Frequently Asked Questions

UNDERGRADUATE

1. When should I apply?
Although there is no deadline for receipt of the undergraduate application, those applying for financial aid and/or university housing should apply early during the year to ensure consideration.


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2. What are the admission requirements?

Freshman Admission

Applicants for degrees admission as first-time freshman must provide an official transcript showing graduation from high school.* Graduates of high schools in any state are eligible to apply for admission to the freshman class. Graduates of Tennessee public high schools must provide a transcript certifying satisfactory performance on the Tennessee Proficiency Examination.

*Exceptions made for GED applicants and early admission of first-time freshmen after the junior year in high school.

A score report from the American College Testing Program (ACT) must be submitted by all entering freshmen who are under 21 years of age. If ACT scores are not available, Scholastic Assessment Test scores (SAT) of the College Entrance Examination Board may be substituted.

The university schedules ACT assessment periodically throughout the year. Applicants for admission and students enrolled at ETSU are eligible to participate in the ACT testing program.

In addition, specific high school courses must be completed and minimum standards met on the ACT or SAT and high school grade point average.

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3. I received the GED - High School Equivalency Diploma. Am I eligible to apply for admission?

Applicants 18 years of age or older, who are not high school graduates, may apply for admission on the basis of scores presented on the General Education Development test (GED) of the American Council on Education.

If you are under 21 years of age and are applying to be admitted on the basis of GED scores, you must also submit ACT or SAT scores. We will consider your GED scores, ACT (or SAT) scores, and high school records in reviewing your application.

The following guidelines apply to GED applicants:

• If you completed the GED prior to January 1, 1997, you must present an average score of 45 or higher, with no single score below 35.
• If you completed the GED between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2001, you must present an average score of 45 or higher with no single score below 40.
• If you complete the 2002 Series GED Tests, you must earn a minimum of 410 on each of the five tests in the battery and an average (mean) score of 450 on the total battery.
• If you earned your GED diploma in 1989-1992, you are subject to the high school foreign language requirement (s).
• If you earned your GED diploma in 1993 or thereafter, you are subject to the high school foreign language and visual/performing arts requirements.

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4. What is the application procedure?

FIRST-TIME FRESHMAN (NO PREVIOUS COLLEGE) ADMISSION ITEMS REQUIRED:

1. Application for admission (either WEB application or regular paper form).
2. A $15.00 application fee (non-refundable). If you are submitting a WEB application, you should submit the application fee with a note that your application for admission was submitted electronically. Be sure to include your full name, address, and social security number with your check.
3. Official high school transcript sent directly from your school to the ETSU Office of Admissions. If you are currently enrolled in high school, this transcript should include your senior-year courses.
4. ACT or SAT scores-required for freshmen under age 21. Scores may be submitted on the high school transcript or through the testing companies.

TRANSFER STUDENT ADMISSION ITEMS REQUIRED:

1. Application for admission (either WEB application or regular paper form).
2. A $15.00 application fee (non-refundable). If you are submitting a WEB application, you should submit the application fee with a note that your application for admission was submitted electronically. Be sure to include your full name, address, and social security number with your check.
3. Official high school transcript sent directly from your school to the ETSU Office of Admissions.
4. Official transcript sent directly from each college attended to the ETSU Office of Admissions.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADMISSION ITEMS REQUIRED:

1. Submit this undergraduate application form, along with the International Student Application. Applications may be faxed (423-439-4630) only if accompanied by the credit card payment form for the $25.00 application fee.

2. Pay the $25 application fee.

3. Send original or certified grade (mark) sheets for secondary school and college or university or diplomas in those countries where mark sheets are not available. English translations are required if mark sheets or diplomas are in a language other than English.

4. Include a statement in your own handwriting, 300-500 words in length.

5. Submit an official copy of your scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). East Tennessee State University requires a total score of 500 (173 computer-based) or better for undergraduate study. If you are under age 21 and have no previous college credit—either ACT or SAT scores are also required.

6. Certification from a parent, guardian, or other responsible person or organization that youwill have ample support while at ETSU is required. Any financial documentation provided must be original documents.

SPECIAL STUDENT ADMISSION ITEMS REQUIRED:

1. Application for admission (either WEB application or regular paper form).
2. A $15.00 application fee (non-refundable). If you are submitting a WEB application, you should submit the application fee with a note that your application for admission was submitted electronically. Be sure to include your full name, address, and social security number with your check.
3. Visiting Student - A Letter of Good Standing should be sent from the home institution to the ETSU Office of Admissions.
Second Undergraduate Degree Student - Official transcript sent directly from each college attended to the ETSU Office of Admissions.

