Graduate Studies

Inquires may be made by calling:
the Registrar at 325.793.3808.
Emails may be directed to:
gradstudies@mcm.edu

University Mission Statement

Shaped by Christian principles, McMurry University challenges students to examine our complex world from multiple perspectives in preparation for lives of leadership, service, and professional success.

Graduate Studies Mission

The purpose of the Graduate Studies program is to advance the mission of the University through the rigorous pursuit of knowledge and by developing leaders capable of serving the needs of a global society

DEGREES OFFERED:

• Master of Accountancy
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Two tracks available:

• Education
• Family Nurse Practitioner

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Full Admission

• The completed Graduate School application form, together with the $35 non-refundable application fee and other required documents, should be received in the Office of the Registrar by July 1, if applying for fall admission, or November 1, if applying for spring admission. The applicant should indicate on the form the particular program for which he/she is applying.
• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university is required. A final official transcript, in English, from each school attended is required and should be mailed to the Office of the Registrar directly from each institution attended. The application will become void if a baccalaureate degree is not earned by the time of matriculation. Some graduate programs may require specific undergraduate degree or subset of courses taken as part of undergraduate preparation.
• Overall undergraduate GPA should not be less than 3.00. However, individual graduate programs may have higher requirements. Specific graduate programs may also put additional GPA requirements in the major or certain subset of undergraduate courses. 
• Individual graduate programs may require minimum GRE or other standardized tests (appropriate to particular field of study).
• Essay, writing sample, and other requirements as specified will be determined by individual graduate programs.
• Number and types of recommendation letters and/or work experience are to be specified by individual graduate programs.

International students
McMurry University accepts graduate application from domestic and resident aliens. Individual graduate programs may add additional requirements to transcript/degree certification.  A deposit is required for international students who wish to live in the residence hall. 

Conditional Admission

Applicants who do not meet all requirements for full graduate admission may be considered for conditional admission by the graduate department based on criteria that demonstrate the applicant’s ability for success in that department’s graduate program. Students who are admitted conditionally may be restricted to explicit conditions during the first semester of enrollment, including but not limited to, a restricted number of hours, earned GPA, and/or undergraduate prerequisite work, as required by the Graduate Council. The student, admitted conditionally, will not be permitted to register for the subsequent semester if prescribed conditions are not met.

Tentative Admission

Tentative admission status may be granted temporarily for a student who has met all the requirements but has been unable to provide all the necessary materials, such as a final official transcript for courses in progress at time of matriculation. Students must be removed from tentative status before registering for the subsequent semester.

Delayed Admission

The letter of acceptance provided to the student will be for the specified semester only. If the student wishes to delay admission for one long semester, a written notification must be submitted to the Registrar. The Registrar will notify the appropriate major department. If admission is delayed beyond one semester, a new application must be submitted, along with all required documents.

Non-Degree Admission

An applicant may apply as a non-degree student by completing the nondegree application, which is obtained through the Registrar’s office, and submitting all official transcripts. Admission as a non-degree student is not a guarantee of a successful admission, for a later term, into a particular McMurry graduate program or that the credits earned as non-degree will count towards the any McMurry University graduate degree. Some courses require admission to the program and/or departmental approval before enrolling as a non-degree student.

The non-degree status is for one (1) semester only, not to exceed nine (9) credit hours. In order to continue taking graduate courses, the student must be admitted to the graduate program through the regular graduate admission process. There is no financial aid available for non-degree status

Re-Admission

A student who withdraws from classes during a fall or spring semester or who is not enrolled for one long semester must complete a Readmission Application with the Registrar’s office. Readmission to the graduate program is subject to the approval of the major department. Readmission applications should be completed and on file with the Registrar’s office at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student wishes to return to McMurry.

A student who is not enrolled in the M.S.N program for a period of 1 year will be required to re-apply for admission to the program through PHSSN.

Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses

Current McMurry undergraduate students may take up to 12 credit hours of graduate course work as allowed by the individual departmental graduate program policy, with the following conditions.

