ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY

The Office of Admissions is committed to marketing the University and attracting students who seek to attend a comprehensive liberal arts institution. As a team, we strive to enroll a talented student body from a variety of ethnic, economic, and geographic backgrounds.

For admission to any graduate program, graduation from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting agency is required. The applicant's academic record should indicate that he/she carried an undergraduate program demonstrating adequate preparation in the field in which graduate work is to be undertaken. Admission to the University is processed in the Office of Admissions. The admissions committee within the college determines admission to a graduate degree program where the graduate program is housed.

Admission Categories

Students admitted to graduate study are placed in either one of two general categories: candidates for degrees or non-degree candidates. Applicants are required to meet all standards for admission if they wish to pursue a degree program. The category of non-degree admission is available for qualified students with legitimate reasons for earning graduate credit without a degree objective. Non-degree admission is limited to twelve semester hours of credit. Admission is available for certified teachers whose purpose in enrolling is for renewal of a certificate only (limited to 12 hours in a 5 year period). Credits earned as a Non-Degree student may be applied toward degree requirements at a later date.  Students admitted in a Non-Degree classification cannot receive any student financial aid.

Non-Degree classifications include:

Audit Student:

an applicant seeking to take degree courses and not intending to earn university credit for the courses. Approval is made for one semester and is made on a space available basis.  Note: All auditors must be admitted to the University and go through the regular registration process. Auditors will be charged the same fees as students taking courses for academic credit. The request for the privilege of auditing a course should be made to the instructional department concerned and should be for a specific semester. Auditing a course consists of attending classes. An auditor, however, is not responsible for assignments or examinations. No credit may be earned in an audited course by examination or otherwise. No audited course may be repeated for credit at a later date. Course work taken in a non-traditional format may not be audited. A student who has registered for a course on an audit basis and who wishes to change the registration to take the course for credit (or who wishes to change from credit to audit) must do so no later than the last day for adding classes, as published in the University Academic Calendar.

Transient (Visiting) Student:

an applicant seeking to take courses at Coastal Carolina University while regularly enrolled in another (home) institution. The applicant must secure approval from the Academic Dean or University Registrar at the home institution to ensure that the courses will transfer. Students seeking to continue in a visiting status for subsequent terms must have the approval from the Office of Admissions.

Adult Learner:

an applicant 22 years of age or older seeking to take courses for personal or professional enhancement (including degree seeking students who cannot provide finalized transcripts) can be admitted and enroll in a maximum of 18 semester hours of credit. At the completion of 18 credit hours, the student must meet regular degree seeking status to the University. Official transcripts from previously attended institutions are required at this time.

Senior Citizen:

an applicant 60 years of age or older and a resident of South Carolina can enroll in classes free of charge providing there is available space in the class. A special senior citizen application can be completed in the Office of Admissions.

International Student Admission

Applicants from countries other than the United States must meet regular admission requirements. International applicants will complete an application for International Admission, provide the necessary transcripts and/or leaving certificates, take required standardized tests and submit a financial verification form. Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum score for admission is 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test. Applicants whose native language is English are required to submit SAT or ACT scores.

Credit from foreign colleges/universities is evaluated by the International Programs Office in coordination with the dean of the student's major and the dean of each course in review.

Upon admission and verification of financial support, applicants will be issued an immigration document for use in requesting a student visa. In order to register officially as a student at Coastal, entry into the U.S. must be in proper student visa status.  Individuals already in the U.S.A. who are out of status with the Immigration and Naturalization Service will not be permitted official registration.

International students attending on student visas are required to purchase the University insurance plan or show proof of a comparable plan acceptable to the University’s Office of International Programs.  

Readmission

A student enrolled as a masters degree-seeking student who leaves the University in good standing and misses one or more major terms and does not attend another institution need only submit the application for readmission in order to return to the University.   Summer terms do not count as a major term in this instance.

Admission to a graduate program is valid for one year. If an applicant fails to complete any graduate course or part of the prescribed program within this period, the acceptance lapses, and the student becomes subject to any new requirements that may have been adopted. If a student has not acted upon an admission after one calendar year, the student must reapply for admission.

Students who have been admitted to a graduate program under regulations other than those now in force and who have not completed any Coastal Carolina University graduate courses during a period of three or more years, are required to fulfill current admission requirements prior to returning to the University for additional graduate work. Upon readmission, such students become subject to current regulations of the institution and of the program to which they are admitted.