Admission Requirements

Undergraduate

Undergraduate admission requirements apply to all EKU associate, bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate and undergraduate certificate programs. The requirements will vary based on whether you are a first-time freshman (determined by coursework history not age) or a transfer student. Please read the criteria carefully and contact an enrollment advisor with any questions.

First-Time Freshman

A student is considered a freshman at EKU, when he or she has:

• no previous college coursework, or
• completed college coursework prior to high school graduation, or
• earned 23 hours or fewer college credits since high school graduation.

The scholastic requirements for full admission* as a freshman are:

• 2.5 high school grade point average (GPA), or
• 20 composite ACT or 950 SAT math and verbal combined score

*All students must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and are expected to meet the college readiness standards in English, Reading and Math or enroll in courses as directed at the time of registration. Students who do not meet the requirement for full admission may seek enrollment through a Success First initiative.

Transfer Students

A student is considered a transfer student at EKU when he or she has earned or is in progress with 24 or more semester hours at another institution.

The scholastic requirement for admission as a transfer student is a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students must be in good academic and financial standing at their previous institution.

Graduate

Graduate admission requirements apply to all EKU master’s, doctoral and graduate certificate programs. The requirements will vary by program. Please read the criteria carefully and contact an enrollment advisor with any questions.

• Computer Science - Master's
• Education — Master’s (MAED)
• Education — Master’s (MAT)
• Justice, Policy & Leadership — Master’s
• Nursing — Doctorate (DNP)
• Nursing — Master’s
• Occupational Therapy — Doctorate (OTD)
• Psychology - Applied Behavior Analysis - Master's
• Psychology - Industrial-Organizational - Master's
• Public Administration — Master’s
• Safety, Security and Emergency Management — Master’s
• Social Work (MSW) - Master's

 

Computer Science — Master’s

The admissions requirements for applicants to the M.S. Computer Science program are as follows:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 overall, or 3.0 on the last 60 semester hours of the baccalaureate program.
• One of the following:
  
  • Satisfactory scores on GRE or GMAT*. The minimum satisfactory GRE scores are 149 points of Quantitative. The minimum satisfactory GMAT scores are 37 points of Quantitative.
  • A Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math with a GPA of at least 3.0.
• At least a “C” in CSC 190 and 191, or equivalent courses. (Requirement will be waived for students with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from an accredited institution. Requirement may be waived for students with a related degree whose transcript demonstrates equivalent course competencies.)

* Requirement can be waived for students who complete one of CSC 730, 815, 831 and 834 with at least a “B”.

 

Education — Master’s (MAED)

For clear admission to all MAEd program options the student must:

• meet the requirements of the graduate school
• *have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall or a 3.25 in the last 60 hours completed
• or have a verbal score of 150 and a qualitative score of 140 on the GRE
• or have a score of 389 on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

Specific MAEd programs may require additional admission criteria. For more information, please contact an enrollment advisor.

*Applicants with cumulative undergraduate GPA’s of 3.0 or higher, or 3.25 or higher in their last 60 hours of undergraduate work are exempt from the GRE/MAT requirement.

Education — Master’s (MAT)

View full admission requirements to EKU’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) programs. For more information, please contact an enrollment advisor.

Psychology — Industrial-Organizational —Master’s

View the application process to EKU’s industrial-organizational psychology master’s degree program. For more information, please contact an enrollment advisor.

• Graduation from an accredited institution with a bachelor’s degree.
• A minimum of two undergraduate psychology courses including statistics and one upper division psychology course [comparable courses in relevant disciplines (e.g., Business) will be considered].*
• An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75, and 3.0 overall in the last 60 hours of the bachelor’s program. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher are exempt from the GRE requirement.
• Targeted Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores of 149 or above on the verbal section and 144 or above on the quantitative section.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation providing evidence of academic potential from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or employment experience.
• A statement of career goals and objectives demonstrating academic potential and appropriate interests.
• Curriculum Vita/Resume

*Students lacking the minimum courses may be able to complete this requirement by enrolling in PSY 309w (Statistics-Research Methods I) and/or an upper division PSY course while beginning the M.S. program through the Psychology Department’s undergraduate online degree program. Some applicants may be asked to successfully complete these requirements prior to being admitted to the program.

Justice, Policy & Leadership — Master’s

Those meeting the requirements outlined below are eligible to apply for admission to EKU’s master’s degree program in Justice, Policy & Leadership.

