Admissions Criteria

U.S. Citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens (domestic) who are first time, or transfer graduate applicants to USF St. Petersburg and who have earned a bachelor's degree or will have earned a bachelor's degree or U.S. equivalency prior to enrollment if accepted. If you have not yet graduated, a photocopy of your current transcript is acceptable to get the application process started. However, any admissions decision will be provisional until your official transcript is received.

International students who have had their foreign transcripts evaluated and show U.S. equivalency prior to enrollment if accepted. The University of South Florida St. Petersburg considers evaluation reports from any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). The following agencies also provide foreign transcript evaluation services. The University of South Florida does not approve or reject any of these agencies. This information is provided only as a possible source.

Academic Evaluation Services, Inc.
11700 N 58th Street Suite G & H
Tampa, FL 33617
Phone: (813) 374-2020
Fax: (813) 374-2023
info@aes-edu.org
http://aes-edu.org/

Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
International Education Consultants
7101 SW 102 Avenue
Miami, FL 33173
Ph: (305) 273-1616
Fax: (305) 273-1338
Translation Fax: (305) 273-1984
info@jsilny.com
www.jsilny.com

International Education Evaluators (IEE)
P.O. Box 545863
Surfside, FL 33154
Ph: (305) 503-9063
Fax: (305) 993-5550
info@iee-usa.com
www.iee-usa.com

Lisano International
P.O. Box 407
Auburn, AL 36831-0425
(334) 745-0425
www.lisano-intl.com

Applications must be submitted online. For online instructions, click here (http://www.stpt.usf.edu/spgrad/Graduate_Admissions/graduate_application.htm).

See section on Application Procedures below for additional instructions.

The fees per credit hour can be found at the follow web site. http://www.usf.edu/controller/cashaccounting/tuition

Please be sure to complete the Florida Residency Classification (found as part of the online application) in order to be considered for Florida Residency. All fees are subject to change. In addition to the per hour tuition charge, all New Graduate Students are assessed a one time $35.00 Comprehensive New Graduate Fee.

Multiple sources of information are used when assessing a graduate application. These may include an applicant's undergraduate grade point average, standardized test scores such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), letters of recommendation, and samples of academic work. Each graduate program sets the criteria for measuring the potential for success by each applicant. For specific admissions requirements to USF St. Petersburg programs, please visit the programs page at: http://www.stpt.usf.edu/spgrad/Graduate_Programs.htm.

Each applicant to a graduate program at USF St. Petersburg is required to meet the following minimum requirements:

Each applicant to a graduate program at USF St. Petersburg is required to meet the following minimum requirements:

1. An applicant must have one of the following:

a. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, and satisfying at least one of the following criteria:

i. A "B" average or better in all work attempted while registered as an undergraduate student working towards a baccalaureate degree, or

ii. a "B" or better average in all work attempted while registered as an upper division undergraduate student working towards a baccalaureate degree

b. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and a previous graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.

c. The equivalent bachelor's degree and/or graduate degree from a foreign institution.

2. Submission of a GRE* or GMAT unless specifically waived by the program taken within five years prior to submission of your application. GRE and GMAT minimums are set by the graduate program.

*Some programs will waive the GRE minimum score requirement if another measure can be used to determine the potential for success in the program. Some College of Education programs that require Florida Department of Education tests may also waive the GRE requirement. Links to specific program requirements can be found by accessing the programs page http://www.stpt.usf.edu/spgrad/Graduate_Programs.htm.

3. All specific and additional requirements of the graduate program to which admission is sought (including requirements to submit standardized test scores) consistent with the above statement.

Applications are accepted up to one year in advance of the desired term of entry and therefore, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early. Applicants are responsible for submitting applications before the appropriate program or university application deadlines. Applications are considered "on time" if they are received by the Office of Graduate Admissions on or before the graduate program deadline.
Current program deadlines are available on the application web page here: http://www.stpt.usf.edu/spgrad/Graduate_Admissions/graduate_application.htm.

PLEASE NOTE: Priority is given to those applications that are received before the application deadline and are complete when submitted. Complete applications received after the deadline date will be processed for the next available semester.

The Office of Graduate Admissions considers applications complete if they include:

1. the $30 application fee (payable by credit card or e-check online) during the online application process.

