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Admissions Criteria

Minimum Admission Standards

Master’s Degree: Each applicant to a master’s degree program must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university or a recognized foreign institution of higher learning. Applicants must also have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent on the most recent 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of course work. However, upon recommendation by the major department/division/school and approval of the Graduate School, an applicant having a GPA below 3.0 or its equivalent may be admitted to a masters program. Many master’s degree programs require a higher GPA for admission.

Educational Specialist Degree: Each applicant must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university or a recognized foreign institution of higher learning. The applicant must have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or its equivalent on the most recent 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of course work and an adequate academic background in the proposed area of specialization as defined by the department through which the specialist degree is to be awarded. In addition, the applicant should possess at least 24 calendar months of appropriate work experience in the specialization as determined by the major department or division.

Doctoral Degree: Each applicant for the doctoral degree must possess a baccalaureate degree (or its recognized equivalent) from an accredited college or university or a recognized foreign institution of higher learning. Many doctoral degree programs at UNC require the possession of a master’s degree. The applicant must also submit three letters of recommendation affirming that the applicant has the ability to do doctoral work in the proposed discipline(s). Furthermore, the Graduate School requires that a doctoral applicant must have a grade point average of 3.00 or its equivalent on the most recent 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of course work and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores of at least 400 on both the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE-General Test with a combined score of at least 1000 and a writing score of at least 3.5. For doctoral applicants who do not meet Graduate School requirements, the Graduate School will consider departmental recommendation for admission.

Please also visit the list of required documents.