Graduate Admissions

Admission to Radford University is selective and based on a review of each applicant’s academic qualifications. Spaces are limited and applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance of the term in which they wish to attend.  As the number of applicants who meet the essential requirements for admission exceeds the number that can be admitted, the university selects those students who present the strongest qualifications in scholastic achievement, character, performance in relevant extracurricular activities and evidence of aptitude for achievement in the field of study for which the applicant seeks training. Radford University is committed to providing an environment that emphasizes the dignity and worth of every member of its community and is free from harassment and discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities, or based on any other status protected by law. Per federal Title IX regulations, as well as other federal and state regulations, Radford University prohibits discrimination and harassment in its educational programs and activities, on the basis of sex or any other protected class, by individuals subject to its control or supervision. This requirement to not discriminate in the educational program or activity of Radford University extends to admission and employment. Inquires about the application of federal Title IX regulations may be referred to Radford University’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, or both.

Categories of Graduate Study

1. Degree Program: Any program that is designed to culminate in a student obtaining a master’s degree, Educational Specialist degree, or doctoral degree.
2. Certificate:  Any program that is designed to culminate in the student obtaining a post-baccalaureate, graduate, or post-graduate certificate. A certificate may be a primary program of study or a secondary curriculum to a primary degree program.
3. Initial Teaching Licensure: Any program that is designed to culminate in the student’s eligibility to obtain initial teaching licensure.
4. Non-degree Seeking: Enrollment in one or more courses for reasons other than degree, certificate or initial licensure purposes.

Application Procedures

A prospective graduate student desiring to enter Radford University should apply using the online application available at https://www.radford.edu/admissions/graduate/index.html by selecting the Apply Now option.  Applicants will receive a series of electronic notifications throughout the application process and will have the opportunity to follow the progression of the application online through the Graduate Admissions Application portal. Only applications that are complete with all required program specific supplemental material received, will be reviewed for an admission recommendation by the specified department.  A complete application for degree seeking applicants includes:

1. An official application completed online and submitted with a nonrefundable application fee of $50;
2. Unofficial transcripts from U.S. institutions are required at the time of application. If offered admission, official transcripts must be submitted prior to enrollment. Applicants must submit transcripts from all institutions where a degree was earned or where post-degree coursework was completed. If a degree is still in progress, a final official transcript verifying conferral must be received within 30 days of the start of the first term. Admission will be rescinded if degree conferral is not verified. If the undergraduate transcript is incomplete, transcripts from all previously attended institutions must also be submitted.
3. Official test scores (such as GRE, GMAT or others) if required by the program;
4. Letters of recommendation, or list of references, as required by the program
5. A resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
6. Writing requirement(s) if required by the program.
7. Additional program specific documents if required by the program.
8. International applicants require additional materials. This information is defined below.

Certain programs use a Centralize Application Service (CAS) for submission of application materials. Programs and associated CAS’s are listed below:

• Athletic Training (MSAT) – ATCAS
• Communication Sciences and Disorders (MA, MS) – CSDCAS
• Occupational Therapy (MOT) – OTCAS
• Physician Assistant (MS) – CASPA
• Physical Therapy (DPT) - PTCAS

Applicants using a Centralized Application Service (CAS) are strongly encouraged to apply well in advance of the posted application deadlines to allow sufficient time—up to four weeks—for the verification process. Verified applications must be transmitted electronically to Radford University by the stated deadline in order to be considered for admission. Applications not verified and received by Radford by the deadline will not be reviewed.

A complete list of application requirements for non-degree applicants can be found below. Applicants should check program information for additional specific admission requirements.

Applications and all supporting materials should be received no later than the stated program deadline. For programs with rolling admission, applications and supporting materials should be submitted as early as possible prior to the start of the intended semester to ensure fullest consideration. Please note that some high-demand programs may reach enrollment capacity prior to the final deadline. In such cases, applications received after capacity is reached may not be reviewed. Refer to Application Requirements for specific details.

For applicants who are graduates of Radford University, only transcripts for coursework taken at other institutions after graduation need to be submitted. Radford University transcripts and transcripts for institutions from which transfer credit was accepted by Radford University may be obtained by the Graduate Admissions Office. If an applicant’s undergraduate transcripts does not include the applicant’s entire undergraduate record, copies of all transcripts also must be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office. Applicants, excluding Radford University and Jefferson College of Health Sciences alumni, must have official final transcripts, including the award of the bachelor’s degree, sent to the Graduate Admissions Office if the degree is not conferred at the time of application.

