Graduate Admission Requirements

Admission requirements

The graduate admission policy of Oakland University is selective, and the process is competitive. Applicants for graduate admission must present evidence that they have had the necessary academic preparation to enable them to pursue the graduate program for which they are applying.

International applicants have specific admission requirements.

Graduate admission deadlines and review

After the application is received in the Graduate Admissions Office, it is entered into the university student system, and an admission file is established. Thereafter, academic credentials are confirmed for eligibility and the requisite documents for general admission and the intended program are reviewed for completeness. Completed admission files are shared with the intended program for admission review. Admission deadlines vary by program. Applicants are advised to confirm the admission deadline for the intended program of study in this catalog.  

International applications are reviewed for fall, winter and summer semester admission. To ensure adequate time for review and issuing I-20s, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment to the University. All international application materials must be submitted by

• May 1 for fall admission
• September 1 for winter admission
• January 1 for summer admission.

Graduate admission documents

All graduate admission documentation, including letters of recommendation, standardized test scores and academic transcripts from other institutions, become part of the official admission file and can neither be returned to the applicant nor duplicated for any purpose.

Application

Oakland University accepts an online Application for Admission to Graduate Study via www.oakland.edu/grad. To make the online application process convenient, the applicant creates a PIN and password so information can be entered over several sessions. Online information is stored and transmitted through a secured server. Once the online application is submitted, it is available for initial processing by Graduate Admissions.

Although the online application is the process method preferred by the university, paper applications will be provided the same consideration as applications submitted online.

Applicants who have been previously admitted and have not enrolled for two years must submit a Petition to Readmit to Graduate Program.

Letters of recommendation

In most cases, graduate programs require an applicant to submit a minimum of two Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms. The total required recommendation forms is published in the Application Requirements section specific to the graduate program for which the applicant is requesting admission. Unless the applicant has been out of school for more than five years, at least one of the recommenders should be a faculty member who is able to judge the applicant’s preparation and ability to undertake graduate study.

Substitutions for a faculty recommender may include work supervisors or approved others who can comment on the applicant’s academic potential for graduate work.

The Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms become part of the student’s official admission file. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 provides a student access to his/her educational record; however, the student retains the right to waive access to specific documents in his/her record. Students admitted to graduate study at Oakland University will be permitted access to the recommendations unless the student voluntarily waived this right as an applicant. Students who waived this right will not be permitted access to the recommendations.

Baccalaureate degree

Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government recognized standing.

In addition to a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree, some graduate programs may require an applicant to submit satisfactory scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), including advanced (subject) exams.

In lieu of the GRE, applicants to the MBA program can submit the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The GRE and GMAT are administered worldwide by Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Prospective students may apply for admission to graduate study at Oakland University during their final year of undergraduate study, but must furnish proof of baccalaureate degree during their first semester of enrollment in a graduate program at Oakland University. Enrollment for a second semester will not be permitted unless proof of the baccalaureate degree is received by Graduate Admissions.

The date the baccalaureate degree was conferred must precede the date of enrollment in the graduate degree program. 

Official transcripts

According to the guidelines set by the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), an official college transcript is one that has been received in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing college or university. It must bear the college seal, current date and an appropriate signature. Additionally, transcripts providing certification of the degree earned must include the degree and the date the degree was awarded. Transcripts received that do not meet these requirements are not considered official. All transcripts become the property of Oakland University and will not be returned to an applicant, or sent to another institution.

All transcripts are purged by Oakland University Academic Records or Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning seven years after the last date of enrollment.

Minimum transcript requirements

Official transcripts are required from all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with first baccalaureate) and all enrollments in graduate level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. Unofficial transcripts may be accepted for admissions evaluation purposes. When unofficial transcripts are received, the student’s acceptance should be regarded as limited standing pending receipt of an official transcript within a specific time frame.

Standards beyond minimum transcript requirements

As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- or post-baccalaureate degree.

Undergraduate preparatory courses

Undergraduate preparatory coursework refers to courses an applicant must complete in order to be eligible for admission into a graduate program. Preparatory courses are required for admission to the intended program and are NOT considered part of the degree requirements.

