Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Academic Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Graduate Student Admissions



Graduate education at UHV is designed to build upon the foundations provided in the baccalaureate program. Programs at the graduate level provide students with opportunities to develop advanced knowledge and skills in their chosen fields. Through their graduate programs, students are expected to demonstrate and increasingly develop independent and critical thinking and to progressively increase their ability to integrate theory, practice, and research in scholarly and professional pursuits.

Admissions/Other Requirements:

The applicant for a graduate program must have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher in an institution accredited by CHEA recognized institutional accreditation agencies.  Foreign institutions which may not be formally accredited by United States accrediting agencies must be recognized by the Ministry of Education in the country where the institution is located as maintaining high academic standards, and authorized to grant degrees by the Ministry of Education or appropriate government agency in the country where the institution is located. Credit earned prior to an institution receiving accreditation/recognition is not accepted for admission or transfer.

For graduate admission, applicants with international credentials must have earned a baccalaureate degree comparable to a 4-year baccalaureate degree in the United States. Admission to the university does not guarantee a student admission to a graduate program. The appropriate graduate school will determine whether or not the applicant is qualified for admission into the graduate program.

A student transferring from another graduate school must have at least a 3.0 (A=4.0) grade point average on all graduate work attempted

Admission to the Master of Arts-Psychology program is restricted to the Fall semester only. The M.A. Psychology programs have a separate application deadline separate from any other UHV deadline. This deadline can be found in each program’s website, or by consulting the director of each program. The M.A. programs do not allow students to have Temporary Graduate Student status. It is the responsibility of the applicant to furnish all necessary documentation for Fall admission to the Admissions office by the deadline for that program.  Students wishing to transfer between Graduate Psychology programs must apply for admission to the new program and will be considered with other applicants entering in the Fall semester.  They are not guaranteed acceptance into the new program.  Graduate Psychology students who have not enrolled in classes for a one-year period must reapply to their program to gain admission status.  They may or may not be accepted for admission.

Admission to a Graduate Certification Program

For applicants, with GPA’s below 2.5, seeking certifications in a class other than classroom teacher the following scores must be achieved:

GRE® scores in the following ranges:

  • GRE® Verbal Reasoning - 143 or greater
  • GRE® Quantitative Reasoning - 140 or greater
  • GRE® Analytical Writing - 3.0 or greater

The applicant MUST also meet the UHV admissions index.

*Revised (12/27/16) General Test Score Bands for GRE® to be used for Admission to an Educator Preparation Program under the 10% Exception Rule in 19 TAC §227.10(a)(3)(D)

Transient (Visiting) Graduate Students (one full term only)

UHV will accept transient (visiting) students who have met the following requirements:

  • Apply Texas Application.  A $25.00 non-refundable/non-transferrable application fee will be required.
  • Completion of at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
  • Letter of proof of enrollment in good standing in a graduate program at their home college or university or official or unofficial transcript showing completion of at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
  • Limit of one (1) full term only.

Transient students are typically enrolled at another institution and who may want to take a course(s) and then transfer them back to their “home” institution. Transient students are considered non-degree seeking and are limited to one semester with transient status. A student who chooses to continue enrollment at UHV must submit a new graduate admission application and official transcripts from all schools previously attended before being allowed to register for any subsequent terms. Transient graduate students may not enroll/attempt more than twelve (12) hours, which is the maximum number of hours allowed a Temporary Graduate Student.

Readmission of Former Graduate Students

Former UHV students are required to submit:

  • Admission application
  • $25 application fee
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended since last enrollment at UHV (if applicable)

Former students are considered anyone:

  • who has not enrolled at UHV for 13 uninterrupted months (3 consecutive terms) from their initial semester
  • with an application which has been discontinued for non-enrollment
  • who has earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree

GMAT Waiver Information

Please see the School of Business Administration section of the catalog for information regarding the GMAT waiver policy.

Graduate Admissions Index

Students are considered for admission to graduate programs on the basis of an admission index, as indicated below. The academic schools may have additional criteria for certain degree programs and may consider admitting students whose indices are below the minimum but within the range specified.

The admission index results from a combination of the following:

Grade point average (GPA) over at least the last 60 hours.  (Graduate and Undergraduate courses previously taken.)
Verbal and Quantitative scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or equivalent scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT).

Admission index formula for GRE tests taken prior to August 1, 2011, or GMAT or MAT tests (Only for Current UHV students or former UHV students who had their official GRE/GMAT/MAT scores sent prior to 5 year expiration.):

Grade point average (GPA) x 200 + (GRE Verbal and Quantitative combined scores, or equivalent scores on the GMAT or MAT test) 

     Example: 2.5 GPA x 200 + (400 Verbal + 400 Quantitative) = 1,300 index

Admission index formula for GRE tests taken on or after August 1, 2011 and are within 5 years:

Grade point average (GPA) x 200 + (15 x (GRE Verbal and Quantitative combined score - 260)

     Example: 2.5 GPA x 200 + (15 x (145 Verbal + 145 Quantitative - 260) = 950 index

ADMIT:

Admissions index of 1,400 or higher (for GRE tests taken prior to August 1, 2011, or GMAT or MAT tests)
(Only for current UHV students or former UHV students who had their official GRE/GMAT/MAT scores sent prior to 5 year expiration.)