Applicants must arrange to have official test scores sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office if required by the specified program. Consult the program admission policy here to determine which of the following test scores to submit. English language proficiency must also be demonstrated for non-native English speakers. Please be certain that the correct college code for Radford University Graduate Level is being used when requesting scores.  Note that some programs use individual codes; see here for specific GRE codes.

Specific grade point averages have been established for admission. Some programs may require higher academic standards. For programs that require standardized test scores, results are reviewed alongside other indicators of academic readiness, such as GPA, professional experience, and recommendations. Strong performance in one area may balance weaker performance in another.

In accordance with Virginia administrative regulations, a conferred bachelor’s degree is required prior to enrollment in a master’s program. If a degree has not been conferred at the time of application, a final official transcript verifying degree conferral must be submitted within 30 days of the start of the first term of enrollment

Students may only be enrolled in one level at Radford University (graduate or undergraduate) in a given term. Students may be enrolled in only one primary graduate degree program. A degree student may be concurrently enrolled in a certificate as a secondary curriculum.

If an applicant wishes to apply for admission to more than one program for any given term, a complete separate application (including a separate application fee and program specific supplemental materials) must be submitted for each program. If a student is in a doctoral program that offers a master’s degree in the same field, a student may request to switch to the master’s program from the doctoral program. Students interested in doing so should consult their program coordinator and students must still meet all program specific criteria. To request a change a student should complete the Request for Program Changes form found online, and the request must be approved by the program coordinator. Students may not use this form to switch from one master’s program to a different master’s program or from a master’s program to a doctoral program. A student switching from the doctoral to master’s level within the same program will not have to pay an additional application fee. If recommended for admission to more than one program, a student must decide which program to enter by accepting the offer of admission to only one program.

Meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee acceptance into a graduate program. In many cases, the number of applicants who meet or exceed the stated criteria surpasses the number of available spaces. Consequently, admission is competitive, and departments may be required to waitlist or deny admission to some qualified applicants. Final admission decisions are based on a comprehensive review of the applicant pool for the specific term.

Application Fee

Radford University’s online graduate application requires a non-refundable $50 fee. Applicants using a Centralized Application Service (CAS) should refer to the respective CAS portal for fee details, as they vary by system.

Applicants who meet any of the criteria listed below may be eligible for an application fee waiver when completing Radford’s online application. If you qualify, please indicate your eligibility within the application form:

• U.S. military veterans or active duty service members
• Virginia K–12 educators (must be full-time, regular employees)
• Radford University alumni
• Current Radford University students
• Current Radford University employees
• First-generation college students*
• Pell Grant–eligible undergraduate students*

*Applicants requesting a fee waiver based on first-generation or Pell-eligible status should call the Graduate Admissions Office at 540-831-5371 to confirm eligibility and receive a waiver code.

Admission for International Students

An international student who plans to enter Radford University in fall semester is encouraged to apply by December 1 and by October 1 for the spring semester.  International applicants should apply online using the online application available at https://www.radford.edu/admissions/graduate/index.html by selecting the Apply Now option. 

Applicants must submit an official transcript for each college or university attended to the Graduate Admissions Office.  All records from non-U.S. institutions must be certified and translated into English by a recognized evaluation service to ensure accuracy and consistency in the assessment of academic credentials. This process allows for a clear understanding of coursework, grades, and degree equivalency relative to U.S. educational standards.  International applicants are required to use a NACES approved credential evaluation services. Applicants are required to select the course-by-course report option from the preferred credential evaluation service.  General reports are not sufficient. Applicants also have the option to use CertiFile Credential Verification and Delivery to request and submit official evaluated transcripts through the online application. This service requires a separate fee that is separate from the application fee itself. This option is available while the application is initially complete or may be accessed post-application submission through the applicant’s activity page accessible through the Graduate Admissions Applicant Portal

In addition to the standard graduate application procedures and program-specific requirements, an international applicant whose native language is not English, or who has not earned a degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction, must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores. Scores must be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office to complete the application for departmental review. Alternative English proficiency tests or verification platforms will not be accepted.

A TOEFL minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or, 79-80 on the Internet-based test is required for admission. A minimum score of 6.5 is required for the IELTS.  The minimum required scores for the TOEFL and IELTS are strictly upheld.  Applicants who do not achieve a minimum score on either of these English proficiency exams will not be considered for admission. Official scores on the TOEFL or IELTS cannot be more than two years old from the term to which the applicant is applying.

