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Graduate Admissions
Requirements and Procedures
This section contains information that pertains to all graduate programs.

Admission Information – All applicants require:

• An application
• A $20 non-refundable application fee
• Three reference forms (TCOM applicants must remit reference letters)
• Two official transcripts from each previous college attended
• A certificate of Immunization

Materials received after the deadline dates will be processed, but may not be processed in time to allow students to begin that term.

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.

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.

Each program has unique entrance requirements.  For details, see the admissions requirements for the program you are interested in below.

Note:  Admission to a graduate program does not entitle students to take courses in other graduate programs.  The Department Chair of both programs must approve any course taken outside of the student’s major.
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International Students
International students applying from outside the United States must submit all admissions documents, including immunization certificates, at least 60 days prior to the above deadlines.

Admissions of Students with Non-U.S. Academic Credentials
Admissions of Students whose secondary education was completed outside of the United States system of education may be considered for admission with:

• Acceptable foreign credentials
• English language proficiency as described below

Current (less than one year old) letters of financial support must accompany the Financial Affidavit. Financial Affidavit forms are available in the Admissions Office.

All international students must purchase medical insurance made available through Southern Polytechnic State University or provide proof of alternate coverage through a comparable policy.
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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 program 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 program at least 20 working days before the registration date of the semester in which the student plans to enroll.
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Graduation Requirements

Catalog for Graduation Evaluation
A student may select to be evaluated for graduation from any catalog in effect during the time of enrollment provided the enrollment has been continuous.
Students readmitted will be evaluated for graduation from the catalog in effect at the time of readmission or any catalog in effect during subsequent periods of continuous enrollment.
Each student is responsible for determining the appropriate catalog to be used for academic advisement and for evaluation of graduation requirements. Catalog selection applies only to the course requirements of that catalog. All other academic procedures and graduation requirements must be satisfied according to regulations in effect at the time of graduation. Students desiring further information on the selection of an appropriate catalog may contact their major department head or the Records Office.

General Requirements
A student is eligible for graduation when he or she (1) has satisfactorily completed the required number of hours specified by the curriculum of the program of study in which he or she is specializing, (2) has achieved the necessary scholastic average, (3) has paid all required fees, fines, and other financial obligations owed the college, (4) has filed with the Records Office the official "Petition of Admission to Candidacy for a Degree", and (5) graduate students are required to complete their program of study within seven years of matriculation into the program.

Graduation Petitions
A student must submit a formal petition for "Admission to Candidacy for a Degree" to the Records Office no later than the end of the fourth week of the term preceding the expected final term in residence. (This is interpreted to mean the previous term in residence, preceding the final term in residence. All fall-semester petitions for students not in school summer should be made in the spring semester of that year; and, all co-op students should petition the term before the work term. Students are encouraged to petition early if they feel they have reached eligibility to petition).
To be a candidate for a master's degree, a student must have passed all courses required for the degree, have a cumulative scholastic average of at least 3.00 and have merited the recommendation for the degree by the faculty and the President of Southern Polytechnic State University.

Exceptions to Academic Regulations
Exceptions to the Academic Regulations of Southern Polytechnic State University may be made by the faculty whenever a consideration of the student's complete record indicates that the application of a specific regulation will result in injustice.

Appeals Procedure
Students requesting exceptions and/or appeals to academic policies and procedures should adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Matters not requiring Petitions to the Faculty include academic advisement, scheduling, etc., where only clarifications are required; students should discuss such matters first with the instructor, academic advisor, and/or department head who may refer them to someone else.
2. Matters requiring Petitions to the Faculty include requests for exceptions to policies published in the catalog or operating procedures; examples include requests for reinstatement, ten-year credit, receiving a grade of "W" past the last withdrawal date, etc. Students should complete a Petition to the Faculty form when they feel the academic policies and procedures have not been applied fairly or appropriately to them.
3. When it is determined that a Petition to the Faculty is in order, the student should complete the form and secure the proper signatures as required by the department head and/or appropriate faculty.
4. If the petition is approved, the matter should be resolved. If the petition is refused, and the student feels that he or she has grounds for appeal, the following steps are followed:
1. The student should discuss the petition with the Director of Records to determine the basis for refusal and to be informed of the appeals procedures and additional information that may be desirable and/or required.
2. Upon written request for appeal to the Records Office, all related information is forwarded to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for review. The Vice President may approve or refuse the appeal.
3. If the Vice President refuses the appeal, upon written request to the Vice President, the student may appeal to the President.
4. The President may approve or refuse the appeal. If the President refuses the appeal, upon written request to the President, the student may appeal to the Board of Regents.
5. To appeal a grade, a student must present clear evidence that a grade was assigned by some criteria other than an evaluation of academic performance. Check with the Records Office for the procedure to follow.