Summary of Programs for which a Standardized Admissions Exam May Be Waived

It is strongly suggested that you contact the Program Director of the program to which you are applying to confirm your eligibility for the waiver. Applications missing a standardized exam score and without a program approved waiver will not be considered for admission.

Please Note: While programs may discuss qualifications and offer a preliminary assessment of eligibility for a waiver, the Graduate School performs the formal evaluation and final approval. The Graduate School review will be processed once an application is complete (application, fee, transcripts, recommendations, etc.) except for test scores.

Categories of Applicants with a 3.0 GPA or Better for Which the Standardized Exam Requirement May be Waived	Alternative Admissions Requirement in Lieu of the Exam
Applicants currently in an ASU Accelerated Master’s program.	Every graduate-level course completed as an Accelerated student must have at least a “B” grade (3.00 GPA)
Applicants who within the last five years have successfully completed at least 9 credit hours of courses in an ASU Graduate Certificate that has been pre-determined as appropriate for the degree.	Every graduate-level course taken within the certificate must have at least a “B” grade (3.00 GPA)
Applicants who within the last five years have completed a master’s or doctoral degree in a related discipline may be waived from the standardized exam requirement.	Successful completion of a master’s or doctoral program in a related discipline with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 in the graduate prog

Specific Graduate Degree Programs for Which the Standardized Exam Requirement May be Waived for Applicants with a 3.0 GPA or Better	Alternative Requirement for Admissions in Lieu of the Exam
Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Administration Program	Earned graduate degree from an accredited institution.
Education Specialist (EdS) in Higher Education Program	Five or more years of professional work experience.
Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Media Program	Three or more years of professional work experience.
Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Media Program	Completion of 9 credit hours of graduate coursework at Appalachian State University or other accredited institution, with a grade of “B” or better, within the last 5 years.
Master of Arts (MA) in Elementary Education Program	An undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher.
Master of Arts (MA) in Geography Program	Five or more years of relevant professional work experience and an earned undergraduate GPA of 3.7 or higher.
Master of Arts (MA) in Higher Education Program	Five or more years of professional work experience.
Master of Arts (MA) in Romance Languages Program	Completion of 9 credit hours of graduate coursework at Appalachian State University or other accredited institution with a grade of “B” or better.
Master of Arts (MA) in Romance Languages Program	Five or more years of post-baccalaureate experience in teaching, translating, or interpreting in the target language.
Master of Arts (MA) in Romance Languages Program	Performance at the advanced-mid level or higher in Spanish or French in a target language writing sample and a standard oral proficiency interview (OPI) conducted by the department’s graduate faculty.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program	Five or more years of full-time, professional work or military experience.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program	Completion of a graduate certificate in Business Analytics at Appalachian State University with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Master of Health Administration (MHA) Program	Five or more years of paid full-time work experience of which three or more are in a healthcare setting.
Master of Library Science (MLS) Program	An undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher.
Master of Library Science (MLS) Program	Five or more years experience in a public library or a school with a supporting letter of recommendation from a supervisor.
Master of Music (MM) in Performance Program	Extensive audition and interview process.
Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program	An undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher (cumulative GPA or last 60 hours).
Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program	Completion of 9 credit hours of graduate coursework at Appalachian State University or other accredited institution, with a grade of “B” or better, within the last 5 years.
Master of Science (MS) in Applied Data Analytics Program	Five or more years of full-time, professional post-baccalaureate work or military experience.
Master of Science (MS) in Applied Data Analytics Program	Completion of a graduate certificate in Business Analytics at Appalachian State University with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Master of Science (MS) in Engineering Physics Program	“B” (3.0) average in core undergraduate Mathematics and Physics courses.
Master of Science (MS) in Nutrition Program	One year or more of work experience.
Master of Science (MS) in Nutrition Program	Successful completion of a national certification exam such as the Dietetics Technician, Registered Certification (DTR).
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program	An undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Master of Social Work (MSW) Program	Applicants for Regular Program: A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher in the last earned degree or a completed graduate degree in another discipline.
Master of Social Work (MSW) Program	Applicants for Advanced Standing Program: A GPA of 3.2 or higher in social work major courses.