Admission to Graduate School

The University of North Texas at Dallas (UNT Dallas) is a selective university and does not guarantee admission to all applicants. It is recommended that students apply well in advance of the stated application deadlines. Many departments have earlier deadlines that vary by program. (See the Graduate School websites for these program-specific dates.)

Applications are submitted online at https://www.applytexas.org/.

Most master's degree programs require supplemental application materials. Contact the Office of Graduate Admission webpages for additional information.

U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens applying to graduate studies at University of North Texas at Dallas must pay a $50 non-refundable admission application fee. The fee must be paid in U.S. dollars.

Admission applications will not be processed until the application fee is received. Admission decisions will be made after all academic credentials are received and evaluated.

Contact the UNT Dallas Graduate School's Office of Graduate Admissions for more information at 972-338-1700, or by email at GradSchool@untdallas.edu. 

The mailing address for the University of North Texas at Dallas is 7300 University Hills Boulevard, Dallas TX 75241-4605.

Graduate program deadlines vary and should be followed for the specific program. The following are deadlines for submission of completed application materials for all students seeking on-time registration except those applying for admission to programs with earlier deadlines (see departmental information).

Note: Students who submit applications after these dates, if accepted, may have to register during the late registration period and pay a late registration fee of $50.00.

General Admission Requirements

Applications for graduate study are made through the UNT Dallas Graduate School's Office of Graduate Admissions, regardless of degree program. 

All applicants for admission must meet the following requirements, whether or not admission to a specific degree program is sought.

1. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or a comparable foreign degree.

2. Submit an online application through https://www.applytexas.org/.

3. Submit a General Graduate School Application Form to https://laserfiche.untdallas.edu/Forms/Graduate_Application.

4. Pay the $50.00 application fee.

5. Request official academic credentials from all colleges and universities you have attended. The mailing address for the UNT Dallas Graduate School is 7300 University Hills Boulevard, Dallas TX 75241-4605. The email address for e-transcripts is GradSchool@untdallas.edu.

6. Graduate applicants to UNT Dallas are evaluated holistically, based on specific departmental and program requirements. The applicant must have a:

   o    3.00 GPA on the last 60 undergraduate semester hours of work (or the whole semester closest to the last 60 hours) prior to receiving the bachelor's degree.

   o    2.80 GPA on all undergraduate work completed towards a bachelor's degree.

   o    3.40 master's degree GPA (or meet the undergraduate GPA standards listed above)

   Note: Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 on the last 60 undergraduate semester hours (or the whole semester closest to the last 60 hours) prior to receiving the bachelor's degree, or an overall undergraduate GPA below 2.8, or below 3.4 on a completed master's degree, may apply to the Graduate School and be considered by individual review by the department for conditional admission.

7. Test requirements are program specific. If official test scores are required by the academic program, request that official test score reports (e.g. GRE) from the testing agency be sent to the Graduate School. The UNT Dallas school code for the GRE is 4819.

8. The applicant may be required to take entrance examinations, either oral, written or both, before admission to the degree program is granted.

9. An applicant who has attempted graduate work at another institution within the six-year period immediately prior to first enrollment as a graduate student at UNT Dallas, but who has not received a graduate degree, will be required to make up any grade point deficiency below a B average either at the institution at which graduate work was attempted or at UNT. (See "Time Limitations" in the Master's Degree Requirements section for details concerning validity of previous graduate work.)

10. Applicants for admission are furnished with written notification of their admission status by the Graduate School. Statements by other university officers concerning the applicant's admissibility are not valid until confirmed in writing by the Graduate School.

11. Students who hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and who wish to pursue further study at the undergraduate level or to obtain a second bachelor's degree must apply for admission to the university through the Graduate School.

Programs may have departmental admission requirements mandating submission of additional materials including standardized test scores. Admission to the Graduate School does not imply admission to a degree program. The admission requirements of the Graduate School and the academic department must both be met before the student is admitted to a degree program, and both the Graduate School and the academic department may specify admission conditions. 

The GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted (A equals four grade points, B equals three, C equals two, D equals one, F equals zero).

Other admission requirements

In addition to meeting the general requirements, applicants for admission to any specific degree program also must meet the following requirements.

1. The applicant for graduate study ordinarily must have completed no fewer than 24 semester hours of undergraduate work in the intended major field, 12 of which must be advanced. In certain fields this requirement has been modified. (Refer to program requirements.)

2. An applicant desiring to pursue graduate work in any field and whose undergraduate record does not show completion of the courses prerequisite to this major will be required to make up such deficiencies in a manner prescribed by the student's major department.

3. Students wishing to change from one major field to another must submit an online change of major form. Contact the Graduate Admissions Office to complete the form.

Required Standardized Admissions Test

Students seeking admission to certain graduate degree programs are required to meet a standardized admission test score requirement. Only official score reports from the testing service are acceptable. For specific advanced test requirements in certain fields, consult subsequent sections of this catalog that describe individual programs.

For master's degree seeking students, a standardized admission test score must be submitted, or the alternative criteria satisfied no later than the first term/semester of enrollment in a graduate degree program. Some departments require the submission of scores prior to admission and beginning course work. Check the appropriate program information in this catalog for further information.

Continuing students are those who have been officially enrolled at UNT Dallas 12 consecutive months prior to the term/semester of planned enrollment and/or have not received a degree during the same period. Students who receive a degree and re-apply to the university are considered new graduate students.

Continuing students do not need to re-apply to UNT Dallas to enroll in graduate studies if they meet all of the following conditions:

• Have not received a degree from UNT Dallas since last enrollment

• Will re-enroll in the same major as when last enrolled, and

• Do not have any current holds on their record (i.e., admission test or academic).

Students meeting all of these conditions are eligible for registration. Instructions are available in the schedule of classes at Registrar.untdallas.edu. 

Students who are unsure about whether they meet all of the above conditions for re-enrollment should contact the UNT Dallas Graduate School prior to the registration period for further information.

For students who wish to change from one major to another major at UNT Dallas, a change of major form must be filed in UNT Dallas Office of Graduate Admissions. The request will only be considered if the student is in good standing and a continuing student. Students not in good standing may only request a change of major with support of the new major department. The applicant will go through the same admission process as any new student applying for admission to a UNT Dallas graduate program. The student's file will be sent for consideration to the graduate academic program coordinator in the proposed major.

Students who have previously been admitted to graduate studies at UNT Dallas but who have not enrolled at UNT Dallas for three or more consecutive academic semesters, including summer, will be discontinued from the Graduate School. Those who are discontinued are not enrolled and are not considered active students. Students who fall into this category and who wish to return must follow these re-enrollment procedures:

• File an admission application at https://www.applytexas.org/,

• Pay the application fee, and

• Submit transcripts from all colleges attended (if any) since leaving UNT Dallas, showing eligibility to re-enroll at each institution.

Former students who have not enrolled elsewhere since leaving UNT Dallas and who are in good academic standing are required to submit an admission application and application fee. Programs are not required to readmit students who left the university on probation or suspension and reapply.

Students who apply for readmission should expect to meet the published admission and degree requirements in place at the time of application submission. Exceptions to this standard policy will require approval by the program's coordinator and the Dean of the Graduate School. 

Readmitted students will have their official catalog year automatically updated to the catalog year in effect at the time of re-enrollment. Readmitted students also have the option of changing their catalog year to the catalog year in effect at the time of graduation.

UNT Dallas is currently not certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP); therefore, we are not authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant international students. As such, the university does not accept applications from students seeking admissions who do not hold U.S. citizenship, U.S. permanent residency, or qualify for a waiver under the guidelines of Texas HB 1403 or SB 1528. 

U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have earned academic credentials from foreign colleges and universities are required to submit official transcripts and diplomas/degree certificates in the original language and English translations. If the documents are not provided in English, an official translation of all transcripts/individual semester mark sheets is required; UNT Dallas will not accept a public notary certification. If official English translations are not supplied by the applicant's institution(s), the applicant must provide a translation done by an American Translators Association-certified translator. A list of ATA-certified translators is available online at www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories.

