Prospective Non-degree Students
OVERVIEW
Non-degree status enables visiting students from other institutions who have no degree objective or those seeking personal enrichment to enroll in courses for which they are qualified without seeking formal admission to a degree program. Enrollment in specific courses is based on eligibility criteria and availability of space in courses. Registration priority is given to degree-seeking students. Academic departments may restrict or prohibit non-degree enrollment in some courses. Admitted and enrolled non-degree students are responsible for the same policies and procedures that apply to degree-seeking students, including the University Honor Code and the Code of Student Conduct.
UNDERGRADUATE NON-DEGREE
Visiting undergraduate students from other colleges or universities or community members who have completed one academic year of course work at a regionally accredited institution may be considered for Undergraduate Non-degree admission.
GRADUATE NON-DEGREE
ADMISSIONS
All non-degree graduate applicants must complete the online admission application and submit a non-refundable application processing fee.
Applications submitted after the application deadline will not be reviewed for admission.
Meeting the minimum standard for Graduate Non-degree study neither guarantees admission nor implies future admission to a degree-seeking program.
Deadlines for submitting completed Graduate Non-degree applications
CHANGE FROM NON-DEGREE STATUS
A student admitted for graduate study in non-degree status may apply to obtain degree status within the same program. All admission requirements must be met, including official transcripts, letters of recommendation. If the student intends to use credits earned in non-degree status toward a degree, the credits must be approved on the Graduate Transfer of Credit Request form. The credit must have been earned within six years prior to first enrollment as an admitted degree-seeking student, and a minimum grade of B (3.00) must have been earned.
The maximum number of non-degree earned credits that can be transferred into the MA Economics program or the PhD Economics program is twelve (12) credits.
ADVISING
Graduate non-degree students may seek academic advising by emailing the Economics Graduate Studies Office at econgrad@gmu.edu.
REGISTRATION
Students may enroll in a maximum of 10 graduate credits per semester. Admitted non-degree graduate students are assessed graduate tuition rates for all courses, including undergraduate level courses. Graduate non-degree students may enroll in 500-, 600-, and 700-level courses. In exceptional cases, graduate non-degree students in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences may request enrollment in an 800-level economics course if they have an appropriate academic or professional background and have the written permission of the course instructor, the Director of Graduate Students, and the graduate dean.
Registration policies for admitted Graduate Non-degree students
Created: 09/23/18
Last updated: 03/21/25
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