Admissions index of 980 or higher (for GRE tests taken on or after August 1, 2011)

Students are admitted, so long as they meet any additional criteria specific to a particular degree program.  Students who are denied admission may discuss their options with an academic advisor.

CONDITIONAL ADMIT:

Admissions index of 1,300-1,399 (for GRE tests taken prior to August 1, 2011, or GMAT or MAT tests)
(Only for current UHV students or former UHV students who had their official GRE/GMAT/MAT scores sent prior to 5 year expiration.)

Admissions index of 890-979 (for GRE tests taken on or after August 1, 2011 and are within 5 years)

Students may be admitted by the dean of the school, considering scores on the analytic portion of the GRE (or equivalent), grades in particularly relevant courses, or other relevant indicators of a student’s potential to success in a given graduate degree program. Such admission may be conditional or probationary with initial coursework specified. Students who are denied admission may discuss their options with an academic advisor.

DENIED:

Admissions index below 1,300 (for GRE tests taken prior to August 1, 2011, or GMAT or MAT tests)
(Only for current UHV students or former UHV students who had their official GRE/GMAT/MAT scores sent prior to 5 year expiration.)

Admissions index below 890 (for GRE tests taken on or after August 1, 2011)

Students will not be admitted and may not appeal the decision. Students who are denied admission may discuss their options with an academic advisor.

In addition to submitting official transcripts (see previous section on transcripts for admission requirements) and test scores, applicants are required to submit supporting documents, as specified by the relevant degree program.

See the appropriate school section of this catalog for supporting documents required. Possible documents may include:

A letter of application and/or resume
A recommendation from a practicing professional in the field of study or a related field
A personal essay

Applicants also may have to complete prescribed courses prior to admission to the degree program. Please see the particular degree program in this catalog for an explanation of the specific admission requirements for that program.

Applications can be sent to the Office of Admissions and Student Recruitment at the university. All supporting documents should be sent to their academic school. The academic school will determine whether the application is complete and meets the minimal admissions index. The school reviews the index and supporting qualitative documents and approves or disapproves admission. See the relevant school section in this catalog for specific program requirements.

An applicant who has earned a baccalaureate degree after electing to enroll under the “academic fresh start” will have only the courses and grades earned after that enrollment date used in computing the grade point average.

No more than 12 credit hours of graduate-level courses completed prior to admission will count toward fulfillment of graduate program requirements.

Post-baccalaureate students who wish only to take certain graduate courses should request “temporary graduate student’ admission on your application. As a temporary graduate student, you may take up to 12 credit hours of graduate course work. If you are later admitted to a graduate program, applicable graduate courses you have taken, up to a maximum of 12 credit hours successfully completed within the previous 10 years or the period specified by the degree program, will be included on your degree plan as approved by the school.

(Note that all grades in courses applicable to the degree count when a student gains admission to a graduate program.)

International students must also meet the requirements for international admission as outlined in this catalog and the International Student Information Brochure.

Test Scores

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test, or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required of all applicants applying for graduate admission. Applicants to the M.Ed. Counselor Education program may substitute the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and applicants to Business Administration must take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). For students taking the GRE, only verbal and quantitative sections of the General Test are used for determining graduate eligibility.

Applicants holding a master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution are not required to submit test scores.

Test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to the Office of Admissions and Student Recruitment. Scores no longer being reported will not be accepted and the student must retake the exam. Information concerning the GRE, GMAT and MAT tests may be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Student Recruitment or from the testing companies. For GRE call (609) 771-7670, visit the GRE website or write Graduate Record Examinations, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000. For GMAT, call (609) 771-7330, visit the GMAT website or write Graduate Management Admission Test, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6103, Princeton, NJ 08541-6103. For MAT, call (800) 622-3231 or write The Psychological Corporation, 555 Academic Court, San Antonio, TX 78204-2956.

The institutional code number for UHV is 6917 for the GRE.

The GMAT program codes for University of Houston-Victoria are:

30K-2W-88 Strategic MBA (Including Bridge)
30K-2W-02 MBA Global (Including Bridge)
30K-2W-37 MS, Economic Development & Entrepreneurship

What to Submit

  1. A completed application for graduate admission. Visit the UHV website and click on “Apply”.  A $25.00 non-refundable/non-transferrable application fee will be required.
  2. An official transcript from EACH college attended, sent directly from each institution to University of Houston-Victoria, Office of Admissions and Student Recruitment.
  3. Appropriate exam scores must be sent directly from the testing service to UHV. See “Test Scores” below for more information.
  4. International Students (A person who is not a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the United States; a holder or prospective holder of an F-1 student visa or other visa type; a person holding a temporary status while in the United States) - See “International Programs” section for application process, deadlines, and required documents.

The only transcript requirement for applicants holding a master’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. institution is an official transcript from the institution which awarded the degree, sent directly from that institution to UH-Victoria.

Applicants to the M.A Psychology program must submit all test scores and necessary documentation for Fall admission to the Admissions office by February 15 for priority consideration or June 15 for consideration of remaining seats.  Students wishing to transfer between Graduate Psychology programs must apply for admission to the new program and will be considered with other applicants entering in the Fall semester.  They are not guaranteed acceptance into the new program.  Graduate Psychology students who have not enrolled in classes for a one-year period must reapply to their program to gain admission status.  They may or may not be accepted for admission.