Exam Waiver Information

Exam and Waiver Requirements

Many App State graduate programs offer entrance exam waivers to qualified applicants. To be considered for an exam waiver, applicants must either hold a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher or meet one of the following conditions:

Applicants currently in an App State Accelerated Master’s program, with a grade of “B” (3.0) or higher in every graduate-level course completed.
Applicants who within the last five years have successfully completed at least 9 credit hours of courses in a graduate certificate program at App State with a cumulative GPA of a 3.3 or higher.
Applicants who have completed a master’s or doctoral degree in a related discipline with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Additional exam waiver criteria vary by program. Review the list below to determine if your program of interest offers an exam waiver option.

Master's Programs
Program	Alternative admissions criteria used in lieu of the standardized exam:
Accounting: Master of Science Degree	Undergraduate Accounting degree with a GPA of 3.3 or higher from a regionally accredited school and at least two of three recommendations letters from professors for upper-level courses in their discipline; OR Five or more years of professional or military work experience; OR Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma; OR Professional certification with a quantitative focus (e.g., CPA, CFA, CMA).
Appalachian Studies: Master of Arts Degree	The standardized exam requirement may be waived for applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, with a satisfactory review of the submitted work sample.
Applied Data Analytics: Master of Science Degree	Cumulative UGPA of 3.0 or higher AND five or more years of relevant, post-baccalaureate work or military experience; OR Completion of a graduate certificate in Business Analytics at Appalachian State University with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher; OR Cumulative UGPA of 3.5 or higher; OR Verified membership in the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.
Athletic Training: Master of Science Degree	A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher; AND A GPA of 3.25 or higher in the combined prerequisite courses.
Biology: Master of Science Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher; AND Completion of an interview (on-campus preferred, although video interview is acceptable) with the potential faculty adviser(s) and the graduate program director.
Business Administration: MBA Degree Program	Five or more years of full-time, professional work or military experience, with at least one of the recommendation letters from the direct supervisor detailing the applicant's role while employed; OR Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher; OR Verified membership in the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Master of Arts Degree	A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Computer Science: Master of Science Degree	A 3.2 average in undergraduate computer science courses involving programming and software engineering, architecture and systems, algorithms and theory, and written communication skills (as demonstrated by a "B" or better in a communication course).
Curriculum Specialist: Master of Arts Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher OR Three or more years of teaching experience.
Elementary Education: Master of Arts Degree (currently inactive)	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher.
Engineering Physics: Master of Science Degree	3.0 or higher GPA in five core undergraduate Physics and Math courses (Physics I & II and Calculus I, II, and III).
English: Master of Arts Degree	The standardized exam requirement may be waived for applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Exercise Science: Master of Science Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher AND Grade of B or higher in all prerequisite courses AND Submission of a writing sample.
Geography: Master of Arts Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher AND Submission of a two-page written statement describing applicant's long-term career goals.
Health Administration: Master of Health Administration Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Higher Education: Master of Arts Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher and submission of an essay on what applicant believes are most pressing issues facing higher education today.
History: Master of Arts Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher AND Sample of written work, such as a research paper.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management: Master of Arts Degree	Official exam scores required
Library Science: Master of Library Science Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher; OR Five or more years experience in a public library or a school, with a supporting letter of recommendation from a supervisor.
Marriage and Family Therapy: Master of Arts Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, AND Submitted letters of recommendation from at least two professors with whom applicant has taken at least one course OR Five or more years of professional human services or family systems-related work experience
Mathematics: Master of Arts Degree	Official exam scores required
Media, Technology, & Learning Design: Master of Arts Degree	Three or more years of professional work experience; OR 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.
Middle Grades Education: Master of Arts Degree	Official exam scores required
Music Performance: Master of Music Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher AND Completion of an extensive audition and interview process
Music Therapy: Master of Music Therapy Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher AND Submission of the Music Therapy Program questionnaire AND Live or video recorded audition AND On-site or virtual interview
Nursing: Master of Science in Nursing Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Nutrition (Dietetics): Master of Science Degree	Cumulative UGPA of 3.0 or higher AND submission of a written statement addressing prior experience and career goals.
Nutrition (Public Health Nutrition Practice): Master of Science Degree	Cumulative UGPA of 3.0 or higher AND submission of a written statement addressing prior experience and career goals.
Political Science: Master of Arts Degree	A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher or a master's degree from an accredited institution from the last 5 years; AND A sample of written work (should be a paper representative of your best work, preferably under 25 pages; if you are uncertain about what to send, contact the Program Director).
Professional School Counseling: Master of Arts Degree	A written statement addressing prior experiences working with children/adolescents; OR One or more years of paid or volunteer experience in a school setting; OR Reference letters from faculty or employers describing aptitude for working with children/adolescents; OR An undergraduate degree in psychology, education, social work, or helping-related program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Psychology: Master of Arts Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
Public Administration: Master of Public Administration Degree	Hold an undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher; OR Have five years of relevant work experience in a government or nonprofit agency; OR Have completed 9 credit hours of graduate coursework at Appalachian State University or other accredited institution, with a grade of "B" or better, within the last five years.
Reading Education: Master of Arts	Completion of 6 credit hours of graduate coursework at Appalachian State University or other accredited institution, with a grade of "B" or better, within the last five years; OR Three or more years of teaching experience
Romance Languages: Master of Arts Degree	Have completed 9 credit hours of graduate coursework at Appalachian State University of other accredited institution, with a grade of "B" or better, within the past five years; OR Have five or more years of post-baccalaureate experience in teaching, translating, or interpreting in the target language; OR Demonstrate 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.
School Administration: Master of School Administration Degree	Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.1 or higher, OR Five or more years of professional experience in K-12 education
Social Work: Master of Social Work Degree	Eligiblility for Advanced Standing with a GPA of 3.2 or higher in undergraduate Social Work courses; OR Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher in the last earned degree; OR Completion of a graduate degree in another discipline.
Special Education: Master of Arts Degree	Completion of 6 credit hours of graduate coursework at Appalachian State University or other accredited institution, with a grade of "B" or better, within the last five years; OR Three or more years of teaching experience.
Speech-Language Pathology: Master of Science Degree	Official exam scores required
Student Affairs Administration: Master of Arts Degree	The standardized exam (GRE) requirement may be waived for applicants who have one or more years of student engagement/involvement experience (e.g., served as a Resident Assistant or as a student leader in a club or organization) or higher education-related work experience.
Technology: Master of Science Degree	Official exam scores required

