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 class schedule must be followed in order to allow complete processing prior to registration.
- Complete the appropriate application form for graduate special status or a degree and send to Graduate Office, Winona State University, P.O. Box 5838, Winona, MN 55987, along with a $20 nonrefundable application fee made payable to Winona State University. The fee is waived for students who have previously been admitted to WSU as an undergraduate or graduate student.
- Request one official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate college or university attended. All transcripts must be submitted directly by each institution to the Graduate Studies Office. Transcripts must show that the student has received a Bachelor’s degree 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 MnSCU schools do not need to be requested. All MnSCU schools have access to each other’s transcripts for their students.
- Coursework must begin within two (2) years after admission to a graduate degree program or the student must reapply, provide one copy of official transcripts, and pay the application fee. Refer to departmental requirements, as each department may require specific start dates.
Admission to a Graduate Degree Program
(Department Admission)
- After admission to Graduate Status, completed applications from students who have a minimum, cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a four (4) point scale from their baccalaureate degree 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 semester hours 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 semester hours 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 Office 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 Special Student, not as a degree seeking student.
Adding and Additional Major or Degree
Please contact the Office of Graduate Studies for information on obtaining an additional major or degree:
Office of Graduate Studies, 106B Somsen Hall, PO Box 5838, Winona MN 55987, (507.457.5038), or email the Office Manager, Patricia Cichosz.
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
All applicants from foreign countries must complete all WSU application procedures. Students will be admitted on the basis of certified credentials verifying completion of previous educational studies. Students must also submit a TOEFL/PBT score of at least 577 or an IELTS score of at least 6.5 for MS, MA, and DNP graduate students. Some departments/programs may require minimum scores within the tests as well. Students who do not meet the minimum standards or English proficiency may be conditionally admitted to certain programs and take non-credit ESL courses through the WSU English Language Center. In addition to official academic credentials and the official TOEFL score, International students must present proof of financial responsibility for the full course of study, living, meal and expenses costs. The university requires that all financial obligations including tuition, fees, room and board be paid during the term of registration.
The International Student Office emphasizes that the financial support statement is of extreme importance because very little financial aid exists for foreign students and immigration regulations prohibit employment outside the campus community. In view of the increasing cost of education and unstable conditions that arise around the world, Winona State is unable to assume responsibility for emergency situations that arise while a foreign student is in attendance at the university.
International students must apply well in advance of the time they wish to enroll. This is necessary due to the complexity of the admission process and allows for the proper planning of mandatory orientation programs for International students. International students interested in obtaining additional information about the University or interested in obtaining an application packet should direct their initial inquiries to the International Services Office, Kryzsko Commons, Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota 55987, (507.457.5303 or is@winona.edu).
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 to the Office 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 Director of Graduate Studies approves a petition for waiver of the 16 credit requirement. The Application for Admission to Candidacy form 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 Graduate Office.) The form must be approved by the advisor, the chairperson/program director of the major department, and the Director of Graduate Studies. Any proposed changes to the approved candidacy/program must be requested in advance on the Supplement to the Application for Admission to Candidacy and be approved by the advisor, the department chairperson/program director and the Director of Graduate Studies.
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 semester hours (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 Office 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.
- If the student has elected a plan that requires a thesis, the thesis 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. After this committee has approved the thesis, three bound copies must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies for distribution. A bindery signoff form must be received by the Graduate Studies Office 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 to the Office 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 (Ed.S.) is an advanced terminal degree. This degree recognizes the special requirements for school administrative licensure in MN and gives it an academic/university awarded option called the Educational Specialist degree. Licensure requirements are set by the Board of School Administrators (BOSA) and accepted by the Minnesota Legislature. Licensure requirements include : 30 post-master’s credits, 320 hours of licensure-specific internship and documented experience in 84 core competencies plus 15 competencies for the K-12 Principal license and 10 competencies for the Superintendent license. The Ed.S. 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, Education Leadership Department.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
For degree requirements, please see the College of Nursing, Department of Nursing.
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