Catalogue: Adult Program
Graduate Admission Requirements and Procedures

All communications regarding entrance to the M.B.A. or M.S.L. graduate program at Belhaven University should be addressed to the Admission Office of Adult Studies.  Inquiries regarding the M.Ed., M.A.T., and M.P.A. graduate programs from Jackson should be directed to the Admission Office of Graduate Studies as listed in the directory of communications in the catalogue. Students interested in the M.B.A., M.S.L, M.A.T. and M.Ed. programs in Orlando should contact the Orlando admission office.  Inquiries regarding the Tennessee M.Ed. and the north Mississippi M.A.T. graduate programs should contact the Memphis admission office.  Eligibility for admission will be determined when the application, application fee, transcripts, and applicable test scores have been received by the University. 

Master of Business Administration Admission Requirements

Regular Admission

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university and an official transcript from the institution granting your baccalaureate degree and official transcripts of all graduate level work, if any.  
• A professional resume which demonstrates a minimum of two years of significant full-time work experience.   Full-time military service will be considered in lieu of other work experience.
• Successful completion (with a grade of C or better) of college algebra or a higher mathematics course.
• Proficiency in the English language as demonstrated by at least two years of successful academic work at the college or university level in the United States or by a minimum score of 500 paper-based, 173 computer-based, or 61 internet-based on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• A minimum score of 350 on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or 800 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and a 2.8 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
  • Those with 9 credit hours of master level courses in a comparable discipline, a 3.0 GPA or higher in each course, from a regionally accredited institution can be considered in lieu of undergraduate GPA.
  • An applicant will be accepted as an M.B.A. student if his/her combined credentials (undergraduate grade point average [UGPA] and performance on the GMAT) measure at least 1200 points according to the following formula: (300 x UGPA) + GMAT score.
  • Applicants with an undergraduate business degree and a 2.8 GPA in their last 60 hours may waive the testing requirement. 

Conditional Admission

Applicants who do not meet the regular admission requirements, but show the potential for success in the M.B.A. program, may be admitted on a conditional basis using the following criteria:

• All admission criteria for regular admission, with the exception of having less than 1200 points on the combined credentials measure, are met.  Conditional admission will be granted to those students whose combined credentials (undergraduate grade point average [UGPA] and GMAT score) fall in the range of 1000-1199 using the following formula:  (300 x UGPA) + GMAT score
• Students whose combined credentials (undergraduate grade point average and GMAT score) fall within the 1000-1199 range who have scored under the minimum 350 GMAT score must appeal to the Graduate Council in order to be considered for conditional admission to the M.B.A. program.
• Students admitted on a conditional basis to the M.B.A. program must earn a 3.00 grade point average on the first nine semester hours of graduate work in order to continue in the program.
• The student may be asked to submit an essay or recommendations for review by the program committee.

Provisional Admission

Students who provide unofficial documentation (such as transcripts) but are missing official documentation may be admitted provisionally.  These students will be given thirty days from the beginning date of the first course to provide official documentation to Adult Studies or risk being removed from class.  A student cannot be certified for financial aid until he/she is officially admitted to the University.

 

Master of Public Administration Admission Requirements

Regular Admission

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university and an official transcript from the institution granting your baccalaureate degree and official transcripts of all graduate level work, if any.
• Proficiency in the English language, as demonstrated by at least two years of successful academic work at the
• college or university level in the United States or by a score of 550 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by ETS.
• A professional resume which demonstrates significant work experience.  Full-time military service will be considered in lieu of other work experience.
• Two letters of recommendation, with at least one recommendation from a current or former employer.
• A cumulative GPA of 2.5 on all undergraduate work or a cumulative on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
  Those with 9 credit hours of master level courses in a comparable discipline, a 3.0 GPA or higher in each course, from a regionally accredited institution can be considered in lieu of undergraduate GPA.
• Demonstration of ability to perform graduate level work as exhibited by one of the following:
  • Submission of a score on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) of 350 or higher and an undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last sixty hours of undergraduate study.
  • Submission of a score of 350 or higher on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) taken within the last five years.
  • Submission of a score of 750 or higher on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
  • CSM or CPM certification is accepted in lieu of testing requirements above for regular admission.