Specialist Programs
Program	Alternative admissions criteria used in lieu of the standardized exam:
School Psychology: Master of Arts & Specialist in School Psychology Dual Degree Program	Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher

Doctoral Programs
Program	Alternative admissions criteria used in lieu of the standardized exam:
Clinical Psychology: Doctor of Psychology Degree	A GPA of 3.0 or higher in the most recent earned degree (undergraduate or graduate).
Educational Leadership: Doctor of Education Degree	Earned graduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher AND at least five years of professional experience in education; OR Earned Education Specialist (EdS) degree with GPA of 3.0 or higher from Appalachian State University.

Graduate Certificate Programs
Program	Alternative admissions criteria used in lieu of the standardized exam:
Addiction Counseling Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Aging, Health, and Society Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Appalachian Studies Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Autism Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Birth through Kindergarten Graduate Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Business Analytics Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Climate Change Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
College and University Teaching Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Digital Media Literacy Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Elementary Education Graduate Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Elementary Mathematics Education Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Graduate Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Expressive Arts Therapy Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
French Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Geographic Information Science Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Health and Physical Education Graduate Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Instructional Technology Facilitation Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Instructional Technology Leadership Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
International Leadership Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Middle and Secondary Teaching Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Music Theory Pedagogy Research and Practice Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Non-profit Administration Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Nursing Education Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Online Design, Communication and Engagement Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Planning Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Public Health Nutrition Practice Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Reading Education Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Rhetoric and Composition Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
School Leadership Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Sociology Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Spanish Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Special Education Graduate Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Systemic Multicultural Counseling Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.
Teaching Emergent Bilingual Populations in the Content Areas Certificate	Standardized entrance exam scores are not required for applications to certificate programs.