Applicants must:

• be a graduate of an accredited institution with a bachelor’s degree
• possess an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 overall or in the last 60 hours of the bachelor’s program
• take the Graduate Record Examination* (GRE), achieving a score of 146 or above on the Verbal, 140 or above on the Quantitative and 4.0 or above on the Analytical Writing portions of the exam
• have two persons qualified to assess their potential for graduate work submit letters of recommendation directly to the Graduate Coordinator in the School of Justice Studies (Stratton 467)

NOTE: Applicants who do not meet these GPA or GRE requirements, but who otherwise demonstrate promise for successful graduate study, may be granted probationary admission, but such applicants must comply with all requirements of the Graduate School regarding probationary admission.

*Applicants with an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher are not required to submit GRE scores. If you have completed a master’s degree and wish to waive the GRE requirement and/or transfer any of the courses to the Justice, Policy and Leadership graduate program, you must have official transcripts from the degree-granting institution submitted directly to EKU. Follow the instructions given in Step 5 of the application process. 

Nursing — Doctorate (DNP)

Those meeting the requirements outlined below are eligible to apply for admission to EKU’s DNP program.

Applicants must:

• have a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program
• have a RN license from an approved state that is free and unrestricted, meaning that it has not been subject to reprimand, revocation, probation, suspension, restriction, limitation, disciplinary action, discretionary review/hearing or encumbrance nor had any type of complaint filed against it
• have a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• If applicable, APRN license from an approved state that is free and unrestricted, meaning that it has not been subject to reprimand, revocation, probation, suspension, restriction, limitation, disciplinary action, discretionary review/hearing or encumbrance nor had any type of complaint filed against it

Admission is competitive. Selection is based on careful consideration of all application materials, including but not limited to academic transcripts, the applicant’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Professional Statement, three required professional references and professional work experience. In addition to the criteria listed, an interview may be requested. The Doctor of Nursing Practice Professional Statement will be evaluated for writing skills and content, both of which are heavily weighted in the admission process. 

Nursing — Master’s

Those meeting the requirements outlined below are eligible to apply for admission to EKU’s MSN programs.

Applicants must:

• have a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program
• have a RN license from an approved state that is free and unrestricted, meaning that it has not been subject to reprimand, revocation, probation, suspension, restriction, limitation, disciplinary action, discretionary review/hearing or encumberance nor had any type of complaint filed against it
• have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• have completed a 3-hour graduate or undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of “C” or higher
• MSN-FNP and PMHNP applicants must have at least one year of RN experience by the time their application is submitted
• Admission is competitive. Selection is based on careful consideration of all application materials, including but not limited to:
• o   academic transcripts
• o   the applicant’s professional statement
• o   three required professional references
• o   professional work experience.

In addition to the criteria listed, an interview may be requested.

Occupational Therapy — Doctorate (OTD)

Those meeting the requirements outlined below are eligible to apply for admission to EKU’s OTD programs.

Application Requirements:

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the general admission requirements of the Graduate School, as well as the following requirements established by the department. For more information, view the application process.

1. Certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

2. A degree from an entry level occupational therapist program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

3. One of the following degrees:

• A master’s degree from an entry-level occupational therapist program that is accredited by ACOTE. Students who enter the OTD program with a master’s degree must have taken a graduate level research course. Applicants who hold NBCOT certification and have a master’s degree in a field other than occupational therapy should contact an enrollment advisor for more information.
• A bachelor’s degree or post-baccalaureate certificate from an entry-level occupational therapist program that is accredited by ACOTE.

Students who enter the OTD program with a bachelor’s degree or post-baccalaureate certificate will earn both the master’s and the OTD degrees. This coordinated curriculum allows some OTD courses to count toward both degrees, resulting in an accelerated and more cost effective pathway to both degrees.

See the OTD Application Process for further information. 

Psychology - Applied Behavior Analysis - Master's

The admissions requirements for applicants to the M.S. General Psychology with ABA concentration are as follows:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution with a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 or 2.75 for the last 60 hours of undergraduate study
• Completion of one undergraduate research course and one undergraduate statistics course
• Completion of three courses in psychology or a related discipline
• If the undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, then satisfactory performance on the general sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required.
• A personal statement describing your career goals and explaining how you plan to use the degree / ABA concentration

The admissions requirements for applicants to the ABA Certificate-Only Program are as follows:

• A master’s in psychology, education, or behavior analysis with a minimum overall graduate grade point average of 2.75.
• A personal statement describing your career goals and explaining how you plan to use the degree / ABA concentration

* As part of our commitment to educational excellence, Eastern Kentucky University — in compliance with the Behavior Analyst Certificate Board (BACB) and Applied Behavioral Analysis International — is preparing for the educational requirements/required competencies to transition from BACB's 4th Edition task list to the 5th Edition task list. For additional information, please speak to the program advisor.

