Admission Policies and Procedures

Each applicant must submit all items required for admission by the program. The Graduate School reviews all applications for admission in partnership with the appropriate Academic Program. Applicants for most programs are typically notified of the admission decision within a ten-day period. Some cohort-based programs, including the Dietetic Internship, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice, have a designated notification period following the published application deadline.

Information on graduate applications and requirements per program is available at http://www.lr.edu/admission/graduate/apply.

Program-Specific Application, Admissions Deadline, And Term-Entry Information

Athletic Training

The application is through the Centralized Application Service for Athletic Training (ATCAS). Applications are accepted from June to June for a fall entry date.

Dietetic Internship

The application is through the Centralized Application Service for Dietetic Internship (DICAS) for entry each fall. The application cycle is open November prior year through February of the same year of entry.

Applicants to the Dietetic Internship program should apply through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS).

Occupational Therapy

The application is through the Centralized Application Service for Occupational Therapy (OTCAS) for entry each summer. The application cycle is open from July 18 of the prior year though January 15 of the same year of entry.

Applicants to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program should apply through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS).

Physician Assistant Studies

The application is through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistant Studies (CASPA) for entry each spring. The application cycle is open from September 1 through March 1st of the prior years.

Applicants to the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program should apply through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

Master of Public Health

For the Master of Public Health, the application is found at https://lr.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login and applications are accepted year round for the summer and fall entry terms.

The priority deadline to apply for the summer 2019 term is May 15, 2019.

The priority deadline to apply for the fall 2019 term is August 1, 2019.

We will accept applications after these dates; however, we recommend applying by these dates for a seamless enrollment process.

All Other Programs

For all other programs, the application is found at https://lr.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login. Applications are accepted year round for summer, fall, and spring entry terms with specific priority deadlines.

The priority deadline to apply for the summer 2019 term is May 15, 2019.
The priority deadline to apply for the fall 2019 term is August 1, 2019.
The priority deadline to apply for the spring 2020 term is December 6, 2019.

We will accept applications after these dates; however, we recommend applying by these dates for a seamless enrollment process.

General Admission Requirements to The Graduate School

A candidate for admission to The Graduate School as a degree-seeking student at Lenoir-Rhyne University must:

1. Possess an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in an appropriate discipline;
2. Request official copies of all college transcripts be forwarded directly to the Division of Enrollment Management in Hickory, N.C.
3. Submit a completed application for the desired program along with the required application fee;
4. If Career Admission Track applies, or if the applicant meets one of the other criteria for waiving the standardized test score, submit one letter of reference (through LR’s online application) from a professional attesting to the ability of the applicant for graduate study. Programs not accepting Career Admission Track or other are Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, and Teaching.
5. If Traditional Admission Track, submit GRE, MAT, PRAXIS II, or GMAT scores as requested by the specific program;
6. Submit a writing sample clearly articulating goals and life experiences that have impacted the student’s decision to pursue the specific graduate degree;
7. Submit a resume describing education, work, and volunteer experience;
8. Submit all additional documentation as required by the specific graduate program;
9. Be available for an interview upon request.
10. The admissions committee determines admissions decisions based on the whole application and reserves the right to admit, provisionally admit, waitlist, or deny applicants on this policy.

International Students

Each program will have unique requirements; the admissions requirements below cover international admissions requirements to be considered in addition to the program-unique requirements.

All international applicants must submit the following information:

1. A completed Graduate School application and a non-refundable $35 (U.S.) application fee.
2. Official transcripts for each college or university attended which have been translated into English and evaluated into a course-by-course report by an approved credential evaluation agency.
3. Proof of English proficiency if the applicant’s native language is not English. The preferred method of proof is an official score report from the TOEFL or the IELTS. Applicants must have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based version, 213 on the computer-based version, or 79 on the internet-based version. The minimum IELTS score is 6.5.

