Admission Information  Admission to Southern Polytechnic State University is made without regard to race, nationality, sex, or religion. For any information regarding admission to Southern Polytechnic State University, write the Director of Admissions, Southern Polytechnic State University, 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, Georgia 30060-2896.
 
All applicants for admission to Southern Polytechnic State University must have all required credentials, including the certificate of immunization, on file in the Admissions Office by the application deadline date for the term in which the applicant plans to enroll.

The university reserves the right to withdraw admission prior to or following enrollment if the student becomes ineligible as determined by the standards of the University or Board of Regents.

Admission Requirements for the Master's Program in Computer Science
The Master of Science program with a major in Computer Science is designed to enhance career options for a broad mix of students, from those with an academic background in computer science just beginning their careers to those who have worked for years as computer professionals who may have academic credentials in other fields. Although no specific undergraduate major is required, applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited school. Preferred (but not required) for admission is some relevant work experience. Students will be admitted only if their academic accomplishments, work experience, and motivation predict the ability to complete the program successfully.

Admission Procedure
Applicants for admission to the Master of Science program with a major in Computer Science must submit the following to the Admissions Office:

(a) an application for admission to the program,
(b) an official transcript from each college the applicant has attended,
(c) a certificate of immunization, and
(d) an official copy of scores from the "General Test" of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). With permission, the results of other graduate aptitude examinations (such as the GMAT) that have already been taken may be used in place of the GRE. Students already holding a recognized master's degree (completed in the United States) are exempt from this requirement.  
In addition, applicants must submit the following to the Department of Computer Science: (a) a statement of purpose in seeking this degree, and
(b) three recommendation forms completed by former or current supervisors, professors, or professional colleagues. All admissions materials must be submitted according to the following schedule:
July 1 for the Fall term
November 1 for the Spring term
April 1 for the Summer term

One of the following must be met for a student to be fully admitted to this MS program at Southern Polytechnic State University:

Basic

(a) undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better (out of a possible 4.0) or the equivalent, and
(b) a score of 600 or better on the analytic component or the quantitative component of the General Test of the GRE with 500 or better on the other and 350 or better on the verbal component. (A composite score of 500 on the GMAT may be submitted to meet this requirement if it was already taken before beginning the MS admission process.)  
Advanced
The candidate for admission has already earned a recognized master's or doctor's degree in another field of study. GRE is not required if an advanced degree has already been completed in the United States.

Alternative
A student not meeting criteria above may be admitted upon convincing the faculty of the CS department of extraordinary alternative qualifications (e.g., lengthy and distinguished employment in the computer field) that would predict the likelihood of success in completing the MS program.

Admission Requirements for the Master's Program in Construction
Admission to the Master of Science program with a major in Construction is open to persons holding the bachelor or higher degree in engineering, engineering technology, construction management, construction technology, architecture, management, or related degree from an accredited college. Preference in admission will be given to applicants having professional experience in a construction work environment. The admission procedure is competitive in that students will be admitted only if their academic accomplishments and work experience demonstrate that they can successfully complete the program.

Admission Procedure
Applicants for admission to the Master of Science program with a major in Construction must submit the following to the Admissions Office no later than the semester deadline date before the beginning of the semester in which the applicant plans to enroll:

(a) an application for admission to the program,
(b) an official copy of scores from the "General Test" of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or scores from the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT),
(c) an official transcript from each college the applicant has attended,
(d) certificate of immunization, and
(e) at least three recommendation forms which have been completed by former or current supervisors, professors, or professional colleagues. These forms must be sent directly to the Construction Department.  
Admission Criteria
Applicants for admission to the Master of Science program in Construction must meet the following criteria:
 
Regular Admission: A score of 800 or more on the General Test (verbal and quantitative) of the GRE or a score of 500 on the GMAT; and an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or better on a 4.00 scale.
 
