Admission

General Admission Policies

The admissions policy of West Georgia is designed to admit students who will have a reasonable chance of success and who seemingly will profit from the educational program of the University. A student is considered for admission without regard to race, creed, sex, marital status, or national origin. Application forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office and are available from many high school guidance counselors. An admission application also can be found at www.westga.edu. For information on specific categories of admission, contact the Admissions Office at West Georgia. For additional admission requirements regarding specific majors, consult the particular department area of this catalog.

Every applicant must submit a formal application to the Admissions Office along with a $40 non-refundable application fee. (Georgia residents 62 years of age or older are not required to pay the application fee.)

June 1 is the fall semester application and document submission deadline date. Deadline date for spring semester is November 15; summer semester-May 15. The Admissions Office operates a rolling admission program; in other words, applications are processed and students are accepted on a revolving, continuing schedule. As soon as all items required in support of a student’s application are received, the application is evaluated and the student is notified of a decision regarding admission. All required items must be received before a student will be allowed to register for classes.

The University may require the applicant to visit the campus for an interview, to supply further biographical information, or to take psychological, achievement, or aptitude tests before being accepted or rejected. The applicant will be notified of any such requirements. Students entering any unit of the University System of Georgia are required to provide official documentation of immunization prior to registration.

Acceptance or denial of each application is determined by the Director of Admissions, subject to the right of appeal as outlined by the University and as provided in the Bylaws of the Board of Regents of the University System. Information outlining the appeals procedure may be obtained from the Admissions Office or from the Student Handbook. An applicant should contact the Office of Admissions regarding details of the appeals procedure.

Admissions files of those who apply and do not enroll are kept in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for 12 calendar months. An applicant may update the semester for which he/she is applying within 12 months by calling the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Applicants who apply and do not enroll may update their initial application one time. After one update, an additional application and fee will be required.

Students furnishing the University with false, incomplete, or misleading information relating to their application or academic record will be subject to rejection or dismissal.

Immunization Requirements: The policy, implementation, guidelines, and the chart of required immunizations can be found at http://www.usg.edu/student_affairs/immun/.

Undergraduate Application and Document Deadline Dates

University Admission Standards

It is recommended that prospective applicants to West Georgia contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for specific requirements well in advance of their entrance date. Admission standards are subject to review and change.

Beginning Freshman

A freshman applicant is one who has not previously attended a regionally accredited college or university and/or has not yet graduated from high school. Freshman admission is based on standardized test scores, such as the SAT or ACT, high school grade point average (HSGPA) in college preparatory subjects, College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC)/Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) courses only, and Freshman Index (FI).

Students must have completed CPC/RHSC requirements as outlined in the second item in the following list.

1. High school graduation with a college preparatory/required high school curriculum diploma is required for admission as a beginning freshman. Both completion of the University System’s College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC)/Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) and graduation must be from a high school accredited by (a) a regional accrediting association such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), (b) The Georgia Accrediting Commission, (c) Georgia Private School Accrediting Council, or (d) a public school regulated by a school system and state department of education. A student applying while in high school should have a transcript of work through the junior year sent to the Admissions Office at the time of application.
2. The University System of Georgia requires completion of a College Preparatory Curriculum/Required High School Curriculum for admission. Freshmen and transfer freshmen applicants must complete the following coursework to be admitted to the University:

*Students graduating earlier than 2012 only need 3 units of science. For more details regarding the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC), visit: http://www.westga.edu/rhsc/

3. Each freshman applicant must submit scores earned on the SAT or ACT. Information regarding these tests may be obtained from any high school guidance office or any institution in the University System of Georgia. A freshman applicant cannot be accepted until the scores are received.
4. Minimum SAT/ACT score requirements for freshman or transfer freshman admission

It is the policy of the Office of Admissions to take a student’s best Critical Reading/Reading/English and best Math score should the student take the SAT or ACT more than once; however, SAT scores and ACT scores cannot be “mixed” in determining admission eligibility.

