Admissions

Durham Park on campusAdmission into the Higher Education program at Appalachian State University is based on the faculty's appraisal of applicants' likelihood of being successful in the program, contributing to the learning of other students, and contributing to the larger field of higher education.

Prerequisites

  • M.A. degree requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
  • Graduate Certificate requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
     

Required Items Graduate Certificate 

  • Transcripts from all colleges attended

  • Resume

Required Items M.A.

  • Transcripts from all colleges attended

  • GRE or MAT exam is no longer required for students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

    • *GRE/MAT waiver may be requested if an applicant has a 3.0 GPA or higher and at least 5 years of professional work experience

    • Students with a prior GPA below 3.0 must still  take an exam in accordance with Graduate School policy 

  • At least 2 references

  • Resume

  • Personal Statement /Letter of Interest

  • Short essay (750 words maximum) addressing the question, "What do you believe to be the most pressing issue facing higher education today?"

Deadlines for Application: 

Boone Campus and Online M.A.:

  • Fall Term: February 1 (priority deadline), April 1 (regular deadline) July 1 (final deadline, if space is available) 

NOTE: Interviews for Graduate Assistantships in the Division of Student Affairs are held in February. Applications are due in January.

Graduate Certificate:

  • Summer Term: February 1 (priority deadline), April 1 (final deadline)

  • Fall Term: April 1 (priority deadline), August 1 (final deadline)

Minimum Conditions for Consideration of Admission

  • 3.0 GPA in the last earned degree 
    OR
  • 2.5 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores at the 25th percentile level or above from the GRE or MAT

Meeting or exceeding the conditions above does NOT guarantee admission. All applications for a given entry term will be weighed based upon the number of seats available and the quality of the complete application packages. Both qualitative and quantitative aspects of applications are reviewed in comparison to the current applicant pool. With special permission from the Graduate School, a program may admit a limited number of students with exceptional circumstances who do not meet the graduate school minimums.

To start an application, click here.
 

 For More Information

  • To see the Graduate Bulletin program description and requirements, click here.

  • For information about the M.A. program, contact Dr. Chauntee Thrill, Program Director, at thrillcr@appstate.edu.

  • For information about App State Online cohorts, contact online@appstate.edu or 800-355-4084.