Official bank statement - An original and certified statement dated no more than 12 months prior to the term of entry which states the specific amount of money (in U.S. dollars) immediately available for your first academic year of graduate study must be submitted.

For more information about financial requirements, contact the McGlothlin Center for Global Education and Engagement, 540-831-6200 or email globaled@radford.edu.

An I-20 Form, used to obtain an F1 student visa, will be prepared by the McGlothlin Center for Global Education and Engagement after the application and all necessary information have been received and Graduate Admissions has made a decision to accept the applicant as a Radford student. The I-20 Form cannot be prepared before an application is officially reviewed, the applicant has been accepted and all required documentation indicating financial support has been received. Applicants with questions about the I-20 Form or immigration matters should contact the McGlothlin Center for Global Education and Engagement at 540-831-6200 or email globaled@radford.edu.

All international students are required to present proof of adequate health insurance coverage prior to enrollment, or purchase acceptable insurance immediately upon arrival. Please contact the International Education Center with questions or if you need more information concerning various health insurance policies.

Notification of Admission

Once all required application materials have been received, the faculty of the respective graduate program will review the application. Applicants are evaluated using the faculty’s professional judgment to assess their potential to benefit from graduate study at Radford University and to successfully complete the program. In some cases, faculty may request additional materials to support their evaluation.

Program recommendations are forwarded to the Graduate Admissions Office for final review. A program’s recommendation for admission does not guarantee admission to the University. The Graduate Admissions Office issues the official admission decision.

Applicants who are admitted will receive official notification that specifies:

• The term of admission
• The applicant’s admission status
• Any matriculation requirements or special conditions
• Contact information for the graduate program coordinator or director
• Domicile status

Term of Admission and Deferral

Admission to a graduate program is valid only for the term specified in the official letter of admission.

If an admitted student does not enroll for the designated term, the offer of admission will be withdrawn. The student must either reapply or, if eligible, request a one-time deferral.

Students may request a deferral of up to one academic year by submitting a completed Graduate Term Change Request Form (PDF). Approval from both the graduate program coordinator/director and the Graduate Admissions Office is required. Not all programs permit deferrals.

Readmission

Graduate students who are admitted but do not enroll for one calendar year (two consecutive major terms, excluding summer) will have their student record rendered inactive.

Students seeking to return after such an absence must consult with their academic program. The program may elect to:

• Request reactivation of the student’s record, or
• Require the student to submit a new application for admission

Readmission is not guaranteed and is subject to program review, current admissions criteria, and space availability.

Students with questions regarding reactivation or readmission should contact the Graduate Admissions Office at gradadmit@radford.edu.

Graduate Seat Deposit

Certain graduate programs require a non-refundable seat deposit of up to $500 to secure acceptance of an admission offer. Payment must be made through the OneCampus portal. Upon matriculation, the deposit is applied toward the first-semester tuition.

If the deposit is not received by the stated deadline, the following applies:

• A registration hold will be placed on the student’s account at the time of admission and will remain until payment is made in full.
• The offer of admission will be rescinded, and the student will be required to reapply.

Returned Payments

If a seat deposit payment is returned, the Bursar’s Office will:

• Notify the student and allow 10 calendar days to resolve the payment.
• Apply a state-mandated returned check fee of up to $75.
• Notify the Graduate Admissions Office if the payment remains unresolved, which may result in the rescission of admission depending on the seat deposit deadline.

Reinstatement

Students approved for reinstatement after a break in enrollment are not required to submit a new seat deposit.

Classifications of Graduate Admission Status

Regular

Regular status may be granted to students who have met all entrance requirements for the Graduate Admissions Office and the program in which they wish to study. In addition to all other graduate admissions and program requirements, minimum requirements for regular status.

Conditional

Conditional admission may be granted when one or more admission requirements or application documents (e.g., GPA, pre-requisite course) are outstanding. A student will be moved to regular admission status upon successful completion of all stated conditions. Once the update is processed, the student, program coordinator, and Financial Aid Office will be notified electronically by the Graduate Admissions Office.

Note: Conditional and conditional-temporary are distinct admission classifications. See the Conditional-Temporary Admission section for details.

Students must remedy all conditions of admission by the end of the first semester or term in which they are enrolled or earlier if required by program policy. Students who are unable to meet the condition(s) of their admission in the time frame required, as indicated in the student’s admission letter, will be blocked from further registration in graduate courses and dismissed from the program. Doctoral programs may not admit a student on conditional status.

