To be admitted to degree candidacy, the applicant must maintain a minimum cumulative quality point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate courses completed at Slippery Rock University, be unconditionally admitted to graduate studies, and meet all specific program admission requirements.

After being unconditionally admitted to graduate studies and meeting program requirements, a student must file an Application for Degree Candidacy if required by the department. The application must be filed after the completion of a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 or 18 graduate credits, depending upon departmental requirements. The Application for Degree Candidacy may be obtained from sru.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions under graduate forms, the Office of Graduate Admissions or a graduate coordinator. It includes a program sequence planned by the student with the assistance of an adviser.

Students who have not been approved for degree candidacy and have earned 12 graduate credits (18 graduate credits for students in Counseling and Development) will not be permitted further registration until this requirement has been met. Grades earned by graduate students in undergraduate courses are not included in the graduate grade point average calculation and may not be used to meet any graduate degree requirements.