  5.   In addition to the minimum test score requirement, a minimum Freshman Index of 2120 is required for any level of freshman or transfer freshman admission.

  6.   Students whose index falls between 2000-2119 may be eligible for conditional admission and attendance in Ignite, UWG’s Summer Transition Program.

  7.   A high school senior who is earning college credit in a joint enrollment program while completing the senior year should apply to West Georgia as a beginning freshman but should indicate enrollment in a joint enrollment program on the application for admission. West Georgia will grant transfer credit for this work under the following conditions: (1) Work must be earned through an accredited college. (2) Individual courses must meet the normal guidelines for acceptability (see Transfer Student section).

Transfer Student

A transfer applicant is one who has been enrolled in any regionally accredited college or university. All previous college attendance must be reported at the time of application. Those who have earned fewer than 45 quarter hours/30 semester hours of transferable work or the equivalent will be asked to comply with both freshman and transfer requirements for admission (see freshman requirements for additional details).

A transfer applicant should request the registrar of each college or university he or she has attended to send a transcript to the Office of Admissions. Credits from one former institution appearing on the transcript of another institution can neither be officially evaluated for admission nor accepted for credit until a transcript has been received from the institution originating the credit.

Transfer students will be considered for admission on the basis of their previous college records:

1. They must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all transferable college work attempted (non-traditional transfer students with greater than 45 quarter hours/30 semester hours of transferable work may be considered with a lower GPA on a case-by-case basis in order to determine their ability to be successful).
2. Students not meeting the minimum GPA requirement may be admitted if they hold an associate degree in a college transfer program from an accredited college and if they have not attempted any college coursework since completing the associate degree.
3. Students must be in good social and academic standing at their former institutions. Students who have been away from high school for less than five years must have completed all RHSC deficiencies and/or Learning Support requirements prior to being admissible and show both English and math proficiency through course credit. Students who have been away from high school for greater than five years may prove proficiency in English, Reading, and Math either through placement testing, valid SAT/ACT scores (less than seven years old), or completion of college coursework. Transfer students from an out-of-state institution may also prove proficiency via the placement test on a case by case basis. Please contact the Admissions Office for further policy details.
4. Admission acceptance by the Office of Admission does not guarantee admission to a specific program or department.

Transfer credit is normally awarded for all college work earned through any college or university approved by its regional accrediting association, so long as similar credit is offered at West Georgia. Credit earned at a post-secondary institution that is not regionally accredited may be accepted at West Georgia if the course work is similar to course work in the student’s degree program at West Georgia and if the course work is deemed to be collegiate level work. Credit earned at proprietary schools and technical institutions that are not Commission of Colleges (COC) accredited is not reviewed for transfer credit. The following stipulations on the transfer of credit are upheld:

The amount of academic credit that the University will allow for work done in another institution within a given period of time may not exceed the normal amount of credit that could have been earned at the University during that time. The maximum number of academic hours accepted is 90 from all institutions. Not more than a combined total of 30 hours of extension, correspondence work and military education/training will be accepted.

