Undergraduate Admissions
13
Freshman Admission 14
Required Documents 14
Compass and KYOTE Testing 14
Admission Criteria 15
Admission Status 15
Mandatory Development Courses 15
Undergraduate Non-Degree Classification 16
Visiting Students 17
Post-Baccalaureate Admission 17
Readmission 17
Transfer Students 17
Kentucky General Education Transfer Agreement 18
International Undergraduate Student Admission 19
2
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Undergraduate Admissions
270-809-3741 or 800-272-4678 ext. 1
Undergraduate Admissions
14
Murray State University reserves the right to modify regulaons regarding admission, registraon, drop/add, course arrangements, cur-
ricula, retenon, graduaon and other funcons of the university. Such regulaons shall govern both old and new students and are eecve
when adopted.
General Admission Information
Applicaons and informaon are available at Murray State’s website at www.murraystate.edu. Assistance with applying may be obtained
by wring Murray State University, Undergraduate Admissions, 102 Curris Center, Murray KY 42071, or by calling 270-809-3741 or toll-free
800-272-4678, menu opon #1. Admission applicaons and related transcripts should be mailed to Undergraduate Admissions, 102 Curris
Center, Murray, KY 42071.
NOTE: Criminal jusce, exercise science, music, nursing, organizaonal communicaon, social work, theatre, athlec training, several
programs in the College of Business and the Bachelor of Integrated Studies program all have addional admission requirements. Review
their secons in this Bullen for more informaon. Students parcipang in NCAA sports must also meet NCAA academic eligibility
requirements.
Residency for Tuion Purposes. Under 13KAR2:045, the Commonwealth of Kentucky requires that all admission applicaons be reviewed
to determine if documentaon of residency is required. Each applicant is noed if documents are needed. Addional informaon can be
obtained at the following website: www.irc.ky.gov/kar/013/002/045.htm.
Freshman Admission Procedures
Murray State University formally declares its commitment to all laws mandang armave acon and equal opportunity regulaons,
together with all valid state and federal regulaons enacted pursuant thereto. The policy of Murray State University is to guarantee free-
dom from discriminaon in its operaon and administraon of its programs, services, and employment pracces; in its relaonships with
students, faculty and sta; and in its interacons with the community which it serves.
Your Expectaons. Students have the right to expect their schools to provide them with the best possible preparaon for an increasingly
compeve world. Murray State University has consistently been ranked among the top 25 percent of Southern regional and liberal arts
colleges in U.S. News and World Report’s publicaon of America’s Best Colleges, and in 2000 was listed as one of two colleges classied as
“best values.”
Our Expectaons. Murray State University is commied to providing the best possible educaonal services to help students prepare
for a successful and producve future. Students who meet the following admission standards will have a greatly increased probability for
success at this university.
Entering freshmen (and certain transfer students) may be admied, admied with condions, or admied with restricons. Those admit-
ted may choose to pursue either a baccalaureate (four-year) or associate (two-year) degree. New freshmen may not apply for the Bachelor
of Integrated Studies program.
Required Documents
A student applying for admission who withholds or gives false informaon or documents can be denied admission to or withdrawn
from Murray State. Each freshman applying to Murray State
• must submit an applicaon for admission with a $40 nonrefundable applicaon fee;
• must have an ocial high school transcript that includes a minimum of six semesters of course work, a list of senior-year courses, and the
student’s class rank mailed/sent as a PDF le by email, submied through XAP or faxed directly to Undergraduate Admissions from the
applicant’s high school counselor. (Admission is not complete unl a nal ocial transcript is mailed/sent electronically through XAP, or
emailed as a PDF le by the counselor aer graduaon. It must include the date of graduaon, all courses and grades, and the student’s
nal class rank. If your high school does not rank, then the applicant’s admissions status will be based on GPA and Standardized Test
Scores);
• must have an ocial ACT or SAT score report sent to Undergraduate Admissions. Ocial ACT/SAT scores should be on all ocial transcripts
submied to Undergraduate Admissions. (Applicants who have aended any college(s) other than Murray State while in high school
must also have ocial college transcripts mailed, sent electronically, or faxed directly to Undergraduate Admissions. Faxed copies must
be followed up with an ocial hard copy from the Registrar’s Oce of each college, and must have a minimum cumulave GPA of a 2.00
on a 4.00 scale. These transcripts are required even if the student withdrew or does not want the credit transferred. Applicants who have
tesng credit from CLEP or AP must have ocial score reports mailed directly to Undergraduate Admissions from the tesng service in
Princeton NJ.)
