Graduate
We offer 8 master's degree programs, 1 doctoral program, and certificate and licensure programs designed to put you at the top of your field.
How to Apply
You are considered a graduate student if you hold a baccalaureate degree and are seeking a doctoral degree, master's degree, graduate level certificate, teacher licensure, or professional development. Learn more about what to submit with your application below.
If you are interested in business, you will apply directly to the College of Business and Economics. Visit the College of Business and Economics to learn more about the MBA program.
If you are pursuing any other graduate program you will apply through the Office of Admissions.
FSU offers a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.). Your application will be evaluated based on your potential for success as a doctoral student and future educational leader.
The Ed.D. program admits students to a fall cohort.. Submit the following materials by April 1 to apply:
- Graduate Application for Admission
- $50 non-refundable application fee
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Official GRE scores (taken within the last five years)
- Three letters of recommendation (no more than two years old)
- Writing Sample*
- Personal Interview
- Portfolio of professional growth submitted directly to the Ed.D. program:
Ed.D. Program
College of Education
Fayetteville State University
1200 Murchison Road
Fayetteville, NC 28301-4298
For more information about the Doctorate in Educational Leadership, contact the College of Education at (910) 672-1731.
*A written product is required as part of the application process.
For further information contact the Educational Leadership Office at 672-1731.
Each degree program may have additional requirements beyond the general university admission requirements. We encourage you to visit your program's website for specific admission and application requirements.
- College of Education
- School of Nursing
- School of Social Work
- Department of Criminal Justice
- Department of Psychology
- Department of Sociology
Admission Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
What to Submit
- Graduate Application for Admission
- $50 non-refundable application fee
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.*
- Official GRE/MAT/GMAT scores** (unless otherwise stated by your individual degree program)
If you are admitted (without conditions) to a degree seeking program you may be eligible for financial aid.If you do not meet all of the requirements to be admitted unconditionally, you may be admitted conditionally pending your performance in specific classes. The Graduate Program Faculty Committee may deny admission. A student who is offered conditional admission will NOT be eligible for financial aid.
*If you earned your undergraduate degree(s) from Fayetteville State University, you do not need to submit an official transcript(s) request to the Office of the Registrar.
**Scores should be no more than five years old and are not required if you already hold a master's degree from an accredited institution unless otherwise stated by your degree program.
MBA Applicants
The College of Business and Economics processes all MBA applications separately.
Learn more about admission requirements and how to apply to the MBA program.
Graduate Level Certificate Applicants
You may be admitted to a graduate certificate program at FSU through one of the following pathways.
- Graduate certificate only
- Submit an application to FSU through the Office of Admissions to pursue a graduate certificate program and indicate your program of interest.
- You must meet admission requirements for the certificate, per department guidelines.
- Your department will review the application and make a decision to admit or not admit.
- Master's degree seeking plus graduate certificate program (concurrent)
- If you are admitted to FSU to pursue a master's degree you can decide to add a graduate certificate program and pursue both programs concurrently.
- Declare your intent to pursue the certificate program by submitting a short application form to the Graduate Coordinator or Program Director.
- Master's degree seeking but discontinued (voluntarily or involuntarily) to pursue graduate certificate program
- Submit a petition and a short application form to the Graduate Coordinator or Program Director.
- The Graduate Coordinator or Program Director will review your academic record to determine whether you meet the requirements for the graduate certificate program. The Coordinator or Director will make a recommendation to the department chair. The chair will make a recommendation to the Dean.
Licensure Applicants
If you hold a baccalaureate degree and wish to pursue a licensure program in Teacher Education at FSU, you should submit:
- Graduate Application for Admission (specify "Teacher Licensure Only")
- $50 non-refundable application fee
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended*
If you meet the required undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.75, you will be admitted to the Graduate Licensure Only program which you selected on your application. You will be able to enroll in undergraduate/graduate courses for which you meet pre-requisites.
If you are admitted to the teacher licensure-only program you may be eligible for financial aid.
*One transcript must show receipt of your baccalaureate degree.
Professional Development Students
Professional development students take classes at Fayetteville State University without pursuing a degree. You can apply as a professional development student in two instances:
- You are not applying to earn a degree from FSU (such as you want to take courses for personal or professional development), or
- You seek to earn a degree from FSU, but you cannot complete the application process at least four (4) weeks prior to the start of the semester or term in which you intend to matriculate.
To apply as a professional development student, you should submit:
- Graduate Application for Admission (specify "Professional Development")
- $50 non-refundable application fee
- Official transcript showing the highest level of degree you have earned.
Be aware that departments and programs may have program specific requirements including course registration requirements, such as pre-requisites and co-requisites.
You may earn a maximum of 12 credit hours as a professional development student. To enroll in more than 12 credit hours you must either receive special permission or apply for a degree program. Professional development status does not guarantee admission to a graduate program.
As a professional development student, you will not be eligible for financial aid. Upon admission to a degree seeking program you may become eligible for financial aid, beginning with the semester of admission.
Fayetteville State University welcomes applications from potential graduate students from other nations. You are considered an international student if you do not hold U.S. citizenship or resident alien status.
Submit the following to apply as an international student:
- Graduate Application for Admission
- $50 non-refundable application fee
- Certified copy of all post-secondary records, including marks (grades awarded) and grading scale with minimum passing mark. A certified English evaluation, course by course with grades, must accompany the original document. FSU prefers World Education Services (WES) but will also accept translations from the following other nationally recognized agencies: Education Evaluators International, Inc. (EEI), or International Education Evaluations (IEE).
- Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing) score report. The test score report should be no more than two years old.
- Official copy of the test results from taking the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) - refer to program for specific requirements.
- Two/three Recommendation for Graduate School forms - refer to program for specific requirements.
- The College Board International Student Certification of Finances Guidelines form, no more than six months old, addressed to Fayetteville State University verifying the availability of funds to cover tuition, fees, and other direct costs associated with enrolling at the university.
- If you currently hold a VISA, you must submit a photocopy of the VISA. If you are currently enrolled at another U.S. institution, you can submit a copy of your current I-20 if it has been signed by a designated official at your current institution.
The application deadline for international students is March 1.
All documents must be received at least ninety (90) days prior to the semester of proposed study at Fayetteville State University.