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Admission Requirements

UWF Graduate School admission requirements.

UWF welcomes applications for graduate admission from qualified students of all genders, cultures, religions, ethnic backgrounds, ages, marital statuses, and abilities. Non-U.S. citizens should consult the requirements for international students.

Graduate admission requirements are divided into two levels: university-level and departmental-level. The Graduate School strongly recommends that applicants review the departmental admission requirements and contact the program department before submitting an application.

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University Level Admission Requirements

1. Complete the online application for a graduate degree-seeking application.

2. Submit a nonrefundable $30 processing fee payable to the "University of West Florida" online or through mail.

The University does not waive the application processing fee. The fee must be in U.S. currency and drawn on a U.S. bank. Payment can be made via MasterCard, Visa, or American Express when submitting the application online.

Applicants are admitted only for the semester for which they apply. If you do not enroll in the admitted semester and wish to be considered for a different semester, you must submit a Graduate Application Term Change Request. The application processing fee can be transferred once within 3 semesters. Admission for the new term is not guaranteed and will be subject to the policies in effect at that time. If you have attended or are attending another institution since submitting your original application, you must indicate this on the new application and may need to provide an official transcript.

If you wish to move your application to a new start term within 3 semesters, you must do so before the application cancellation period for the original term. If the application has been canceled by either the applicant or the University, a new application is required.

Graduate non-degree-seeking applicants must complete the online application for non-degree-seeking status. Non-degree-seeking applicants are not required to pay the $30 processing fee or submit graduate admission test scores, official transcripts, or departmental admission requirements. This does not apply to certificate programs. For more information on certificate program admissions, please refer to the Certificate Programs page in the Graduate Catalog.

>Application deadlines and required supporting documents for graduate applicants can be found here: Program Deadlines

To ensure timely processing, it is in an applicant's best interest to apply early. Applications completed after the published deadlines may not be processed in time for the desired semester of enrollment.

Please visit this page to see test requirements by program.

Students who are currently attending or have previously attended UWF do not need to provide UWF transcripts.

To expedite the admission review process, applicants may submit unofficial transcripts for each institution where they have completed more than 15 semester hours, regardless of whether a degree was earned. However, it is recommended to submit official transcripts upfront.

If you choose to submit unofficial transcripts and are admitted, you will be required to submit official transcripts for all institutions by the end of the drop/add week of your admission semester. Failure to do so may result in removal from the program. This includes submitting official partial transcripts.

Transcripts are considered official when they are sent directly from a college or university to the Graduate School and bear an official seal and signature. Transcripts labeled "Issued to Student," faxed transcripts, or those submitted by the applicant are not considered official. For institutions outside the U.S. that do not send academic records directly to other institutions, original documents or signed, officially certified photocopies of original documents may be submitted by the student. The verifying signature should preferably be that of an officer of the institution attended. All academic records not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations.

Applicants who have attended institutions outside of the United States must submit an official credential evaluation. For more information, visit this page.

The UWF Graduate School accepts electronic, secure transcripts directly from other institutions. Please note that email is not a secure form of transmission for official transcripts. If the Graduate School is unable to access electronically sent transcripts, the applicant must request a hard copy.

Official college transcripts should be mailed to the following address:

The University of West Florida
Graduate Admissions
11000 University Pkwy., Bldg 11
Pensacola, FL 32514-5750

Each applicant must meet the following minimum University requirements:

  1. Bachelor's Degree: An earned bachelor's degree from a post-secondary institution accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or a comparable degree from an international institution. The degree must be accompanied by a minimum institutional GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale or a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale for the last 60 hours of coursework in the baccalaureate degree.
  2. Good Conduct Standing: Applicants are expected to have completed all sanctions assigned by any previous institution(s) and must be in good conduct standing with those institution(s).
  3. Standardized Test Scores: A score on a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, such as the GRE (General Test), MAT. The Miller Analogies Test (MAT), the GMAT, or an equivalent test acceptable for the program to which the applicant is applying. Test scores must be no more than five years old.
  4. Departmental Approval: Approval by the department offering the degree program to which the applicant is applying.