Conditional Admission: A score of 750 to 800 on the General Test (verbal and quantitative) of the GRE or an index score based on the GMAT as follows: GMAT + (200 x undergraduate GPA) = 850 or better; and an undergraduate GPA of 2.20 or better on a 4.00 scale.
 
NOTE: Students who are admitted under conditional admission may be changed to regular admission by obtaining a grade of "B" or better in the first four CNST graduate courses.

 
Admission Requirements for the Master's Program in Engineering Technology
Admission to the Master of Science program with a major in Engineering Technology, Electrical Concentration, is open to persons holding the bachelor or higher degree in engineering, engineering technology, or related degree from an accredited college. Preference in admission will be given to applicants having professional experience in a technical work environment. The admission procedure is competitive in that students will be admitted only if their academic accomplishments and work experience demonstrate that they can successfully complete the program.

Admission Procedure
Applicants for admission to the Master of Science program with a major in Engineering Technology must submit the following to the Admissions Office no later than the semester deadline date before the beginning of the semester in which the applicant plans to enroll:

(a) an application for admission to the program,
(b) an official copy of scores from the "General Test" of the Graduate Record Examination,
(c) an official transcript from each college the applicant has attended,
(d) certificate of immunization, and
(e) at least three recommendation forms which have been completed by former or current supervisors, professors, or professional colleagues. These forms must be sent directly to the Admissions Office.  
Admission Requirements for the Master's Program in Management
Admission to the Master of Science program with a major in Management is open to persons holding the bachelor or higher degree from an accredited college.

Admission Procedure
Applicants for admission to the Master of Science program with a major in Management must submit the following to the Admissions Office no later than the semester deadline date before the beginning of the semester in which they plan to enroll:

(a) an application for admission to the program,
(b) an official copy of scores from the Graduate Management Admissions Test,
(c) an official transcript from each college the applicant has attended,
(d) certificate of immunization, and
(e) at least three recommendation forms which have been completed by former or current supervisors, professors, or professional colleagues. (To be sent from recommender directly to Dean, School of Management.)  
Admission Criteria
Applicants for admission to the Master of Science program in Management must meet the following criteria:
 
Regular admission index: GMAT + (200 x undergraduate GPA) = 900
   
Admission index for enrolled Post-Baccalaureate students: GMAT + (200 x Common Body of Knowledge GPA) = 1050
 
Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
Application forms and testing schedules for the GMAT may be obtained from the Admissions office at Southern Polytechnic State University or from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), P.O. Box 6103, Princeton, NJ 08541-6103. The telephone number for ETS is (609) 771-7330. In order to have scores forwarded to Southern Polytechnic State University you must provide Southern Polytechnic State University's reference code number (5626) on your test application.

Admission Requirements for the Master's Program in Quality Assurance
Admission to the Master of Science program with a major in Quality Assurance is open to persons holding the bachelor or higher degree in engineering, engineering technology, or related degree from an accredited college. Preference in admission will be given to applicants having professional experience in a technical work environment. The admission procedure is competitive in that students will be admitted only if their academic accomplishments and work experience demonstrate that they can successfully complete the program.

Admissions Procedure
Applicants for admission to the Master of Science Program with a major in Quality Assurance must submit the following to the Admissions Office no later than semester deadline date before the beginning of the semester in which the applicant plans to enroll:

(a) an application for admission to the program,
(b) an official transcript from each college the applicant has attended,
(c) a certificate of immunization, and
(d) an official copy of scores from the "General Test" of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). With permission, the results of other graduate aptitude examinations that have already been taken may be used in place of the GRE. Students already holding a recognized master's degree may also be exempt from this requirement. In addition, applicants must submit the following to the Industrial Engineering Technology Department: (a) a statement of purpose in seeking this degree, and
(b) at least three recommendation forms which have been completed by former or current supervisors, professors, or professional colleagues.  
Admission Requirements for the Master's Program in Software Engineering
The Master of Science in Software Engineering program is designed to meet the high demand for a professional degree in Software Engineering within the context of a non-traditional audience (working professionals who attend part-time at night or on weekends). Although no specific undergraduate major is required, applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited school. Required for admission is relevant work experience. Students will be admitted only if their academic accomplishments, work experience, and motivation predict the ability to complete the program successfully.

