Admission to Graduate School

Click on any of the following links for information:

• Classification of Graduate Students
• Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy
• Special Student Graduate Status
• Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses
• Advisor and Committee Assignment

Once the Graduate School has received a complete application packet, the packet is forwarded to the intended department of study. When the designated department(s) receives the application packet, the department will then recommend the admission or denial of the applicant to the Graduate Dean, who will make the final decision on admission status. Students may be accepted to the Graduate School with either full or provisional admission status. Students receive notice of their admission from the Graduate Dean. Students applying to the School of Law or Medicine should refer to these departments for instructions. The Deans of Law and Medical Schools are the respective admitting authorities for these programs.

The designation “graduate student” applies only to those who have been granted full or provisional admittance. All other students holding a baccalaureate level degree not admitted to a graduate program, yet wishing to take course work at the University, will be designated as special graduate students.

Full Admission

Full admission to a graduate degree program is granted when the applicant satisfactorily meets all of the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of a baccalaureate degree or an equivalent degree from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree.
2. A minimum undergraduate GPA of  2.7 or graduate GPA of a 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale.
3. All other academic requirements of the specific graduate program are fully met. Such requirements are detailed in this catalog under the departmental listings and may include specific graduate test scores, prerequisite course work, and/or other admission requirements.

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission may be granted to an applicant who does not meet the conditions for full admission but who gives evidence that he/she may be capable of graduate level work. Reasons for provisional admission include, but are not limited to:

1. Successful completion of a baccalaureate degree from an institution not having full regional accreditation.
2. An undergraduate cumulative GPA below 2.7, based on a 4.0 scale or graduate cumulative GPA below 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Deficiencies in departmental requirements for undergraduate education or other prerequisites for study toward a graduate degree in that academic program.
4. Outstanding admission paperwork including official transcripts conferring undergraduate degree.

In order to gain full admission, the student must demonstrate that he/she is capable of maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or better during the first semester of study. Once this has been demonstrated, upon recommendation from the department, the Graduate School will notify the student of full acceptance.

In accordance with the South Dakota Board of Regents Policy 1:19, the institutions under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents shall offer equal opportunities in employment and for access to and participation in educational, extension and other institutional services to all persons qualified by academic preparation, experience, and ability for the various levels of employment or academic program or other institutional service, without discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability. The Board reaffirms its commitment to the objectives of affirmative action, equal opportunity and non-discrimination in accordance with state and federal law. Redress for alleged violations of those laws may be pursued at law or through the procedures established by the provisions of 1:18 of this policy. For additional information, please contact the Director of Equal Opportunity, Slagle Room 205, Vermillion, SD 57069. Phone: 605-677-5651. E-Mail: equalopp@usd.edu.

Admission decisions at USD are made without regard to disabilities. All prospective students are expected to present academic credentials at or above the minimum standards for admission and meet any technical standards that may be required for admission to a specific program. If you are a prospective student with a disability and need assistance or accommodations during the admission/application process, please contact the Director of Disability Services, 119B Service Center North, USD, Vermillion, SD 57069. Phone: 605-677-6389 Fax: 605-677-3172 E-Mail: dservice@usd.edu.

Federal Law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act). The University has designated Ms. Roberta Ambur, Vice President of Administration & ITS, as the Coordinator to monitor compliance with these statutes. Section 504 obligates USD and Ms. Ambur to provide equal access for all persons with disabilities.

Ms. Ambur can be reached at Room 209, Slagle Hall, Phone: 605-677-5661.

Students with non-degree seeking status are not admitted to a graduate degree program. A public university has an obligation to make its resources available for a broad range of purposes including ongoing education for the interested public. As a result, anyone holding an undergraduate regionally accredited baccalaureate or professional degree may register for individual courses at the graduate level without submitting an application to a degree program.

The non-degree seeking student is not required to furnish transcripts or recommendations and there is no minimum grade-point requirement. A student in this classification may register for classes and must meet prerequisite conditions for courses. A student who is designated as a non-degree seeking graduate student has not been admitted to the Graduate School; he/she has only been given permission to enroll in graduate courses. The Graduate School does not maintain files on non-degree seeking students but has access to the records. Should a non-degree seeking graduate student wish to earn a graduate degree, he/she will be required to apply for admission to a degree program. Students with non-degree seeking graduate student status are not eligible for financial aid, including graduate assistantships.

Courses taken as a non-degree seeking student may be applicable to a graduate degree only by special action of an admitting department and permission of the Graduate Dean. Credit earned by a student enrolled in course work as a non-degree seeking graduate student may or may not be acceptable toward a degree. Only nine graduate credit hours earned as a non-degree seeking student may apply toward a degree once the student has been accepted.

Denial of admission to a degree program does not prohibit the applicant from enrolling as a non-degree seeking student. The non-degree seeking student may enroll for individual courses for which he/she is qualified but he/she cannot pursue a degree as a special student. Regular acceptance is required to pursue a degree.

Undergraduate students who are within nine credit hours of completing the requirements for their baccalaureate degree at the University of South Dakota and whose undergraduate record is such that he/she could qualify for admission to the Graduate School, may register for a limited number of courses for graduate credit. The total undergraduate and graduate course registration may not exceed fifteen credit hours. Permission for an undergraduate to take graduate course work must be approved by the Graduate Dean. Such permission does not constitute admission to the Graduate School. Forms for petitioning to take graduate courses before completion of the requirements for the Bachelor’s degree are available in the Graduate School in the myU.portal at http://link.usd.edu/3367. Undergraduate students taking graduate coursework are still considered to have undergraduate status, although their graduate coursework is not credited toward their undergraduate degree.

An advisor is assigned to each student at the time of admission. This faculty member will serve as the student’s advisor for the first registration or until a permanent advisor or committee chairperson is assigned by the department.

Where applicable, an advisory committee is to be appointed following admission to a program. This committee must include the student’s major advisor and two or more other graduate faculty members, one of whom must be a graduate faculty member from an academic discipline outside the candidate’s department or division. Outside faculty members may be also be adjunct graduate faculty. For Master’s degrees, the committee is comprised of at least three Graduate Faculty members, including the outside member. For most doctoral committees, the committee is comprised of at least five Graduate Faculty members, including the outside member. For doctoral committees in the School of Education, the advisory committee is comprised of four members including the outside member. On behalf of the advisory committee, the student’s advisor will approve the student’s Program of Study, administer the written and/or oral examinations, approve the thesis or dissertation where applicable, and certify to the Graduate School that the candidate has satisfactorily met all requirements for an advanced degree. The student works closely with his/her advisor in determining who will serve on their advisory committee.