Departments may set standards that exceed these University requirements or request additional application materials. Departments may also accept an earned graduate degree from a U.S. institution that is fully accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or a comparable degree from an international institution, in lieu of the bachelor's degree and required standardized admission test.

Each applicant must meet the following minimum University requirements:

  1. Master's Degree: An earned master's degree from an institution fully accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or a comparable degree from an international institution. The degree must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4-point scale.
  2. Good Conduct Standing: Applicants must have completed all sanctions assigned by any previous institution(s) and be in good conduct standing with those institution(s).
  3. Standardized Test Scores: Submission of scores from a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, such as the GRE (General Test), MAT, or an equivalent test acceptable for the specific specialization. Test scores must be no more than five years old.
  4. Specialization Requirements: Compliance with any additional requirements specified by the specialization for the degree.
  5. Departmental Approval: Approval by the department offering the specialization to which the applicant is applying.

Requirements for Regular Admission to an Ed.D. Program

  1. Master's Degree: An earned master's degree from an institution accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum institutional GPA of 3.5 on a 4-point scale.
  2. Good Conduct Standing: Applicants must have completed all sanctions assigned by any previous institution(s) and be in good conduct standing with those institution(s).
  3. Standardized Test Scores: Submission of scores from a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, such as the GRE (General Test), MAT, or an equivalent test acceptable for the specialization. Applicants should contact the relevant graduate department to determine which test is acceptable for their program or if the test requirement may be waived. Test scores must be no more than five years old.
  4. Specialization Requirements: Fulfillment of any additional requirements specified by the specialization for the degree.
  5. Departmental Approval: Approval by the department offering the specialization to which the applicant is applying.

Requirements for Regular Admission to a Ph.D. Program

  1. Master's or Bachelor's Degree: An earned master's degree or bachelor's degree from an institution accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum institutional GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale. Successful applicants typically have GPAs well above the minimum.
    1. Bachelor's Degree Holders: Candidates with a bachelor's degree and strong relevant industrial experience may be considered, but accepted students may be required to complete preparatory coursework as specified by the program.
  2. Good Standing: Applicants must be in good standing at all previous institutions of higher learning. Students who are not eligible to register at the last attended college or university due to academic or disciplinary reasons will not be admitted for graduate study.
  3. Standardized Test Scores: Submission of scores from a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, such as the GRE (General Test), MAT, or an equivalent test acceptable for the specialization. Applicants should contact the relevant graduate department to determine which test and test score are acceptable for their program or if the test requirement may be waived. Test scores must be no more than five years old.
  4. Program-Specific Requirements: Fulfillment of any additional requirements as specified by the degree program.

The non-degree classification is intended for students who have completed a baccalaureate degree and do not plan to pursue a graduate degree at UWF. Completing courses as a non-degree student does not qualify a student for degree status. However, graduate students may petition their departments and colleges to apply a maximum of 12 semester hours completed as a non-degree-seeking student toward a graduate degree once they are admitted to a graduate program.

To be considered for degree status, students must contact the Graduate School and complete the required application. Non-degree students who have not enrolled for three consecutive semesters must submit a new non-degree student application to the Graduate School. Graduate students wishing to change their status to non-degree must also complete a non-degree graduate application.

Graduate non-degree-seeking applicants must fill out the online graduate non-degree seeking application. These applicants are not required to pay the $30 processing fee or submit graduate admission test scores, official college transcripts, or departmental admission requirements.

Note: If you plan to pursue a certificate program, please check the department's website for any specific admission requirements.

Departmental Level Admission Requirements

Some graduate departments have additional admission requirements, such as auditions, portfolios, goal statements, letters of recommendation, departmental applications, writing samples, personal interviews, and diagnostic testing. Applicants should contact the department and review the departmental admission requirements table for specific criteria.

You can submit departmental admission requirements through your Application Portal page after submitting your application. To do this:

  1. Log in to your Application Portal.
  2. Go to the detailed information about your application.
  3. Scroll down to the Checklist.
  4. Below the checklist, select the document you wish to upload by clicking 'Choose File' and selecting the file from your device.
  5. Click 'Upload' to submit the document to your application.