1. The amount of academic credit that the University will allow for work done in another institution within a given period of time may not exceed the normal amount of credit that could have been earned at the University during that time. The maximum number of academic hours accepted is 90 from all institutions. Not more than a combined total of 30 hours of extension, correspondence work and military education/training will be accepted
2. According to Board of Regents policy, if a student transfers to West Georgia with an A.A. or A.S. degree from an institution within the University System of Georgia, he/she will receive full credit for having completed Core Areas A - F. If the major differs between the A.A. or A.S. degree program and the major the student decides to pursue at West Georgia, there may be additional courses required at the 1000 or 2000 level that are specific to that degree major and/or are prerequisite for higher level courses that the student would have to take (example: Some majors require the student to have had Precalculus or Calculus I in order to enroll in some higher level courses in the program of study. If the student had College Algebra as a part of his/her A.A. or A.S. program, he/she would still receive credit for having completed the Math section of Area A of the Core, but he/she would still be required to take Precalculus or Calculus I to complete the requirements of the major.). The Core credit policy does not apply to career degrees (A.A.S. and A.S.); in those cases, each course is evaluated individually and credit is given in areas where comparable courses are offered at West Georgia, including some courses that may be counted as Core or electives.
3. Dual/Joint Enrollment Credit: College credit earned at an accredited institution prior to high school graduation will be considered as transfer credit if the student was enrolled as a joint enrollment/early admission student.
4. Transfers from Technical College System of Georgia Colleges
   The Board of Regents and the Technical College System of Georgia have entered into an agreement referred to as the “Mini-Core Project.” The agreement states that course credits for basic skills courses in English and mathematics with common course content will be transferable between schools in the University System of Georgia and COC-accredited institutions in the Technical College System of Georgia. Comparable placement and exit test results will be honored between the two systems as well.
   The transfer agreement is effective for students from COC-accredited Technical College System of Georgia institutions who have taken ENG 191 and/or MAT 190 or 191 since January 2002, and who meet the minimum test score requirements for exemption from developmental studies, or successfully complete and meet the minimum test score requirements for exit from developmental studies English and/or mathematics. Courses other than those approved for the mini-core agreement will be evaluated on an individual basis for possible transfer credit.
   In order to be eligible for mini-core transfer credit, students must have earned satisfactory scores on either placement or exit tests.
   Students with minimum old SAT Critical Reading 430; RSAT Reading Section 24 (ACT 17) + SAT Math 410; RSAT Math 450 (ACT 17) + high school diploma/GED and four years of college prep English, Algebra I and II, and Geometry, and a college prep math higher than Algebra II will be exempt from placement testing.
   Exit from Learning Support at a COC-accredited TCSG institution will be honored if the student has a record of meeting the TCSG minimum test score requirement for exit at UWG within the past year.
5. Students who apply for undergraduate admission and have attended a non-accredited institution will be requested to provide an official transcript from that institution. For the purposes of the evaluation of credit, the Admissions Office will request the student provide a catalog, course syllabi, and the names and credentials of the faculty who taught their courses. The student may be able to obtain this information from the institution’s Website. The Admissions Office will forward all materials received to the Registrar’s Office for review of credit. Lower division courses will be evaluated by the Registrar’s Office and credit awarded based upon the materials provided by the student. The decision to award credit may be referred to the appropriate department in some cases. Upper division courses will be evaluated by the appropriate academic department. Departmental decisions on UWG equivalents are final. There is no appeal beyond the departmental level.
6. Provided all other stipulations regarding transfer credits are met, West Georgia will grant transfer credit for the following:
   All courses with grades of “C” or better
   All Core Curriculum courses earned at University System institutions with grades of “D” or better, with the exception noted in #7 below
   Other courses with grades of “D” provided the average for all academic courses being transferred does not fall below “C”
7. A grade of “D” in English composition is not acceptable.
8. Credit for specific courses designated as major courses will not be allowed unless grades are “C” or above.
9. A grade of “C” or above is required for all professional sequence courses in education and those courses listed under content field. None of the professional education sequence may be completed by extension or correspondence.
10. Students who experience problems with transfer of credit should contact the Registrar’s Office to determine the nature of the problem. If the problem is not resolved, students should contact the University Chief Transfer Officer to seek resolution to the problem.
11. The University System of Georgia Board of Regents authorizes the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs to make decisions about exceptions on a case-by-case basis when questions arise about course substitutions in the Core curriculum.

Transfer course equivalencies may be viewed at http://westga.edu/transfer. Courses listed reflect results from previously reviewed transcripts and in no case should this list be considered a final and/or a complete listing.

