Graduate Admission Requirements
The University of West Florida encourages applications for graduate admission from qualified students regardless of gender, culture, religion, ethnic background, age, marital status, or disability. Non-U.S. citizens should review requirements for international students.
There are two levels of graduate admission requirements: university-level and departmental-level. The Graduate School strongly suggests that applicants contact the program department and review the departmental admission requirements before submitting an application.
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University Level Admission Requirements
1. Complete the online graduate degree-seeking application.
2. Submit nonrefundable $30 processing fee payable to the "University of West Florida" online or through mail.
The application for graduate admission and fee should be submitted six to nine months prior to the semester for which admission is requested. It is the policy of the University not to waive the application processing fee. The application processing fee can be transferred once within 3 semesters for the original application. The application processing fee must be in U.S. currency, drawn on a U.S. bank. There is an option to pay via MasterCard, Visa, or American Express credit card when the web application is submitted.
If you do not submit your application processing fee online at the point that you submit your application, please send your payment to:
The University of West Florida
Cashier's Office
11000 University Pkwy., Bldg 20E
Pensacola, FL 32514-5750
If an applicant wishes to move their original application to a new start term within 3 semesters, they must submit a term change request. If the program is available for the preferred term, Graduate Admissions will cancel the previous application and create an application for the new term within 3-5 business days.
Graduate non-degree seeking applicants must complete the online graduate non-degree seeking application. Non-degree seeking applicants do not need to pay the $30 processing fee, nor do they need to submit the graduate admission test, official college transcripts, or departmental admission requirements. This does not apply to certificate
programs. The Certificate Programs page of the Graduate Catalog
contains more information regarding admissions requirements for
applicants seeking a certificate.
The deadlines for applications and supporting documents for graduate applicants can be viewed here: Program Deadlines
It is in an applicant's best interest to apply early. Files completed after the published deadlines may not be processed in time for the student to be considered for enrollment in the desired semester.
Please visit this page to see test requirements by program.
Students who attend/or have attended UWF do not need to provide UWF transcripts.
To expedite the admission review process, applicants may submit an unofficial transcript for each institution where they have attended more than 15 semester hours, regardless of whether or not a degree was earned; however, we encourage you to submit official transcripts upfront.
If you choose to submit unofficial copies, if/when you are admitted, you will be required to submit official copies of all transcripts by the end of the drop/add week period of your admission semester or risk removal from the program (this includes 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 bearing the statement "Issued to Student," faxed transcripts, or transcripts submitted by an applicant are not considered official. Original documents or signed, officially certified photocopies of original documents may be submitted by the student only when institutions outside the U.S. will not send academic records to other institutions. The verifying signature preferably should be that of an officer of the institution attended. All academic records that are not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations.
Please note applicants who attended an institution outside of the United States must submit an official credential evaluation. Visit this page for more information.
UWF Graduate School is able to accept electronic, secure transcripts directly from other institutions. Email is not a secure form of transmission for official transcripts. If the Graduate School is unable to access transcripts sent electronically, a hard copy must be requested by the applicant.
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 shall be required to meet minimum University requirements:
-
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 with a minimum institutional grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4-point scale or a 3.0 (GPA) on a 4-point scale on the last 60 hours of coursework in the baccalaureate degree.
- Applicants are expected to complete all sanctions assigned by a previous institution(s) and are expected to be in good conduct standing with the institution(s).
- A score on a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, such as the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or an equivalent that is acceptable for the program to which the student is applying. Test scores must be no more than five years old.
- Approval by the department offering the degree to which the applicant is applying.
Departments may establish standards that exceed these University requirements or require additional application materials. Departments may 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 shall be required to meet minimum University requirements:
- An earned master's degree from an 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 with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 on a 4-point scale.
- Applicants are expected to complete all sanctions assigned by a previous institution(s) and are expected to be in good conduct standing with the institution(s).
- A score on a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, such as the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or an equivalent that is acceptable for the specialization to which the student is applying. Test scores must be no more than five years old.
- Other requirements as specified by each specialization for the degree.
- Approval by the department offering the specialization to which the applicant is applying.
Requirements for Regular Admission to an Ed.D. Program
Each applicant shall be required to meet minimum University requirements:
- An earned master's degree from an institution that is 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 grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4-point scale.
- Applicants are expected to complete all sanctions assigned by a previous institution(s) and are expected to be in good conduct standing with the institution(s).
- A score on a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, such as the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or an equivalent that is acceptable for the specialization to which the student is applying. Applicants should contact the graduate department to which they applied to inquire as to which test is acceptable for that program or if it may be waived. Test scores must be no more than five years old.
