Admission to The University of Southern Mississippi’s M.S. programs is selective. Regular admission is contingent on having graduated from a college or university accredited by a recognized accrediting agency. In addition, the graduate admissions committee of BCT recommends admittance only for those applicants whose academic background, work experience, demonstrated leadership, and communication skills meets the challenging demands of graduate programs in construction. In evaluating applications, the admission committee utilizes the following criteria:\
- Undergraduate record. The cumulative grade point average (GPA) from all institutions, the area(s) of concentration, the balance of verbal/communication and quantitative/analytical courses, and the trend of grades are considered.
- Graduate Admission Tests. A candidate should strive to achieve good balanced scores in all areas of on either the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE). For further information regarding taking this test contact Graduate Admissions office.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Students whose native language is not English must achieve a TOEFL score of 550 or more.
- Work Experience. While work experience is not required for admission, two or more years of relevant responsibility strengthens the likelihood of admission to the program. Applicants are encouraged to submit resumes showing job responsibilities and accomplishments.
- Letters of Recommendation. The admission committee reviews letters of recommendation to gain a more personal understanding of the applicant’s leadership ability in terms of communication and interpersonal skills. Each applicant should request three recommendation letters, at least one of which addresses the applicant’s academic preparation. Letters of recommendation should be from persons qualified to assess the applicant’s readiness for graduate study and should be sent to the program coordinator.
Students may enroll in BCT courses reserved exclusively for graduate students if they have regular admission to specific USM graduate programs and have taken the necessary prerequisites or if they have been admitted to the certificate program. In rare cases, students may be admitted conditionally. To remove Conditional Admission status, masters students must earn a 3.0 on the first nine (9) semester hours of course work numbered 500 or above on all courses taken while completing this nine (9) hour requirement.
Students transferring from other graduate schools must meet the admission requirements stated above. At the time of admission, transfer students may request that up to six (6) semester hours of approval credit be applied toward degree requirements. Once enrolled, transfer of credit for courses taken at other institutions must be approved in advance. |