Transient Student

A student who has taken work in a college or university may apply for the privilege of temporary registration. Such a student is one who expects to return to the college or university in which he or she was previously enrolled. The normal application procedure consists of filing an application form with a $40 non-refundable fee for each semester of transient study. The dean or registrar of the college where the student has been enrolled must give written approval for the student to attend West Georgia.
The following policies shall govern the admission of a transient student:
An applicant will be accepted as a transient student only when it appears that the applicant’s previous academic work is of satisfactory quality. A student must not be under suspension or exclusion from the previous institution.

1. Enrollment as a transient student is limited to one semester. Exceptions may be made by special permission of the Admissions Office and with special approval of the dean of the institution from which the student comes. Application for readmission as a transient student for the second semester must be submitted to the Office of Admissions by the semester application and document deadline date.
2. Transient approval for a second consecutive term will be considered only when evidence is submitted to the Office of Admissions that the applicant meets full transfer admission requirements.
3. Transient students desiring to continue as transfer students must apply through the Admissions Office by the semester application and document deadline date and satisfactorily complete the transfer requirements listed above.
4. Since a university’s primary obligation is to its regularly enrolled students, West Georgia will consider the acceptance of transient students only when their acceptance will cause no hardship or inconvenience to the institution or its regularly enrolled students.
5. Transient students are not eligible for financial assistance (grants, loans, HOPE scholarship, etc.) through the University of West Georgia. Transient students must make financial assistance arrangements with their “home” institution.
6. Transient students -who are not seeking a UWG degree- register on the first day of on-time/open registration.

Unclassified Student

All applicants who hold baccalaureate degrees and are seeking to take additional undergraduate courses should apply for admission through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Students accepted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as unclassified/post baccalaureate are only required to show academic proof of a degree for admittance but are not eligible for financial aid consideration. Unclassified students are eligible to begin registering for courses three days prior to the start of each semester. A student admitted as Unclassified, and who wishes to seek an undergraduate degree from UWG, must reapply for transfer admission to the Undergraduate Office of Admissions and must meet University transfer admission requirements. The undergraduate transfer application and transcripts from each college attended must be received by the announced application and document deadline date.

Auditor

Auditors are students who enroll as observers or listeners only. They are regarded as official visitors and are eligible to begin registering for courses three days prior to the start of each semester. An application form must be submitted to the Office of Admissions (including a $40 non-refundable fee) prior to the application deadline date of the semester for which they plan to enroll. Auditors who do not stay continuously enrolled must reapply each term they wish to be an auditor. The minimum requirement for participation as an auditor is verification of graduation from an accredited high school or the possession of a GED certificate. Credit is not awarded for audit and no grade other than V (symbol for audit) is given. Auditors pay the regular fees for enrollment. Students are prohibited from receiving credit for courses for which they were registered as auditors unless the course is repeated for credit.

Enrollment of Persons 62 Years of Age or Older

Georgia residents 62 years of age or older may enroll as regular students in courses offered for resident credit on a space available basis without payment of fees, except for supplies, technology, laboratory, or shop fees. Space available will be determined by the institution. Students enrolled for credit that elect to participate in the campus health program, student activities program, or to use the parking facilities may be required to pay the appropriate fees. They must be residents of Georgia, 62 years of age or older at the time of registration, and they must present a birth certificate or comparable written documentation of age. A Certificate of Immunization is also required.

Such applicants must meet all University System and institutional admission requirements including high school graduation, SAT or ACT scores, and Learning Support enrollment exemption, when applicable, if they wish to enroll for credit. They will have all usual student and institutional records maintained and must meet all system, institutional, and legislated degree requirements, such as History and Constitution Instruction or Exams, if they are degree-seeking students.

Applicants who wish to enroll under this program should file an application for admission but should not pay the $40 application fee. They should write across the top of the application form Georgia resident 62 years of age or older and should submit proof of age and Georgia residency (GA Driver’s License or other official document showing age and residency). Other requirements for admission as listed elsewhere in the Admission section of the catalog apply.

