Admission of Faculty Members to Graduate Studies

Any faculty member may register for credit courses offered by the University. Faculty members with full-time responsibilities to the University may not register for more than six (6) credit hours per semester. No member of the faculty who holds tenure or professorial rank is eligible to become a candidate for a graduate degree; however, an instructor on temporary appointment may qualify for candidacy. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Graduate School Executive Committee; such approval will be granted only in unusual circumstances.

Admission of Seniors to Graduate Courses

A senior who needs less than a normal semester's work to complete the requirements for the bachelor's degree, and who gives indication of being able to achieve Full Standing in the Graduate School at the conclusion of the undergraduate program, may take sufficient graduate credit (6000 level or below) to fill out a normal schedule, subject to the approval of the departmental advisor, course instructor(s), chairperson of the department(s), and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. If the student would not qualify for Full Standing but would qualify for Provisional Standing, he/she may take such 5000-level courses for graduate credit as may be approved by his/her departmental advisor, chairperson of the department(s), and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. A Tentative Graduate Advisory Committee and a program of study must be developed prior to the completion of nine (9) credit hours of graduate work to be counted toward degree requirements.

A senior who gives indication of being able to achieve Full Standing in the Graduate School may elect up to nine (9) hours of graduate courses (6000 level or below) for undergraduate credit upon approval of his/her departmental advisor, course instructor(s), chairperson of the department(s), and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. Credit earned in this manner may not later be counted as graduate credit. If the senior would not qualify for Full Standing but would qualify for Provisional Standing, he/she may elect up to nine (9) hours of 5000 level courses upon approval of his/her departmental advisor, course instructor(s), chairperson of the department(s), and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.

When a senior earns graduate credit, that credit falls under the Special Standing regulation that is described in a previous section of this catalog regarding "Admission Classification." Specifically, the student is cautioned to remember that not more than nine (9) semester credits earned in Special Standing can be counted for graduate degree purposes.

Admission of Transfer Students

An applicant for admission who has begun a graduate program at another college or university may be considered for admission to the Graduate School of Tennessee Technological University on a transfer basis. Coursework transferred or accepted for credit toward a graduate degree must represent graduate coursework relevant to the degree, with course content and level of instruction resulting in student competencies at least equivalent to those of students enrolled in the institution's own graduate degree programs. It is anticipated that such an applicant will have maintained a "B" average in prior graduate study and will be in good standing at the institutions previously attended. If transfer admission is approved, the student's grades that are accepted for transfer will not be included in this institution's GPA calculations. The number of transfer credits utilized for degree purposes is determined by the program department, at their sole discretion, and in accordance with SACSCOC Accreditation Standard 9.2.  In certain instances, a competency examination may be administered to validate credit.

International students who wish to transfer to Tennessee Tech from another Graduate School must submit the usual materials required for initial admission. Additionally, each applicant must furnish official transcripts from the current institution as well as a statement from that institution's international student advisor. The applicant must also submit a bank statement verifying that sufficient funds are available for the applicant's living and collegiate expenses, as well as photocopies of the passport, visa, I20-ID and I-94.

Admission of Non-degree Graduate Students

Admission to some graduate courses is available to persons who do not seek a graduate degree. Each applicant must submit to the Graduate School an application and proof of having earned the baccalaureate degree. Students admitted under this category of Special Standing must submit official transcripts of degree conferral's no later than the end of the first semester of enrollment or will be denied registration in subsequent semesters.  When the student declares a degree major, the student will then pay the admissions application fee.

International students on an F1 Visa are not eligible for admission as non-degree students.

Non-degree graduate students are placed in Special Standing (see Special Standing section) and are permitted to take such undergraduate and graduate courses as are approved by individual advisors. Not all courses offered at the University are available for non-degree students. Information concerning the availability of specific courses can be obtained from individual departments. A non-degree graduate student subsequently admitted into a graduate program may submit previously earned graduate credit hours to the program to review.  The department will determine at their sole discretion, and in accordance with SACSCOC Accreditation Standard 9.2, the number of credit hours it will accept towards such a degree. 

Admission as a non-degree graduate student is not the same as admission as an "additional bachelor's" student. The admission status of an additional bachelor's student is explained in the following section of this catalog.

Admission as an Additional Bachelor's Student

An additional bachelor's student is a post-baccalaureate student but is not a graduate student and should not be confused with a non-degree graduate student.

Admission to Class as an Auditor

An auditor is one who enrolls in classes on a noncredit basis, is expected to attend class, but is not required to hand in assignments or to take examinations. If the instructor is not satisfied with the attendance, the instructor may assign a grade of "W." A student who audits must be admitted to the University as a regular or special student.

Admission to class as an auditor requires the consent of the instructor and the approval of the Director of Records and Registration. The applicant should secure the Audit Registration form from the Office of Records and Registration. Fees for audit courses are the same as those for credit courses.

Readmission of Former Students

A former graduate student at Tennessee Technological University who is not currently enrolled at the University must file an application for readmission. The application must be submitted through the online application system and should be filed no later than two (2) weeks before the first day of registration of the semester of anticipated enrollment.