Alternatively, you may submit departmental admission requirements via email to gradadmissions@uwf.edu or by mailing them to the following address:

The University of West Florida
Graduate Admissions
11000 University Pkwy., Bldg. 11
Pensacola, FL 32514-5450

Review Process

  1. Initial Evaluation:
    1. Once all application materials are submitted, the Graduate School will conduct an initial evaluation and forward your application to the department for an admission decision.
    2. Incomplete applications will not be considered or may be denied admission.
  2. Decision Notification:
    1. The Graduate School will notify applicants of the admission decision via email and the application portal.
    2. Admission is often contingent upon the receipt of satisfactory and official college or university transcripts and verification of the baccalaureate degree. Failure to submit these documents before the end of the second week of classes may result in the cancellation of admission.
  3. Request for Admission Term Change:
    1. Applicants are admitted only for the semester for which they apply. Students must submit a Graduate Application Term Change Request to be considered for a different semester.
    2. The application processing fee can be transferred once within 3 semesters. Admission is not automatic, and applicants will be evaluated under the policies in effect at the time of the new application.
    3. If an applicant has attended or is attending another institution since the previous application, they must indicate this on the new application and may need to provide an official transcript.
    4. To move the original application to a new start term within 3 semesters, the request must be made before the application cancellation period for the original term. If either the applicant or the institution cancels the application, a new application is required.
  4. Admission Decisions:
    1. After the academic department reviews your application, the Graduate School will inform you of the admission decision.
    2. Applicants may be admitted Provisionally or Conditionally. If admitted under these statuses, the requirements to satisfy the Provisional or Conditional Hold will be listed within the admission decision in their Application Portal.
    3. Once a decision has been posted and an Admission Status Type offered, it cannot be changed even if the provisions or conditions are met. However, the Provisional or Conditional Hold associated with the status will be lifted.

Admission Decisions

Once the academic department has reviewed your application, the Graduate School will notify you of the University's admission decision. A student may be Provisionally and/or Conditionally admitted. If admitted under one of these admission types, students can see the requirements needed to satisfy the Provisional and/or Conditional Hold associated with the Provisional and/or Conditional Admission status listed specifically within the admission decision in their Application Portal.

Once a decision has been posted and an Admission Status Type offered, it cannot be changed upon the applicant's completion of provisions or conditions; however the Provisional and/or Conditional Hold associated with the status will be lifted.

  • Applicants have the right to appeal a denial of admission, as stated in the catalog.
  • However, if an applicant has a GPA of less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, they are not eligible to appeal the admission decision.

Provisional or Conditional Admission

Students who do not meet the minimum University requirements may still be eligible for admission via provisional or conditional admission:

With departmental approval, students who do not have all application materials available at the time of admission may be granted provisional admission by the Graduate School. Provisional admission is typically granted in situations such as:

  • The baccalaureate degree has been awarded but not yet posted by the undergraduate institution.
  • Unofficial transcripts were submitted for the admission review process.
  • Required information for the department is incomplete.

Students granted provisional admission must submit all outstanding application materials by the registration period of the next semester. Failure to do so may result in the Graduate School removing their provisional admission status and disallowing further pursuit of graduate study.

The department may admit students who do not meet the minimum requirements for regular admission conditionally. To be considered for conditional admission, students must submit all required admission materials. Additionally, graduates from recognized but non-accredited institutions may also be admitted conditionally at the department's discretion. Students admitted on a conditional basis may register for up to 12 semester hours of graduate coursework, as determined by the department.

To maintain conditional admission status, students must:

  • Option 1: Earn at least a grade of “B” in each of the courses taken during the semester(s) they are admitted conditionally.
  • Option 2: Achieve a semester GPA above 3.0, with no grade lower than a C+, during the semester(s) they are admitted conditionally.

Failure to meet these requirements may result in the removal of the student’s status to pursue graduate study. Admission on a conditional basis should not be considered routine.

Departments may set standards that exceed the University's conditional admission requirements.