- Other requirements as specified by each specialization for the degree.
- Approval by the department offering the specialization to which the applicant is applying.
Requirements for Regular Admission to a Ph.D. Program
Each applicant shall be required to meet minimum University requirements:
- An earned master's degree or bachelor’s degree from an institution that is 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 grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4-point scale. Successful applicants will typically have GPAs well above the minimum.
- Bachelor’s candidates with strong relevant industrial experience will be considered; however, accepted students will be required to complete preparatory coursework as specified by the program.
- Be in good standing at all previous institutions of higher learning. Students who, for academic or disciplinary reasons, are not eligible to register in the college or university last attended will not be admitted for graduate study.
- A score on a nationally standardized graduate admissions test, such as the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or an equivalent that is acceptable for the specialization to which the student is applying. Applicants should contact the graduate department for which s/he is applying to inquire as to which test and test score is acceptable for that program or if it may be waived. Test scores must be no more than five years old.
- Other requirements as specified by the degree program.
The non-degree classification is used only by those students who have completed a baccalaureate degree and who will not be working toward a graduate degree at UWF. Successful completion of courses in this classification does not provide a basis for degree status. Graduate students may petition their departments and colleges for a maximum of 12 semester hours completed as a non-degree seeking student to apply toward a graduate degree once admitted into a graduate program.
To be considered for degree status, students must contact the Graduate School and complete the required application. Returning non-degree students who have had a three semester period of non-enrollment must file a new non-degree student application in the Graduate School. Graduate students who wish to change to non-degree status will need to complete a non-degree graduate application.
Graduate non-degree seeking applicants must complete the online graduate non-degree seeking application. Non-degree seeking applicants do not need to pay the $30 processing fee, nor do they need to submit the graduate admission test, official college transcripts, or departmental admission requirements.
** If you wish to pursue a certificate program, be sure to check the department's website for any admission requirements needed **
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 regarding any departmental admission requirements.
You may submit departmental admission requirements in MyUWF after the submission of your application. Search for "Application Status." Click on the 'Details' button next to your application. This will take you to detailed information about your application. Scroll down to the Admissions Check List. Click on the 'Upload File' button next to the requirement you need to submit.
All applicants may also submit departmental admission requirements via gradadmissions@uwf.edu whenever possible or by mailing to the following address:
The University of West Florida
Graduate Admissions
11000 University Pkwy., Bldg. 11
Pensacola, FL 32514-5450
Review Process
Initial Evaluation
Once all application materials are submitted, the Graduate School will complete an initial evaluation and forward your application to the department for an admission decision. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission or may be denied admission.
Decision Notification
The Graduate School will notify the applicant of the admission decision through email. Admission to the University is often contingent upon the subsequent receipt of satisfactory and official college or university transcripts and verification of a baccalaureate degree. Failure to submit such documents before the end of the second week of class of the initial semester of enrollment may result in the cancellation of admission.
Request for Admission Term Change
Applicants are admitted to the University only for the semester for which they apply. Students who do not enroll in the semester for which they have been admitted and want consideration for a different semester must submit a Graduate Application Term Change Request. The application processing fee can be transferred once within 3 semesters. Admission is not automatic, and applicants will be considered for admission under the policies in effect at that time.
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 MyUWF account.
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.
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 approval from the department, 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 appropriate for circumstances such as when the baccalaureate degree has been awarded but the undergraduate institution has not yet posted the degree, when the student submitted unofficial transcripts for the admission review process, when graduate admissions has not received the applicant's official standardized test score, or when information required by the department is incomplete. Students who are granted provisional admission must submit all application materials during the first semester of graduate study or risk removal by the Graduate School of their status to pursue graduate study.
Students who do not meet the minimum requirements for regular admission may be admitted by a department on a conditional basis. In order to be considered for conditional admission, students must submit all required admission materials. Also, students who have graduated from a recognized, although non-accredited, institution may be admitted on a conditional basis at the department's discretion. Students admitted on a conditional basis may be permitted to register for up to 12 semester hours of graduate coursework, identified by the department as appropriate to the degree.
In addition, the student must:
- Earn at least a grade of “B” on each of those courses during the semester(s) where the student is admitted on a conditional basis
OR
- Earn a semester grade point average above a 3.0, earning no less than a C+ on any given course, during the semester(s) where the student is admitted on a conditional basis.
Failure to accomplish the above may result in the removal of his/her status to pursue graduate study. Admission on a conditional basis should not be routine.
Departments may establish standards that exceed the University conditional admission requirements.