Graduate on line Application

Requirements for Graduate Admission

To apply for Graduate Admission, you will need to show evidence of academic achievement and potential to pursue advanced study and research as evidenced by:

1. Bachelor’s Degree: Proof of a baccalaureate degree from a 4-year college or university which has regional accreditation. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate study must be submitted. International applicants must have their transcript translated, where necessary, and evaluated by an accredited evaluation agency. For a list of recommended agencies, please visit http://www.naces.org/members.htm. 
2. GPA of 3.0. An overall undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better and a 3.0 GPA in any graduate work already completed.
3. Official GRE or GMAT Score: Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for Business majors. Examination score requirements vary by graduate degree program; see the specific admission requirements for the degree program for which you are applying.  Scores more than five years old at the time of application will not be considered.  If the GRE or GMAT is not taken prior to admission, it must be taken in the first semester of graduate study and you will not be permitted to register for the subsequent semester until satisfactory scores are received. International students must submit official GRE/GMAT scores prior to admission.
4. Application Essay: A satisfactory application essay stating your educational objectives and identifying positive indicators for admission, Please review specific program requirements for length and format.
5. Departmental Admission Requirements: There may be specific admission requirements established by the academic department for the masters degree program which need to be fulfilled.  These may include letters of recommendation, interviews, personal background information, examination score, grade-point average, and undergraduate coursework in the discipline. Note that admission to the University does not mean that one is admitted to any masters degree program. Approval of the graduate advisors for the degree program is required for admission to a masters degree program.

Admission with Conditions

An applicant who does not meet the grade point average, GRE/GMAT score, and other criteria stipulated for regular admission may be admitted with conditions. Students receiving conditional admission may have one or more conditions specified by the academic department. The graduate advisor may require you to remedy deficiencies in undergraduate preparation by taking specified additional courses. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better while on conditional status and, normally, must satisfy conditions within the first twelve hours of graduate study

In addition to the criteria stipulated, the University of Texas at Brownsville takes into consideration for admission counterbalancing factors such as the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, first generation of family to graduate from an undergraduate program, and involvement and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, or family responsibility of raising children.

Non-Degree

Non-degree or transient status may be granted to applicants who want to take a maximum of 12 semester credit hours of graduate courses.  A non-degree student who later decides to become a candidate for a degree must meet all graduate admissions criteria.  Only relevant courses with grades of ‘B’ or better will be considered for application to the program of study for any graduate degree.

    
Readmission of Former Students

Former graduate students of UTB/TSC are required to reapply for graduate admission if they were not enrolled during the previous academic year. Former students must submit transcripts from all colleges attended since their last enrollment at this institution. Students who have earned less than a 3.0 average (3.0=B on a 4.0 scale) over all work completed since attending UTB/TSC or who left their last institution on probation may be readmitted on probation.

Health Insurance for International Students

All international students holding nonimmigrant visas will be automatically charged for comprehensive health insurance every semester at the time of registration. The cost of the insurance is in the amount of the premium approved for the U.T. System Student Health Insurance Plan. This charge may not be paid in installments. Mexican nationals are exempt from this requirement excluding those on J-1 visas.

A waiver from this fee may be obtained by providing proof of an acceptable alternate insurance to the Student Health Services Director. Proof of insurance with coverage of at least $100,000 in medical benefits must include an identification card with insurer’s name, policy coverage, and effective and expiration dates. It must be in English. If the required medical evacuation and repatriation coverage are not included, these may be purchased separately at the Business Office, Tandy Hall #109 for $35 (annual fee). For information contact the International Student Counselor, Tandy Hall #205.

U.S. residents who wish to purchase health insurance may contact Student Health Services at the Cortez Building.

Residency Classifications

Under state statutes, and under rules and regulations of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, prospective graduate students are classified as residents of Texas, nonresidents, or foreign students. Resident students are defined as students under 18 whose families have lived in Texas for 12 months prior to registration, or students 18 or over who have lived in Texas for 12 months prior to registration.

• Residents are individuals who are either U.S. citizens, national or permanent resident aliens or aliens who have been permitted by Congress to adopt the United States as their domicile while in the country and who have otherwise met the state requirements for establishing residency for tuition purposes.
• Nonresidents are citizens, national or permanent residents of the U.S. or aliens who have been permitted by Congress to adopt the United States as their domicile while in the country and who have not met the state’s requirements for establishing residency for tuition purposes. While these state requirements for establishing residency are complex and should be referred to in each particular circumstance, they generally require a minimum of 12 months residence in Texas prior to enrollment.
• Foreign students are aliens who are not permanent residents of the U.S. or have not been permitted by Congress to adopt the U.S. as their domicile. An individual classified as a nonresident or foreign student may qualify, under certain exceptions specified in these rules, for resident tuition rates and other charges while continuing to be classified as a nonresident or a foreign student. Information on residency, reclassification, tuition exceptions and waivers is available at the Admissions Office and/or Office of Student Financial Assistance.