To be considered for full admission each applicant must have received or be receiving a high school diploma before the term for which
he/she is applying. Those individuals who have not graduated from accredited high schools may be required to have a GED. Those who have
earned a GED should refer to the GED Student secon. Students currently in high school may be considered for early admission as part-me
students. See Early High School Admission.
Compass and KYOTE Testing
Murray State ulizes two tests for placement and assessment. The Compass test is a comprehensive computerized placement and
diagnosc assessment instrument. Murray State University administers the Compass for non-tradional students who are 21 years of age
or older for admission purposes. KYOTE (Kentucky Online Tesng Program) currently oers math readiness and college algebra placement
tests. KYOTE wring and reading test will be available soon.
Murray State administers Compass and KYOTE tests on a limited basis. Compass tests and KYOTE placement tests are alternaves if
ACT/SAT individual test scores do not meet MSU’s admission and placement requirements. If you have any quesons, contact the Oce of
Undergraduate Admissions.
NOTE: For admission and placement use, Compass and KYOTE scores must be current—taken within the last 12 months.
To prepare for the Compass test, you may use any ACT preparaon guide. Compass also has sample quesons on their website, www.
act.org/compass.
Undergraduate Admissions
15
If you would like to schedule an appointment for the Compass test or if you have any quesons, please call 270-809-6851. Compass test
fees are $20.00 for the standard three test baery and $7.00 for single tests.
For informaon about KYOTE tesng, please call 270-809-6267.
Admission Criteria
The following criteria are currently used in making an admission decision but are subject to change as deemed appropriate by the
university or as mandated by the Council on Postsecondary Educaon:
A. Compleon of the following pre-college curriculum:
•English I, II, III and IV (or AP English)
•Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry
•1 life science, 1 physical science, and 1 earth space science (one of these must have a lab)
•Any three of the following: United States history, economics, government, world geography or world civilizaon
•1/2 unit of health
•1/2 unit of physical educaon
•1 unit of history and
appreciaon
of
visual/performing arts
•2 units of one foreign language (for KY residents only)
•Five elecves
B. Ranking in top half of graduang class or cumulave GPA of 3.00
C. At least one standardized test score at or above one of the following levels:
1) ACT composite of 18 or above;
2) SAT score of 870 or above;
3) A minimum test score of either
15 ACT composite -or- SAT combined verbal and math of 740
and demonstraon of language arts strength by
ACT discipline score of 18 in English -or-
20 in reading -or-
SAT score of at least 450 verbal or 470 crical reading -or-
COMPASS wring score of 74 -or- reading score of 85;
4) SAT score of 740 -and-
SAT verbal score of 450 -or-
SAT crical reading score of 470 -or-
COMPASS wring score of 74 -or-
COMPASS reading score of 85
Note: In the absence of ACT or SAT scores, COMPASS scores can be used for admissions only for students age 21 and over. For all students,
COMPASS test scores must be current (taken within the previous 12 months). Kentucky residents under the age of 21 must complete the state-
mandated pre-college curriculum. All other applicants must complete a comparable college-preparatory curriculum. ACT/SAT wring scores
are oponal.
Admission Status
An applicant who meets the requirements in A, B, and C, as listed above, qualies for Admied status.
All other applicants will be reviewed for possible admission as follows:
• an applicant with a minimum ACT composite of 15 or a SAT combined verbal and math score of 740 who meets A and meets the
requirement in either B or C will have Admied with Condions status. These condions include a course-load limit of no more than 16
hours a semester and a requirement to complete the following before becoming a sophomore:
-Pass FYE 098 and ENG 105
-Complete any required developmental courses or any courses required due to pre-college curriculum deciencies.
• A resident of Kentucky or the Tennessee counes of Henry, Obion, Stewart, or Weakley with a minimum ACT composite of 15 or SAT
combined verbal and math score of 740 who does not meet the criteria for “Admied with Condions” will be considered for Admied
with Restricons status. This is an enrollment category provided on a very limited basis during summer and spring terms only. Students
allowed to enroll will be limited to 16 hours each semester and will be required to do the following:
-Sasfactorily complete a seven-hour required block of classes. Passing grades must be earned in ENG 095 (or ENG 100 for students with
English ACTs of 15-17), REA 095 and COM 161 (some programs require a minimum grade in this course) as an integrated block of classes.
