Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

All candidates for admission to any graduate program must fulfill the following general admission requirements:

1. An earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
2. A minimum grade point average of 2.50 for all undergraduate work or 3.00 for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work. Some academic programs may require higher minimum grade point averages.
3. Any out-of-country applicants whose native language is not English must also submit a passing score of 26 or higher on the speaking section of the TOEFL-IBT, per state guidelines for demonstration of oral communication skills.

Application Requirements

Note: All credentials submitted for admission purpose become the property of Our Lady of the Lake University and cannot be returned. Applicants who have attended OLLU are not required to submit OLLU transcripts.

1. Official transcripts from all regional accredited colleges and universities where degrees were conferred.
   1. For admission to any of the doctoral programs, applicants must provide evidence that a Master’s degree has been earned from an accredited university.
   2. All transcripts not in English must have a certified English translation. An official course-by-course credential evaluation report of these credentials must be submitted and indicate a minimum educational preparation equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree and, for application to a doctoral program, evidence of completion of a Master’s degree from an accredited university.
2. Application fee of $40.
3. Completed University application form.

For Special Admission (see description in this section of the catalog), the student must submit an official transcript verifying the highest conferred degree and an overall grade point average of at least 2.50. In addition, the applicant must submit a personal statement indicating the reasons for enrolling in the requested courses.

In addition to the University application requirements, each academic program may have supplementary requirements. Please refer to respective program descriptions for explanation of the application requirements.

Application Requirements for International Students

An international student seeking admission into a graduate program must, in addition to the above, submit:

1. A $50 nonrefundable international application fee.
2. Certification of finances with 1) certificate from the financial institution where funds have been deposited or accounts have been maintained by applicant or applicant’s sponsor or 2) certificate from the applicant or applicant’s sponsor attesting to the ability to financially support studies for one academic year at OLLU.

If transferring from a U.S. college or university, applicant must submit:

1. Proof of immigration status with copy of passport, current visa stamp, I-94 and I-20; and
2. International Student Adviser’s Transfer Report on form requested from the International Admissions Office at 210-431-3978.

Application Deadlines

Applications and supporting documents should be submitted as soon as possible. The University’s priority deadline is April 1 for fall admission, Oct. 1 for spring admission, and Feb. 1 for summer admission. Application deadlines vary for each graduate program and may precede the University deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check with the unit to which the applicant is interested in applying to learn the deadline dates that pertain to the application.

Meeting the priority deadline does not guarantee admission although it does ensure priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadline will be considered on a space available basis until the program’s final deadline.

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission is granted on the merits of each case. Please refer to the department policies regarding whether respective departments will consider conditional admissions. In some circumstances, applicants who do not meet all of the requirements for regular admission may be admitted conditionally, providing they fulfill the conditions listed in their letters of conditional acceptance within the period of specified time. If conditional acceptance is given because of missing official credentials, the period of time to provide those documents will not extend beyond the first term of attendance.

Special Admission

A student who wishes to register only for course work and not as a degree candidate may be considered for admission as a special student. Please refer to the department policies regarding whether respective departments will consider special admission. No more than 12 semester hours earned as a special student may be applied toward a degree and these credits must have been earned not more than one calendar year prior to admission to the degree program. There is no guarantee, however, the course taken in the special admission category will be accepted as part of the degree curriculum, or that acceptance as a special student will lead to regular admission to the master’s program.

Transient Admission

Occasionally, a graduate student from another institution may request permission to take one or two courses at OLLU to complete degree requirements at the home institution. Such students must meet the foundation and prerequisite requirements for any courses to be taken. The application requirements for transient students are as follows:

1. Submission of a completed application for admission by the applicable deadline.
2. Application fee of $40.
3. A letter of intent that describes the reasons for enrolling in this specific course.
4. An official copy of the most recent graduate transcript.

Admission Requirements for Specific Programs

In addition to University admission requirements, each academic program may have admission requirements that are more rigorous than the University requirements. Please refer to respective academic program description for explanation of the program-specific admission requirements.

Readmission

A readmission form is required for the following reasons:

1. Application to continue graduate level coursework when a year or more has passed since a student’s last date of attendance.
2. Application to continue graduate level coursework when a student has been placed on Enforced Scholastic Withdrawal and has remained out of the program for one full semester or two summer sessions.

Please refer to the deadlines for admission and to the respective academic program description for explanation of the program-specific deadlines.

Residence Requirements and Transfer Credit

All credits toward the master’s or doctoral degree must be taken at Our Lady of the Lake University with the exception of those credits which come under the transfer credit policy. Graduate credit will not be awarded for portfolio-based experiential learning which occurs prior to the matriculation into a graduate program.

Graduate credits earned at a regionally accredited institution, including institutions of the United Colleges of San Antonio (UCSA), prior to admission to Our Lady of the Lake University may be accepted in transfer provided that the following conditions are met:

1. Each course transferred has a grade of “B” or better.
2. A maximum of six graduate semester hours may be transferred into any graduate program.

Transfer of credit earned prior to a matriculation at Our Lady of the Lake University must be formally petitioned by the student and approved by the major adviser and dean of the college or school.

After matriculation, all credits earned must be taken in residence unless the student receives approval prior to taking the course. To have a course approved, students should obtain a Request to Take Course(s) at Another College/University form from the Registrar’s Office, complete the form, obtain signatures, and return the form to the Registrar’s Office. If the course is offered through extension/correspondence, documentation certifying that the course may be used toward a degree at the home institution must accompany the form.