Admission Procedure
Applicants for admission to the Master of Science in Software Engineering program must submit the following to the Admissions Office:

(a) an application for admission to the program,
(b) an official transcript from each college the applicant has attended,
(c) a certificate of immunization, and
(d) an official copy of scores from the "General Test" of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). With permission, the results of other graduate aptitude examinations (such as the GMAT) that have already been taken may be used in place of the GRE. Students already holding a recognized master's degree (completed in the United States) are exempt from this requirement. In addition, applicants must submit the following to the Department of Computer Science: (a) a statement of purpose in seeking this degree,
(b) three recommendation forms completed by former or current supervisors, professors, or professional colleagues, and
(c) documentation of a minimum of two full years of full-time work in software development and/or maintenance. All admissions materials must be submitted according to the following schedule:
July 1 for the Fall term
November 1 for the Spring term
April 1 for the Summer term

One of the following must be met for a student to be fully admitted to the MSSE program at Southern Polytechnic State University:

Basic

(a) undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better (out of a possible 4.0) or the equivalent, and
(b) a score of 600 or better on the analytic component or the quantitative component of the General Test of the GRE with 500 or better on the other and 350 or better on the verbal component. (A composite score of 500 on the GMAT may be submitted to meet this requirement if it was already taken before beginning the MS admission process.)  
Advanced
The candidate for admission has already earned a recognized master's or doctor's degree in another field of study. GRE is not required if an advanced degree has already been completed in the United States.

Alternative
A student not meeting criteria above may be admitted upon convincing the faculty of the CS department of extraordinary alternative qualifications (e.g., lengthy and distinguished employment in the computer field) that would predict the likelihood of success in completing the MSSE program.

Admission Requirements for the Master's Program in Technical and Professional Communication
The Master of Science program with a major in Technical and Professional Communication is designed for both experienced and beginning technical communicators. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited school. Because professionals in this field come from many different fields, no specific undergraduate major is required. Preferred (but NOT required) for admission is some relevant work experience.

The admission procedure is competitive in this respect: students will be admitted only if their academic accomplishments, work experience, and/or writing ability demonstrate that they can successfully complete the program.

Admission Procedure
The Humanities and Technical Communication Department accepts master's students for fall and spring - but not usually for summer term. Applicants for admission to the Master of Science program with a major in Technical and Professional Communication must submit the following to the Humanities and Technical Communication Department:

(a) three letters of recommendation (NOT the reference forms in the application packet) from supervisors, clients, professors, or professional colleagues,
(b) an essay written on campus, and
(c) an essay written off campus. Item (b) above must be written on campus in a specified length of time, in response to an assignment given at that time. See the department concerning exceptions. Item (c) must discuss the manner in which the master's program will satisfy the applicant's career goals.

Applicants must submit the following to the Admissions Office:

(a) an application for admission to the program,
(b) an official transcript from each college attended, and
(c) a certificate of immunization.  
Ideally, applicants should have above-average grades in undergraduate communication courses. The department believes that the applicant's overall undergraduate performance can correlate with success in the master's program.

All materials should be submitted no later than by the semester deadline date before the beginning of the semester in which the applicant plans to enroll.

International Students
International applicants who do not possess a bachelor's degree from a college within the United States must submit the following additional information to the Admissions Office:

(a) an official transcript (translated into English) of college-level education,
(b) score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and
(c) an affidavit indicating financial security.   Minimum scores of 50 in each area of the TOEFL and a minimum total score of 550 on the TOEFL are required for admission. International students are expected to purchase medical insurance made available through Southern Polytechnic State University or to otherwise show proof that they already have adequate major medical insurance coverage.

