure as a guidance counselor in the state of Tennessee and Psychology Department admission approval. Any course deficiencies may be made up during the pursuit of an Ed.S. degree. Applicants to the Department of Psychology must be formally admitted by the Department before they can enroll in any courses.

Admission of International Students
The College of Graduate Studies processes the applications of all international students. Before being considered for graduate study at Austin Peay State University, the following documents must be received for review:

1. Completed graduate application online: https://apweb.apsu.edu,
2. Application fee, $25.00 payable by credit card, check, or bank draft.
3. Official copies of all transcripts, certificated, diplomas and degrees (translated to English and a course-by-course equivalency performed by an educational credential agency), showing GPA based on a 4.0 scale and Bachelor's or Master's degree earned.
4. Official acceptable GRE scores (with scores on the verbal and quantitative sections meeting the specific requirements).
5. Official acceptable TOEFL scores (a minimum score of 500 on paper-based test, or 173 on computer based test is required).
6. Three favorable letters of recommendation (from former college and university professors/instructors verifying that the applicant has demonstrated evidence of the ability to do graduate level academic work successfully).
7. Financial statement with proof of resources sufficient to pay educational expense (must be notarized by bank official certifying deposit).
8. Certification of freedom from Tuberculosis and
9. Proof of two immunizations with the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines.

International students are required to submit evidence that they have obtained medical insurance for themselves and any family members who accompany them prior to registration.