Academic Regulations and Procedures:

General Academic Regulations
All graduate studies are governed by University-wide academic policies, regulations and procedures. University-wide policies are described in the Graduate Catalog. Graduate programs may have academic policies, regulations and procedures that are stricter than the overall University academic policies, regulations and procedures.

Graduate Admission
Aurora University admits qualified students from varied geographical, cultural, economic, racial, and religious backgrounds. In each candidate, Aurora University looks for two general qualities: academic ability enabling a person to benefit from the University’s excellent programs and a diversity of talents and interests that will make our campus community a better and richer place to learn. Applications will be considered on the basis of academic ability, character, activities, and motivation.

All correspondence about admission and campus visits should be addressed to the Office of Admission and Financial Aid, Aurora University, 347 S. Gladstone Avenue, Aurora, Illinois 60506-4892. For further information about admission to the University, call 1-800-742-5281, or visit our website at www.aurora.edu.

General Graduate Admission Requirements and Procedures
Admission to Aurora University graduate programs requires that students meet general University requirements for graduate admission, as well as various specific requirements of the particular program the student wishes to enter. General University requirements are detailed below. Refer to the individual program sections that follow for the additional requirements specific to each graduate program.

All applicants for graduate admission must submit:

1. A completed Application for Graduate Admission to the Office of Admission and Financial Aid. (Note: The application may be completed online at www.aurora.edu.)
2. Offical transcripts of all prior undergraduate and graduate work sent directly to the Office of Admission and Financial Aid.
3. Three letters of reference from persons able to attest to the student’s academic and/or professional potential. See the specific requirements of the program you wish to enter; some programs require additional letters of reference from specific individuals or letters addressing specific areas of preparation or competence.

Upon submission of satisfactory credentials for admission to graduate study at the University, the student’s file is referred to the graduate program for consideration of the student’s application for admission to that program.

General Academic Requirements for Admission:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a field providing appropriate background for master’s study in the student’s chosen program. Students whose undergraduate backgrounds are in fields other than those in which they are seeking to enter master’s study may be required to complete deficiency or prerequisite coursework before beginning master’s or doctoral courses.
2. An academic record indicative of a high probability of success in graduate study. An applicant with an undergraduate GPA of less than 2.75 on a 4.0 scale must be specially reviewed by a committee of master’s program faculty. Individual programs may have higher admission standards.

Admission to Graduate Programs
Students admitted to graduate study at the University may only enter a specific program of study upon the approval of the program. Individual programs may require submission of additional credentials specific to the requirements of study in the program.

Upon completion of the steps required for general graduate admission to Aurora University, the application will be forwarded to the graduate program to which the applicant seeks admission. The applicant will then be contacted by a representative of the graduate program to arrange for completion of any remaining requirements for admission to that program.

A degree seeking student whose first enrollment at Aurora University is in a summer session is considered a fall term applicant and is governed by the catalog and regulations in effect for the fall term immediately following the summer term in which the student was first enrolled.

Term of Entry:

1. The official terms of entry shall be fall, winter and spring. Consult your graduate program since graduate programs may limit term of entry.
2. A degree seeking student whose first enrollment at Aurora University is in a summer session is considered a fall term applicant and is governed by the catalog and regulations in effect for the fall term immediately following the summer term in which the student was first enrolled.
3. Students-at-large are not considered matriculated until the first term (excluding summer) in which they are enrolled as a fully, conditionally or provisionally accepted student.
4. Provisionally or conditionally accepted students are considered to have entered in the first term of enrollment, regardless of provisional or conditional status.

Transfer of Credit
Graduate-level credit earned at regionally accredited institutions of higher education may be transferred to Aurora University and applied toward master’s or doctoral degrees or other post-baccalaureate programs with the approval of the director of the program to which the student is admitted.

1. Graduate credit graded ‘B’ or better may be transferred and applied to graduate programs at Aurora University with the approval of the graduate program director. Coursework graded “Pass” or “Credit” may be transferred at the option of the graduate program director. The individual graduate program shall establish the minimum grades required for acceptance of undergraduate prerequisite courses.
2. Graduate credit is transferred for application only to a specific graduate program; in the event that a student is subsequently admitted to a different graduate program, any graduate work completed at other institutions will be reevaluated by the director of the new graduate program and the transferred credit modified if necessary.
3. Transfer of credit once enrolled: Once the applicant has been accepted for enrollment in a graduate program at Aurora University, it is expected that he/she will complete all coursework for the degree or certificate at Aurora University. No coursework may be transferred to Aurora University after enrollment except upon prior, written approval of the graduate program director of dean.

Admission of International Students
Students from other countries are admitted to Aurora University on the basis of the following criteria:

• Average or better post-secondary school record, including completion of coursework at least to the level of the baccaleaureate degree in the U.S.
• In the case of students from non-English speaking countries, a score of at least 550 (213 on the computerized TOEFL) on the TOEFL or level 109 on the ELS
• Proof of financial responsibility, in the form of an affidavit of support and a deposit in U.S. funds in an amount determined annually by the University

Transcripts from foreign colleges and universities are evaluated in accordance with the guidelines of the AACRAO World Education Series. Evaluations of foreign credentials must be completed through recognized outside evaluation services and certified English translations are required at student expense. Certified English translations must accompany original transcripts in any other language; the Registrar requires evaluation of foreign transcripts by an outside evaluator at student expense. International students who have completed work at other U.S. colleges or universities must submit official transcripts and, at the discretion of the University, may be considered for admission as transfer students on the basis of this work.

Special Admission Status
Graduate Student-at-Large Status: A student who wishes to enroll in a master’s level course, but is not seeking a degree, certificate, or credential may do so as a student-at-large. A maximum of six (6) semester hours may be applied to master degree programs at Aurora University. Enrollment in specific courses by students-at-large may be restricted by prerequisites or other requirements of individual graduate programs. Financial aid is not available to students-at-large.
Post-Undergraduate Student: A student, who holds a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and wishes to enroll in undergraduate or graduate courses for credit, but not to seek a second degree, may do so as an extended student. The standard tuition rate applies.

Post-Graduate Student: A student, who holds a master’s degree from an accredited institution and wishes to enroll in graduate courses for credit, but not to seek a second degree, may do so as an extended student. The standard tuition rate applies.

Provisional Student: A student, who has applied for regular admission but has been unable to supply all necessary documentation due to circumstances beyond the individual’s control, may be provisionally admitted to the University at the discretion of the Vice President for Enrollment. If provisionally admitted, a student may register for classes for one term at their own risk (since the records of the educational background are incomplete). An application file must be complete and approved before a student is allowed to register for a second term. Financial Aid is not available.

Conditional Admission: A student, who has applied for regular graduate admission but has an academic record that does not meet ordinary admission standards, may be conditionally admitted to the University at the discretion of the graduate program director. Academic progress will be regularly reviewed.

Decision Procedures and Relation to University Governance:

1. Applicants for admission who meet the academic qualifications outlined above are approved for admission by the graduate program director or designee.
2. Applicants for admission who do not meet the stated academic qualifications above will be reviewed and accepted or rejected by the graduate program director or designee on the basis of guidelines from the Graduate Affairs Committee.
3. Extended student applications are approved by the graduate program director or designee in accordance with the criteria above.
4. Applicants with an incomplete application for admission may be approved on a provisional basis only by the graduate program director or designee.