Graduate Admissions

This is the most common type of graduate admission. Degree-seeking students are formally admitted into a graduate program at the master’s, specialist, or doctoral level.

You’ll follow a structured curriculum and work with faculty advisors to complete your academic plan, including research (if applicable), coursework, and graduation requirements.

This option is for students who want to take graduate-level coursework without pursuing a full degree. Common reasons include:

• Personal enrichment
• Professional renewal
• Educational workshops
• Transient study (from another graduate school)

 

Requirements:

• Submit a graduate application
• Provide a transcript showing good standing at another accredited institution (if applicable)

 

Limitations:

• A maximum of 12 credit hours can later be applied to a degree (with approval)
• Must earn grades of B or better
• Restricted from 7000/8000-level courses unless specific exceptions apply
• Course availability and advising are subject to departmental approval

The Accelerated Master’s Degree program at Arkansas State University allows high-achieving undergraduate students to get a head start on their graduate education. If you're a junior or senior, you may be eligible to take graduate-level courses that count toward both your undergraduate and graduate degrees.

To participate, you must be admitted into an approved Accelerated Master’s Program by both your academic department and the Graduate School before enrolling in any graduate-level courses.

Depending on the program, you may apply up to 12 graduate credit hours toward your undergraduate degree. Once you complete your bachelor’s degree, you’ll be fully admitted to the Graduate School, and your graduate-level credits (with a B grade or better) will also count toward your master’s degree.

Programs offering an Accelerated Master’s option include:

• Accounting (MAcc.)
• Agriculture (M.S.A.) – All Concentrations
• Chemistry (M.S.)
• Computer Science (M.S.)
• Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (M.S.)
• Engineering (M.S.E.)
• Engineering Management (M.E.M.)
• History (M.A.)
• Mathematics (M.S.)
• Political Science (M.A.)
• Public Administration (M.P.A.) – Online only
• Special Education – Instructional Specialist Grades K–12 (M.S.E.)

If you're interested in accelerating your path to a master’s degree, contact your department or the Graduate School for more information about how to apply.

Graduate students transferring to Arkansas State University must be in good standing at the institution where they completed prior coursework.

You may be eligible to transfer up to 9 semester hours of graduate credit from another accredited institution if:

• You earned a “B” or higher in those courses.
• The coursework is approved by both your A-State academic advisor and the Graduate Dean.
• The courses are accepted toward a graduate degree at the original institution.

Please note:

• Correspondence courses are not accepted for transfer.
• All transfer credits must fall within a six-year window from the date you complete your A-State graduate degree. This includes any graduate courses taken before you were admitted to A-State.

If you have questions about your eligibility or transfer process, connect with the Graduate School for guidance.

Already earned a master’s from A-State and want to pursue another? You may be able to apply prior coursework to your second program.

Requirements:

• No more than half the credits for the second degree may come from the first
• Courses must be earned within the six-year completion window
• Must be approved by the program and your advisor