Graduate Admissions

Winston-Salem State University welcomes applications from all persons holding a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college and possessing sound qualifications indicating the ability to pursue graduate study in their chosen field. Applications and inquiries regarding graduate degree programs should be addressed to:

Winston-Salem State University
Office of Admissions
206 Thompson Center
601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Thompson Center
Winston-Salem, NC 27110
(336) 750-2070 

Following are the general admission requirements the applicant must submit.  Please see the program website (go to  www.wssu.edu and then to Academics and search for the program name on the website) for more specific information and admissions requirements for specific programs.

• A completed graduate application;
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy applicants must apply through www.ptcas.org in lieu of submitting application to the university
  • Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy applicants must apply through www.otcas.org in lieu of submitting application to the university
• A $50 non-refundable application processing fee;
• In sealed envelopes, one (1) official transcript from each college and university previously attended (those who graduate from WSSU do not need to provide WSSU transcripts as the Office of Admissions can retrieve them electronically);
• Three (3) letters of recommendation in support of applicant’s ability to pursue graduate work in the chosen degree program;
• A personal statement of applicant’s future career goals and plans;
• Required test scores for your chosen program (GRE, GMAT, MAT); and
• Other forms that may be required for your chosen program.

For applicants with post-baccalaureate studies, both undergraduate and graduate grade-point averages will be considered in determining eligibility for degree admission.

Required test scores must be within five years at the time of application.

Any applicant who supplies false or misleading information or conceals pertinent facts may be denied admission or, if already admitted, may be immediately dismissed from the university.

The program and the college or school offering the chosen degree program, evaluate all completed applications that are submitted. Applicants will be notified in writing of all admission decisions.

Categories of Admission

Persons applying for admission to graduate programs, if accepted, may be admitted in one of several categories as described below:

I.    Degree-Seeking Full Admission

Degree-seeking students who have satisfied all requirements for admission to the graduate degree program are granted full graduate status and are eligible to apply for financial aid.

II.   Degree-Seeking Provisional Admission

Students who have not yet met all the requirements for admission to the graduate degree program may be granted provisional admission. Provisional admission allows the student to register for 6 credits for one semester. Financial aid is not available to provisionally admitted students. During this time the student will be expected to meet the specified requirements. Full graduate admission is granted when these requirements are met. If provisionally admitted students fail to meet the requirements as stated in their letter of acceptance, the offer of admission to the university and the graduate program will be withdrawn.

III.  Non Degree-Seeking Admission

Winston-Salem State University provides an opportunity for those who hold a baccalaureate or higher degree to enroll in a maximum of two graduate courses without being admitted to a degree program. Non-degree admission is designed for students who want to take graduate courses for personal enrichment and/or professional growth and development, or who wish to take a limited number of courses to explore the possibility of entering a graduate degree program. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for financial aid.

Non-degree students are subject to the following conditions:

• Must meet course prerequisites or have permission from the instructor
• Must get written permission from the graduate program coordinator and then apply to the university.
• May enroll in courses only on a space available basis. Priority is given to degree-seeking students where limited enrollments exist.
• Must submit:
  • A completed application
  • A $50 non-refundable application processing fee
  • In a sealed envelope, one official transcript from each college and university previously attended
  • Other documents as required by the chosen program.
• Must be graded on the same letter-grade basis as degree-seeking students
• Must be graded on the same letter-grade basis as degree-seeking students

IV. International Students

International students must be granted degree-seeking full admission. In addition to admission requirements listed above, international applicants must also submit the following:

• Completed International Application
• Financial Certification ($23,000 subject to change without prior notification)
• Sponsor’s Affidavit
• Intent to Enroll Form

Non-native speakers of English and international applicants coming from non-Anglophone countries must submit the following additional documents:

1. Official Score Reports of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum score required for admission is 550 (written) / 213 (computer based) / 78-79 (Internet based) OR 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). NB: Only official test scores received directly from the testing service will be considered valid.
2. Official college or university transcripts in the official language of instruction if other than English, along with a certified or notarized translation of these records.
3. A professional evaluation of all academic transcripts.

General Application Deadlines:

• Fall admission: April 15 (unless your chosen program is earlier)
• Spring admission: July 15 (unless your chosen program is earlier)
• Summer admission: March 15

The form I-20 will be issued once applicants have satisfied all admission requirements and are granted full admission into a degree program.

Readmission

I. Enrolled Students

Any student who interrupts his or her graduate program by not registering for courses during any two consecutive semesters of the regular academic year must apply for readmission before being allowed to resume graduate work. Applications for readmission are to be made to Office of Admissions. There is no charge for filing a readmission application. These applications should be received in the academic program at least two weeks prior to the opening of registration for the semester or summer term in which the student wishes to resume graduate work. When a graduate program is interrupted for one calendar year, the student will not be readmitted unless he or she meets admission requirements that are current at the time of the request for readmission. Graduate programs may consider requests to waive this rule in specific cases.

