Admission to Graduate Status (Institutional Admission)
- The student must first meet admission standards as set by Winona State University. Application deadlines published in the catalog and department websites must be followed in order to allow complete processing prior to registration.
- Complete and submit the graduate online application form for admission as a graduate non-degree seeking student or for admission to a degree or certificate program. There is a non-refundable $20 graduate application processing fee that may be paid online at the time of application or by check (made payable to Winona State University and mailed to the School of Graduate Studies, Winona State University, PO Box 5838, Winona, MN 55987).
- Request one official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate college or university attended. All transcripts must be submitted directly by each institution to the School of Graduate Studies. Transcripts must show that the student has received a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an institution accredited by an appropriate national accrediting body, a regional accrediting agency, or by the reporting state agency of the state in which the college or university is located. Transcripts from courses taken at WSU or other MN State schools do not need to be requested. All MN State schools have access to each other’s transcripts for their students. Electronic transcripts are preferred and should be sent via encrypted email to gradoffice@winona.edu.
Coursework must begin within two years after admission to a graduate degree program or the student must reapply and provide one copy of official transcripts. Refer to departmental requirements, as each department may require specific start dates.
Admission to a Graduate Degree Program (Department Admission)
- Completed applications from students who have a minimum, cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a four (4) point scale from their most recent completed degree or certificate program granting institution will be forwarded to the appropriate department for admission review and recommendation for admission into a degree program. Check the departmental sections of the catalog to determine additional criteria such as a higher GPA requirement, additional departmental application, screening process, test scores, references, etc.
- Students with a cumulative grade point average from their baccalaureate degree granting institution, which is lower than required by their graduate department, may be granted provisional status by the department/program. Students admitted on a provisional basis may be required to achieve at least a 3.00 GPA in their first 12 credits of 600 level course work before being permitted to apply for a graduate degree program. In addition, provisionally admitted students will be required to satisfy any course work deficiencies or additional admission criteria indicated by the department/program. Upon completion of the 12 credits and/or other requirements, the student’s provisional admission will be reviewed for either termination or full admission. A registration hold will indicate when students have reached this level.
- Following receipt of the departmental recommendation, the School of Graduate Studies will notify the student of the action taken on the application.
- Students unable to satisfy the departmental or above stated requirements will be allowed to continue to enroll in graduate level course work as a graduate non-degree seeking student, not as a degree seeking student.
Graduate Student Appeals Process
Winona State University graduate students have the right to appeal admissions decisions. An unfavorable ruling at one level can be appealed to the successive levels. Wherever the student enters the process, the remainder of the communication line must be completed. At each level, the student must write a letter of appeal outlining the reasoning for not meeting the minimum admissions requirements and what process has been followed up to that point. Below is the communication flow chart for Graduate Studies appeals for admissions.
Students have the right to:
- Write a personal statement
- Gather letters of recommendation
- Add extra information
Submit completed appeals to School of Graduate Studies gradstudies@winona.edu or by mail to:
Winona State University
School of Graduate Studies
PO Box 5838
Winona MN
55987-5838
The Graduate Studies Admissions Appeals Committee will review your documents and submit a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Adding an Additional Major or Degree
Please contact the School of Graduate Studies for information on obtaining an additional major or degree:
School of Graduate Studies
227 Maxwell Hall
175 W. Mark St.
Winona, MN 55987
Brenda Canar (Office Manager)
507.457.5038
Email: gradoffice@winona.edu
Test Requirements
Students seeking the MS, MA, or EdS degrees may be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Refer to the department policies for those situations.
Prerequisites
Refer to department policies for prerequisites required for admission to the specific graduate degree program.
International Students
International Student & Scholar Services
132 Gildemeister (507.457.5303)
Email: is@winona.edu
International students follow a similar process as domestic students until they are admitted a graduate program.
- Complete and submit a graduate application form.
- Pay a non-refundable $20 graduate application processing fee that may be paid online at the time of application or by check.
- In order to be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies (Institutional Admission), students who attended a U.S. college or university must request for an official bachelor’s degree transcript to be sent to Winona State University. Transcripts from courses taken at WSU or other MN State schools do not need to be requested. All MN State schools have access to each other’s transcripts for their students. Students who attended a college or university outside of the U.S. must request a course-by-course evaluation to be sent to International Student and Scholar Services. Winona State University accepts evaluations from any agencies who are members of these organizations NACES and AICE.
- Provide proof of English proficiency. An English proficiency test score is not required for applicants that have completed post-secondary coursework in the U.S. or countries listed below. Coursework must consist of at least 16 semester credits or 24 quarter credits and cannot include ESL coursework. Coursework cannot be any older than two (2) years, unless applicant’s high school education was also completed in one of the following countries (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, England, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Monserrat, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Palau, Scotland, Seychelles, Shetland Islands, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Wales, U.S. Territories including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands).