Only two aempts are allowed, provided the student withdraws by the current semester deadline from the block courses during the
rst aempt. A student documenng extreme extenuang circumstances may appeal to allow for a third aempt following a second
withdrawal from the block of courses. Block courses are only available in summer and spring terms on a very limited basis.
-Be recommended for advancement by the director of MSU’s Community College.
-Complete the requirements for Admied with Condions as stated above.
Mandatory Developmental Courses
All Kentucky state-supported colleges and universies are required by the Council on Postsecondary Educaon to enroll freshmen in a
subject-specic developmental course when the student’s ACT/SAT scores are:
ACT SAT
English 17 and below under 440 verbal or under 450 crical reading
Mathemacs 18 and below under 460
Reading 19 and below under 450 verbal or under 470 crical reading
Undergraduate Admissions
16
At this me, we are permied to pull scores from mulple ACT/SAT tesngs. MSU meets this mandate with the following courses:
ENGLISH
All students with an English ACT score below 18/SAT crical reading score below 470 must enroll in ENG 095 or ENG 100 based
on the following test score scale: ENG 095 is required with English ACT below 15/SAT verbal below 390/SAT crical reading
below 400. ENG 100 is required with ACT of 15-17/SAT verbal of 390-440/SAT crical reading of 400-460.
MATH
All students with a mathemacs ACT score below 19/SAT score below 450 must enroll in MAT 095 or MAT 096 based on the
following test score scale: ACT of 15 and below/SAT of 370 and below must enroll in MAT 095; ACT of 16-18/SAT of 380-450
must enroll in MAT 096. Depending upon major, students with ACT scores under 21/SAT scores under 520 may also be required
to enroll in MAT 097.
READING
Students admied with restricons must rst enroll in REA 095; all students with a reading ACT score below 20/SAT score 470
or below must enroll in REA 100 and REA 120.
Early High School Admission. A student who is currently in high school may be granted permission to enroll for courses prior to gradua-
on. Inquiries should be directed rst to the student’s high school counselor and then to Undergraduate Admissions. Students seeking early
admission must be able to succeed without remediaon. These students are referred to as Racer Academy admits.
Home Schooled or Non-accredited High School Student. A student who is graduated from a non-accredited high school or one who is
home schooled, may be considered for admission. The same admission documents and tests are required; however GED tesng may be
required.
GED Student. An applicant who is at least 19 years of age and has earned a GED diploma will be considered for admission on the basis
of an applicaon for admission accompanied by a $40 nonrefundable fee; an ocial report of the student’s GED scores, mailed directly to
Undergraduate Admissions from the center where he or she was tested; an ocial ACT or SAT score report mailed directly to Undergradu-
ate Admissions from the Naonal tesng site; and any addional diagnosc tesng deemed necessary by the Director of Undergraduate
Admissions.
Admission Appeals. A new freshman who is denied admission and would not qualify for Restricted Admission status, and is a U.S. cizen
may obtain informaon on appealing that decision by contacng Oce of Recruitment at 800-272-4678, ext. #2, for the appeals procedure.
Transfer applicants who are denied admission and wish to appeal, may obtain informaon on appealing by contacng the Transfer Center
at 1-800-669-7654.
Undergraduate Non-Degree Classication
The goal of Murray State’s policy for non-degree students is to provide appropriate access to academic courses for students who would
like to connue their educaon but who do not wish to seek a degree. Although degree-seeking students have top priority in terms of uli-
zaon of university resources, the university does wish to provide access to these resources on a space-available basis to students who are
not seeking a degree. Non-degree status aords an opportunity for individuals to enroll in a few courses of specic interest to them without
the structure of degree-seeking status, and is consistent with the educaonal mission of the university. Non-degree students are not eligible
for nancial aid, scholarships, or Alumni Legacy Grants.
Most non-degree students are considered “lifelong learners” and include the following groups: Donovan Scholars, students who have al-
ready earned degrees, employees wanng to gain new skills, and others who have special interests. (See informaon about vising students
and high school students with exceponal ability in this secon.)
