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Academic Policies, continued

Standardized Examinations

As a service to in-state students, standardized test application forms are available at the Counseling and Student Development Center, (808) 956-3454. Out-of-state students and applicants from foreign countries should write to the address designated for each examination (see pertinent section below). 

Individuals with visual, physical, hearing, or learning disabilities who are required to take either the GRE or GMAT should contact the Educational Testing Service for information regarding special arrangements to take these examinations.

Graduate Record Examination
The GRE and subtests may be required by some fields of study and recommended by others. For the requirements of the individual fields of study, consult the relevant field of study descriptions in this Catalog and the instruction sheet of the graduate application form. The GRE General Test (Package 1) is also required by the Graduate Division for students who have completed 25 percent or more of their undergraduate work under a nontraditional grading system. Test information is available through the Counseling and Student Development Center, (808) 956-7927. Applicants may request test registration forms directly from Graduate Record Examinations, Educational Testing Service (ETS), Box 6004, Princeton, NJ 08541-6004. Submit completed registration forms and test fees to ETS at least one month before the examination date.

Graduate Management Admission Test
The GMAT is required by the college or school for admission to the master's program in business administration or accounting. It is also required by the Graduate Division of students who have completed 25 percent or more of their undergraduate work under a nontraditional grading system. Applicants may request test registration forms directly from GMAT, Educational Testing Service, Box 6103, Princeton, NJ 08541-6103. Submit completed forms and test fees to ETS at least five weeks before the examination date.

Since applications are not reviewed unless GMAT scores are received on time, the test must be taken no later than the preceding June for admission in the spring and no later than the preceding January for admission in the fall.

Miller Analogies Test
In addition to the GRE, the MAT is optional for admission to the PhD in Education program. Applicants should contact a college or university in their area or the Psychological Corporation, Controlled Testing Center, 555 Academic Court, San Antonio, TX 78204-9052 for information and specific test dates.

Evidence of English Language Proficiency
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Modules test results. The TOEFL score report of IELTS test results must be from a test taken within the last 2 years. A TOEFL score of 500/173 (paper/computer) or IELTS overall band test result of 5.00 is required. The minimum score for teaching assistantship applicants is 600/250 for TOEFL and 7.00 for the IELTS.

Applicants who have completed a bachelor's or advanced degree program within the last five years at a regionally accredited/recognized institution in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore or United Kingdom need not submit English language proficiency test scores.

Final admission requires submission of the official TOEFL/IELTS results. Applicants should, therefore, obtain the TOEFL Bulletin of Information early to check on the availability of the test and should take the test in time to meet graduate admissions application deadlines. TOEFL scores more than two years old are not acceptable and are not reported by the Educational Testing Service.

The TOEFL is administered at centers throughout the world. Students who wish to take the TOEFL outside the United States should obtain the TOEFL Bulletin of Information for Candidates, International Edition. This bulletin is generally available at U.S. embassies and consulates and at binational educational commissions and consulates abroad. Applicants may also order a bulletin directly from the representative who serves the area or country in which they plan to take the test.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Applicants should contact the nearest British Council/Embassy/Consulate or IDP Education Australia Office in their country for the nearest testing center. It is advised that you also check the IELTS Web page for the most up-to-date information for testing centers. Web: www.ielts.org

Additional Requirements and Information

Reapplication
Newly accepted students who do not register in the program during the semester for which they are admitted or who withdraw from all courses within the designated withdrawal period (see the "Calendar" for designated withdrawal dates) are considered no-shows and their admission status is rendered invalid. If reapplying within a two-year period, the student must submit a renewal application plus copies of official transcripts for any additional course work completed since the last application; the deadline for renewal applications is the same as for all other applications. After two years, the student must follow the same procedure as first-time applicants. A new application fee is also required if more than one semester has passed since the last fee was remitted. 

Change in Field of Study
Applicants for a change in field are considered in competition with all other applicants to the new field. East-West Center students must consult their program officer before initiating any changes in fields of study. The applicant must submit a Change in Field of Study application along with all documentation required by the new field (letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores, etc.) to the Graduate Division Admissions Office within the standard admission deadlines for the field of study. (If a change is granted, it becomes effective in the following semester contingent upon receipt of the Statement of Intention to Register (SIR) form.)

Students who are admitted to a new field are considered to be withdrawing from their current field. A student may return to the current field only by petition to, and approval of, the graduate field and the Graduate Division.

Readmission
Classified graduate students who wish to reenroll after a lapse in enrollment of one or more semesters must apply for readmission. Such students must submit the following documents to the Graduate Division Records Office by the established deadlines:

1. Readmission petition;
2. Biographical information form;
3. Residence form;
4. Supplementary information form for non-U.S. citizens (if applicable);
5. Statement of intent to register;
6. Health form;
7. Transcripts reflecting any studies since last admission to the University of Hawai'i Graduate Division; and
8. Any other material requested by the field of study (e.g., current test scores).

Students who are readmitted will be subject to the degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission.

Document Retention
Applications and supporting documents in the following categories are retained by the Graduate Division for limited periods as indicated:

• Incomplete applications-one semester.
• Applications with no action taken by graduate field of study; denials (those denied admission); no-shows (those not enrolled in the semester of admission); transcripts and test scores (TOEFL scores, master file of GRE scores)-two years.
• Academic records of graduated students-five years.
• Academic records of inactive students-seven years.

Classification of Students

Only students who have been admitted to an advanced degree, certificate program, or special non-degree program by the Graduate Division are designated as classified (regular, conditional, or special non-degree) graduate students.

Regular Graduate Student
An applicant will be eligible for admission as a "regular" classified graduate student if he/she has the following:

1. A GPA of 3.0 or better in the last four semesters or approximately 60 semester credits (or the equivalent in quarter credits) of work as an undergraduate; 
2. A master's degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better; or
3. A GPA of 3.0 or better in at least 12 credit hours of relevant upper division and/or graduate-level post-baccalaureate work. 

Students who meet the minimum GPA requirements in category 1 above but whose GPA for 12 credit hours of upper division and/or graduate-level post-baccalaureate work is below 3.0 are not generally admissable. International students with a GPA of less than a B average in their undergraduate work and/or less than a B average in 12 credit hours of post-baccalaureate work are generally not admissable.

Conditional Graduate Student
An applicant not meeting the regular graduate student requirements may be eligible for admission as a "conditional" graduate student if he/she has a GPA of 2.7 to 2.9 in the last four semesters or approximately 60 semester credits (or the equivalent in quarter credits) of work as an undergraduate. To change from conditional to regular status, the student must complete 12 credit hours with a B average in courses numbered 300 and above that are relevant to the degree. International students are generally not admitted as conditional graduate students.

Special Non-degree Graduate Students
Special non-degree graduate students are admitted by the Graduate Division as classified graduate students for a specified program of study, research, or training without degree objectives for a limited period of time (usually one year) under the sponsorship of an educational institution or government agency. 

Post-Baccalaureate Unclassified Students
Post-baccalaureate unclassified (PBU) students have not been admitted to an advanced degree program and are therefore not part of the Graduate Division. Those who wish to take Manoa campus courses as PBU students may apply for admission to the Office of Admissions and Records, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Student Services 001, 2600 Campus Road, Honolulu, HI 96822. An application and official verification of a bachelor's degree or advanced degree earned at an accredited college or university are required. PBU students who plan to apply for classified graduate status in the future should consult with the graduate chair of the field of study in which they are interested.

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