Graduate Program


admissions information

• How to Apply
• When to Apply
• Post-Baccalaureate Students (PBU)
• Expenses & Fees
• Refund/Repayment Policy
• Scholarships & Financial Aid

How to Apply

1. Request an application by writing or calling:

   Dr. Lou W. Kasias, Graduate Program Director
   Catawba College
   2300 West Innes Street
   Salisbury, NC  28144-2488
   
   Phone: (704) 637-4461/4462   or   1-800-CATAWBA
   Fax: (704) 637-4732
   E-mail: lakasias@catawba.edu

2. Submit the following directly to the Graduate Program Director or to the Department's Administrative Assistant::
   1. two official transcripts from each college/university attended (These
      should be mailed from the institution directly to the Department of
      Teacher Education, Catawba College.)
   2. the completed application forms, the health history and immunization
      form and documents, and the $25.00 application fee;
   3. a copy of the National Teacher Examination (NTE) scores, PRAXIS
      scores, or test scores used by other states and accepted by the State of
      North Carolina for reciprocal licensing;
   4. a copy of the applicant's teacher's license; and
   5. three references from individuals who have direct knowledge of the
      applicant's academic and/or professional performance (reference forms
      accompany the application form). At least one form should be completed
      by the applicant's principal or assistant principal.
      
      
3. Request an appointment through the office of the Director of the Graduate Program for an admissions interview.
   

When to Apply

Prospective students should apply for admission not less than one month before the beginning of the term for which entry is intended.

An applicant for regular status in the graduate program is expected to

1. show evidence of having received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education with a grade point average of 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale);
2. hold, or be eligible to hold, a North Carolina Standard Professional 1 or 2 license in Elementary Education;
3. provide evidence of acceptable National Teacher Examination scores, PRAXIS scores, or test scores used by other states and accepted by the State of North Carolina for reciprocal licensing;
4. provide three satisfactory letters of recommendation from persons who have knowledge of the applicant's academic and professional performance or potential;
5. complete a satisfactory interview with the Director of the Graduate Program;
6. complete and submit all necessary application forms including a personal statement concerning reasons for desiring graduate study; and
7. provide health history and immunization history as requested on the Catawba College Health Form. Questions regarding the applicant's health history or immunizations should be directed to Kathi Welborn, R.N., Director of Health resources — (704) 637-4404; Fax: (704) 637-4234; e-mail:
   kwelborn@catawba.edu.

Applicants must be currently teaching in a K-6 classroom and should have at least one year of teaching experience.

Conditional admission may be granted to an applicant with an undergraduate grade point average slightly under 3.0 if there is evidence of academic ability sufficient to complete the program. Under such circumstances, the conditionally-admitted person must maintain a 3.0 average for the first four courses taken to be eligible to continue.

Catawba College will accept up to six semester hours of transfer credit for graduate courses taken at other regionally accredited graduate degree granting institutions. No grades will be given for such credit, nor will these credits be considered in the computation of a final grade point average.

Students not admitted to the graduate program will be permitted to register for graduate courses at Catawba College under the following circumstances:

1. The courses taken have been approved for transfer credit to another graduate program.
2. The courses taken are needed for teacher licensure renewal credit.
3. The courses taken are for personal fulfillment only and ordinarily may not be applied to a graduate degree program.

Transfer credit will be given only for graduate courses in which grades of "B" or above are earned and which are courses approved for the student's program. No undergraduate course credits will be counted in the total requirements for the degree program.

Regularly enrolled graduate students at Catawba College who plan to take a course at other institutions must have completed appropriate forms in the Registrar's Office and have the course approved by the Director of the Graduate Program before beginning the course. Such a course taken without prior approval may not be accepted for credit.

Conditional admission may be granted if the applicant has an initial or continuing license in a related field of study. However, the student must have passed the PRAXIS II tests in Elementary Education to be admitted as a master's candidate.

ADMISSION OF POST-BACCALAUREATE UNCLASSIFIED (PBU) STUDENTS INTO GRADUATE COURSES

Non-degree seeking persons who wish to pursue graduate studies for personal enrichment or renewal of a teaching license and who hold a baccalaureate degree from a recognized accredited college or university are allowed to take certain courses offered in the graduate program.

These students are categorized as Post-baccalaureate Unclassified (PBU). The courses Project, Practicum, Portfolio, and Independent Study are reserved for graduate students formally admitted to the graduate program.

Graduate credits earned as a PBU student are not normally applicable to a graduate degree. However, should a PBU student wish to apply for admission to the graduate program and if that student would have clearly qualified for admission at the time the credit was earned, then that PBU student may apply up to nine semester hours toward a master's degree provided that approval is secured from the Graduate Council.

PBU students go through general admissions and not through the graduate admissions. Graduate tuition applies only to those students who are admitted into the graduate program.

Student Expenses and Fees (2012-2013)

All tuition and fees are subject to change, without notice, by the Catawba College Board of Trustees.

Application Fee: $25.00
Graduate Tuition (Per semester hour of credit): $165.00

Refund/Repayment Policy

The College is required to use Federal software to calculate refunds for students withdrawing before the 60% point in the semester. Students who officially withdraw from a class during the first seven (7) calendar days of the semester (based on the schedule for day program) receive a 60% refund of tuition for that class; a 35% refund during the second seven (7) calendar days; a 25% refund during the third seven (7) calendar days. No refund will be isssued after the twenty-first (21) calendar day of the semester. Catawba College will credit any refund amount due the student to the student's account if the student also owes a repayment or owes unpaid charges to the institution.

In summer terms, students who officially withdraw from a class before 10:00 a.m. of the second class day of the term receive a 100% tuition refund and before 10:00 a.m. of the third class day of the term a 75% refund. No refund will be given after 10:00 a.m. the third class day of the summer term. The date of withdrawal is considered as the formal date on the withdrawal form.

To withdraw from a class, students must go to the Registrar's Office and complete the necessary form. If further assistance is required, please contact Dr. Kasias, Director of the Graduate Program (704-637-4462 or 4461) or the School of Evening and Graduate Studies (704-637-4772). If the student fails to formally withdraw from the institution, then the date of withdrawal is considered to be the last documented date of attendance.

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

Graduate students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours to qualify for financial assistance. Graduate students in need of assistance to meet their educational expenses should apply to the Financial Assistance Office. All aid from the Financial Assistance Office is based upon a student's financial need, which is the difference between reasonable costs of attendance and the student's available resources. Financial assistance to graduate students is most often in the form of loans.

In order to apply for a federal loan, a graduate student must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Student Aid Report (SAR) should be specified to be sent to Catawba College (Code 2914). Once the Office of Financial Assistance has received the SAR, the staff will be able to provide assistance in the federal loan process.

The Lillian C. Peeler Scholarship was established for graduate students. This scholarship is awarded on the basis of the student's contributions to the education profession. Since financial assistance is limited for graduate students, applicants are encouraged to seek scholarships and aid through outside sources. Students are encouraged to contact websites such as www.FASTWEB.com or www.scholaraid.com for assistance in locating outside scholarship and loan resources.

In addition to the FAFSA, all financial aid applicants who have attended colleges or universities other than Catawba College must submit a Financial Aid Transcript (FAT) for each school previously attended. Copies of the form may be obtained from the Financial Assistance Office.

Requests for financial aid will be considered only after the SAR and FAT(s) have been received by the Financial Assistance Office.

An award decision cannot be made until an applicant has been admitted to the graduate program, so the student should complete the admission procedure as early as possible.