Note that one of the following may also be submitted to verify English language proficiency depending on the program of interest:

• Official score report for the GRE, Miller Analogies Test, or GMAT standardized tests. For the GRE, the minimum scores are: Verbal - 147; Quantitative - 147; and Analytical Writing - 3.5. For the Miller Analogies Test, the minimum score is 390, and for the GMAT, the minimum score is a 450;
• Completion of a college-level English composition or other reading intensive courses with a “B” or equivalent at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or a non U.S. college or university where instruction is in English;
• An official transcript showing completion of an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or a higher degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or a non U.S. college or university where instruction is in English.

If an applicant does not meet the above minimum English-proficiency criteria, the following options are available to the applicant:

• Take the iTEP English proficiency exam which is administered by LenoirRhyne’s partner program, the American Language Academy (www.ala.edu), and attain a minimum score of 3.9;
• Enroll in and complete an accredited English language program, such as the American Language Academy Program, prior to attending Lenoir-Rhyne. The student will be recognized as English proficient after completion of level 5 of the American Language Academy program. Other accredited English Language Proficiency Programs will be accepted as well, as long as the applicant completes through the certified level deemed English proficient.

If an applicant does not meet any of the minimum criteria above, s/he may request an appeal and if granted may participate in a Zoom or Skype interview to be used as an additional evaluation tool to determine English proficiency. Please note that the findings of this interview will be used in conjunction with all other above materials.

4. A completed Certificate of Finance certified by a bank official, attorney, or notary public.

International Graduate Student Enrollment Guidelines

1. An offer of admission, if applicable, will be sent via email.
2. To confirm enrollment, the applicant will submit the enrollment deposit. This enrollment deposit may be paid online and will be applied to tuition.
3. An I-20 form will be forwarded to the deposited student.

Confirmation of Enrollment

Students confirm the acceptance of an offer of admission by the payment of an enrollment deposit, which varies by degree program and location (see acceptance letter for specific deposit information). Enrollment fees for the fall semester are refundable only if written requests are received in The Graduate School by the stated deadline.

Deferred Enrollment

Students who have been admitted may defer enrollment for up to one year. The Graduate School must be notified of the student’s request to defer prior to the start of the original term for which the student applied. Students must reapply for admission to a graduate program if any of the following conditions are met:

1. Enrollment deferral has already occurred once and the student needs to defer their application again;
2. Additional work at a college or university has been completed since the original application;
3. Deferring enrollment occurs for an enrollment term more than a year from the original application term.

Re-Entry Criteria

Students in good standing who have been absent for three semesters or less (including the summer semester) do not have to reapply for admission. Inquiries should be addressed to the The Graduate School.

Reentering students in good standing who are absent from the University for more than three semesters must reapply and meet the requirements as outlined under Admissions Requirements by Program. All transcripts of work completed at other institutions must be submitted with the application.

Students desiring to continue study following a period of academic dismissal of no more than one semester from Lenoir-Rhyne University must contact The Graduate School for current procedures. Students desiring to continue study following a period of academic suspension must reapply through The Graduate School.

Re-Entry for Military Service Students

Students who are required to fulfill active military service obligations during a period of enrollment should notify the Office of the Registrar as soon as possible. Students who will be in service for less than 30 consecutive days will not be academically penalized or withdrawn from courses unless the student makes this specific request. Faculty members will coordinate efforts with the student either during their deployment or upon their immediate return to make up any missing course requirements.

Students who are required to fulfill active military service obligations which require them to cease enrollment more than 30 consecutive days are not required to reapply to the University and may return with the same academic status. Students should inform the Office of the Registrar of their deployment and expected date of return as soon as possible and will work with the Enrollment Services Center to enroll in courses for the next available term.

Waitlisting

Admission from a waitlist generally occurs when a vacancy is created by a withdrawal from an incoming student to a program that has limited space available. Should a student meet minimal criteria but not offered admission, a student may be offered a position on the wait list. Wait listing rank orders students based on their admissions criteria. As slots become available, students may be selected from the waitlist based on ranking. Once classes begin, the status of students on the waitlist reverts to a denial of admission.

