Admission and Student Categories
Graduate students may be admitted to the Citadel in one of the below categories.
Degree seeking - A graduate student is classified as degree seeking if they hold a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree, all admission requirements are met and the student has been admitted to a degree program.
Non-degree seeking - A graduate student is classified as non- degree seeking if they hold a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree but who, at the time of the application, does not plan to pursue a degree. This category authorizes the student to take no more than 8 hours total. Enrolling in courses does not imply admission to a degree program. Persons admitted to the non-degree student status who later wish to become degree seeking must file an application for the desired program and comply with the admission requirements stated above.
Senior Citizens -
South Carolina Senior citizens, those who are age 60 and over and legal residents of the state, who wish to take courses at The Citadel, are eligible to enroll as a degree-seeking or non-degree seeking student on a space available basis. If a student wishes to pursue a degree, they must submit an application for the program of study and follow the appropriate admissions protocol. Proof of age (SC Driver’s License) is required at the time of application.
Registration for classes as a senior citizen is allowed on a space available basis-the timeline for registration is the Monday prior to the start of each semester. Additionally, permission from the instructor may be needed to take a course as a non-degree student. Students are encouraged to request this permission ahead of time and forward the approval in writing to the Registrar’s Office at registrar@citadel.edu.
Students categorized under the senior citizen category must follow all academic regulations of the college, including GPA requirements. To remain enrolled in any term, senior citizen students must pay the required fees for the term by the end of the second week of the beginning of the term or be disenrolled from their class(es).
International Students - An international student who applies to a graduate program at The Citadel must complete the following requirements after admission and before enrolling in classes:
- Provide a completed Immigration Request form.
- If applying for a student visa or transferring a student visa from another institution, must provide evidence of ability to meet all financial obligations while in graduate study at The Citadel by completing the Certification of Finances form prior to enrolling in courses.
- International students may not register before full acceptance into a degree program and clearance from the International Student Director.
Provisional Status - Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA and/or test score required by their program’s admission criteria may be allowed to pursue coursework as a provisionally admitted student. The purpose of the provisional status is to monitor and support the students’ academic success. Provisional status requires meeting specific academic standards in coursework. Refer to the degree program for provisional requirements.
Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses Academic seniors with a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least a 3.20 may take up to a maximum of twelve hours of graduate courses through The Citadel Graduate College once they have reached senior status. As part of the maximum 12 hours of graduate credit, no undergraduate student may take more than six credit hours of graduate credit in any one term (Fall, Spring, Summer). These courses may provide students a head start on earning a graduate certificate or a graduate degree, but graduate courses may not be used to meet undergraduate degree requirements unless the student is formally admitted to an accelerated program and will NEVER be used in the computation of the undergraduate GPA. Students must have the permission of the Associate Provost. Undergraduate students accepted in an accelerated program at The Citadel may take and share up to twelve hours of structured graduate credit between the graduate and undergraduate majors.
Refer to specific accelerated program requirements for total hours permitted to share.
Admission Test
For any graduate programs that requires submission of an official admissions test score, the test must be current within five years of the application.
Application and Admissions
The Citadel Graduate College seeks to enroll students whose motivation and educational backgrounds demonstrate a strong potential for success in the academic program of their choice. Specific entrance requirements are detailed in the degree program sections of this catalog. The application process at The Citadel Graduate College (CGC) is a two-part process. The applicant must be accepted into the program to which they seek a degree and must be accepted into the Citadel by the Citadel Graduate College. The Application consists of the following:
- Completion of the online graduate application along with the non-refundable application fee;
- Official transcripts from the undergraduate institution conferring the applicant’s bachelor degree and transcripts from all postgraduate institutions attended.
- Other supplemental items as required by an individual program.
- An official TOEFL score if English is not the native language. The minimum acceptable score of 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, or 79 internet-based;
*Applicants may be exempted from the TOEFL requirement if the applicant has a minimum of 2 years of course study, with a 3.0 or higher GPA, from an institution accredited by a United States accreditation entity, or the international equivalent from a university of recognized standing in a country in which all instruction is provided in English. Therefore, applicants with completed coursework from the U.S., Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom may be eligible for an exemption. All exemption requests must be made in writing to The Citadel Graduate College and be accompanied by the domestic transcripts showing the minimum requirements for a waiver have been met. Other exceptions may be considered on a case by case basis with written justification and supporting documentation submitted to the Graduate College for review.
Our applicants are able to log into the Citadel’s application portal to view a list of required supplemental items at any time.
The requirements for acceptance into specific programs and degrees are described in this catalog for each program. If accepted, official copies of all admissions documents must be sent directly to the Graduate College, and admission test scores (if required) must be submitted directly from the testing organization and current within five years of application.
Full acceptance is not granted until both the program and Graduate College’s requirements are met. After acceptance by the Graduate College, any non- U.S. citizen planning to attend class on-campus must complete the application for an F-1 Visa and be cleared for a VISA prior to enrolling.
Applicants must not have a record of conviction of a criminal offense showing poor moral character.
Upon acceptance, a letter is sent to the student identifying their faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment for advising upon admission.
While each program has its own set of admissions requirements, ultimate authority to admit a student rests with the provost or her designee. Typically, departments and programs have the authority to determine admissions criteria and the provost intervenes only in unusual or extraordinary circumstances. However, the decision by the provost as the chief academic officer for the college is final.
Legal Presence and Residency
The State of South Carolina requires all state colleges and universities to verify each student’s legal presence in the United States. As part of the admissions process, each student is required to submit a photocopy of one of the following: a valid South Carolina Driver’s License, a valid state Real ID/License, U.S. birth certificate, or valid U.S. passport.
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