Dual Degree
Program	Alternative admissions criteria used in lieu of the standardized exam:
Applied Data Analytics - Interdisciplinary Analytics Concentration, MS and Business Administration - Interdisciplinary Business Concentration, MBA	Have five or more years of full-time, professional work or military experience; OR Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.6 or higher in a degree earned at Appalachian State University; OR Hold verified membership in Beta Gamma Sigma.
Applied Data Analytics - Interdisciplinary Concentration, MS and Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management, MA	Official exam scores required
Applied Data Analytics - Interdisciplinary Concentration, MS and Public Administration - Not-for-Profit Management Concentration, MPA	Have five or more years of full-time, professional work or military experience; OR Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher in a degree earned from Appalachian State; OR Have completed a graduate certificate in Business Analytics at Appalachian State University with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher; OR Hold verified membership in Beta Gamma Sigma.
Applied Data Analytics - Interdisciplinary Concentration, MS and Public Administration - Public Management Concentration, MPA	Have five or more years of full-time, professional work or military experience; OR Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher in a degree earned from Appalachian State; OR Have completed a graduate certificate in Business Analytics at Appalachian State University with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher; OR Hold verified membership in Beta Gamma Sigma.
Applied Data Analytics - Interdisciplinary Concentration, MS and Public Administration - Town, City and County Management Concentration, MPA	Have five or more years of full-time, professional work or military experience; OR Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher in a degree earned from Appalachian State; OR Have completed a graduate certificate in Business Analytics at Appalachian State University with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher; OR Hold verified membership in Beta Gamma Sigma.
Business Administration - Interdisciplinary Business Concentration, MBA and Higher Education - Community College and University Leadership Concentration, MA	Official exam scores required
Business Administration - Interdisciplinary Business Concentration, MBA and Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management, MA	Official exam scores required
Business Administration - Interdisciplinary Business Concentration, MBA and Public Administration - Public Management Concentration, MPA	Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher AND have five or more years of relevant full-time, post-baccalaureate work or military experience; OR Have an earned Master's or higher level degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; OR Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.6 or higher in a degree earned from Appalachian State; OR Hold membership in Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Clinical Mental Health Counseling, General Concentration, MA and Music Therapy, MMT	Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher and completion of all other admission requirements.
Clinical Psychology, PsyD with en route Clinical Psychology MA	A GPA of 3.0 or higher in the most recent earned degree (undergraduate or graduate).
Educational Leadership - Educational Administration, EdD and Educational Administration, EdS	Earned graduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher AND at least five years of professional experience in education; OR Earned Education Specialist (EdS) degree with GPA of 3.0 or higher from Appalachian State University.
Educational Leadership - Higher Education Concentration, EdD and Higher Education - Community College & University Leadership Concentration, EdS	Earned graduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher AND at least five years of professional experience in education; OR Earned Education Specialist (EdS) degree with GPA of 3.0 or higher from Appalachian State University.
Engineering Physics - Systems and Laboratory Automation Concentration, MS and Applied Data Analytics - Interdisciplinary Analytics Concentration, MS	Official exam scores required
Library Science (MLS) and Media, Technology, and Learning Design - Instructional Technology Specialist/K-12 Concentration (MA)	Official exam scores required
Mathematics - College Teaching Concentration, MA and Engineering Physics - Systems and Laboratory Automation Concentration, MS	Official exam scores required
Political Science - American Government Concentration, MA and Applied Data Analytics - Interdisciplinary Concentration, MS
Political Science - Environmental Politics and Policy Analysis Concentration, MA and Applied Data Analytics - Interdisciplinary Concentration, MS
Political Science - International Relations/Comparative Politics Concentration, MA and Applied Data Analytics - Interdisciplinary Concentration, MS
Technology - Appropriate Technology Concentration, MS and Engineering Physics - Systems and Laboratory Automation Concentration, MS	Official exam scores required

Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies

Exam Waiver Information

Exam and Waiver Requirements

Master's Programs

Specialist Programs

Doctoral Programs

Graduate Certificate Programs

Dual Degree