All students seeking admission to a graduate degree program must first meet the minimum standards of the College of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also have the approval of the department in which the degree program is offered. The admission standards of departments may exceed those of the College of Graduate Studies.

International Students must satisfy additional requirements.

Admission to the University clears the way for consideration for admission to a specific program. Admission standards for specific programs may exceed those of the University. Admission to one program does not constitute admission to any other. Graduate students wishing to change from one major field to another must make application to the Office of the Graduate Dean and must meet all specific program admission requirements for the new major.

• Application Deadlines: Domestic students must submit all application material at least 30 days before Fall, Spring, or Summer Registration.
• Applications include:
  • Completed Application forms
    
    • Official Transcripts from each college or university attended, including the accredited institution from which the applicant has earned a bachelor's degree.
    • GRE and GMAT Test Scores. All applicants, except for deaf students and those seeking admission to the MBA program, must have the Educational Testing Service submit GRE scores directly to Lamar University. MBA applicants must have scores on the Graduate Management Admission Text submitted directly to Lamar University by the testing service. Scores more than five years old are unacceptable. Deaf applicants may substitute performance intelligence and reading ability test scores for the GRE.
  • Undergraduate Degree. A prospective student must have a bachelor's degree from an institution approved by a recognized accrediting agency.
  • GRE Scores and Grade Point Average (GPA). All applicants for full admission, except for deaf students and those seeking admission to the MBA program, must meet the institutional GRE and GPA standard according to the formula (GPA X 200) + (GRE V+Q) = or greater than 1350. The GPA used in the formula may be either the overall or the last 60 semester hours, whichever is higher. The GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned by semester hours considered. Individual departments may have standards which exceed this institutional minimum.
  • GMAT Scores. Applicants to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program must meet one of the following criteria:
    • A total of at least 950 points based on the formula: 200 times the overall undergraduate GPA for the first baccalaureate degree (4.0 system) plus a GMAT score of at least 450. (Note: Conditional admission may be granted to applicants scoring between 400 and 449.)
    • A total of at least 1000 points based on the formula: 200 times the GPA (4.0 system) of the last 60 hours of undergraduate work for the first baccalaureate degree, plus at least 450 on the GMAT. (Note: Conditional admission may be granted to applicants scoring between 400 and 449.)
  • Provisional Admission Students meeting the University minimums but not the minimums for admission in a specific program may be admitted to the program provisionally. A student admitted provisionally must complete the first nine semester hours of graduate work with a GPA of at least 3.0.
  • Undergraduate Work in Intended Major Field, Prerequisites and Deficiencies. The applicant for graduate study ordinarily must have completed no fewer than 24 semester hours of undergraduate work in the intended major field, 12 of which must be at the junior and/or senior level. Applicants who do not meet this requirement may be required to make up such deficiencies as prescribed by the graduate major. A GPA of 3.0 for assigned deficiency/leveling courses must be maintained and grades below "C" will not be accepted. Departments  may establish additional requirements. MBA students with deficiencies will be required to complete first year MBA courses as determined by the College of Business with a grade of "C" or better and an overall GPA of "B" or better in all course work taken

• Prospective Doctor of Engineering (D.E.) students must send a letter to the Dean, College of Engineering, Box 10057 Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, 77710. The letter should give information on the applicant's engineering experience, current employment and major research interests. For details on GPA, GRE, TOEFL and background requirements, see the College of Engineering section of this catalog.

  Prospective Doctor of Education in Deaf Education (Ed.D.) students must send a letter to the Chair, Department of Communication Disorders (Speech and Hearing), Box 10076 Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710. The letter should give information on the applicant's deaf education experience, training, employment history, current employment, and major research interests. Deaf applicants are encouraged and experience as a teacher of the deaf is required. For details on GPA, GRE, TOEFL and background experience requirements, see the College of Fine Arts and Communication section of this catalog.

A former graduate student who has not maintained continuous enrollment for two semesters (summers excluded), but who is academically eligible to continue in the graduate degree program where he or she was most recently enrolled, may be permitted to return. The procedures are dictated by the period of absence from enrollment as follows:

• Less Than Two Years. The student notifies the Graduate School and the program coordinator of his or her plans to return.
• Two to Four Years. The student must submit a new application and be endorsed by the program coordinator and the Graduate School. The application must show any intervening graduate work and appropriate official transcripts of the work may be required by the Graduate School. The applicable admission standards are those that were in effect when the student originally enrolled.
• Four or More Years. The student is considered a new applicant, and new supporting materials are required. The applicable standards are those in effect when the student applies for readmission. Course work more than six years old may not be counted toward a graduate degree.

1. Students who wish to take graduate courses but do not wish to be admitted to the College of Graduate Studies or who have not met all requirements for admission to the College may be admitted as Post Baccalaureate students in one of the undergraduate colleges under the following conditions:
   • The applicant must hold a bachelor's degree.
   • The applicant must submit an application for admission to the Post Baccalaureate program.
   • The applicant must submit an official transcript from each college previously attended.
   • The applicant must be approved for PB status by the University.
2. International students will not be admitted as Post Baccalaureate students.
3. If application for admission to a graduate degree is received in a subsequent semester and requirements for admission to the College of Graduate studies are completed, a maximum of six semester hours completed at Lamar before full admission is gained may be counted for degree credit with the approval of the department and the Graduate Dean.
4. Post Baccalaureate students who have successfully completed six or more hours of graduate course work and who do not meet the minimum admission requirements for the College of Graduate Studies may petition for admission following the procedure outlined in the Graduate Bulletin under "Admissions Appeals." If admission is then granted by the College of Graduate Studies, the student may receive degree credit for six hours and for the hours completed during the semester in which the student was fully admitted.
5. PB students must obtain permission from the department head before enrolling in any course.
6. Post Baccalaureate students are not permitted to enroll in Business courses for graduate credit without prior consent of the Graduate Coordinator, College of Business.