Transfer Credit
Students may wish to transfer credit from other graduate programs in which they have been enrolled. Transfer credit is limited to eight hours subject to the discretion of the head of the academic department where the program resides. Students may apply for transfer credit if:

(a) the student was enrolled as a graduate student,
(b) the course is completed with a grade of "B" or better,
(c) the course was not used toward a degree,
(d) the course is equivalent to one offered in a Master of Science program at Southern Polytechnic State University, and
(e) the course credit was earned within the last five years.   Post-Baccalaureate Students
Persons holding a recognized bachelor's degree may be admitted as post-baccalaureate students if they are interested in taking additional classes for personal growth or professional development but not involving a new degree objective. Such students must have departmental approval where prerequisites are involved or if enrollment is desired in a graduate-credit class. To apply as a post-baccalaureate student, the student must submit to the Admissions office (1) an application form, (2) an official transcript showing completion of a bachelor's degree or above from a recognized institution of higher education, and (3) the certificate of immunization. If a student in this category chooses to later apply for degree-seeking status, the student must follow the regular Master's program admission procedure. Following regular program admission, graduate credit earned in the non-degree-seeking category may be counted only with the permission of the department where the degree is housed.

At the discretion of the department where a given Master's program is housed, a student who has supplied the above-stated materials for admission may be admitted as a post-baccalaureate student with the indicated major while full admission is being sought. Ordinarily, no more than 8 hours of graduate coursework completed in this provisional status may be applied to the degree.

Students Sixty-two Years of Age or Older
Citizens of the State of Georgia who are 62 years of age or older may attend Southern Polytechnic State University without payment of fees, except for supplies and laboratory or shop fees, when space is available in a course scheduled for resident credit.

To be eligible for participation under this amendment to the Georgia Constitution, such persons:

(a) must present a birth certificate or other comparable written documentation of age to the Registrar at the time of registration,
(b) must meet all University System and Southern Polytechnic State University admission requirements,
(c) will have all usual student and institutional records maintained, and
(d) must meet all University System, Southern Polytechnic State University, and legislated degree requirements if they are degree-seeking students.   Readmission
Students who have an absence of two or more consecutive terms of matriculation at Southern Polytechnic State University and who are not academically dismissed must be approved by the appropriate graduate academic department for readmission before being eligible for registration. An application for readmission, together with any pertinent supporting information, must be submitted to the appropriate graduate academic department at least 20 working days before the registration date of the semester in which the student plans to enroll.

Registration Procedures
Eligibility
Registration for classes is held on the first day of the term. Students who have received an official letter of acceptance to Southern Polytechnic State University and returning students not on dismissal may register. Classes begin the day following registration.

Drop/Add and Late Registration
Students may amend their class schedules and/or late register during the drop/add period. Changes to the class schedule made during the Registration-Drop/Add period remove or add courses to the student's schedule with no academic penalty.

Student Course Schedule
Upon completion of registration or a change of registration, students can print a copy of their schedule of courses. This schedule serves as the student's proof of course registration should questions arise. Students should keep the schedule as part of their permanent records.

Registration Bulletin
Detailed information and instructions concerning registration may be found in the registration bulletin. Students are urged to become knowledgeable of, and to follow, these instructions explicitly. It should be understood that any deviation from the prescribed procedure may result in unnecessary delays in registration or errors in the resulting schedule.

An applicant will not be approved for academic advisement and/or registration until formally accepted by the Director of Admissions nor will he or she be permitted to attend classes until registration has been completed.

Registration Errors
It is the student's responsibility to follow the proper procedures for registration or changes to registration and to verify that his or her schedule of classes is correct. The Office of the Registrar cannot be held responsible for errors resulting from the student's failure to execute the proper procedure or verify his or her own schedule. Any problems experienced at registration or as a result of registration should be reported immediately to the Registrar.

Matriculation
Enrollment for the term is not complete until the student has properly completed registration and paid all fees. Registration for students not paying fees by the date specified in the registration bulletin will be canceled for non-payment.