II. Non-Enrolled Students

Approval is required from the academic department or other authorized official for all students who have not been enrolled for ONE year or longer. Degree students who do not enroll during the semester or summer term to which they were admitted must file an updated admissions application. There is no fee for filing an updated admissions application.

III. Terminated Students

A student who has had a graduate program terminated for any reason may apply for readmission to the terminated program or to another program after one calendar year. In either case, the student will complete an Application for Readmission/Reactivation to Graduate Instruction, which will be forwarded to the academic program for its review. Readmission for degree programs will require approval from the academic program. If the graduate faculty of the academic program does not approve readmission, they will convey that decision in writing to the student. If the graduate faculty of the academic program wishes to admit the student, they will forward that decision in writing to the student. The academic program must state the specific conditions the student must meet to be admitted to complete the program of study.

Residency

Summary of Fundamental Policies Governing the Determination of In-state Residency for Tuition Purposes:

The following is a brief summary of the fundamental policies governing the establishment of in-state Residency for Tuition Purposes. All information contained hereafter is taken from the Manual to Assist the Public Education Institutions of North Carolina in the Matter of Student Residence Classification for Tuition Purposes. This manual is found in the WSSU Library, as well as the libraries of the other constituent members of the University of North Carolina. These policies govern the determination of Residency for Tuition Purposes at all 16 campuses of the UNC system, although the decision at one campus is not binding on the decisions of the other campuses.

1. The determination of in-state residency for tuition purposes requires a judgment by Graduate Admission based on a variety of behaviors that collectively support or refute the student’s claim of eligibility. Please note that determining residency requires more consideration than simply verifying if the student has completed a few steps toward residency. Students classified as non-residents (out-of-state) for tuition purposes may file for reclassification once per semester if necessary. Students may appeal any adverse residency classification decisions. (See procedures below.)
2. “To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must have established legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina and maintained that legal residence for at least 12 months immediately prior to his or her classification as a resident for tuition purposes.” (General Statute 116-143.1.b)
3. “To be eligible for classification as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must establish that his or her presence in the state currently is, and during the requisite 12-month qualifying period, was for purposes of maintaining a bona fide domicile rather than maintaining a mere temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an institution of higher education.” (General Statute 116-143.1.c )
4. The term DOMICILE is defined as “One’s permanent dwelling place of indefinite duration, as distinguished from a temporary place of abode.” (From the Manual …. )
5. Therefore “ESTABLISHING DOMICILE by choice requires the overt act of establishing (1) Physical presence in a place while maintaining at that time (2) the intent to make the place one’s permanent home of indefinite duration.” (From the Manual …. )
6. “The domiciliary intent is tested by evaluating relevant, objectively verifiable conduct.” The following types of inquiries may be significant although no one item, or combination of items, will necessarily control the determination: (Summarized from the Manual …. )

NOTE: The determination begins with the assumption that the student’s domicile is with her/his parents or guardians). Therefore the following types of behaviors are considered to determine if the assumption is valid:

• Living or not living in the home of one’s parents.
• Sources of one’s financial support.
• Classification of student on last federal and/or state tax return filed by parents.
• Place where one spends substantial parts of available vacation time.

NOTE: All NC residents are required by law to complete the following acts of residency. Please note that these acts should be completed at least 12 months prior to being classified as a resident for tuition purposes. Therefore the following types of behaviors are considered:

• Place and time where one has registered and/or licensed a car (must be completed within 30 days after moving to NC according to law).
• Place and time where one last acquired a driver’s license (must be completed within 60 days after moving to NC according to law).
• Place and time where one has filed state income tax returns.
• Place and time where one has served on jury duty (when called)

NOTE: Individuals maintaining a domicile (“permanent dwelling place of indefinite duration”) usually establish stronger “ties” to the state than is typically found with students who have established a temporary dwelling place to attend college and have no intention of remaining in NC. Therefore the following types of behaviors are considered:

• Place where one maintains personal property and last listed such for taxation.
• Place where one owns a home or other real property and pays taxes thereon.
• Place where one resided before enrolling in an institution of higher education.
• Place where one is or was gainfully employed.
• Place where one maintains membership in one or more professional associations, unions, and other organizations.
• Place where one is establishing professional “ties” within the state.
• Place where one is establishing “ties” to the community and/or state.

7. “The determination of domicile depends upon no one fact, but upon the whole, taken together, showing a preponderance of evidence in favor of some particular place as the domicile” (From a legal decision quoted in the Manual…).
8. “Conduct is of greater evidential value than declarations. Declarations as to an intention to acquire a domicile are of slight  weight when they conflict with the facts” (from a legal decision quoted in the Manual).