Graduate applicants, who do not meet the undergraduate coursework required for admission to a specific graduate program will be given a delayed graduate admission status and admitted to Oakland University at the post-baccalaureate level (PB) with a Graduate Preparatory (GP) student classification.

Financial aid eligibility can be granted for one calendar year to delayed graduate applicants admitted to Graduate Preparatory student classification. The student must produce for the Financial Aid Office an official letter and plan of study that lists the undergraduate preparatory courses required for the program. Only those undergraduate courses listed on the program plan of study can be used for calculation of loan eligibility.

Once the preparatory coursework is completed the student may be admitted to the degree program if the undergraduate preparatory courses are completed with the required grade.

 International applicants admission requirements

International supplemental application

In addition to the Application for Admission to Graduate Study, international applicants must submit an International Student Supplemental Application. The international supplemental application is available at www.oakland.edu/grad.

International university transcripts

International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service. Oakland University will only accept transcript evaluations completed by a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation service) member organization. Many applicants use World Educational Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).  NACES membership can be confirmed by visiting www.naces.org/members.htm. Graduate programs requiring more detailed information may require an applicant to submit a course-by-course (or detailed) evaluation report rather than the general evaluation report. Official foreign transcripts will not be required by Oakland University since official transcripts must be submitted to and verified by the evaluation service. However, applicants must submit photocopies of their foreign transcripts with their application materials.

Notarized bank statement and affidavit of financial support

International applicants who are applying for graduate admission with a F1 or J1 visa status must certify sufficient funds for university expenses including tuition, books, supplies, insurance, and living expenses (travel is not included). To certify finances, the applicant must submit an affidavit of financial support and a notarized bank statement in U.S dollars for required published amount. These documents are required for the student F-1 or J-1 visa petition at the American embassy or consulate in the home country. The affidavit of financial support can be downloaded at www.oakland.edu/grad. 

English language proficiency

International applicants, other visa holders, permanent residents, and exchange students whose native language is not English must submit the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language / Internet Based Test) as proof of English language proficiency. The TOEFL is administered worldwide by Educational Testing Service (ETS).

A native language is a language that is acquired naturally during childhood and is usually spoken at home, as opposed to a language that is learned later in life, for example, as part of a person’s formal education. Students whose native language is not English are encouraged to visit the Center for American English to discuss any language difficulties they may have while attending Oakland University.

The TOEFL scores must be two years old or less at the time of the applicant’s intended enrollment at Oakland University.

Some programs at Oakland University may require a higher level of proficiency than listed above. Applicants should examine the program description for their field of study for information about additional English proficiency requirements and furnish proof as part of the admission process. 

Applicants not meeting the minimum score requirement, but within the range of scores specified above, must register for ESL courses as part of their coursework starting in their first semester of registration. ESL placement is done by the Center for American English (CAE) using the Institutional TOEFL and other assessment tools.

Upon completion of the individualized ESL instruction sequence, students’ English proficiency will be evaluated using the Institutional TOEFL to determine whether additional ESL coursework is necessary to achieve English proficiency. The individualized ESL instruction sequence designed by the Center for American English is not negotiable.

Satisfactory completion of the individualized ESL instruction sequence is expected within one year, but ESL coursework is required until minimum proficiency is demonstrated.
 

Admission to Intensive English Program

Prospective students who do not have adequate English proficiency for graduate admission or for admission with ESL coursework to the university can be admitted to the Intensive English Program. ESL placement is done by the Center for American English (CAE) using the Institutional TOEFL and other assessment tools.

The individualized ESL program sequence determined by the CAE is not negotiable.

Upon completion of the Intensive English Program, students may (re)apply for admission to Oakland University; applicants are evaluated using the admission criteria described  above.
 

Exemption of TOEFL requirement

A TOEFL exemption exists for students from countries where English is both the official language and the language of instruction in higher education.

International applicants already studying in U.S.

International applicants who are presently in the United States on a student status may be required to provide a statement from the International Student Adviser at their current institution. International students who do not enroll during their indicated semester of admission must submit an application to update at least eight weeks prior to the start of the term (fall or winter) in which they wish to enroll.

International applicants to distance learning programs delivered 100% online

An international applicant is anyone who is not a US citizen at the time of application to Oakland University.

