Classification of Graduate Students
Graduate students are classified as those who have earned a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited institution. Graduate students typically take 5-6 credit hours per semester, depending on their program of study. The definition of a credit hour is defined by NSCS Policy 4141.
Graduate student enrollment status
| Enrollment status | Hours taken in a single semester |
|---|---|
| Full time | 9 or more |
| 3/4 time | 7-8 |
| 1/2 time | 5-6 |
International graduate students
To maintain F-1 status, international graduate students must take a minimum of 9 credits hours per semester.
Academic load
A graduate student pursuing an undergraduate program must be enrolled in 12 undergraduate credits or a combination of 12 hours of undergraduate and graduate credits to be considered full time. A full-time graduate student pursuing a graduate level program of study is one who is enrolled in 9 graduate hours. All summer sessions, combined, are considered a single term in determining enrollment status and financial aid eligibility. The only exception relates to student eligibility for veterans’ benefits.
Undergraduate preparation
Students who wish to be admitted to a graduate degree program should have the baccalaureate degree by having completed a program of courses in the areas of General Studies and a major field at an accredited institution authorized by law to grant such a degree. Students who graduate without teaching credentials and now intend to enter the teaching profession will be advised to follow an undergraduate endorsement program which upon successful completion will qualify them for certification in Nebraska. Some advanced coursework may be considered in substitution for undergraduate endorsement requirements if applicable enabling the student to complete some requirements for a Master of Science in Education degree.
Wayne State seniors
Seniors enrolled at WSC who are within their last two semesters of completing requirements for the baccalaureate degree may enroll in graduate courses at the 500 and 600 level if they meet the other requirements for graduate admissions as determined by the appropriate school dean. They are limited to 15 total hours for the term and a maximum of 6 graduate hours earned prior to completing their baccalaureate degree. Notification of approval from the student’s advisor, appropriate department chair, and school dean for the graduate class(es) must be submitted to the registrar.
Degree-seeking graduate students
Students pursuing a program of study leading to the master’s or specialist in education degree are considered to be degree-seeking graduate students. In order to be so classified, a student must have fulfilled all criteria set forth under the catalog section titled Graduate Admission/Registration.
Non-degree-seeking graduate students
Non-degree students are those students who do not intend to work toward the master’s degree or Specialist in Education degree, or those not permitted to do so.
Non-degree / special post-graduate student status
This status is for those students who intend to take an occasional course for personal enrichment or transfer to another institution. Since a public college has an obligation to make its resources available for a broad range of purposes not confined to the pursuit of specific degrees, anyone holding an accredited baccalaureate or professional degree may register for individual courses at the graduate level without making application to a degree program.
Submission of an official transcript is optional but recommended if you indicate this type of admission. Special post-graduate students must meet prerequisite conditions, as determined by the instructor, for admission into specific courses.
Special post-graduate students are not admitted to a graduate program; they are only given permission to enroll in graduate-level courses. Should a special post-graduate student wish to work toward a graduate degree, an additional endorsement, or certificate renewal at a later date, he or she will be required to apply for admission to a graduate program and file an official undergraduate transcript sent to the college directly from the degree-granting institution. Courses taken as a special post-graduate student will be applicable to a graduate degree only with the approval of a faculty advisor and permission from the appropriate school office.
Renewal of teaching certificate
If a student is not a WSC graduate, the Admissions Office must receive a graduate application for admission and one official transcript reflecting possession of a baccalaureate degree sent directly from the undergraduate institution. Students need to have renewal courses approved by the Certification Officer before enrolling. The Institutional Verification required by the Nebraska Department of Education for certificate renewal must be processed through the WSC Education Services Office.
Program leading to an additional baccalaureate degree, major, or teaching endorsement
Students who wish to complete the requirements for an additional endorsement, major, or baccalaureate degree must file a graduate admission application form and have one official transcript of their undergraduate work sent to the Admissions Office directly from their undergraduate institution, unless they have graduated from WSC. Graduate students working on initial endorsements/certification programs must be admitted to the WSC Educator Preparation Program. A minimum of 30 semester hours must be earned at WSC to receive a second baccalaureate degree. A minimum of 15 semester hours (excluding supplemental endorsements) approved by the appropriate dean must be earned at WSC to complete a major or teaching endorsement and have it noted on the transcript.