Non-degree applicants must submit to Undergraduate Admissions:
1. an applicaon for admission including a list of all postsecondary instuons aended;
2. a non-refundable $40 applicaon processing fee; and
3. any records requested by Undergraduate Admissions to determine residency and/or eligibility for non-degree status. Diagnosc tesng
may be required before enrolling in courses that require a minimum level of competency.
Refer to the University Calendar for admission deadlines.
To be admied as a non-degree student, an applicant must meet the following criteria:
1. The high school class of a non-degree applicant must have graduated at least two years prior to the applicant’s ancipated semester
of enrollment.
2. Applicants who have been denied admission as degree-seeking students may not in turn be admied as non-degree seeking stu-
dents.
3. Murray State students under academic or disciplinary suspension may not be admied as non-degree students.
4. Students currently under suspension at other instuons may not be admied as non-degree students. Failure to disclose a current
suspension may result in forfeiture of eligibility for future enrollment.
5. Students are strongly encouraged to submit transcripts of high school or prior college work at the me of admission to facilitate advis-
ing about appropriate course work.
The following rules govern enrolling as a non-degree seeking student:
1. Non-degree students fall under the same fee, academic and grading policies as degree-seeking students, are expected to parcipate
fully in class, and must meet course prerequisites or obtain the consent of the instructor to enroll in a course. (See the secon on auding
below.)
2. Students classied as non-degree pre-schedule with students who are classied as freshmen.
3. No one may connue to enroll as a non-degree student aer earning 24 semester hours in this status without the special permission
of the dean of the college in which the student is registered.
4. No transfer, military, AP, CLEP, or other tesng credit will be recorded on the record of a student classied as a non-degree student. An
enrolled non-degree student may apply to take departmental challenge examinaons.
5. If a non-degree student decides to apply for degree status, the student must contact Undergraduate Admissions for the appropriate
form, and must meet the admission requirements in eect at the me of the request for review of status. Although successful compleon
of courses taken while a non-degree student does not ensure admission, to be considered for degree-seeking status, the student must have
a minimum of a 2.00 cumulave GPA on those courses.
Undergraduate Admissions
17
6. Credit earned as a non-degree student will be evaluated for applicability toward a degree by the chair of the academic department in
which the student will be enrolled. No graduate or professional credit is awarded for courses taken while a student is enrolled as an under-
graduate non-degree student. Acceptance of non-degree credit for transfer is at the discreon of the receiving instuon.
Visiting Students
A student who is currently enrolled or working toward a degree at another college and wants to enroll at Murray State for credit that will
be transferred to that college is considered a vising student. A minimum of a 2.00 (4.00 scale) cumulave GPA is required to be eligible to
enroll at Murray State as a vising student. A student must submit a readmission applicaon and a $40 nonrefundable fee to the Transfer
Center. To complete admission, an ocial “leer of good standing” from the Registrar’s Oce of the college from which the student will be
vising is required. It is important to remember (1) no transfer credit is posted to a vising student’s permanent record at Murray State; (2)
a vising student who decides to transfer to Murray State must comply with all of the transfer admission requirements in force at the me
the change of status is requested; (3) the acceptability of transfer credit from Murray State to another college is determined by the receiv-
ing instuon; (4) vising student status is generally valid for only one term, at which me the student must contact the Transfer Center
for permission to re-enroll; and (5) Murray State transcripts are mailed only upon the wrien request of the student, accompanied by the
appropriate fee. Transcript request forms may be obtained from the Oce of the Registrar or from their link at www.murraystate.edu.
Post-Baccalaureate Admission
Individuals having successfully completed the requirements for a baccalaureate or higher degree who wish to take addional undergradu-
ate courses may be admied as post-baccalaureate students. A student with a degree from Murray State needs to submit a readmission
applicaon, accompanied by a $40 nonrefundable fee. All other post-baccalaureate applicants should submit an undergraduate applicaon
for admission with a $40 nonrefundable applicaon fee, and should request an ocial transcript mailed directly to Undergraduate Admis-
sions from the registrar’s oce of the college that conferred his or her degree. A student pursuing a degree from Murray State must have
ocial transcripts sent directly to Undergraduate Admissions from each college aended.
A readmied post-baccalaureate student who has below a 2.00 cumulave GPA on all undergraduate post-baccalaureate course work
will be readmied on probaon and must comply with all probaon policy regulaons.
Documents to verify residency may be required.