- Applicants that do not meet the above exemption will be required to submit one of the minimum required test scores listed below. It is the applicant’s responsibility to know the academic program’s English proficiency requirements before they apply, as some programs may require higher scores. WSU does not accept MyBest Scores, sometimes known as super scores.
- The International Student and Scholar Services Office will collect all documents and send completed files for review to the School of Graduate Studies who in turn will send files to individual programs for program admission review (Department Admission).
-
| English Proficiency Test Scores |
| TOEFL |
80 |
| IELTS |
6.5 |
| PTE Academic |
58 |
| Duolingo |
105 |
- Check the requirements for graduate programs and submit additional materials.
- After admission to a graduate program, connect with the International Student and Scholar Services and submit proof of financial responsibility for the full course of study, living, meal and expenses costs. Once the financial documents are approved, students are issued a Form I-20 which is used to apply for an F-1 student visa.
International students should be aware of the following information regarding admission to Winona State University:
- The Cross-Cultural Scholarship is available to all international students accepted for admission. More information on the scholarships is available on the International Student & Scholar Services website.
- The financial support statement submitted during the admission process is scrutinized carefully because very little financial aid is available to students who are not U.S. citizens. Upon enrollment at the university, all financial obligations, including tuition, fees, room and board, laptop program, and health insurance must be paid by the due date.
- In most cases, immigration regulations prohibit students from applying for or accepting employment outside the campus community.
- WSU cannot assume responsibility for emergency situations that may arise while international students are attending the university.
- Minnesota state requires international students to purchase health insurance; in most instances, this insurance must be purchased through the university.
- International students must report to the Office of International Student & Scholar Services upon arrival to campus to present their immigration documents and update their student record.
Veteran’s Assistance
Veterans Affairs Office
106 Maxwell Hall (507.457.5109)
WSU is approved by the State Approving Agency for Veterans Training. Students should present their eligibility certificates to the Veterans Affairs Office when they enroll.
Policies and Procedures
- A student’s application for veterans’ benefits can be submitted through the county Veterans Service Office or through WSU. Along with the application, students must submit a certified copy of their DD-214 form or a Notice of Basic Eligibility.
- Students should submit both copies of their Certificate of Eligibility for WSU when they apply for admission.
- Enrollment is certified only after students present their DD-214 forms to the Veterans Affairs Office (after they have been admitted to the University). Enrollment for full-time students is usually for the academic year. Summer sessions and/or workshops are separate enrollment periods. The date of students’ enrollment is based on the school calendar, workshop dates, or contract periods. Note: A mixture of graduate and undergraduate credits is allowed only under special arrangements.
- Students must report each change in academic load to the Veterans Affairs Office.
- Payments of benefits: Allowances are paid on a monthly basis, conditional on students’ satisfactory progress in an approved course and their conduct. Payments are released upon certification furnished by the school. Students must notify the Registrar’s Office and the Veterans Affairs Office when they complete a course, drop a course, or have an interruption in their course of training.
- Veterans with Dependents: The Veterans Administration (VA) requires students to submit certified copies of marriage certificates, birth certificates, and/or adoption papers for their dependents before they can receive payments based on their marriage and dependents. They are paid a single rate until these documents are on file with the VA. The WSU Veterans Affairs Office and the county Veterans Services Officer can help expedite this procedure.
- Re-enrollment: Students can re-enroll without a new Certificate of Eligibility. They must notify the WSU Veterans Affairs Office.
- Academic Load: Full-time training requires 12 undergraduate credits or 9 graduate credits. Three-fourths time training requires 9 undergraduate credits or 7-8 graduate credits. Half-time training requires 6-8 undergraduate credits or 6 graduate credits.
- Tutorial assistance: This program provides tutors to help students overcome a deficiency in any subject required for the satisfactory pursuit of an educational objective. It is available to Vietnam-era veterans. Contact the WSU Veterans Affairs Office for detailed information.
- Credit for military schools: Service schools and training are evaluated according to the recommendations of the American Council on Education’s Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services when students present an official Joint Service Transcript (JST) to the Office of Admissions.
- Waiver of physical education activity requirements: This requirement is waived if students have been on active duty for more than one year.
Application for Admission to Candidacy
(Program Planning form)
Before the student has completed 16 graduate semester credits with a grade point average of at least 3.0, the student, in consultation with the advisor, must submit a completed Application for Admission to Candidacy form or online Program Plan to the School of Graduate Studies. Graduate students who do not have at least a 3.0 GPA will not be allowed to make further progress in their program until the GPA is improved. To improve the GPA, students may retake courses for which they received a grade below B. However, below B grade courses may be retaken only once. Any courses taken beyond 16 credits will not apply to the degree program unless the Dean for School of Graduate Studies approves a petition for waiver of the 16 credit requirement. The Application for Admission to Candidacy form or Program Plan must include a detailed proposed program of completed and needed coursework for degree completion, must indicate a thesis plan or other capstone writing experience, and must include any courses/credits accepted in transfer toward the degree program (one official copy of transcripts for transfer credit must be on file in the School of Graduate Studies.) The form must be approved by the advisor. Any proposed changes to the approved candidacy/program plan must be requested in advance on the Supplement to the Application for Admission to Candidacy or on the online Program Plan and be approved by the advisor.