Non-US citizens applying for admissions to a distance learning program that does NOT require any on-campus instruction at Oakland University (100% online) do not require a non-immigrant visa. Therefore, the Non-US Citizen Information section of the graduate application (Checklist item 7 of 9) does not need to be completed.

Non-US citizens, including those applying for admissions to a distance learning program that requires on-campus instruction at Oakland University (50-99% online) do require a non-immigrant visa.  These applicants must complete the Non-US Citizen Information section of the graduate application (Checklist item 7 of 9).

Graduate students admitted at OU

Readmission (not enrolled for two years)

Applicants who have been previously admitted to and have enrolled in a graduate program at Oakland University should not complete a new application for admission to graduate study. Instead, previously enrolled graduate students should submit a Petition to Readmit to Graduate Program to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, 520 O’Dowd Hall. Please refer to the Inactive Student Status section of the graduate catalog for more information.

Transferring to a new program

Current graduate students who have been admitted to a graduate degree at Oakland University and wish to transfer to a different Oakland University graduate degree should not complete a new application for admission. Instead, these students should submit a  Petition for Program Transfer form to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning. The form is available at www.oakland.edu/grad. Please refer to the Change of Status - Program Transfer section of the graduate catalog for more information.

 Graduate students admitted at another institution

Transferring to OU

Students interested in “transferring” from a graduate program they are currently attending at another institution to Oakland University must complete the online Application for Admission to Graduate Study and meet the same admission requirements as any other graduate applicant. Upon admission to graduate study, previous graduate coursework will be evaluated by the faculty adviser to determine transfer to Oakland University. A maximum of nine (9) credits may transfer to the OU graduate program. Students should be familiar with the sections of the graduate catalog Course Content and Course Waiver Substitution and consult with their faculty adviser.

International students interested in transfer to Oakland University should refer to the section of the graduate catalog International Applicants Already Studying in U.S. to maintain immigration status.

Graduate admission process

Overview

Applicants seeking graduate admission with full standing to a degree or graduate certificate program must submit all required documentation by published deadlines to ensure proper processing and evaluation by the school or department and Graduate Admissions for the selected semester. Even though an applicant may meet the general requirements for admission to graduate study, each graduate program reserves the right to recommend a denial or admission with limited standing based upon the evaluation of documentation supplied by the applicant, as well as the standing of the applicant relative to others who have applied to the specific graduate program. Graduate students are permitted to matriculate into only one graduate degree program at a time.

Responsibility for graduate admission

Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning is responsible for the interpretation and administration of regulations governing the admission of graduate students.

The Graduate Admissions office is assigned the responsibility of collecting, processing and reviewing completeness of the applications for admission to graduate programs.

Each graduate program is responsible for establishing its own program admission requirements and for the application review and admission assessment process.

Admission process flow

After the application is received in the Graduate Admissions office, it is entered into the university student system and an admission file is established.

Thereafter, academic credentials are confirmed for eligibility and the requisite documents for general admission and the intended program are reviewed for completeness. Completed admission files are shared with the intended program for admission review.

In many cases the admission decision is made very quickly; however, when a program admission requirement stipulates an applicant interview, the amount of time increases before a final admission decision can be made by the program. Some of the Graduate Programs with established admission deadlines will not begin the review process until after the program deadline has passed and the entire applicant pool has been ascertained.

Graduate admission decisions are not released to applicants via the Web or over the phone. All admission decisions are communicated directly to the applicant via mail. Online applicants will be able to see that an admission decision has been made by reviewing the on-line application status.

Confidentiality of admission process

Oakland University maintains the confidentiality of both the information submitted by an applicant and the status of their application during the graduate admission process. This information can only be shared with the applicant or someone the applicant has designated in writing as their proxy. Any applicant whose personal circumstances require that someone else contact Graduate Admissions in conjunction with their application must send a signed letter formally designating that person as their proxy. Graduate Admissions cannot discuss an application with anyone but the applicant without this document.