Readmission of Former UWG Student

Students who were previously enrolled, but have not been in attendance for three semesters, and students who have been academically suspended for one year or dismissed must apply for readmission with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at least three weeks before the semester for which they are applying begins. Students who have attended another college or university since last attending West Georgia must submit official transcripts from each institution attended. If the student desires to live in a university residence hall, he or she must submit a housing application with the required deposit to the Housing and Residence Life Office.

Readmission of UWG candidates for graduation or those who have recently graduated

Student records are marked inactive for the term immediately following their scheduled graduation. Currently enrolled students who are candidates for an upcoming graduation or students who have recently graduated must complete a readmission application to enroll in courses for the next or future terms. During the readmission application process, the student will be given the option of selecting to return as a degree seeking (2nd degree) or non-degree seeking (professional development) student.

Once the readmission application is processed, the student will need to meet with an academic advisor to be able to register for an upcoming semester. Students who are not currently enrolled will be able to register during the open registration period once they have been accepted and met with an academic advisor. See Registrar Calendar inside the SCOOP for registration dates.

Admission of Home Schooled Students

Applicants Who Have Completed an Accredited Home School Program

Applicants completing an approved, accredited home school program need only meet traditional freshman admission requirements.

Applicants Who Have Not Completed an Accredited Home School Program

Home educated applicants who have not completed an accredited home school program must submit the following:

• Application for Undergraduate Admission
• $40 non-refundable application processing fee
• Official SAT or ACT scores* (sent directly to UWG by the testing agency)
• Completed Home School Curriculum Evaluation Form, which provides satisfactory documentation of equivalent competence in each of the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC)/Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) areas.
• Copy of current Declaration of Intent to Home School as filed with the state.

*University System of Georgia requires Home Schooled students who have not completed an accredited home school program to take the SAT or the ACT and to meet the minimum total score of the average combined score of the preceding year’s enrolled Freshman Class.

The standard for home schooled applicants is the average combined critical reading and math scores of the preceding Fall class (minimum subsection scores are 430 Critical Reading and 410 Math) or the ACT Composite equivalent (minimum sub section scores are ACT English 17 and 17 Math).

Home Schooled Applicants Applying as Transfer Students

Transfer applicants who graduated from a non-accredited home school program, and who have earned less than 30 credit transferable, semester hours at the time of the UWG admission application, must meet Freshman admission requirements, including submission of the Declaration of Intent to Utilize a Home Study Program Form or a print out of your online submission. Transfer applicants completing an approved, accredited home school program need only meet traditional Freshman requirements.

Adult, Non-Traditional Applicants

Non-Traditional Freshmen

Non-traditional freshmen are defined as individuals who meet all of the following criteria

1. Have been out of high school at least five years and whose high school class graduated at least five years ago.
2. Hold a high school diploma from an accredited or approved high school or have satisfactorily completed the GED, and
3. Have earned fewer than 30 transferable semester credit hours.

Non-Traditional Transfer

1. Have been out of high school at least five years or whose high school class graduated at least five years ago, and
2. Have earned thirty (30) semester or more transferable hours of college credit.

All non-traditional applicants will be evaluated to determine their placement into learning support courses.

Opportunities for Students During High School

Dual Enrollment, formerly Move On When Ready (MOWR) is Georgia’s dual enrollment program that allows high school students to earn college credit while working on their high school diploma.  The Dual Enrollment program includes provisions to help remove some of the financial barriers that may prevent students from participating in a dual enrollment program.