Procedure for Residency Reclassification Decision

Any student initially classified as a non-resident (out-of state) for tuition purposes may file for reclassification once each semester if necessary. The student must complete a form entitled Residence and Tuition Status Application (Graduate School). These are available on line at www.wssu.edu. It is very important that the form be completed as thoroughly as possible and that any supporting evidence or letters of explanation be attached when submitted to the Residency Classification Officer. Only “hardcopy” information will be used in making the decision. The student will be notified by mail of the reclassification decision.

Residency for International Students

Some international students may qualify for in-state “Residency for Tuition Purposes” if they have the legal capacity to establish a domicile (“permanent dwelling place of indefinite duration”) in North Carolina. In these cases the decision is based on the conditions of the visa held by the individual and the strength of the “ties” the individual is establishing to the state. After establishing capacity, the individual is then subject to all of the policies governing the determination of “Residency for Tuition Purposes” described above.

Residency for N.C. Public School Teachers

According to N.C. General Statute 116-143.5, public school teachers (or other personnel paid on the teacher salary schedule) who have maintained a domicile in North Carolina for less than one year but are employed full-time by a public school may receive the in-state tuition rate for courses relevant to teacher certification or professional development as a teacher. NOTE: Teachers physically residing out-of-state and some international teachers on certain visas are not eligible since the statute requires that a teacher establishes a “domicile” in North Carolina. It is required that the teacher complete a form entitled Application for North Carolina Teacher Residency. Please note that the application must be signed by the teacher’s principal verifying the teacher’s employment.

The status is only good for one semester (or summer sessions I and II combined) but can be renewed by submitting a new application for each semester in which the teacher is seeking enrollment. Teachers are strongly encouraged to seek reclassification to an in-state “Resident for Tuition Purposes” after having resided in North Carolina for at least one year.

Residency for Military Personnel Stationed in N.C. and Their Dependents

According to N.C. General Statute 116-143.3, certain members of the armed services and their dependent relatives may be eligible to be charged an in-state tuition rate less than the out-of-state rate whether or not they qualify as residents for tuition purposes. It is required that the member of the armed services and any dependent relative claiming the tuition waiver be living together in North Carolina and that the member of the armed services have an assigned duty station in North Carolina.

Military personnel claiming the waiver for themselves or their dependents must submit a form entitled Application for Residency for Military Personnel Stationed in North Carolina prior to the first day of classes of the first term of enrollment in each academic year for which the in-state tuition is claimed. The application also requires the submission of an affidavit from an appropriate military authority attesting to the individual’s eligibility for the residency status. The waiver is in effect until the end of the second summer session (i.e., mid-July), after which time it can be renewed by submitting another application.

Immunization Requirements

North Carolina State Law of Immunization

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1. Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section as follows:

130A-155. Submission of certificate to colleges or universities.

1. No person shall attend a college or university, whether public or private, or religious, excluding students attending classes in off-campus sources at either public or private institutions, unless a certificate of immunizations required by G.S. 130-A-152 is presented to the college or university. The person shall present a certificate of immunizations on or before the first day of class attendance to the Health Center or registrar of the college or university. If, however, you graduate from high school in North Carolina, a copy of your certificate of immunization may be obtained from your high school and presented to the offices listed, thus the requirements of this section are satisfied. If a certificate of immunization is not in the possession of the college or university on the first day of class attendance, the college or university shall present a notice of deficiency to the student. The student shall have 30 calendar days from the first day of attendance to obtain the required immunization. If the administration of vaccine in a series of doses given at medically approved intervals requires a period in excess of 30 calendar days, additional days upon certification by a physician may be allowed to obtain the required immunizations. Upon termination of 30 calendar days or the extended period, the college or university shall not permit the student to attend the school unless the required immunization has been obtained.

Winston-Salem State University’s Policy On Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Students and employees of Winston-Salem State University who may become infected with the AIDS virus will not be excluded from enrollment or employment, or restricted in their access to university services or facilities, unless medically based judgments in individual cases establish that exclusion or restrictions are necessary to the welfare of the individual or of other members of the university community. Persons who know, or have reasonable basis for believing, that they are infected are expected to seek expert advice about their health circumstances and are obligated, ethically and legally, to conduct themselves responsibly in accordance with such knowledge for the protection of others.

Persons who know that they are infected are urged to share that information with the director of student health services so the university can respond to their health and educational needs. Such information will be disclosed to responsible university officials only on a strictly limited need-to-know basis, unless the individual consents in writing to other releases of the information. The university is obligated by law to disclose to public health officials information about all confirmed cases of active AIDS.