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5. How much is tuition?

In-state: Undergraduate per credit hour is $186.00 ; Undergraduate full-time is $1919.50 .
Out-of-State: Undergraduate per credit hour is $530.00 ; Undergraduate full-time is $5885.50

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6. How can I transfer my credits from another school to ETSU?
Request a copy of your official transcript to be sent directly to:
Director of Admissions
P.O. Box 70731
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee 37614-0002

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7. How do I know what credits ETSU will accept from my other school? What credits will the College of Business & Technology accept?

When your official transcript is received in the Office of Admissions, a transcript analyst will evaluate it and send you a copy of your Advanced Standing Analysis which indicates the courses and credit granted as transfer credit to ETSU.

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8. What are the minimum and maximum number of credit hours I can take?

Students may take one hour up to a maximum of 19 hours in each semester. A minimum of 12 hours is considered full-time.

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9. Can I register by telephone or Web?

Yes, most everyone can register via goldlink by phone or on internet. The URL is:  http://goldlink.etsu.edu/ahomepg.htm. First time ETSU students will initially register through one of the Orientation programs. Student Affairs sends out those invitations. Also, students who have a remedial/developmental studies requirement must sign-up for all of the prescribed courses, otherwise, no courses requested using goldlink will take. For more information on goldlink call (423) 439-5584.

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GRADUATE

1. What graduate degrees are offered in the College of Business & Technology?
ETSU's College of Business & Technology offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Accountancy (M.Acc.), and Master of Public Administration (MPA) degrees. In addition, a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (GCBA) is offered. Visit the GCBA homepage for more information about this graduate program.


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2. Is the MPA a "business" degree?
No, but the MPA program shares many of the objectives, methods, and resources of the MBA and M.Acc. degree programs.

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3. Do I have to choose between the MBA and GCBA?
No. Students with non-business undergraduate degrees may seek the GCBA as a stepping stone to the MBA.

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4. How much is graduate tuition per credit hour?
Tuition for Tennessee residents is $271.00  per semester hour, not to exceed $2457.00  per semester for 10 or more hours. Students not residing in the state of Tennessee will be required to pay $615.00  per semester hour, not to exceed $6423.00  per semester for 10 or more hours.

Students who hold graduate assistantships and tuition scholarships are considered residents for the purpose of fee payments. Graduate assistantship and tuition scholarship recipients receive remission of the tuition fee. For more information about student fees, contact the Comptroller's Office at: (423) 439-4212.

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5. Do I have to pay out-of-state tuition if I live out-of-state, but work full-time in Tennessee?
No. If you are employed full-time in Tennessee, then you may pay in-state tuition only if enrolled part-time.

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6. When should I apply?
You should apply as soon as possible. Applications are reviewed as they are received during the year. Applicants seeking admission to the School of Graduate Studies must have complete applications on file by the following deadline: July 1 for the Fall semester, December 1 for the Spring semester, and May 1 for the Summer semester. These deadlines are for U.S. residents. The deadline for all international applications for the Fall semester is May 1, and the deadline for the Spring semester is September 1.

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7. What are the admission requirements?
A student applying for admission to the MBA, M.Acc., MPA, or GCBA program must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Applicants for the MBA and MCA programs must submit transcripts of all previous academic work and scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). A minimum undergraduate GPA and a minimum GMAT score are required.

Applicants for the MPA program must meet the following specific admission criteria:
Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a four-point scale
Satisfactory scores on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Minimum TOEFL score of 550 (international students)

Certain applicants who do not meet all relevant admission criteria may be given conditional admission to the graduate programs. A student admitted conditionally must remove the condition within two semesters (one semester if the student is a recipient of financial aid). Students in the process of applying for admission to a graduate business program may be authorized to register for certain courses as a Nondegree Student. A student wishing to do so must seek approval from the Director of Graduate Business Studies and must apply for nondegree status with the School of Graduate Studies.

All entering students are presumed to be computer-literate and to have an understanding of mathematics through calculus. A student whose first language is other than English and who has not completed a degree at a U.S. institution must achieve a score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Students whose undergraduate degrees were awarded by institutions outside the U.S. may be required to take additional undergraduate coursework to establish equivalency with four-year programs in the U.S.

East Tennessee State University is fully in accord with the belief that educational opportunities should be available to all persons without regard to age, sex, religion, color, race, national origin, or disability.


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8. When should I take the GMAT?
The Graduate Management Admissions Test is offered internationally four times a year in October, January, March, and June. Applicants for the Fall Semester should take the GMAT on or before the January or March test date. You may register online for the GMAT or request more information by the e-mail address: gmat@ets.org.