Admission Requirements:

10^th Graders:

• Student must be a High School Sophomore when enrollment begins
• 3.5 un weighted, academic High School GPA
• One of the following:
  • 1650 Composite SAT score*
    or 25 Composite ACT score
  • 650 SAT Critical Reading score
    or 26 ACT English score
  • 650 SAT Math score
    or 26 ACT Math score
  • 600 SAT Writing score
    or 26 ACT Writing score

*Composite SAT includes Critical Reading, Math, and Writing

11^th & 12^th Graders

• 3.0 unweighted, academic high school GPA
• The following test scores:
  • 970 Combined Critical Reading and Math SAT score
    or 20 Composite ACT score
  • 430 SAT Critical Reading score
    or 17 ACT English score
  • 410 SAT Math score
    or 17 ACT Math score

Please note: Redesigned SAT scores will be converted to the former scoring system. To convert your scores, please visit: collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/scores

Steps to Acceptance

1. Take the SAT/ACT: Send your test scores directly to UWG. (Codes - SAT: 5900, ACT: 0878)
2. Apply to UWG: Log onto westga.edu/applynow and follow the directions to complete the application process.
3. Send required documentation: official high school transcripts, test scores, and a Dual Enrollment Participation Agreement.
4. Questions? Contact Dual Enrollment at dualenroll@westga.edu

Advanced Placement, College Level Exam Programs, Departmental Exams, Cambridge International “A” Levels, and International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is available through many high schools and enables a high school student to earn credit toward college in a variety of subjects. Usually these courses are equivalent to college freshmen/sophomore level courses such as American Government, World History, Composition, and so forth. College credit will be awarded based on standardized exams administered at the high schools in mid to late May. If you have questions, contact the Admissions Office.

High school students who earn AP exam scores of 3 or higher (on a scale of 1-5) on most exams and who submit official score reports to the University of West Georgia will automatically receive credit for coursework. Scores of 4 or higher are required to receive credit for history exams. Scores of 4 or 5 count as Honors credit.  For a list of scores accepted by UWG and the UWG course equivalents, please visit the UWG Registrar’s Office website at http://www.westga.edu/registrar.

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is offered at West Georgia by appointment and allows persons to earn college credit by achieving appropriate cutoff scores on nationally standardized exams. Exams available cover a range of courses including math, history, government, literature, and sciences.  For a list of scores accepted by UWG and the UWG course equivalents, please visit the UWG Registrar’s Office website at http://www.westga.edu/registrar. Test registration information is available through the Testing Office (678-839-6435).

As with AP testing, CLEP is a great way to earn college credit. Not only will a person save time by not having to take a course containing material he already knows, but he will also save money by not having to pay for a college class. Thus, CLEP enables a student to move through his or her freshman and sophomore years at a faster pace.

International Baccalaureate (IB) scores are also reviewed for possible college credit. Credit is awarded International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level tests with a score of 5 or higher. In some areas of study, credit is awarded for scores of 4. Credit is awarded IB Standard Level tests with a score of 6 or higher if the student completes the IB diploma. Scores of 6 or 7 count as Honors credit.  Please see specific course equivalencies on the Registrar’s Office web page at http://www.westga.edu/registrar/ Freshman and sophomore level credit is awarded for the Cambridge International “A” levels. Please contact the Assistant Registrar for Transfer Equivalency http://www.westga.edu/registrar/ for more details.

Note: CLEP, AP, and IB scores for equivalent credit may be viewed on the UWG’s Registrar’s Website at http://www.westga.edu/registrar/

Departmental Exemptions

Several academic departments offer credit by examination, such as the English and Math Departments (see requirements below). The Department of International Languages and Culures also allows students to exempt certain introductory foreign language courses. Interested students should contact these departments directly.

English Placement

Students whose old *SAT Critical Reading is at least 430, but less than 570 will take ENGL 1101 . Likewise, students whose ACT English is at least 17, but less than 25 will take ENGL 1101 .  *For purpose of placement credit, RSAT scores will be converted to the old SAT scoring format.

Any student who scores a minimum 570 on the old *SAT Critical Reading (ACT 25) and has at least a 3.0 academic grade point average is eligible to write the English Exemption Essay. Based on this test score, a student can exempt ENGL 1101 . ENGL 1102  may also be exempted.  *For purpose of placement credit, RSAT scores will be converted to the old SAT scoring format.

