2009-2010 Graduate Catalog

Table of Contents

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Admission - 2009/2010


 New Students
International Students
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Programs
Admission to Integrated Baccalaureate and Master's Degree Program
Second Baccalaureate Degree Program
Teacher Certification
Re-entry Admission Procedures
Admission Examinations
Immunization Policy


Admission of New Students

Application to the School of Graduate Studies at Western Illinois University may be completed online at www.wiu.edu/grad.  A $30 non-refundable application fee is required.

Applicants for admission to the School of Graduate Studies must hold a bachelor's degree from an institution that is accredited by the appropriate U.S. Department of Education regional institutional accrediting agency. Applicants usually apply for admission to a degree program simultaneously with admission to the School of Graduate Studies. If the applicant meets the minimum admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies, a copy of the application materials is forwarded to the program of interest for consideration.

Admission in any program of the School of Graduate Studies is contingent upon successful completion of undergraduate coursework specified as a prerequisite. Admission requirements for any particular graduate degree program may exceed the minimum admission standards of the School of Graduate Studies. No one may pursue an advanced degree at Western without being admitted to the appropriate degree program. Certain programs require the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Requirements for each program are listed in the program section of this catalog.  Some programs may require domestic applicants who are non-native speakers of English with foreign degree credentials to demonstrate verbal proficiency in the English language in order to undertake graduate studies.  Students should consult with the departmental graduate committee chair to obtain a more detailed written description of the program requirements.

Applicants may be accepted in the School of Graduate Studies as degree-seeking graduate students, probationary graduate students, or nondegree graduate students.

Doctorate Degree Graduate Students
Applicants should apply for admission to doctorate programs simultaneously with admission to the School of Graduate Studies.  Please refer to the departmental information for specific admission requirements.

Master’s and Specialist Degree Graduate Students
Applicants may qualify under either of the following two conditions if they:

  1. have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 (based on all hours attempted at all institutions attended) for their undergraduate work, or
  2. have a 3.0 or higher average for their last two years of undergraduate work.

Probationary Graduate Students

Those students who do not meet the graduate school and departmental grade point requirements for regular admission to a degree program may be recommended for probationary admission by the department. Upon completion of at least six semester hours of graduate-level work at Western Illinois University with at least a B average, probationary graduate students may petition the departmental graduate committee and the Graduate Council for a change in their admission status. Some programs may require nine hours of graduate work and require that specific courses be completed before a petition may be submitted. If the degree program requires the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), action on the petition will not be taken until the student's GRE/GMAT scores are available. If the petition is approved by the department and the Graduate Council, the hours earned while a probationary graduate student may be used to satisfy the requirements for the degree.

Nondegree Graduate Students

Students in this category are:

  1. those whose records, including transcripts or test scores, are incomplete at the time of their first registration, thus making it impossible to determine their exact admission status;
  2. those who are taking courses to transfer to a degree program at another institution;
  3. those who meet WIU admission requirements for degree-seeking graduate student status, but who are not interested in pursuing a degree at WIU. (Should these students later wish to pursue a graduate degree, they should contact the School of Graduate Studies and request that they be considered for admission as degree-seeking students);
  4. those who do not meet admission requirements for degree-seeking graduate student status and have no intention of ever pursuing a degree at this institution. (Should these students later wish to pursue a degree, they are required to request admission as a degree-seeking graduate student, and if accepted, adhere to the regulations established for that category); and
  5. those who graduate from nontraditional bachelor's degree programs with fewer than 60 semester hours of graded work. (Should these students wish to pursue a degree, they may petition to have their status changed to degree-seeking graduate student after completing six semester hours of graduate-level work at Western Illinois University with at least a B average and after submitting GRE/GMAT scores if required by the program. With the approval of the academic department, the six semester hours may count toward the minimum number of hours required for the degree.)

Application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies and to a degree program must be made online at wiu.edu/grad or upon forms obtained from the School of Graduate Studies. Degree-seeking students must request ONE OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT to be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies for EACH college or university previously attended.  STUDENT AND FAXED COPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Nondegree students must request the registrar of the college or university granting their highest degree to send a statement of degree or official transcript showing the degree and the date it was conferred. It must be sent by the registrar directly to the School of Graduate Studies. All transcripts on file in the Office of the Registrar at Western will be obtained by graduate office personnel. The admission application form and official transcripts must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies at least three weeks before the student's first registration.The three-week interval is needed to evaluate credentials and to take official action on admission. If the necessary forms and credentials are submitted after the deadline, the student may still be admitted on a nondegree status but may expect delays in registration. If the necessary forms and credentials are not submitted to the School of Graduate Studies by the end of the first term of a student's enrollment, the student will not be permitted to register for additional courses until these obligations have been met. The University is in no way obligated to grant graduate credit for any course unless the student complies with the above procedures.

Admission to the School of Graduate Studies does not imply or constitute admission to an advanced degree program.


Admission to Integrated Baccalaureate and Master's Degree Programs

Undergraduate students may apply for admission to an integrated baccalaureate and master’s degree program after completing 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework of which a minimum of 30 semester hours must be at WIU.  Integrated baccalaureate and master’s degree applicants must meet the cumulative grade point average and the grade point average for their major as specified by their integrated degree program. Admission must be granted by the School of Graduate Studies before a student will be allowed to enroll in integrated baccalaureate and master’s bridge (“B”) courses. Students may begin taking bridge courses after the completion of 90 semester hours.

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and a minimum of 3.25 in the major is required for admission to the integrated program. Higher grade point averages may be required by individual integrated baccalaureate and master’s degree programs. Students must have a minimum cumulative average of 3.25 and a minimum of 3.25 in the major prior to enrolling in bridge courses.