Students admitted with a prerequisite course deficiency must complete the required coursework and earn the minimum grade specified by the admitting program. An official transcript verifying successful completion must be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office prior to the student’s matriculation into the graduate program. Failure to provide the required documentation or to meet the minimum grade requirement will result in a registration hold and dismissal from the program.

Students who are admitted with a GPA deficiency will have the admission condition of earning a grade of “B” or better in all first term coursework. Students with this condition will be blocked from enrolling in subsequent terms until final grades have been processed and evaluated by the Graduate Admissions Office. If this condition is not met, a student earns any one grade of “B-” or lower, the student will remain blocked from further registration in graduate courses and dismissed. Final grades must be posted before the condition is considered satisfied.

Students who are admitted with the condition of providing additional application documentation must submit the document(s) required by the deadline specified by the admitting program and/or Graduate Admissions as indicated in the student’s admission letter. Failure to provide the required document(s) by the specified deadline will result in the student being blocked from further registration in graduate courses and dismissed.

Programs or schools may have more stringent requirements or rules than those listed above regarding retention.  Following the first term of enrollment, a student may remain on conditional status with the program and progress will be monitored by the program accordingly.

Students admitted on a conditional basis may be eligible to receive financial aid for their first term of enrollment only. Additional financial aid will not be awarded until the student’s admission status is changed to regular. Students with conditional admission are also not eligible for graduate assistantships until they achieve regular admission status.

Temporary

Students may be admitted under temporary status if the only outstanding requirement is the conferral of their undergraduate degree—or, in the case of certain doctoral programs, a graduate degree. Students in this status are not eligible for financial aid until a final official transcript confirming degree conferral is received by the Graduate Admissions Office. This transcript must be submitted within 30 days of the start of the initial term of enrollment. Once received, the student’s status will be updated to regular admission. The student, program coordinator, and Financial Aid Office will be notified electronically of the status change.

Failure to submit the required transcript by the stated deadline will result in administrative removal from all courses and dismissal from the graduate program.

Conditional-Temporary

Students may be admitted under conditional-temporary status if they have not yet submitted proof of undergraduate degree conferral and have one or more outstanding admission requirements (e.g., GPA deficiency, prerequisite coursework, or missing application documents). Regular admission status will be granted once all admission conditions are satisfied and an official final transcript showing degree conferral is received.

A final official transcript must be received in the Graduate Admissions Office within 30 days of the start of the term of initial enrollment. Students must remedy all conditions of admission by the end of the first semester or term in which they are enrolled or earlier if required by program policy. Students who are unable to provide an official conferred transcript and/or meet the condition(s) of their admission by the respective deadlines, as indicated in the student’s admission letter, will be blocked from further registration in graduate courses and dismissed from the program.

A student’s admission status will be updated accordingly when either portion of the conditional-temporary status is met. The student, program coordinator, and Financial Aid Office will be notified electronically by Graduate Admissions of the status update to “conditional status only” or “temporary status only” in addition to a regular admission status update from conditional-temporary status. A student will be approved for regular status when a conferred official transcript is received, and the Graduate  Admissions Office has confirmed that all of their admission conditions have been met.

Programs or schools may have more stringent requirements or rules than those listed above regarding retention. Following the first term of enrollment, a student may remain on conditional status with the program and progress will be monitored by the program accordingly.

Students admitted in a conditional-temporary status are not eligible to receive financial aid. Once the official transcript showing degree conferral is received, the student’s status will be updated to conditional admission. At that point, the student becomes eligible for financial aid for the initial term of enrollment; however, no additional aid will be awarded until the student achieves regular admission status. Students in conditional-temporary status are also ineligible for graduate assistantships until they are admitted in regular status.

Certificate-Seeking Students

A graduate certificate is generally a series of 12-18 credit hours of graduate level coursework related to a focused academic topic or competency area. A graduate certificate may enhance the education of degree seeking students as well as provide continuing education of certificate-seeking only students, generally in a specialized or emerging field. The certificate indicates to a prospective employer that the university validates the particular collection of courses as a coherent substantive area of study. While the award of a certificate means the holder has completed the required courses and related work at an acceptable level of academic accomplishment, it does not constitute a degree program and it neither certifies nor licenses the student.