 

Conditional Admission 

Applicants who do not meet the regular admission requirements, but show the potential for success in the M.P.A. program, may be admitted probationally based on the following criteria:

• Student has submitted all required documents for regular admission for the MPA program.
• The student has submitted an entrance essay which demonstrates why the student will be successful in the program to the Office of Admission.
• The application file has been reviewed and approved by the designated Admission Committee for Conditional (Probationary) Acceptance.

Students admitted probationally to the M.P.A. program must earn a 3.00 grade point average on the first 12 semester hours of graduate work in order to continue the program.

 

Master of Science in Leadership Admission Requirements

Regular Admission

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university and an official transcript from the institution granting your baccalaureate degree and official transcripts of all graduate level work, if any.
• Proficiency in the English language, as demonstrated by at least two years of successful academic work at the college or university level in the United States or by a score of 550 or higher on the Test of English as a ForeignLanguage (TOEFL).
• A professional resume which demonstrates a minimum of two years of significant full-time work experience.  Full-time military service will be considered in lieu of other work experience.
• Demonstration of ability to perform graduate level work as exhibited by one of the following:
  • Submission of a score of 350 or higher on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) OR 750 or higher on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).   Applicants submitting the MAT are also required to have an undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last sixty hours of undergraduate study.
  • Submission of a score of 350 or higher on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). An applicant will be accepted if his/her combined credentials (UGPA and performance on the GMAT) measure at least 1200 points when calculated according to the following formula: (300 x UGPA) + GMAT Score.
  • An applicant who has a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or a 2.8 in their last 60 hours of their undergraduate degree may waive the testing requirement.
  • Those with 9 credit hours of master level courses in a comparable discipline, a 3.0 GPA or higher in each course, from a regionally accredited institution can be considered in lieu of undergraduate GPA.

Conditional Admission

Applicants who do not meet the regular admission requirements, but show the potential for success in the M.S.M. program, may be admitted conditionally based on the following criteria:

• All admission criteria are met with the exception of having less than 1200 points on the combined credentials measure.  Conditional admission will be granted to those students whose combined credentials (undergraduate grade point average [UGPA] and GMAT score) fall in the range of 1000 - 1199 using the following formula: (300 x UGPA) + GMAT Score.
• The following students must appeal to the Graduate Council in order to be considered for conditional admission to the M.S.M. program:
  • Students whose MAT score is under the minimum of 350 and/or whose undergraduate grade point average is below 2.5.
  • Students who have scored under the minimum 350 GMAT score whose combined credentials (undergraduate grade point average and GMAT score) fall within the 1000 - 1199 composite range.
• The student may be asked to submit an essay or recommendations for review by the program committee.

Students admitted conditionally to the M.S.L. program must earn a 3.00 grade point average on the first nine semester hours of graduate work in order to continue the program.

 

Graduate Teacher Education Admission Requirements

Degree-seeking Application Process

Master of Arts in Teaching (Not offered in Tennessee)

• Submit completed application of admission with fee of $25.
• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university and an official transcript from the institution granting your baccalaureate degree and official transcripts of all graduate level work, if any. 
• Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 OR on the last 60 credits earned toward a bachelor degree. 
• Submit Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) scores (scores on all subtests must meet Mississippi licensure requirements). **Not required in Orlando. 
• Submit Praxis II Specialty Area Test score (score in content area must meet Mississippi licensure requirements). **Not required in Orlando. 
• Submit two recommendation forms, if requested.   

Master of Education

• Submit completed application of admission with fee of $25.
• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university and an official transcript from the institution granting your baccalaureate degree and official transcripts of all graduate level work, if any. 
• Provide evidence of holding or being eligible to hold a class A license or state license in Texas or Florida.
• Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 OR on the last 60 credits earned toward a bachelor degree. 
• A minimum GPA of 3.00 on any graduate coursework previously attended.
• Submit two recommendation forms, if requested.  

Non-degree seeking, Special Student Application Process

• Submit a completed application for admission with fee of $25.
• Non-degree seeking students must submit an official transcript from their undergraduate/graduate degree-granting colleges/universities.
• Non-degree seeking students, after attempting six semester hours, must either apply for admission as a degree-seeking student or make a request to be continued as a non-degree seeking student (maximum of 12 hours).

NOTE: Only 12 hours taken as a non-degree student may be applied toward a degree.

A student whose study at Belhaven University has been interrupted for three or more consecutive semesters must apply for readmission. The requirements for degrees in effect at the time of readmission must be completed. Any student suspended for academic reasons may be readmitted only upon the recommendation of the Graduate Teacher Education Council.