2. one official transcript showing receipt of your bachelor's degree or significant progress (6 semesters or more) towards completion of your bachelor's degree. Unofficial transcripts or photocopies are acceptable for beginning the application process - any admissions decision made will be provisional until official copies are received. Applicants who received their bachelor's degree from any USF institution or campus are not required to submit an official transcript.

3. standardized test scores such as the GRE or GMAT, or other standardized tests accepted by the individual graduate program. Scores are electronically sent to USF St. Petersburg from the testing agency. To request your scores to be sent to USF St. Petersburg, provide the testing with the following institution codes: for GRE, use the institution code: 5828; for GMAT, use VP9-M4-25 (for USF St. Petersburg's MBA program). Unofficial GRE and GMAT scores may also be submitted for provisional admission to expedite the application process while awaiting official electronic downloads by the testing agencies.

All transcripts must be in English. If an applicant's transcript is not in English, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide an English translation. International applicants may need to provide proof of English proficiency.

Applications that remain incomplete two weeks after the start of the desired term of entry will be cancelled and destroyed after one calendar year.

What is accreditation?
Accreditation is intended to assure stakeholders, students and the general public of the quality and integrity of higher education institutions and programs. Through a continuous improvement process, accreditation also assures that programs at the institutions are constantly advancing. These outcomes are achieved through rigorous internal and external review processes during which the institution is evaluated against a common set of standards.

SACS
The University of South Florida St. Petersburg is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the baccalaureate and master’s levels. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

AACSB
The College of Business is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting, and as such is the most widely-recognized and sought-after endorsement of business schools. Less than one-third of U.S. business school programs and only 15 percent of business school programs worldwide meet the rigorous standards for AACSB accreditation.

ACEJMC
The Department of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) at USF St. Petersburg is one of 113 journalism programs nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council on Journalism and Mass Communications. ACEJMC is the national accrediting body for professional programs in journalism and mass communications. JMS, founded in 1991, was first accredited in both its undergraduate and graduate programs in 2004. Re-accreditation of both programs became official May 30, 2010 and will be in effect for seven years. About 25 percent of all journalism and mass communications in the United States are fully accredited. A far smaller percentage of programs are accredited at both undergraduate and masters levels.

NCATE
The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the national accrediting body for schools, colleges, and departments of education authorized by the U.S. Department of Education. NCATE determines which schools, colleges, and departments of education meet rigorous national standards for initial teacher preparation programs and advanced educator preparation programs. NCATE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit programs for the preparation of teachers and other professional school personnel.

The USF St. Petersburg Graduate Catalog is available on line at the following web site.

http://www.stpt.usf.edu/spgrad/Graduate_Catalog.htm.

Contact the desired program early in the admissions process. Prospective students should ascertain both that they are eligible for admission and that the program fits their academic needs. Contact information for USF St. Petersburg graduate program advisors are available on the graduate programs page: http://www.stpt.usf.edu/spgrad/Graduate_Programs.htm.

Secure test scores, transcripts, and any other required items at least 60 days in advance of the appropriate application deadlines. You may submit unofficial test scores and transcripts with the application in order to expedite the processing of your application but you will still be required to submit official documents in order to have the admission file complete.

Scores are electronically sent to USF St. Petersburg from the testing agency. To request your test scores be sent to USF St. Petersburg, provide to the testing agency the following institution codes: For GRE, use the institution code: 5828; for GMAT, use VP9-M4-25 (for USF St. Petersburg's MBA program).

Read the application instructions carefully before completing. Remember, poorly prepared applications not only prevent accurate processing but also create a negative first impression.

Make copies of all documents submitted for your records. To safeguard against possible mishaps, applicants should know exactly what they have submitted and have copies of their own for verification. Be sure to print and keep your confirmation page from your online application.

Many programs require supplemental application materials such as resumes, writing samples, or letters of recommendation. These items should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions by the application deadline. These materials will be forwarded with the application to the appropriate program but do not become part of the applicant’s permanent file; therefore, the Office of Graduate Admissions does not track them.

NOTE: Applicants who want to apply to more than one graduate program must submit an additional application, application fee, one additional transcript, and any required departmental documents.

All supplemental application materials (resumes, letters of intent, writing samples, etc), should be mailed or delivered to the following address:

University of South Florida St. Petersburg
Office of Graduate Admissions
140 Seventh Avenue South, BAY 204
St. Petersburg, FL  33701-5016