Readmission
An undergraduate student in good standing who has previously aended Murray State University but has been out for two full years
(excluding summers) will be readmied upon compleons of the readmission applicaon and $40 nonrefundable fee. All Readmission ap-
plicants must apply through the Transfer Center for an inial review of their applicaon and transcripts. Students on academic suspension
or dismissal who are eligible to return, must also apply through the Transfer Center. Before applying again or requesng new transcripts, the
student should call the Transfer Center to see if previous transcripts are sll on le. The Transfer Center will accept electronic transcripts from
other accredited instuons. Students who applied for admission to Murray State as new students but did not enroll may need to complete
new applicaons for admission. Before applying again or requesng new transcripts, the student should call the Transfer Center to see if the
materials sent before are sll on le. Vericaon of residency for tuion purposes may be required. Subming with the applicaon a copy
of the applicant’s driver’s licence will assist with this process. The applicant will be noed if other documents are required.
A student who was in good academic and nancial standing when he or she le the university, who has a complete admission le, and
who has not aended any other regionally accredited colleges since last enrolling at Murray State, is eligible for readmission. An applicaon
for readmission will not be processed if a student has any indebtedness to any university or to student loan programs. If a student le Murray
State on disciplinary or academic probaon, suspension or dismissal, and has no new transfer credit, the applicant may be considered for
readmission on an individual basis. If the student is readmied, any condions will be specied in the leer of admission. Students previ-
ously admied under an admission status that imposed condions or restricons who did not complete the requirements for removal of
that status will be re-evaluated based on the current admission requirements and probaon policy. Refer to the secon on admission level
requirements that appears earlier in this chapter.
A student who has been enrolled at other instuons since last aending Murray State must request that an ocial transcript be mailed
directly to the Transfer Center from each college. Eligibility for readmission will be determined aer evaluang the transfer credits. Failure to
furnish such ocial transcripts as required will delay readmission and may aect the student’s academic standing at Murray State. A student
who withholds or gives false informaon or documents can be denied admission or withdrawn from school. (Note: A student must be
currently enrolled at Murray State before any transfer, military, or tesng credit will be recorded on a permanent record.) A readmission ap-
plicant who has transfer work and is in good standing academically, nancially and in all other respects at both Murray State and any other
colleges aended will be admied as long as the student’s cumulave grade point average on all courses is at least a 2.00 on a 4.00 scale.
All other applicants will be considered on an individual basis. A readmission applicant who is denied admission may appeal that decision to
the Academic Appeals commiee. Contact the Transfer Center for that procedure. Academic bankruptcy declared at another college does
not apply at Murray State. If the student is readmied, any condions of admission will be specied in the leer of admission. Refer to the
secons in this Bullen on transfer, probaon, and academic second chance policies for addional informaon.
Transfer Students
Admission. A student who wishes to transfer to Murray State University from another regionally accredited college or university must
submit an applicaon for admission with a nonrefundable $40 fee, and have an ocial transcript mailed or electronically sent (not faxed) to
the Transfer Center from each school aended. Under no condion will the applicant be permied to ignore previous college work.
A student who withholds or gives false informaon or documents can be denied admission or withdrawn from school and denied a
degree. Academic bankruptcy declared at another college does not apply at Murray State University.
A student who has 24 semester hours of transferable degree credit with a minimum of a 2.00 (C) cumulave grade point average on all
previous courses, as calculated by Murray State, and is in good standing academically and nancially at all colleges previously aended, is
Undergraduate Admissions
18
eligible for admission to Murray State. An applicant who has a minimum of a 2.00 (C) cumulave GPA but who has fewer than 24 semester
hours of transferable degree credit must submit an ocial ACT/SAT score report and an ocial high school transcript mailed directly to the
Transfer Center from the high school the student aended. The high school transcript should include the student’s class rank and date of
graduaon. Once admied, condions of admission will be specied in a leer of admission.
A student who has aended only colleges that are not regionally accredited and would like to appeal the credit, may contact the Transfer
Center at 1-800-669-7654 for addional informaon.
Admission Appeals. A new transfer student who is denied admission and is a U.S. cizen, should contact the Transfer Center at 1-800-
669-7654, for the appeals procedure.