Admission to Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Programs

Applicants for admission to post-baccalaureate certificate programs must hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution that is accredited by the appropriate U.S. Department of Education regional institutional accrediting agency. Admission requirements for any particular post-baccalaureate certificate program may exceed the minimum admission standards of the School of Graduate Studies. Application for admission must be made upon forms obtained from the School of Graduate Studies or online at wiu.edu/grad. Applicants must request the registrar of the college or university granting their highest degree to send a statement of degree or official transcript showing the degree and date it was conferred. Some programs may require official transcripts of all coursework completed. Verification of degree must be sent by the registrar directly to the School of Graduate Studies. Transcripts on file in the Office of the Registrar at WIU will be obtained by graduate office personnel.


Admission of International Students

International students are subject to all requirements for admission to the School of Graduate Studies. In addition, each international student must also meet the following requirements:

  1. Hold a degree that is comparable to a recognized U.S. bachelor’s degree.
  2. Complete and submit the International Application for Admission. The application may be completed online at student.services.wiu.edu/admissions/int or is available as a downloadable document at wiu.edu/international.
  3. Provide evidence of English language proficiency by obtaining a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); successfully completing the English as a Second Language Program through the WESL Institute; or by completing a bachelor's degree from an American institution with four years in residence, and within two years of matriculation at Western Illinois University. Unless otherwise stated in the departmental sections, a satisfactory TOEFL score is 80 on the TOEFL IBT, 213 on the computer-based version or 550 on the paper-based version. If a prospective student has a TOEFL score between 173 and 213 (500 and 550 paper-based), he or she will be considered for admission in some programs on the basis of demonstrated academic ability (grade point average). Some departments may require additional demonstration of verbal English proficiency before full acceptance into the program will be granted. Only students whose native language is English are exempt from the English proficiency requirements. All students who have not provided evidence of English language proficiency before arrival on campus must take the WESL placement test during New International Student Orientation.
  4. Complete and submit an original Declaration of Finances form.
  5. Submit original financial documentation proving evidence of adequate assets to support student during first year of study.
  6. Submit a $30 application fee.

International students may also be required to remediate any deficiencies in previous college work by completing undergraduate courses at Western Illinois University.

Applicants to the School of Graduate Studies and to a degree program must complete an international application obtained from the Center for International Studies.  It is recommended that the completed application (signed and dated by the student), the financial affidavit, and official transcripts of all previous post-secondary study be submitted to the Center for  International Studies at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the term. The 90-day interval is necessary to evaluate credentials, take official action on admission, and issue the appropriate immigration documents. This interval also provides students with time to obtain a visa if they reside in their home country at the time of application.

International students interested in applying to the School of Graduate Studies should contact:

International Admissions
Center for International Studies
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455-1390, USA
Phone: (309) 298-2426

E-mail: International-Ed@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/international

International applicants should contact the Center at least one year before they wish to begin study. United States citizens living abroad and undocumented persons domiciled in the United States are not considered international students for purposes of this requirement and should contact the School of Graduate Studies.


Admission to Second Baccalaureate Degree Programs

To be eligible for a second baccalaureate degree, after having been granted a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, a candidate must comply with the following:

  1. The candidate must apply to and be accepted by the School of Graduate Studies for admission to the University.
  2. The candidate must submit a program from the major department to be approved by the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards.
  3. The candidate must secure approval from the Council of Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards prior to enrolling.
  4. The candidate becomes an undergraduate upon approval of the second degree plan. All undergraduate University policies are applicable.
  5. The candidate must earn a minimum of 30 additional semester hours in residence. Courses in the degree plan may not be taken pass/fail.
  6. The candidate must complete an undergraduate application for graduation at least one semester prior to graduation.

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Admission to Teacher Certification Programs

Graduate students seeking certification that requires an advanced degree (guidance, educational leadership, school psychology, and speech-language-hearing science) should contact the department chair of their graduate program.

All others seeking initial or subsequent teacher certification, whether by an advanced degree, second bachelor's degree or as a nondegree graduate student, should contact the University certification officer in the Center for the Preparation of Education Professionals (CPEP) at (309) 298-1434. Information is available at wiu.edu/cpep.


Re-Entry Admission Procedures

Students in good standing who have discontinued graduate work for more than one full year must file a readmission application to re-enter the graduate school. This application should be filed at least three weeks prior to the beginning of the new semester in which the student expects to register. The necessary forms may be obtained from the Office of the School of Graduate Studies or online at wiu.edu/grad. Students who re-enter the University after an absence of three or more years, excluding summer sessions, must meet the requirements of the catalog under which they re-enter unless they receive written approval from the dean of the college in which they are enrolled to continue under an earlier catalog.


Admission Examinations

Prior to admission to certain programs, the student must take the Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT).

Applicants to those programs requiring the GRE, GMAT, or MAT are encouraged to complete this test either in their senior year of undergraduate work or before filing an application for admission. For further information on the GRE and places where it may be taken, contact the Educational Testing Service (ets.org), or the University Counseling Center, Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455-1390. Information on the GMAT can be obtained at gmac.com. Information on the MAT can be obtained at harcourtassessment.com by clicking on post-secondary education or the University Counseling Center.


Immunization Policy

Illinois state law and University policy require all enrolled students to provide written evidence, signed by a healthcare provider, of current immune status with respect to certain communicable diseases. Currently, the diseases to which all students must show immunity are measles, rubella, mumps, tetanus, and diphtheria. This policy is a requirement on both WIU campuses. Failure to comply with this policy will result in a processing fee being assessed and a hold on future registration.