Master’s Degree

A master’s degree provides higher education in a specific field of study or professional practice and is the first degree offered at the postgraduate level.  UNC Charlotte offers a wide variety of master’s degrees, including the Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Teaching, Master of Social Work, Master of Electrical Engineering, and more.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree or its U.S. equivalent, from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body.  See the Graduate Catalog Glossary for a list of accrediting bodies.
  • GPA 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).  If an applicant has earned or attempted a post-baccalaureate degree (i.e. a master’s, doctoral or other), grades in that program will also be taken into consideration.
  • Prerequisites, where applicable, as indicated by specific master’s program criteria.  Prospective master’s students should consult with the Graduate Program Director to identify them prior to application.
  • A Statement of Purpose (essay) submitted online as part of the application submission process. The Statement should describe your experience, objectives for undertaking graduate study and research interests, if known. (Note: Some graduate programs request specific items to be included in the Statement. Review the program web page for details.)
  • Some programs require one to three Recommendation Forms from persons familiar with your academic and/or professional qualifications. These recommendations are submitted directly from your recommender via the online application system.
  • Unofficial transcripts of all academic work attempted beyond high (secondary) school can be used for admission review. An official (officially certified) final transcript must be submitted if an applicant is offered admission.  International transcripts provided in a language other than English should be uploaded, but a translated version should be uploaded as well.
  • Some programs may require a standardized admission test (i.e. GRE, MAT, GMAT) for which you will need to take and request your official scores be sent to us.
  • Check the website of  the program to see which test it requires for admissions consideration.
  • For non-native English language speakers:  official and satisfactory scores on the English language proficiency scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are required.  A minimum score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL or a minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS is required for admissions consideration.
  • A nonrefundable, non transferable application fee of $75 USD (U.S. citizen and permanent resident applicants) or $85 USD (international applicants) for each application submitted.

Additional Information

  • Acceptance into a master’s program must be recommended by the department or college offering the program.  The Graduate School makes the final, official offer of admission. Meeting minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee acceptance into a program.
  • Applicants with records of high quality who do not fulfill these requirements should discuss with the Graduate Program Director other factors that may have a bearing on admission. Some programs have higher standards or additional admission requirements.