Admission to Graduate Study

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Recording Policy

Approved by:	The President
History:	Issued -- August 2006
	Revised -- August 1, 2024
	Last Reviewed -- August 1, 2024
Related Policies:	Graduate Enrollment; Graduate Financial Aid; Graduate Registration
Additional References:	Graduate Studies
Policy Owner: Contact Person:	Vice President for Enrollment Management tel. (202) 319-5300 Dean of Graduate Admission tel. (202) 319-5057

I. Introduction

The Catholic University of America (“Catholic University” or “University”) admits students regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, status as a veteran, or any other basis protected by applicable Federal and District of Columbia laws, and does not discriminate against students or applicants for admission on any such basis in the administration of its educational or admissions policies or in any aspect of its operations. The University is the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the University's policies and practices, which govern the University community, are grounded in the teachings of the Catholic faith.

The standards maintained by the University are applied to ensure that applicants admitted to the University are well qualified and trained to study at Catholic University and have a reasonable expectation of successfully completing a graduate program. Standards for admission to doctoral degree programs are frequently higher than those for admission to master’s degree programs.

II. Criteria for Admission

Those applicants who have earned or will earn a bachelor’s degree at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States (or the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree from a nationally recognized institution in another country) are eligible to be considered for admission to the graduate programs of Catholic University. With the exception of joint degree programs, an applicant can matriculate in only one graduate program at a time.

The decision to admit an applicant is based primarily on a combination of the following criteria, evaluated from a complete application:

Quality of previous undergraduate and graduate work as indicated on the applicant’s transcripts. Adequate performance as determined by the applicable school graduate program in prerequisite courses is required, see Graduate Announcements. Applicants with international credentials must submit in the original language those academic records that are not written in English. Such credentials must be accompanied by a literal English translation. A credential evaluation will be completed by the admission team. Official copies of transcripts must be submitted to the University before the completion of the first term of enrollment.
Strengths of letters of recommendation from persons competent to judge the applicant’s probable success in graduate school.
Scores on nationally standardized examinations, including the GRE, TOEFL, IELTS PTE or Duolingo, must be no more than five (5) years old. Official score reports must be submitted directly to the University. English proficiency test scores are required of international applicants who are not native speakers of English. The Office of Graduate Admission and the various academic units of the University involved in admissions decisions will comply with the University policy regarding minimum English proficiency. Individual schools or departments may prescribe additional requirements.
Applicant’s statement of his or her academic career objectives and their relation to the intended program of study.
Some programs require other evidence of potential success, such as a portfolio of creative work, an audition, personal interviews or an example of scholarly work.

III. The Admission Process

A. Admission to Degree Programs

To be considered for admission to graduate studies, each applicant must follow the application process which requires the following

Completion of the Catholic University online graduate application;
Payment of the non-refundable application fee (the fee does not apply to the accelerated application);
Submission of all relevant transcripts and other application materials;
Fulfillment of all graduate program admission requirements; and
Adherence to published application deadlines.

All records, including standardized test scores and academic records from other institutions, become part of the official file and cannot be returned nor duplicated for any purpose. While unofficial transcripts and test scores may be used for application review, upon admission, official copies of the documents must be submitted to the University.

All information submitted in the admission process — including the application and any other supporting materials — must be the student’s own work, factually true, and honestly presented. An applicant may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including denial of admission, admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree should the information be found to be false or found to have been falsified. An applicant who has submitted information found to be false or found to have been falsified is barred from submitting a subsequent application and will not be considered for admission at any time in the future.

Admission is only granted for the semester to which one applies. Those failing to register for the semester for which they have received acceptance must reapply for admission, unless permission for a one or two semester deferral is obtained from the Office of Graduate Admission. Deferral of admission does not guarantee deferral of scholarship.

B. Admission of Non-Degree Students

An applicant who does not wish to pursue a degree program but who wishes to follow courses independently or in a program required for a certificate, either for credit or as an auditor, may apply for admission as a non-degree seeking student. The application process includes the following:

Completion of the Catholic University online graduate application;
Payment of the non-refundable application fee; and
Submission of all relevant transcripts and other application materials.

In lieu of a transcript, a properly qualified student who is working toward a degree at another institution may submit written authorization for temporary enrollment at this University from the cognizant dean of that institution.

Admission as a non-degree student is limited to a single semester or summer session, unless renewed by the dean of the school for registration in subsequent consecutive semesters or summer sessions. No fee is charged for such renewal. A non-degree student who does not enroll in consecutive terms or who enrolls in a different school must submit a new application for admission, which must be accompanied by the application fee.

A non-degree student who wishes to be considered for admission to a degree program must submit the application and supporting documents ordinarily required for admission to the degree program. Since the mere accumulation of courses will not satisfy degree requirements, one should consult the appropriate dean or department chair before enrolling. A non-degree student may take up to a maximum number of nine graduate credits.

In the case of an applicant who has received a bachelor’s degree from a non-accredited school or who is deficient in preparation, admission as a non-degree seeking student may be granted. After three courses are completed with a grade B or better, students may apply for degree seeking status.

Admission of international students who would require the University to sponsor them on an F-1 student visa are not eligible for non-degree admission.

C. Admission to Graduate Programs

Full Admission

Students may be admitted to full status if they have submitted official documents indicating a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or have earned a degree equivalent to a baccalaureate degree from another country, and are fully qualified in the judgment of the individual program.

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission may be granted to an applicant who is missing one or more required documents but who is otherwise deemed suitable for admission. Provisionally admitted students must complete the requirements of their admission normally within the first semester enrolled as a provisional admission before being changed to full admission status. If the provisions of admission are not completed within one semester, the University reserves the right to withdraw the student from the program.

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission may be granted to an applicant who does not meet admission criteria under the condition of achieving the missing criteria including but not limited to a minimum GPA, minimum test score, or successful completion of a required course.

D. Enrollment Deposit

Admitted students are required to submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit to hold a place in the class. The deposit is credited toward tuition and fees upon matriculation. International students who have submitted their deposit but are denied a visa may have the deposit refunded upon proof of denial.

E. Updates to Application

An admitted student is under an ongoing obligation to inform the University about any material changes to the student’s record that arise after the admissions decision has been made. Specifically, an admitted student must immediately notify the Office of Graduate Admission in writing at cua-gradadmissions@cua.edu of any update to the student’s academic, conduct, or other behavioral record.

F. Revocation of Admission

The University reserves the right to revoke admission if an admitted student has engaged in any conduct or behavior prior to attendance that indicates a significant lack of judgment, integrity, or moral character.

IV. Admission of Members of the Faculty

By provision of the Academic Senate, no member of the faculty in the ranks of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Ordinary Professor and no Officer of Administration as identified by the University bylaws will be admitted to a graduate degree program. Interpretation of this rule and authorization of exception to it are within the jurisdiction of the Graduate Board .

V. Readmission

A student who has withdrawn from the University, or who is presumed to have withdrawn because of failure to maintain continuous enrollment, must apply for readmission. An application for readmission is subject to the same scrutiny as an application for original admission. The student may be required to adhere to degree requirements adopted since original matriculation or to special requirements imposed as a condition of readmission, such as repetition of certain examinations or courses. A student who had been withdrawn for more than ten (10) years may not be eligible for readmission.

The University complies with the requirements regarding readmission of veterans as set forth in Executive Order 13607, Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses and Other Family Members.