An applicant who is currently a matriculated graduate degree seeking student at Radford University may apply for a certificate by submitting an approved “Graduate Certificate Form” to the Graduate Admissions Office. Applicants who are not in a degree program and are seeking only the certificate should apply as “Certificate Students” and must meet the established criteria for admission, as well as other requirements indicated by the specific certificate.  Certificate-seeking applications may be submitted online on a rolling admissions basis for all terms with a non-refundable application fee of $50. A current list of Certificates being offered, along with specific entry requirements, is available at https://www.radford.edu/programs/.  Applicants are encouraged to contact certificate coordinators to determine an appropriate admission term prior to starting the application process. 

Certificate-seeking students are subject to all retention and graduation policies.

Initial Teaching Licensure

An applicant who holds a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and wishes to take graduate courses to meet initial teaching licensure requirements may apply under this classification. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for all terms and may be submitted online. A non-refundable application fee of $50 is required.

However, K-12 educators who are actively employed in the Commonwealth of Virginia are eligible for a graduate application fee waiver.

In addition to an official transcript showing a conferred bachelor’s degree conferred with a minimum G.P.A. of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, applicants seeking admission for initial teaching licensure are required to submit three letters of recommendation and a professional resume. Recommendation letters should be written by persons familiar with the applicant’s academic background and/or work experience. An applicant who has had experience in the public schools and who plans to continue working in the area of professional education is encouraged to have one of the recommendations submitted by the immediate supervisor in the school system or, if not currently employed by a school system, by a supervisor in the last school system in which the applicant worked.

Normally, courses taken under this admission category may not be counted toward a degree; however, a professional licensure student in this classification who subsequently decides to pursue a degree may petition the Office of Graduate Affairs through the appropriate department to have a maximum of nine graduate hours evaluated to be applied toward a graduate degree. Only courses with a grade of “B” or better will be eligible to be applied toward a degree or certificate. Credit for grades of “B-” will not count.

Students pursuing initial teaching licensure are strongly encouraged to apply to a degree program as early as possible after course registration in order to preserve the potential applicability of completed coursework toward a future graduate degree.

Initial teaching licensure students are subject to all retention and graduation policies.

Non-Degree Seeking Status

An applicant who does not plan to pursue a degree, post-baccalaureate certificate or initial teaching licensure, but wishes to take one or more courses may apply online at https://www.radford.edu/graduate-affairs/ by selecting the Apply Now option. Non-degree enrollment requests may be submitted online on a rolling basis for all terms, with a non-refundable fee of $25.

Documentation of enrollment eligibility must be received by the census date of the initial term of enrollment. Noncompliance will result in administrative removal from all courses. Admission as a non-degree seeking student does not guarantee enrollment in graduate courses, as registration is subject to availability and requires department or program approval. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the academic program prior to applying to confirm course eligibility and availability. Some departments may require additional information as part of the approval process. In courses with limited capacity, priority is given to students pursuing a degree, certificate, or licensure, and non-degree seeking students must meet all course prerequisites.

Non-degree graduate students may enroll only in 500-level courses or higher, subject to departmental restrictions. Not all graduate courses are open to non-degree students. Students should consult the catalog and academic department to determine course access and eligibility. Non-degree students are subject to all university retention and graduation policies.

Applicants who have been denied admission to a graduate degree-seeking program at Radford University may be permitted to enroll in courses as a non-degree student, at the discretion of the department/program.

Non-degree students who subsequently decide to pursue a degree or certificate program may have a maximum of nine graduate hours evaluated for acceptance toward a graduate degree. Students must go through the appropriate program to have the course(s) evaluated. Only courses with a grade of B or better (credit for grades of “B-” will not count) will be eligible to be applied toward a degree or certificate.

Non-degree students who wish to pursue a graduate degree must apply following the standard application process for the specific program to which they seek admission. Enrollment as a non-degree student at Radford University does not guarantee admission to any graduate degree program. Non-degree students are strongly encouraged to apply for admission to a degree program as early as possible after initial registration to ensure that completed coursework may be applied toward degree requirements if admitted.

Disciplinary or Criminal Offenses

Graduate students seeking admission or readmission who have disciplinary records at their previous institutions or who have a criminal record may be reviewed. Non-disclosure or falsification in the reporting of disciplinary and/or criminal offenses on an application will result in rescinding an offer of admission.

Responsibilities of the Graduate Student

The student must become familiar with the academic policies outlined in this catalog. The academic advisor will advise the student on all matters related to the program of study and the Assistant Provost in the Office of Graduate Affairs will aid the student in the interpretation of policies whenever necessary. The ultimate responsibility for meeting all stated requirements for graduate degrees awarded by the university rests with the student.