Minimum Academic Requirements

Admission criteria are established both by the Graduate School and by the graduate program of study.  Graduate programs set criteria for admission which may be significantly higher than the minimum criteria listed below.

The minimum academic criteria for admission include:

• credentials documenting prerequisite academic work that gives evidence of ability to pursue a graduate program in your chosen area. Consult your intended graduate program for more information.
• an earned 4-year baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university prior to beginning graduate studies.
• At minimum, a cumulative grade point average equivalent to at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (B grade) in all prior undergraduate and graduate level work. The university uses the following grades to reflect academic level of performance: A=excellent, B=good, C=fair or average, D=poor, and E=failure.

You are required to submit GRE (Graduate Record Exam) or GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) scores if your undergraduate or graduate GPA is below the minimum of 3.0 or if you hold a degree from an unaccredited college or university.

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English Proficiency - for International Applicants and those who have held the status of U.S. Permanent Resident, asylee, or refugee for less than one year.  

Applicants whose native language is not English, must submit a recent, official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score or Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) score. Minimum English Proficiency Requirements are as follows:

• at least 550 on the paper-based (213 on the computer-based) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or
• at least 82 on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) or
• at least a 7.0 on the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) exam
• at least a total score of 79 on the Internet Based TOEFL Test

Many Graduate programs require a score above the graduate school minimum requirements listed above. Consult the Graduate Program Information page to find the exact score requirement of your graduate program.

Applicants who are citizens of, or who have received a bachelor's degree or higher from one of the following countries are exempt from the English proficiency requirement: Australia, Belize, the British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Scotland, the United States, and Wales.

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Look under Graduate Program Requirements and Deadlines for additional admission requirements.  It is recommended that you contact your intended graduate program about any admission requirements it may have in addition to those listed above. E-mail addresses, phone numbers, and addresses are found in the Graduate Program Requirements and Deadlines section.