Psychology — Industrial-Organizational —Master’s

View the application process to EKU’s industrial-organizational psychology master’s degree program. For more information, please contact an enrollment advisor.

• Graduation from an accredited institution with a bachelor’s degree.
• A minimum of two undergraduate psychology courses including statistics and one upper division psychology course [comparable courses in relevant disciplines (e.g., Business) will be considered].*
• An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75, and 3.0 overall in the last 60 hours of the bachelor’s program. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher are exempt from the GRE requirement.
• Targeted Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores of 149 or above on the verbal section and 144 or above on the quantitative section.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation providing evidence of academic potential from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or employment experience.
• A statement of career goals and objectives demonstrating academic potential and appropriate interests.
• Curriculum Vita/Resume

*Students lacking the minimum courses may be able to complete this requirement by enrolling in PSY 309w (Statistics-Research Methods I) and/or an upper division PSY course while beginning the M.S. program through the Psychology Department’s undergraduate online degree program. Some applicants may be asked to successfully complete these requirements prior to being admitted to the program.

Public Administration — Master’s

Applicants who meet the criteria listed below may qualify for “Clear Admission” to the MPA program.

Applicants must:

• submit a complete application
• meet the general requirements of both the Graduate School and MPA program
• have a minimum GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale), or 3.0 on the last 60 semester hours. In addition, applicants are expected to have verbal scores of 146 or above, and quantitative scores of 140 or above on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher are exempt from the GRE requirement
• provide two (2) letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or employment experience
• submit a statement of career goals and objectives

Students who fail to meet the targeted GPA or GRE scores specified above may be granted a probationary admission. The minimum condition for transfer from probationary admission status to clear admission status is the successful completion of at least nine hours of graduate course work with a grade point average of at least 3.0 and with no more than one grade, regardless of the number of course credit hours, of “C” or lower. Students must be removed from probationary admission prior to registering in any course work beyond an initial 12 hours. At least six hours of the first 12 hours must be in the common MPA core.

Social Work (MSW) — Master’s

Applicants applying for admission to the 60-hour program must have:

• a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency or foreign equivalent
• a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 and a minimum of 3.0 on undergraduate social work courses and previous graduate work**

Advanced Standing status is reserved for students who have a baccalaureate degree in social work (BSW or BSSW) from a Council on Social Work accredited program. Advanced standing status enables a student to waive all foundation-level courses, except for the Foundation Capstone course. All applicants applying for advanced standing status must have:

• a baccalaureate degree in social work (BSW or BSSW) from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
• a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and graduated within five years of entry to the MSW program**

** Students who do not meet the minimum requirement(s) may be considered for provisional admission based on a review of the applicant's transcript(s) and the strengths of the other elements in their application. Some work experience is preferred. Although GRE scores are not required for program admission, applicants may submit current scores from the GRE General Exam to supplement their application materials. GRE scores are valid for five years from the date of the exam.

*The Eastern Kentucky University master’s program is currently in Pre-Candidacy for Accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

Pre-Candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation indicates that it has submitted an application to be reviewed for Candidacy.  A program that has attained Pre-Candidacy has not yet been reviewed by the Commission on Accreditation or been verified to be in compliance with the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.  The Council on Social Work Education does not publicly disclose whether programs have currently attained Pre-Candidacy Status until they are granted Candidacy.

Students who enter the program while it is still in Pre-Candidacy will not be recognized as attending a program in Candidacy unless the program attains Candidacy in the academic year in which those students enter.  The Candidacy Process is typically a three-year process and there is no guarantee that a program in Pre-Candidacy will eventually attain Candidacy or Initial Accreditation. Students who enter programs that attain Candidacy in or before the academic year in which they begin their program of study will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program once the program attains Initial Accreditation. Candidacy by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.

For more information about social work accreditation, you may contact Accreditation.

NOTE: The MSW program anticipates moving from pre-candidacy to candidacy in June.

The Eastern Kentucky University’s master’s program has achieved Candidacy for Accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

Candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation indicates that it has made progress toward meeting criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. A program that has attained Candidacy has demonstrated a commitment to meeting the compliance standards set by the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, but has not yet demonstrated full compliance. 

Students who enter programs that attain Candidacy in or before the academic year in which they begin their program of study will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program once the program attains Initial Accreditation. Candidacy is typically a three-year process and attaining Candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain Initial Accreditation. Candidacy applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.

For more information about social work accreditation, you may contact Accreditation.