Prospective Students

Applicants meeting all graduate school admission requirements, and requirements set by the department administering the program, may be granted full admission to master’s programs. International applicants and applicants for the Doctoral programs have only one category of admission: ‘Full Admission’.

After reviewing the applications, some programs may recommend admission with conditions. All students admitted with any conditions must fulfill the requirements within the time limit outlined by the program. International applicants and applicants for the Doctoral programs are not eligible for conditional admission. Students admitted with conditions are not eligible for financial aid or loans. Contact the Financial Aid Office for details. 

Note: International applicants and Doctoral applicants are not eligible for conditional admission.

Select academic departments have prescriptions for evaluating a student’s eligibility for Admission to Candidacy status. Admission to Candidacy is the formal approval for pursuit of a graduate degree after it is determined that all specified preliminary requirements have been met. These prescriptions do not include academic deficiencies of a remedial nature but are designed as a proving ground for indication of future success in the program. After having been admitted to graduate study with the objective of earning an advanced degree, the graduate student must apply for and be admitted to candidacy for the degree sought. Specific information regarding procedures for achieving candidacy is available in the academic department administering a graduate program.

Graduating seniors who are in their final semester and expecting to earn the bachelor’s degree may apply to graduate school and be considered for early admission. If admitted early, registration for classes will be held in abeyance until a final transcript showing the conferral of the bachelor’s degree is submitted. Those who do not subsequently receive the bachelor’s degree will have their admission rescinded. This policy applies to out of state and international students as well. International students must submit the evaluations from approved foreign credential evaluators.

Non-degree admission to the Graduate School is granted to those who wish to enroll in courses but do not intend to qualify for a degree. Students who hold at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and who wish to enroll in graduate courses for their own personal enrichment or professional advancement may do so by completing the online application. A nonrefundable $30 application fee is required. Applicants for graduate-at-large status must present proof of degree at the time of application. A maximum of twelve semester hours taken in graduate-at-large status at Chicago State University prior to formal admission may be applied to a master’s degree program with the approval of the department administering the program. (Some programs only permit 6 hours.). Admission on a non-degree basis does not imply eligibility for matriculation or acceptance to any degree program. Students wishing to be admitted into a specific program must submit a new and complete application for that program.

Note: Admission on a non-degree basis does not imply eligibility for matriculation or acceptance in any degree program.

Readmission:

Students not enrolled for two academic/calendar years or more and did not obtain any leave of absence and wish to come back, may be considered for re-admission, if they have a reasonable chance of completing the program within the original time frame [from the original time of enrollment].  They should submit a petition which must be supported by the program adviser and the Chair of the department. Final decision for re-admission will be made by the Dean of the Graduate School.  Students will be bound by the regulations at the time of their initial registration. Withdrawal may affect the student’s status of financial aid. Check with the Financial Aid office.

Re-Apply:

Students not enrolled for two academic years or more and have no realistic possibility to complete the degree program within the original time frame [ 6 years for master’s and 7 years for Ed. D], must re-apply as new students.  Any courses taken before may be considered for completing the requirements if they are not aged out. Students will be bound by the regulations at the time of new enrollment.

Graduate students who have been admitted with conditions to a degree program at Chicago State University and who have met the prescribed requirements (conditions) within the approved timeline, must file a Change of Status request with the Graduate School after obtaining an approval signature from the graduate advisor and the Chair of the program to which the student was admitted. The student is responsible for submitting the program approved change of status form if they satisfy the conditions. Students who do not meet the prescribed requirements will lose their admissions status and may not continue in the degree program. Failure to submit a change of status form in a timely fashion may result in registration hold for future terms and/or loss of full admission to the program.

Graduate students who have been formally admitted to a degree program may opt for a change of program for admission to another graduate program. Students must re-apply for the new program with complete documentation as per the new program requirements. Students must also submit a change of program form available on the Graduate School website. 

Students are expected to enroll in the term for which they have been admitted. At the discretion of the Dean of the Graduate and Professional Studies and the academic department supervising the degree program, students may defer their initial term of enrollment for no more than one year by applying for deferral to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. If deferral is approved, students will be held accountable under the policies and procedures in effect at the time of their enrollment including the time to complete the degree, not the policies and procedures at the time of initial admission. 

Domestic Applicants:

For an initial review of applications to graduate programs, students can upload a copy of the unofficial transcript[s] for consideration. However, Official transcripts are required, and we encourage students to arrange for the submission of original transcripts as soon as possible. If admitted, students will be required to submit the original official transcripts within 45 days of the start of the regular semester in Fall and Spring and within two weeks from the start of the first session of classes in summer.  Official transcripts will only be received electronically or in a sealed envelope from the student’s previous Institution [ Students can obtain the sealed envelope from their institution and mail it or drop it off in the Graduate School’s office]. CSU students need not submit original transcripts. If students don’t submit the original transcripts in the prescribed time, a registration and transcript hold will be placed on the student’s account.

International Applicants:

International applicants CANNOT upload unofficial transcripts. They must submit A course-by-course evaluation of all foreign educational credentials from one of the evaluating agencies listed.  

Transcripts previously submitted to the undergraduate or graduate school at CSU, or the Teacher Licensure Office cannot be reused with a new application process. Additionally, applicants to the following programs must submit two official copies of all transcripts: School Counseling, Principal Preparation, Special Education, and Information Studies.