Research and Writing Requirements
All graduate degree programs must contain at least three (3) credits of research methodology, statistics, or the equivalent. All graduate degree programs must also contain a capstone writing experience; for example, thesis, professional paper, written report of a project, written review of a simulation, or portfolio. The selected experience must be indicated on the Application for Candidacy/Program Form and the final product(s) must be submitted to the Department responsible for maintaining the materials.
MS and MA Degree Requirements
In addition to the provisions listed above, the following requirements must be met by all Master of Science and Master of Arts students:
- The student must meet all academic prerequisites and requirements.
- The student must complete at least 30 credits (WSU and transfer credits) with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. No course will be counted if the grade is below C. These are minimum standards; departments may require higher standards and additional credits. At least fifty percent of the credits required for the master’s degree must be in courses numbered at the 600 level or above.
- All degree candidates may be required to pass a final comprehensive examination to be prepared by the major department. Please verify requirements with your program. A Notification of Intent to Take the Comprehensive Exam form must be received in the School of Graduate Studies by midterm day of the semester preceding the semester the exam will be taken. Students must have completed all coursework or be enrolled in their last course(s) to be eligible for the comprehensive examination. Students who choose the thesis option may take the examination before enrolling in the thesis course.
- Each candidate in a thesis option must pass a final oral examination by a committee of three graduate faculty members at least two weeks before graduation. The advisor will be the chairperson of this committee. Candidates for the Master of Science degree without thesis may also be required by their major department to pass a final oral examination.
- Students should review graduate department requirements for capstones, theses, or dissertations. In general, if the student has elected a plan that requires a capstone, thesis, or dissertation the document/project must be completed and approved by the advisor no later than two weeks prior to graduation. Unbound copies of the thesis must be made available to the oral examination committee [review if digital copies may be useful as an option]. After committee has approved the thesis, a department may elect the student work be submitted to the university’s digital repository and/or require one or more bound copies be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for distribution. For bound copies, a bindery signoff form must be received by the School of Graduate Studies before a degree can be granted.
- Each candidate must have a form signed by the advisor or by the chairperson/program director of the major department certifying that he/she has completed all departmental requirements for the master’s degree. This form must be submitted by the program chairperson to the School of Graduate Studies at least 10 days prior to the last day of the semester. The requirements listed above in 1 through 6 are general, all-university regulations. Students should consult their advisors to determine whether there are additional departmental requirements.
Specialist Degree
The Specialist Degree (EdS) is an advanced terminal degree. This degree recognizes the special requirements for school administrative licensure in MN and adds to it an academic/university supervised research project. Licensure requirements are set by the Board of School Administrators (BOSA) and accepted by the Minnesota Department of Education. Licensure requirements include: a minimum of 30 post-master’s credits, 320 hours of licensure-specific internship, and documented experience in 84 core competencies plus15 competencies specific to the K-12 Principal license and 10 competencies specific to the Superintendent license. The EdS degree is awarded by the university (WSU) and requires the same course work as licensure with the additional scholarly experience of doing and writing about research. The product of this research, called a field study, is a formal research paper, in rigor about half way between a master’s thesis and a doctoral dissertation.
For degree requirements, see College of Education, Leadership Education Department.
Doctoral Degree Requirements (DNP & EdD)
In addition to the provisions listed above, the following requirements must be met by all doctoral degree students:
- The student must meet the academic prerequisites and requirements in accordance with MinnState, Winona State University School of Graduate Studies, and the college/department to which the application is submitted.
- The student must complete at least 72 credits (WSU and transfer credits) with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. No course will be counted if the grade is below C. These are minimum standards; departments may require higher standards and additional credits. At least seventy-five percent of the credits required for the doctoral degree must be in courses numbered at the 600 level or above.
- All degree candidates may be required to complete a comprehensive paper and/or final examination reviewed by a committee of graduate faculty within the department. If the student has elected a plan that requires a comprehensive paper and/or final examination, a signoff form indicating successful completion of the department requirements must be received by the School of Graduate Studies before a degree can be granted.
- Each candidate must have a form signed by the advisor or by the chairperson/program director of the major department certifying that he/she has completed all departmental requirements for the doctoral degree. This form must be submitted by the program chairperson to the School of Graduate Studies at least 10 days prior to the last day of the semester.
- The requirements listed above in 1 through 5 are general, all-university regulations. Students should consult their advisors to determine whether there are additional departmental requirements.
For specific degree requirements, please visit the Department of Nursing.
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