Advanced placement with credit is offered through AP English courses taught in high school and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), for which West Georgia is a testing center. Additional information is available through the Office of Testing, telephone 678-839-6435.

Mathematics Placement

Students whose old *SAT Math score is at least 410 but less than 480 or whose ACT Math score is 17-19 will take MATH 1101  or MATH 1111  as appropriate to their major unless approved for a higher core math course.  *For purpose of placement credit, RSAT scores will be converted to the old SAT scoring format.

Any student who scores a minimum 480 on the old *SAT Math or 20 on the ACT Math and has completed at least four years of high school mathematics, including Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and one year of Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, may be eligible to exempt without credit MATH 1111  (College Algebra) or MATH 1113  (Precalculus). The beginning mathematics course will be determined by the student’s major and background in consultation with an advisor. For more information, see “Mathematics SAT Score for determining Course Placement and Credit” in the Undergraduate Academic Policies Section. *For purpose of placement credit, RSAT scores will be converted to the old SAT scoring format.

Advanced placement with credit in mathematics courses is offered through AP mathematics courses taught in high school and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), for which West Georgia is a testing center. Additional information is available from the Director of Testing, telephone 678-839-6435.

Honors College

http://www.westga.edu/honors/

The Honors College is for students who have demonstrated academic success in high school. Entering freshmen who attain high scores on the SAT or the ACT, as well as a very good high school academic record in college preparatory courses, are invited to apply to the program. For more detailed information, see the Honors College section of this catalog.

International/Permanent Resident Student

An international applicant is defined as an individual that is not a ‘legally domiciled resident’ of the United States and plans to pursue studies on an F-1 (student) or J-1 (exchange student) visa. A permanent resident is an applicant from another country who has obtained permanent residency in the United States (holds a “green card”). It is recommended that international students apply four (4) to six (6) months prior to the semester of desired enrollment.

UWG supports the concept of international education and welcomes applications from all students. Please note the following requirements for international and permanent resident applicants:

International Beginning Freshman

1. All applicants, regardless of immigration status, whose native language is not English, must meet English language proficiency requirements. This requirement can be fulfilled by submitting results from one of the approved English Language Proficiency options listed below.
2. Students who identify as native English speakers are exempt from having to provide an English Language Proficiency document. Native speaking students will need to submit official scores from either the SAT or ACT academic examination. Minimum SAT/ACT score requirements for freshman or transfer freshman admission are:
   SAT Critical Reading-430 and SAT Math-410; ACT English-17, and ACT Math-17.
   It is the policy of the Office of Admissions to take a student’s best Critical Reading/English and best math score should the student take the SAT or ACT more than once; however, SAT scores and ACT scores cannot be “mixed” in determining admission eligibility.
3. The University System of Georgia requires completion of a College Preparatory Curriculum from an accredited institution for Freshman admission. A student applying while in high school should have a transcript of work through the junior year sent to the Admissions Office at the time of application. Students completing secondary school must provide official copies of their transcripts to the University of West Georgia for evaluation. If this official copy is not in English, it must be accompanied by a certified translation to English. The University of West Georgia reserves the right to request a formal Academic Credential Evaluation of transcripts/documents submitted to the University as part of a student’s application. If requested, the student must provide an evaluation of secondary school credentials from a service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE).
4. All students, regardless of immigration status, are required to obtain a foreign credential evaluation of university/post-secondary education that is not awarded by a recognized institution holding United States accreditation. The student must provide an evaluation of these credentials that has been completed by a service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICS). University/Post-secondary education must include a course-by-course evaluation, and a GPA conversion.
5. International applicants, which require sponsorship for an F-1 or J-1 visa, must submit a copy of their passport and any previously issued United States visas as part of the application process.
6. International applicants, which require sponsorship for an F-1 or J-1 visa, must submit financial documentation indicating evidence of sufficient funds available for study at UWG. These documents are not required to receive a decision on an application, but are required prior to the release of any documents needed for the visa application process.