Offer of admission

Formal admission to a graduate program at Oakland University is offered by Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning. The offer of graduate admission is extended to the applicant for a specified semester. An admitted student who wishes to change the semester of entry must request to update their admission to graduate study. Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning will permit an admitted applicant to update within five terms of the original admission term; thereafter, a new application will be required. Graduate students are admitted to either full or limited standing as described below.

Update semester of admission

The offer of admission is extended to the applicant for a specified semester. An admitted student who wishes to update their semester of entry must notify the Graduate Admissions office in writing.

Contingent upon the approval of the graduate program, admitted students are permitted four (4) successive semester updates to their original admission semester. Thereafter, any further changes will require a new graduate application, admission documentation, transcripts and standardized test scores. Admission records, for admitted students who do not enroll, are purged four (4) semesters after original offer of admission.

Example

Original offer of admission (Fall 2009); successive semesters to update are Winter 2010, Summer 2010, Fall 2010 and Winter 2011; admission record purged after Winter 2011.

Denial of admission

The graduate admission process at Oakland University is competitive. The competitiveness of admission is determined by the number of applications received and the academic qualifications of the applicant pool; therefore, talented scholars may possibly be denied admission to some graduate programs.

Each graduate program is responsible for its own application review process and the admission recommendation made to the Graduate Study and Lifelone Learning. Applicants who are unsuccessful in gaining admission to a graduate program are notified in writing.

Specific information regarding the applicant review and assessment process, or insight into an applicant’s denied admission status, must be discussed directly with the graduate program.

Degree seeking graduate admission classifications

Inactive or Active student classification

Inactive student status

At Oakland University, a matriculated graduate student is a student who has been previously admitted to and has enrolled in a graduate program. Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning classifies inactive, matriculated students into two categories: one category permits readmission to a graduate program, and the other category requires reapplication before an inactive student can re-enroll in a course. The periods of inactivity used to classify inactive students into the appropriate category are defined as follows:
 

Readmission

Students who have not enrolled for six or more consecutive semesters are permitted to submit a Request for Graduate Readmission form. Each request is evaluated in terms of the time limit established for completing degree requirements, performance in previous coursework, and progress made toward the degree. Students will not be readmitted to programs that have been suspended or discontinued. The catalog current at the time a student is readmitted will govern program requirements, policies and procedures.
 

Reapplication

Students who have not enrolled for seven consecutive years are considered inactive and their graduate student files are destroyed. These students are considered new applicants and must submit a new Application for Admission to Graduate Study and new supporting documents as specified in both the General Admission Requirements and the Program Admission Requirements.

Active student status

Program transfer

Graduate students, in good academic standing, who have been admitted to a graduate degree program and wish to transfer to another graduate program or pursue a new degree level must submit a Request for Program Transfer form to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning. Admission to a new program and/or new degree level is not granted automatically. Each program transfer request is subject to review and approval of the prospective new graduate program.

Program transfer review process

The prospective new program will review the student’s original admission documentation, supporting credentials, and any materials relevant to the student’s subsequent academic progress at Oakland University. In addition, the prospective new program may request new letters of recommendation and/or a new goal statement specific to the new program which the student desires to transfer. A graduate program transfer is subject to minimum Graduate Admissions requirements and deadlines. A student should review the program admission requirements detailed in this catalog.

Program transfer deadlines

A student must be approved to transfer to the new program PRIOR to the beginning of an academic term in order for the admission to be effective for that term. If the admission process is completed after that deadline, whether because the file was not completed or because departmental action was not taken earlier, the admission will be effective for the next academic term. The term for which the applicant is admitted is stated in the official admission letter from Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

If the student is not admitted to the desired new program, admission to the original graduate program will stand. Policy governing graduate programs requires that all credit applied toward a degree must be earned within six calendar years of the awarding of the degree.

Non-degree seeking graduate admission classifications

An applicant holding a baccalaureate degree, who wishes to enroll in graduate courses but does NOT have immediate graduate degree objectives, may request graduate non-degree status.

International students seeking F-1 or J-1 visas or those holding F-1 or J-1 visas are not eligible to apply for graduate non-degree admission. Non-degree students do not qualify for financial aid.

Graduate non-degree admission has two classifications: 1) Graduate Guest; and 2) Professional Development. The graduate non-degree classifications with the minimum admission requirements are described below.