In addition, applicants must obtain an international transcript evaluation. This evaluation should include an explanation that the institution is recognized by the ministry of education in the home country and the credits awarded are considered comparable to those of a U.S. bachelor's degree.

The evaluation must include course-by-course grades, a grade point average (GPA) calculation on the U.S. scale, and indicate the diploma or degree conferred and its U.S. equivalency. The evaluation must be original and forwarded to UNT Dallas directly from the credential evaluation company. You may choose any agency that is accredited by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (http://aice-eval.org/endorsed-members/) or by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org/members.html).

The university recognizes that some students may wish to be admitted to graduate studies at UNT Dallas for the purpose of taking courses not necessarily leading to an advanced degree (i.e., prerequisites for admission to a degree program, certificate, or certification). Admission to UNT Dallas as a non-degree-seeking student will be granted subject to the following provisions:

1. The applicant must meet all of the general admission requirements described above.

2. The student in this status is required to receive graduate credit in all graduate (5000-level) courses taken, and must maintain an average of B on all such courses attempted. Some graduate-level courses may be restricted and require departmental approval for enrollment.

3. A student admitted to non-degree, certificate, or certification-only status has no assurance that work completed under this status will be applicable toward degree requirements should the student subsequently be admitted to a degree program at UNT Dallas. A maximum of 12 semester hours earned prior to admission to a degree program may be counted toward degree requirements. Successful completion of graduate courses by non-degree or certification-only students does not obligate the university to grant admission to a degree program at a later date and the department and/or program will decide how many of the courses taken in a non-degree status are eligible for use toward their degree. When all general and specific requirements for admission to a degree program have been met, a student may request that a change of major application be forwarded to the degree program area for evaluation.

4. A student who wishes to change from non-degree, certificate, or certification-only status to degree-seeking status should review the admission requirements for students who change majors in this catalog.

5. Enrollment for graduate credit must be approved in advance of registration by the respective Program Coordinator and is limited to 12 hours.

Students who hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and who wish to pursue further study at the undergraduate level or to obtain a second bachelor's degree must apply for admission to the university through UNT Dallas Office of Graduate Admissions. 

To be eligible for a second bachelor's degree, a student must have completed an undergraduate degree verified with official transcripts. Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours at UNT Dallas, complete the Texas Core Curriculum requirements, and all requirements for a major, including 12 hours of advanced courses in residence at UNT Dallas. Students who completed a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) at UNT Dallas cannot complete another BAAS degree unless they eligible to pursue one of the specialized concentrations offered in the BAAS program (see Applied Arts and Sciences, BAAS under Undergraduate Degree Programs for more information).

Specific requirements for the second bachelor's degree are found in the current undergraduate catalog. Advising is provided by Academic Advising and Student Success in coordination with the school in which the second bachelor's degree is sought.

UNT Dallas offers accelerated master's programs in some areas of study.  These programs, which are commonly referred to as "4+1", "early-admission pathways", etc., are officially named Master's Accelerated Pathways (MAPs) and are designed for, and limited to, students with exceptional undergraduate academic performance in their major field of study. 

Participation in MAP program must be approved by both the undergraduate and graduate faculty members of the department/school offering the program and by a representative of the Graduate School.  The number of graduate credit hours that may be applied to a student's bachelor's degree requirements is determined by the faculty members offering the program but may in no case exceed nine credit hours.  Students participating in a MAP program must adhere to the policies and guidelines outlined in the Master's Accelerated Pathways Guidelines Policy and corresponding MAP Student Policy. 

The Graduate School has established minimum MAP admission requirements.  Interested students should verify departmental requirements as they may have additional or more stringent requirements than the Graduate School's minimum requirements.

Registration in graduate-level courses is limited to UNT Dallas students who have been admitted to a MAP, to the academic programs that have elected to offer degrees in an accelerated format, and only to those graduate courses associated with an approved MAP. 