International Transfer

1. All applicants, regardless of immigration status, whose native language is not English, must meet English language proficiency requirements. This requirement can be fulfilled by submitting results from one of the approved English Language Proficiency options listed below.
2. Any international applicant who has completed a minimum of 45 quarter hours/30 semester hours of transferable work must submit an official copy of transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions. If this institution is based internationally, and does not currently hold United States accreditation, the student must obtain an evaluation of these credentials that has been completed by a service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). University/Post-secondary education must include a course-by-course evaluation, and a GPA conversion.
3. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all transferable college work attempted. Students must also be in good social and academic standing at their former institutions.
4. Admission acceptance by the Office of International Student Admissions & Programs does not guarantee admission to a specific program or department.
5. Students are eligible to apply for transfer credit based on previously completed studies. Please see the University of West Georgia’s transfer credit policy located in the “Transfer Student” policy.
6. International applicants, which require sponsorship for an F-1 or J-1 visa, must submit a copy of their passport and any previously issued United States visas as part of the application process.
7. International applicants, which require sponsorship for an F-1 or J-1 visa, must submit financial documentation indicating evidence of sufficient funds available for study at UWG. These documents are not required to receive a decision on an application, but are required prior to the release of any documents needed for the visa application process.

* English language proficiency requirements (submit 1 of the following):

• Official test results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 193 computer-based, 523 paper-based, or 69 internet-based (www.toefl.org or 609-771-7100)
• Official test results from the “Academic” variant of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.
• Official test results from the “Academic” variant of the Pearson Test of English (PTE) with a minimum score of 53.
• Official test results from the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) with a minimum score of 52.
• Official test result from the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with a passing score.
• Official test score of the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a minimum score of 77.
• Official test results from the EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency (EIKEN) with a minimum score of Pre-1.
• A Georgia State Test of English Proficiency (GSTEP) recommendation for full academic admission, administered by Georgia State University (404-651-3650)
• Official certificate of successful completion of an Intensive English Program (IEP) offered by a university operated by the USG.
• A grade of “C” or better in a non-remedial, college level English course (ENGL 1101  equivalent or higher level course) from an accredited college or university in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand.
• Official score report from a Cambridge International Examination (CIE) or EdExcel IGCSE (“O” or “A” Level) English exam, with a minim score of D.
• Official score report from one of the five UK examination boards offering GCSE and GCE English exam, with a minimum score of C.
• Three (3) years (9th, 10th & 11th grade) of English as a second language (ESL) and a grade of “C” or higher in a College Preparatory Senior (12th grade) English at an accredited high school in the United States. Four years of ESL at an accredited high school in the United States does not fulfill English language proficiency requirements.
• Exemptions from the above requirements can be considered in circumstances when a student has completed their education in the English medium, upon the approval of International Student Admissions and Programs.

In order to attract international students, the University may waive all or a part of the non-resident portion of tuition for select undergraduate international applicants who meet certain academic criteria. Upon acceptance, an international student may apply for this waiver with the office of International Student Admissions and Program (ISAP). A limited number of waivers are available, and not all eligible international applicants will receive a waiver. Students awarded a waiver must maintain minimum requirements, including GPA, and apply for a renewal of the waiver for each academic year of their study.

Graduate Student Admission

 See the Graduate Catalog for details on applying for a graduate program.

Definition of a “Georgia Resident” for Purposes of Applying and Paying Fees

A student who is not a legal resident of the State of Georgia is charged out-of-state tuition. Hence, the determination of whether a student is classified in-state or out-of-state for tuition purposes is significant, and the applicant must indicate his or her classification on the application for admission. For more detailed information, see Regents’ Policies Governing the Classification of Students .

Additionally, in accordance with Board of Regents Policy 4.3.4, all applicants who are accepted for admission or readmission to institution for fall 2011 or any academic semester thereafter, and who seek to be classified as in-state for tuition purposes, will be required to provide validation of residency and lawful presence in both the state of Georgia and the United States.