GRADUATE APPLICATION PROCESS AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
Acceptance Process
The School of Science and Computer Engineering fully reviews each complete applicant file to determine if the applicant will be accepted. Files remain
in UHCL Admissions until they are complete. Incomplete files are not passed to SCE. SCE Academic Advisors and SCE Faculty provide potential
applicants with degree-specific acceptance criteria to enable informed choice about applying and selecting a major. Online applications and additional
application materials are available at www.uhcl.edu/admissions. No one at UHCL is empowered to project, based on unofficial information reported
by the applicant, whether or not that person might be accepted, however, we do make available the general minimum criteria that should be met to be
considered for admissions, so that applicants know what is expected.
Choosing a Major
Admission standards and foundation courses for each degree program (major) are unique. Go to www.uhcl.edu/sce and select the graduate academic
degree program of your choice to see degree-specific criteria. Consider your options and select your degree program carefully. Applicants must select
only one degree for their application. Students who are accepted to a specific degree must enroll their first semester in that degree plan. Changes can
be requested after six weeks of enrollment but acceptance to one degree does not in any way indicate acceptance to any other degree program.
Thoroughly investigate your choices before choosing a major!
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Financial aid and scholarship information is available at www.uhcl.edu/scholarships or http://prtl.uhcl.edu/portal/page/portal/FAO
Deadlines Applications for the given semester will not be accepted after the dates below. Earlier completion of application, well before this deadline, is
strongly recommended.
U.S. Residents
International Applicants
Spring
December 1
October 1 (Nov. 1 for transfers from other US institutions)
Summer
May 1
March 1
Fall
August 1
April 1 (June 1 for transfers from other US institutions)
Criteria for All Graduate Degree Programs
Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S., or the equivalent of a 4-year U.S. bachelor's
at an international university. For International universities, completion of a 3-year bachelor’s degree plus completion of at least 1 year of a Master’s
program is accepted as equivalent to a 4-year Bachelor’s. A 3-year bachelor's alone is not sufficient.
SCE bases acceptance to graduate programs on a combination of the three criteria listed below. The standards for each of the three criteria are specific
to EACH DEGREE PROGRAM – criteria are listed below are generic. Go to www.uhcl.edu/sce and select the graduate academic degree program of
your choice to see program-specific criteria.
1. GPA
A GPA of 3.0 or higher on the applicant’s last 60 hours of college credit is preferred, but a somewhat lower GPA may be accepted by some (but
not all) degrees, if the other criteria are favorable. ALL transcripts from ALL colleges and universities the applicant has ever attended (no
exceptions) must be received in the UHCL Admissions office before Admissions Evaluators calculate the GPA and pass the file to SCE for
review.
2. Test Scores
GRE An official GRE score (www.gre.org) for a test taken within the past 5 years is required of all applicants, except as noted below. Only the
general test (including Verbal, Quantitative and Essay) is required; subject tests are not required. UHCL reporting code is 6916, and there is no
department code. Please allow at least three weeks for your score to be recorded in the UHCL system.
Specific minimum acceptable scores vary by degree program, but in general, all programs require a minimum verbal + quantitative of 1000 points
on the old test version, and requirements on the new version will be 300 points. Additional rules apply! Go to www.uhcl.edu/sce and select the
graduate degree program of your choice to look for program-specific criteria.
GRE Exceptions or Exemptions:
GRE Exceptions: For Computer Information Systems and Engineering Management majors only, the GMAT will be accepted.
GRE Exemptions: Waivers of the GRE test requirement are considered ONLY for applicants with an earned doctoral degree (ex.: PhD, MD,
EdD) from an accredited university in the United States or an earned Master’s degree in a closely related field from an accredited university
in the United States. Applicants with advanced degrees from institutions outside the United States do not qualify for waivers. Waivers can be
requested only after the application is paid and complete with transcripts confirming the advanced degree earned in the United States.
Contact sceadvising@uhcl.edu for information on requesting a GRE waiver.
TOEFL All students, regardless of their immigration status, who are citizens of countries where English is not the native language must
demonstrate English proficiency. The minimum score for each section of the TOEFL test are as follows: Paper-based >=550; Computer-based
>=213; iBT>=80; IELTS>= 6.0. Only scores sent from the testing center will be accepted. A waiver will be considered for applicants who have a
bachelor's degree from an approved, accredited U.S. institution of higher education. Please view additional important language requirements and
alternatives on the Admission www.uhcl.edu/admissions) (International) link.
3. Related Degree and/or Preparatory Courses.
Some SCE degrees require a bachelor’s degree in a closely related field while others are satisfied with an academic background that
includes completion of a set of basic preparation course. Visit www.uhcl.edu/sce to find the requirements for individual programs. Most
basic preparation courses should be completed before applying to the program. All basic preparation courses not completed prior to
acceptance become degree requirements and are completed the first year of enrollment.
Other Criteria Send these items ONLY to sceadvising@uhcl.edu. All other documents must go directly to Office of Admissions
Environmental Science requires a personal statement outlining academic background, academic and career goals, and declaration
of a sub-plan under the Environmental Science degree plan. Two letters of recommendation are suggested, but not required.
Biotechnology requires two letters of recommendation from a former academic or professional source.
Engineering Management requires a resume. Recommendation letters are suggested.
Other majors have NO requirements for statements, resumes or letters of recommendation.
SCIENCE AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREES
DIVISION OF COMPUTING AND MATHEMATICS
Computer Information Systems
Computer Science
Mathematical Science
Statistics
DIVISION OF ENGINEERING
Computer Engineering
Engineering Management
Software Engineering
Systems Engineering
DIVISION OF NATURAL SCIENCES
Biological Sciences
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Physics
www.uhcl.edu/sce