Graduate Student Classification

A graduate student is defined as any student who holds a bachelor's degree from a four-year institution accredited by a regional accreditation body. All students taking graduate courses must apply for admission to the Office of Graduate Studies. At that time, each student is placed in one of the following student classifications:

1. Degree-Seeking Graduate Students: A student pursuing a program of study leading to a Master's Degree or to a Specialist Degree. To be classified as a degree graduate candidate, a student must meet the requirements for admission to degree status as stated by the Office of Graduate Studies and by the appropriate department or program.
2. Non-Degree Graduate Student: The non-degree graduate student status is an all-encompassing description for those students who do not wish to pursue an advanced degree or who have not yet completed all admission requirements for degree admission. Non-degree students include students seeking initial teaching certification, an additional teaching endorsement, a certificate program, self-improvement, or employment requirements. Students in this status are not limited in the number of credit hours completed or the type of course completed (graduate or undergraduate courses), although students intending on seeking a Masters or Specialist degree can only apply 12 graduate credit hours taken in this status towards their graduate program. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid, with the exception of those seeking initial certification or an additional endorsement. Students seeking a second bachelor's degree or those seeking Pre-SLP credit hours should be admitted thru the undergraduate college.
3. Senior (undergraduate) Student:  A senior student pursuing graduate coursework while completing an undergraduate degree is considered an undergraduate student. Seniors at an accredited institution who have obtained in advance the approval of the student's advisor, the instructor or department chair, and Dean for Graduate Studies and Academic Outreach may receive up to 12 hours of credit for graduate courses taken at any campus of the University of Nebraska System in addition to the courses necessary to complete their undergraduate work, provided that such credits are earned within the 12 months prior to receipt of the baccalaureate. Graduate courses can not be taken to complete requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree unless the student is admitted into an accelerated program.