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9. Can I take the GMAT again if I do not achieve the minimum score?
Yes. If an applicant takes the GMAT more than one time, then the highest score will be used for evaluation.

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10. What about transfer credit and dual degrees?
There is no restriction on earning two graduate business degrees. Students who are concurrently enrolled in another graduate program can petition to enroll in the MBA, M.Acc., or MPA program. Prior permission for such dual enrollment is required from the Director of Graduate Business Studies and the student's other graduate advisor.

Similarly, students who have already completed an MBA program can enroll in the M.Acc. program, or M.Acc. graduates can enroll in the MBA program. However, under no circumstances can a student receive credit for the same course in more than one degree. If a student has already taken a required course as part of another program, a substitute for that course will be suggested by the student's advisor.

Students who have recent graduate course credit from another institution or who have completed graduate courses prior to admission to the MBA or M.Acc. program may be eligible to transfer the credit into the program. No more than nine semester hours of credit can be transferred, and no grade less than B will be accepted. Also, as noted above, courses fulfilling the requirements of completed degree programs cannot be transferred. A student wishing to apply for transfer of credit should contact the Director of Graduate Business Studies (423) 439-5314.


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11. What financial aid is available for graduate students?
Students admitted to the MBA or M.Acc. program can apply for financial aid in the form of:
Graduate Assistantships Geier (Minority) Assistantships Tuition Scholarships Other Scholarships Student Loans

Graduate assistantships and Geier assistantships pay full tuition (in-state or out-of-state) and a monthly stipend. Recipients of these assistantships are required to work 20 hours per week and to take nine hours of coursework leading to their degree. No more than three hours may be at the undergraduate level. Tuition scholarships pay full tuition (in-state or out-of-state) but no stipend. Recipients of tuition scholarships are required to work 8 hours per week and to take nine hours of coursework leading to their degree. Again, no more than three hours may be at the undergraduate level. Other scholarships, where available, normally pay a stipend only and do not require student work nor a minimum course load.

Graduate assistantships and tuition scholarships are awarded in various departments and offices in the College of Business & Technology. Interested students should request application materials from the Office of Graduate Studies and also should contact the departments and offices listed. Positions will be assigned based on students' credentials and suitability for the work to be performed.

Additional graduate assistantships and tuition scholarships are available in the Sherrod Library, the School of Graduate Studies, School of Continuing Studies, Athletics Program, and elsewhere at ETSU. Interested students should contact those units for information on available positions. Students who qualify for Geier assistantships should contact ETSU's School of Graduate Studies for information. Students should contact the university Office of Financial Aid for information on other scholarships and student loans.

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12. My undergraduate degree is not a business degree. Am I eligible to apply to the MBA program? Will I have to take additional courses?
Yes, you may apply to the MBA program. If you are accepted into the program, you will then be required to take foundation courses (a maximum of 24 hours of foundation coursework may be required in addition to any courses that the student may need to remedy deficiencies in calculus and computer literacy).


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13. It is one week before classes start and I have not submitted an application for consideration to the graduate program. Is it possible for me to take any graduate classes?
Yes. You may take classes as a nondegree student, but you must obtain permission from the Director of Graduate Business Studies. Credit earned as a nondegree student (up to nine hours) may be accepted toward the graduate degree if approved by the Director.


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14. I do not intend to complete a graduate degree. May I take a graduate course?
Only in exceptional circumstances will students be permitted to take graduate courses in this situation. Permission of the Director of Graduate Business Studies is required.

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15. How long will it take me to finish the graduate program?
The length of the MBA program will depend upon a student's prior academic work and the number of courses to be taken per semester. The well-prepared full-time student can complete the MBA program in four semesters (MCA in three semesters, MPA in four semesters). Part-time students can complete the program through evening classes at the ETSU main campus. Students can take selected courses at ETSU/UT Kingsport, ETSU Bristol or via the instructional television system, at sites throughout Northeast Tennessee.

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16. If I am working full-time, how many hours should I take?
The full-time employed student normally should take no more than six hours per semester. In some cases, three hours will be the practical limit.

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For further information on ETSU's MBA, M.Acc., MPA or other graduate business programs, please contact:

ETSU Links

Admissions

Transfer Course Equivalencies

Transfer Agreements

Transfer Guide

Articulated Programs

Adult, Commuter, and Transfer Services

Director of Graduate Studies College of Business & Technology East Tennessee State University PO Box 70699 Johnson City, Tennessee 37614 Tel: (423) 439-5314 Fax: (423) 439-5274 E-Mail: BUSINESS@ETSU.EDU

 East Tennessee State University College of Business  IMA National Office