Transfer of Credit. Degree credits earned at other regionally accredited (as recognized by Murray State) American instuons of higher
educaon may be transferred to Murray State and applied toward a degree. The Transfer Credit Pracces report published by the Ameri-
can Associaon of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Ocers will be the reference used for determining an instuon’s accreditaon
status. Determinaon of upper-level and lower-level credit is based on the course level at the sending instuon. All work is converted to
semester hours and a 4.00 grading scale. Murray State’s probaon and repeat policies are applied as required. Transferred incomplete grades
do not carry hours aempted; i.e., they do not aect the student’s grade point average.
All acceptable transfer credit is formally evaluated, with a copy of the degree audit made available to each transfer student and to his/her
advisor.
A student must be currently enrolled at Murray State before any transfer, military, or tesng credit will be recorded as part of a permanent
record. There is no limit to the number of hours that may be transferred from a regionally accredited instuon. However, it is important to
remember that a certain number of hours must be completed at Murray State, and that courses taken at a two-year instuon cannot be
used to meet Murray State’s requirement for upper-level (junior or senior) courses. At least 20 of the last 32 semester hours required for
graduaon must be earned in residence at Murray State.
Credit for courses taken in military service schools is evaluated according to recommendaons in the Guide to the Evaluaon of Educa-
onal Experience in the Armed Services published by the American Council on Educaon. Courses listed in two other American Council on
Educaon publicaons, the Naonal Guide to Educaonal Credit for Training Programs and the Directory of the Naonal Program on Non-
Collegiate Sponsored Instrucon (PONSI), are evaluated for credit on an individual basis.
Credits earned through educaonal instuons located outside the United States will be considered for acceptance aer an appropriate
evaluaon. Students may contact the Oce of Internaonal Admissions for informaon regarding the evaluaon procedure.
University Studies. Transfer students who have completed reasonable communicaon and basic skills, science and mathemacs, hu-
manies and ne arts, and social science courses for the same number of hours as required at Murray State, will be credited with compleon
of the University Studies component of degree requirements. Any deciencies at the me they rst enroll at Murray State must be fullled
according to MSU regulaons.
Transfer Students with an Approved Associate Degree. A transfer student who has completed, as of May 1995 or later, an approved
baccalaureate-oriented Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree will (a) be accepted with junior class standing provided the student
has completed at least 60 semester credit hours, and (b) be considered to have completed the baccalaureate University Studies require-
ments. However, addional University Studies courses may be needed if they are required for the student’s major and/or degree and an
equivalent course has not been transferred. Associate degrees completed before May 1995, will be reviewed by the Transfer Center. If the
degree is determined to be baccalaureate-oriented and to have comparable content and credit hour criteria, the same benets will be
extended to those graduates.
Transfer Students Who Do Not Have an Approved Associate Degree. Students seeking a baccalaureate degree who, transfer fewer than
six semester hours in the University Studies World’s Historical, Literary, and Philosophical Tradions category will be required to take HUM
211 and CIV 201 or CIV 202 toward compleon of that block, unless their transfer credit includes courses which are clearly equivalent to
Murray State’s HUM 211 and CIV 201 or CIV 202.
Kentucky General Education Transfer Agreement
As of Spring 1996, a policy on University Studies transfer was established to facilitate transfer among the public colleges and universies
in Kentucky. The Council on Postsecondary Educaon and the instuons have developed a University Studies core transfer component
which reects the distribuon of disciplines included in university-wide lower division University Studies requirements for the baccalaureate
degree. A Fully General Educaon Cered student, as veried by the sending instuon, is considered to have completed Murray State’s
baccalaureate University Studies requirements. However, addional University Studies courses may be needed if they are required for the
student’s major and/or degree and an equivalent course has not been transferred.
To be Fully Cered a student must have a minimum cumulave GPA of 2.00 (4.00 scale) and have met each of the following criteria at
the me of transfer:
1. earned at least 60 hours of college-level credits;
2. completed at least 45 hours of University Studies courses;
3. completed the 30 hour core transfer component.
The 2010 General Assembly approved House Bill 160, which mandates changes in the way universies across the state handle the transfer
of general educaon courses. These changes will take place with the 2012-2013 academic year. If a student plans to transfer from another
Kentucky state university or community college beginning in Fall 2011 or later, please view the Transfer Center website (www.murraystate.
edu/transfercenter/transfer) for updated regulaons regarding transferring of general educaon courses or contact the Transfer Center at
270-809-3350.
