Admission to Graduate Studies
All applicants for graduate programs must submit a complete official university application packet consisting of items 1 through 5:
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A completed graduate program application form and a copy of the paid receipt of the application fee. ($30.00 for applications submitted by the priority deadline or $45.00 for applications submitted after the priority deadline.)
- Proof of a baccalaureate degree from a four-year institution which has regional accreditation.
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Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate study. Applicants should request that the registrar(s) of college(s) previously attended send the transcripts directly to the Graduate Studies Office. (Transcripts from UTB/TSC not required.)
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Application Essay/Statement of Goals. Please provide a carefully considered statement of: 1) your academic and professional objectives and 2) explain how graduate study will help you to attain your goals.
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Proof of Residency. A copy of one of the following must be included with the application: Permanent Texas Driver’s License ID card; Texas Voter Registration card; Property Tax Statement Receipt, or Utility Bill
Note: All residency documents must include the student’s name and address and must be dated 12 months prior to registration. This includes former students who have been out of UTB/TSC for more than a year.
- Naturalized Citizens or Legal Resident Aliens: Please bring your certificate or card with you.
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International Applicants only: Applicants should request that the Educational Testing Service send score reports directly to the Testing Office. TOEFL scores more than two years old will not be accepted.
Note: University graduate admission status does not automatically ensure admission to a college/school graduate degree program. Each college/school sets program degree requirements for its graduate majors. For information on program degree requirements, contact the Graduate Office at 882-6552.
Requirements for Graduate Admission
To apply for Graduate Admission, you will need to show evidence of academic achievement and potential to pursue advanced study and research as evidenced by:
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Bachelor’s Degree: Proof of a baccalaureate degree from a 4-year college or university which has regional accreditation. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate study must be submitted.
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GPA of 3.0. An overall undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better and a 3.0 GPA in any graduate work already completed.
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Official GRE or GMAT Score: Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for Business majors. Examination score requirements vary by graduate degree program; see the specific admission requirements for the degree program for which you are applying. Scores more than five years old at the time of application will not be considered. If the GRE or GMAT is not taken prior to admission, it must be taken in the first semester of graduate study and you will not be permitted to register for the subsequent semester until satisfactory scores are received.
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Application Essay: A satisfactory application essay stating your educational objectives and identifying positive indicators for admission (no more than 500 words).
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Departmental Admission Requirements: There may be specific admission requirements established by the academic department for the masters degree program which need to be fulfilled. These may include letters of recommendation, interviews, personal background information, examination score, grade-point average, and undergraduate coursework in the discipline. Note that admission to the University does not mean that one is admitted to any masters degree program. Approval of the graduate advisors for the degree program is required for admission to a masters degree program.
Admission with Conditions
An applicant who does not meet the grade point average, GRE/GMAT score, and other criteria stipulated for regular admission may be admitted with conditions. Students receiving conditional admission may have one or more conditions specified by the academic department. The graduate advisor may require you to remedy deficiencies in undergraduate preparation by taking specified additional courses. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better while on conditional status and, normally, must satisfy conditions within the first twelve hours of graduate study
In addition to the criteria stipulated, the University of Texas at Brownsville takes into consideration for admission counterbalancing factors such as the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, first generation of family to graduate from an undergraduate program, and involvement and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, or family responsibility of raising children.
Non-Degree
Non-degree or transient status may be granted to applicants who want to take a maximum of 12 semester credit hours of graduate courses. A non-degree student who later decides to become a candidate for a degree must meet all graduate admissions criteria. Only relevant courses with grades of ‘B’ or better will be considered for application to the program of study for any graduate degree.
Readmission of Former Students
Former graduate students of UTB/TSC are required to reapply for graduate admission if they were not enrolled during the previous academic year.
Former students must submit transcripts from all colleges attended since their last enrollment at this institution. Students who have earned less than a 3.0 average (3.0=B on a 4.0 scale) over all work completed since attending UTB/TSC or who left their last institution on probation may be readmitted on probation.
Residency Classifications
Under state statutes, and under rules and regulations of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, prospective graduate students are classified as residents of Texas, nonresidents, or foreign students.
Resident students are defined as students under 18 whose families have lived in Texas for 12 months prior to registration, or students 18 or over who have lived in Texas for 12 months prior to registration.
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Residents are individuals who are either U.S. citizens, national or permanent resident aliens or aliens who have been permitted by Congress to adopt the United States as their domicile while in the country and who have otherwise met the state requirements for establishing residency for tuition purposes.
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Nonresidents are citizens, national or permanent residents of the U.S. or aliens who have been permitted by Congress to adopt the United States as their domicile while in the country and who have not met the state’s requirements for establishing residency for tuition purposes. While these state requirements for establishing residency are complex and should be referred to in each particular circumstance, they generally require a minimum of 12 months residence in Texas prior to enrollment.
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Foreign students are aliens who are not permanent residents of the U.S. or have not been permitted by Congress to adopt the U.S. as their domicile. An individual classified as a nonresident or foreign student may qualify, under certain exceptions specified in these rules, for resident tuition rates and other charges while continuing to be classified as a nonresident or a foreign student. Information on residency, reclassification, tuition exceptions and waivers is available at the Admissions Office and/or Office of Student Financial Assistance.