Alternative Admission of Students with Low Grade Point Average - GRAD PREP

For students who wish to pursue a graduate-level degree at the university but who do not meet minimum Graduate School grade point averages (GPA), the following regulations may apply.

1. The student can complete 3000- or 4000-level courses for undergraduate credit beyond the bachelor's degree to demonstrate the ability to undertake graduate-level work. The total hours required, and specific courses are chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor of the intended major department.

2. Completion of a prescribed leveling program does not imply admission to a degree program or eligibility for certification programs at UNT Dallas. It is the responsibility of the student to determine, in consultation with the program, if the leveling program will help the student reach the goal of program admission. To maximize the benefit to the student, this determination should be made prior to enrolling as not all programs participate in this alternate admission option.

3. The student must satisfy the standardized admission test requirement specified by the intended major department prior to being admitted to a graduate degree program and beginning graduate-level work.

A student suspended from the Graduate School for poor academic performance must wait 3 consecutive academic terms (including summers) before being considered for readmission. A new complete application will be required for readmission. If the student is accepted for readmission in the same graduate program, credits earned while previously enrolled will be included for the purpose of determining academic standing and meeting graduation requirements. Low grades previously earned may need to be repeated in order to meet program and/or Graduate School good academic standing requirements. If the student is accepted into a different program, grades and credits earned in the previous degree program from which student was dismissed will not be included for the purpose of determining academic standing and graduation in the new program; however, the student's transcript will show all courses and grades including those earned in the previous program.

Request for Readmission after Dismissal from the Graduate School

A graduate student who is in academic dismissal or academic probation status and has not attended classes for a period of at least 5 consecutive years may request a one-time readmission to "restart" a program from the beginning. Prior grades and credits earned will not apply toward the program of a student in Restart status.

A student must contact the Office of Graduate Admissions to request readmission after dismissal from the Graduate School. A request for readmission after dismissal from the Graduate School will be forwarded to the Dean of the Graduate School and will be evaluated by the Appeals Subcommittee of the Graduate Council, taking into account the student's performance in graduate school and the potential for improved performance in the academic program. The Appeals Subcommittee of the Graduate Council will make a readmission recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School who will accept or deny the recommendation. A dismissal upheld by the Dean of the Graduate School is not appealable.

The academic standard for a student who is readmitted under Graduate Restart is limited to the policy on probation only. Failure to obtain a cumulative GPA by the end of two terms of probation will result in the student being permanently dismissed by the Graduate School from any further graduate study. 

Upon readmission, the student must meet all requirements under the catalog in effect at the time of readmission. Approval of readmission may be accompanied by additional requirements. A student may be readmitted to a graduate program or the Graduate School only once following an academic dismissal.

Request for Readmission after Dismissal from a Graduate Program

A request (appeal) for readmission after dismissal from an academic program must be submitted to the Dean of the School and will be evaluated by the program faculty and/or committee, taking into account the student's potential for improved performance in the program. The faculty and/or committee will make a readmission recommendation to the Dean of the school who will accept or deny the recommendation. A request (appeal) that is granted will allow the student to continue in the program in an academic probation status. Credits earned while previously enrolled will be included for the purpose of determining academic standing and meeting graduation requirements.  Low grades previously earned may need to be repeated in order to meet program and/or Graduate School good academic standing requirements. 

A dismissal that is upheld by the Dean of the School may be appealed to the Dean of the Graduate School who will request a recommendation from the Appeals Subcommittee of the Graduate Council. Decisions on program dismissals made by the Dean of the Graduate School are not appealable.  Students whose appeal is upheld may seek admission to a different graduate academic program, assuming the cumulative GPA meets the Graduate School's minimum requirements of a 3.00 or better.

For students who were admitted to a Texas public university under the Academic Fresh Start law, earned a baccalaureate degree, and desire to apply for admission to a postgraduate or professional program, the Office of Graduate Admissions will consider only the grade point average of the applicant that was completed after enrollment under this law, along with the other standard admissions criteria detailed in this catalog.