• Must be a currently enrolled degree-seeking undergraduate McMurry student.
• Must be in the last 24 hours of undergraduate work prior to graduation.
• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• Must have applied and been conditionally admitted into a McMurry graduate degree program and received the graduate program departmental approval to enroll in graduate courses. Approval to enroll in graduate courses requires completion of the Graduate Program Department Approval form by the Department’s Graduate Director.
  • The Graduate Program Department Approval forms are available from and must be returned to the Registrar’s office.
  • The Graduate Program Director’s approval includes specifying if the graduate courses will apply to the undergraduate degree or only the graduate degree, which cannot be altered after the drop/add period has ended.
• May enroll in up to 15 credit hours in a fall/spring semester if undergraduate and graduate course work are combined.
  • May enroll in up to 12 credit hours in a fall/spring semester if only graduate course work is taken and undergraduate degree has not been conferred.
• A graduate course taken by an undergraduate is counted toward the student’s bachelor’s degree in the same way that upper-division courses are counted, unless the course is reserved for graduate credit.
• An undergraduate student enrolled in a graduate course is subject to all University regulations affecting undergraduates.

* Undergraduates enrolled in graduate courses are considered and reported as undergraduate students until bachelor degree is conferred.
** Departments offering graduate programs may limit the number of graduate credit hours undergraduates may take to less than 12 credit hours. Refer to specific department graduate program policies for guidance.

ACADEMIC PROGRESS

At the conclusion of each fall and spring semester, the major department evaluates the progress of each student and determines whether or not good academic standing has been maintained.

Individual departments or programs may have additional criteria above the minimum university academic standards, and, if so, the departmental standards will be the requirement for determining satisfactory academic progress.

Academic probation

If the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 the student is placed on academic probation.

The student must raise the cumulative GPA to a minimum of 3.0 by the end of the next two successive long semesters.

The status of “Academic Probation” will be notated on the official transcript.

A student cannot graduate while on academic probation.

Individual departments or programs may have additional criteria above the minimum university academic standards, and, if so, the departmental standards will be the requirement for determining satisfactory academic progress.

Academic Suspension

A student on academic probation who fails to raise the cumulative GPA to 3.0 in the allotted time frame is then suspended.

A student may be suspended if a grade of D, F, or WF is earned in any semester.

Students must appeal directly to the Graduate Council to have their academic suspension lifted. The student may only be readmitted to the graduate program according to the recommendations and approval of the major department and the Graduate Council.

The status of “Academic Suspension” will be notated on the official transcript. A student cannot enroll or graduate while on academic suspension.

Individual departments or programs may have additional criteria above the minimum university academic standards, and, if so, the departmental standards will be the requirement for determining satisfactory academic progress.

GRADUATE COURSE WORK

A minimum of 24 credit hours must be earned in resident McMurry courses for the master’s degree. No graduate credit will be granted for courses that were taken at the undergraduate level or a course less than the 5000 level, either at McMurry or elsewhere. Students must have an appropriate baccalaureate degree in order to enroll in graduate level courses at McMurry.

TIME FOR DEGREE COMPLETION

The graduate degree must be completed six academic years from term of initial enrollment in the graduate program. Any student who does not graduate within the six-year time limit must meet the requirements of the most current catalog and petition the Graduate Council to continue in the graduate program under the new degree plan.

TRANSFER HOURS

A limited number of credit hours taken at another regionally accredited college or university may be considered for transfer if applicable to the student’s graduate program at McMurry. A maximum number of six credit hours may be transferred at the graduate level. Such credits must be taken within five academic years of initial enrollment, must carry a “B” grade (3.0 on a 4.0 scale), and must be approved by the major department.

WITHDRAWING FROM THE UNIVERSITY

If withdrawing during a semester of enrollment is necessary, the student must obtain the appropriate paperwork from the Registrar’s office. The form requires the signature of several campus offices, including the Business and Financial Aid offices. If procedure is not followed, the student is subject to receiving a grade of F in all courses. No student may withdraw after the last date of withdrawal specified in the academic calendar.

SECOND MASTER’S DEGREE

Students who are either currently enrolled in or have previously earned a master’s degree may apply for an additional master’s degree from McMurry University.

Approval of a 2nd master’s degree must meet the following requirements:

• All requirements for the 2nd master’s degree must be satisfied.
• Permission to work on a 2nd master’s degree concurrently is subject to approval of the Graduate Council.
• A minimum of 24 credit hours must be earned in resident McMurry courses for the 2nd master’s degree.
• With approval from the major department of the 2nd master’s degree, a maximum of 6 hours earned for the previous master’s degree, may be applied.
• Courses applying to the 2nd degree must carry a minimum “B” grade.
• Only non-capstone/thesis/internship credits will be considered for possible transfer credit.
• All credit hours for the 2nd master’s degree must be earned within five academic years following matriculation.