Transfer Frameworks. The Baccalaureate Program Transfer Frameworks idenfy 12 hours of course work in a major which may be suc-
cessfully transferred in addion to the general educaon block. Each framework represents a specic guide to the exact courses a student
needs. For more informaon about the Transfer Frameworks or the Kentucky General Educaon Transfer Agreement, contact the Transfer
Center
Undergraduate Admissions
19
ADMISSION STATUS BASED ON LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
Undergraduate Programs
TEST FULLY ADMITTED FULLY ADMITTED WITH FULLY ADMITTED WITH
WITHOUT CONDITION AEP CONDITION
1
ESL CONDITION
2
Paper-Based TOEFL 527 or more 500-523 497 or below
Internet-Based TOEFL 71 minimum on Academic 61-70 on Academic Test 60 or less on Academic
(iBT) Test with no band less or any band score of Test or any band score of
than 16 13-15 12 or less
IELTS 6.0 minimum on Academic 5.5 on Academic Test with 5.0 or below on
Test with no band less any band score of 4.5 or Academic Test or any
than 5.0 5.0 band score below 4.5
No TOEFL or IELTS scores
1
AEP - Academic English Program for Non-Native Speakers
2
ESL - English as a Second Language Program
International Undergraduate Student Admission
University Admission. A nonrefundable applicaon fee of $30 must accompany any applicaon for admission as an internaonal student.
A complete packet of admission forms is available at www.murraystate.edu/libraries/iis/interapp.sb.ashx. All internaonal students, in-
cluding transfer students from non-English speaking countries, are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the
Internaonal English Language Tesng System (IELTS), or complete Murray State’s English as a Second Language Program. A student must
request that an ocial score report be mailed by the tesng service directly to The Oce of Internaonal Admissions, 171 Woods Hall, Mur-
ray, KY 42071. These score requirements are subject to change. In addion, an applicant must cerfy that he or she has adequate nancial
support to cover at least the rst year of the enre period of me that the student would be at Murray State. Each internaonal applicant
must submit ocial or cered copies of all previous academic records. A student who withholds or gives false informaon or documents
can be denied admission and/or withdrawn from school. Because of mail turnaround me and the extra me needed to evaluate interna-
onal educaonal records, students are strongly urged to apply at least six months in advance.
NOTE: University admission with ESP Condion requires compleon of a university ESP placement test and one to two ESP classes may
be required concurrently with university classes. Admission with ESL Condion requires full-me enrollment and compleon of Murray
State’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program and achievement of the instuonal TOEFL score required by the applicant’s academic
program major. If determined to be eligible, students may be enrolled into a transion program in which selected university classes may
be taken on a condional basis along with further designated language study.
English as a Second Language Program Admission. Undergraduate students who have not taken the TOEFL or IELTS, or who have a score
below the admission standard of the undergraduate program for which they wish to apply, may apply for condional admission through the
English as a Second Language (ESL) program. The ESL program oers students six levels of English language instrucon to prepare them for
university study.
A student who enters the ESL program is tested and placed into the appropriate level of language study, ranging from level one (beginner)
to level six (high advanced). Each level of study consists of an eight-week course in nine dierent skill and knowledge areas which include
the following: applied grammar, computer-assisted composion, error analysis, oral skills workshop, university orientaon for new students,
listening comprehension, conversaon, speech development, academic reading, and TOEFL preparaon. In total, students take 20 hours of
classes per week over an eight-week term. A student who begins the ESL program at level one should expect to study English for six terms
(three semesters).
The language courses are supplemented by acvies outside of class, including the ESL Conversaon Partners Program, which are intended
to assist students in learning English and in adapng to American university life.
In order to advance through and complete all levels of language study in the ESL program, students must maintain the ESL program
academic standards, which include sasfactory grades in ESL courses, appropriate exit prociencies, and mandatory aendance.
Undergraduate applicants who sasfy all admission requirements other than English prociency may apply for a combinaon of intensive
language instrucon and course work toward a degree. Upon successful compleon of level six and the recommendaon of the ESL program
director, an ESL student may enroll in full-me university course work if all other admission requirements have been met.
For more informaon on the ESL program and fees, write to English as a Second Language, Instute for Internaonal Studies, 115 Woods
Hall, Murray KY 42071-3304, USA; e-mail msu.esl@ murraystate.edu; call 270-809-3265; or visit Murray State’s website at www.murraystate.
edu/students/internaonal/iis/eslmain.