Provisional Admission

A baccalaureate graduate who meets one of the graduate admissions criteria (GPA requirement or test scores) but not both, or other criteria determined by The Graduate School may be considered for admission on provisional status. Under these circumstances, students may be required to fulfill additional requirements. A student admitted on probation may gain full admission by earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on a minimum of 6 semester hours of graduate work (500-600 level classes). Credits earned while on probation may be applied to a degree if considered appropriate for the degree program and approved by the graduate student’s advisor. See section on Probation and Dismissal. Students on provisional admission may not enroll in more than 9 hours. At the successful completion of 6 hours (e.g. with no grade lower than a B- while maintaining a 3.0 GPA) a student will be reviewed for full admission.

Admission Requirement Categories

Lenoir-Rhyne University offers several options for pursuing admission. Admission requirements will be dictated based on which category a student falls under. Decisions regarding eligibility for either option are made by The Graduate School with consultation of the desired program of entry and the Graduate Studies Council as needed.

Traditional Admission Track

The Traditional Admission Track is designed for applicants who have received their baccalaureate degree within the past six years, have limited professional work experience, or any applicant who prefers traditional admission procedures. Traditional admission procedures, which include standardized test scores, are required for some of our graduate programs.

Opportunities for Waiving Test Scores

The Career Admission Track is designed for applicants who have distinguished themselves in the workplace or community and have at least six years’ experience in the field. Career applicants must demonstrate that they are capable of graduate studies through documentation of professional work, letters of recommendation, and written expression. Candidates for admission to the Graduate School as a degree-seeking student through the Career Admission Track must:

1. Possess an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in an appropriate discipline having met the GPA requirement for the program of study desired;
2. Request official copies for all college transcripts be forwarded directly to the Division of Enrollment Management;
3. Submit a completed application for the desired program along with the required application fee;
4. Submit proof of eligibility to be considered for the Career Admission Track. Candidates must have at least six years’ experience in the workplace or the community AND submit the following documentation:
   1. Submit a detailed resume that highlights specific career and/or volunteer accomplishments;
   2. Provide a letter of endorsement from an employer or professional within the chosen field which attests to the applicant’s qualifications for graduate level work;
   3. Submit a writing sample clearly articulating goals and life experiences that have impacted the student’s decision to pursue this specific graduate degree;
5. Be available for an interview upon request.

Be advised that not all graduate programs may consider Career Admission Track. Programs accepting Career Admission Track are: MS in Athletic Training, Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Social Entrepreneurship, Master of Business Administration in Non-Profit Management, MA in Christian Ministry, MA in Community College Administration, MA in Counseling, MA in Criminal Justice Leadership, Master of Divinity, MS in Exercise Science, MA in Human Services, MA in Leadership, MS in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, MS in Online Teaching & Instructional Design, Master of Public Health, MA in Religious Leadership, Master of Theological Studies, MS in Sustainability Studies, Master of Sacred Theology, MA in University Leadership, and MA in Writing.

Applicants also may qualify for a waived test score if the cumulative GPA of the undergraduate degree and post-baccalaureate credit hours is a 3.5 or above. The enrollment counselor must have all transcripts to determine if the applicant qualifies. If the applicant qualifies, the applicant must provide a faculty or professional recommendation in lieu of a test score. This policy does not apply to all programs.

Applicants who possess a master’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university may qualify for a waived test score. If the applicant qualifies, the applicant must provide a faculty or professional recommendation in lieu of a test score. This policy does not apply to all programs.

Institutional Matriculation Agreements

The Graduate School has specific matriculation agreements with particular LR undergraduate programs as well as partner institutions which may alter admission requirements. For a complete listing of existing agreements, please contact the The Graduate School.