Graduate Admissions

Graduate Admissions

1. Admission to Graduate Programs - U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

Graduate admission is for students who hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited US institution or its equivalent, and wish to pursue a master's or doctoral degree. Graduate admission at Lamar University is competitive, and requirements vary by department. Please refer to the departmental catalog entry for specific requirements and standards beyond those listed here. Upon receipt of all university-required documents, the Admissions Office will forward your file to your desired academic department for an admission decision.

Graduate Admission Categories

Post-Baccalaureate Admission - At the discretion of the department, students may be admitted to this category prior to completing all of the requirements for full graduate admission. Students in this category study at the graduate level but are not considered graduate students and may not complete a degree. In most circumstances, students are permitted to complete six hours during post-baccalaureate status.

Graduate Admission - Denotes full admission to a degree program and to the graduate college.

Post-Graduate Admission - Students who hold an advanced degree and are pursuing additional courses without acceptance to a degree program or the graduate college.

How to Apply

  1. Submit Application. Graduate applicants should submit their Graduate Application online at www.applytexas.org.
  2. Submit Transcripts. Submit the following official transcript(s) indicating: 1) The conferred bachelor’s or master’s degree as required for the intended program from a regionally accredited US institution or its equivalent. 2) The transcript of most recent attendance if it differs from the institution of the conferred degree. This requirement applies regardless of the length of time in attendance and regardless of whether credit was earned or is desired. If a department or program wishes to review additional transcripts from prior attendance, the department or program may directly request the applicant to submit the official transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions. Students must be eligible to re-enter all colleges and universities previously attended. Failure to disclose previous college attendance is justification for revocation of acceptance and dismissal from Lamar University.
  3. Submit Admission Test Scores. Graduate applicants must have official test scores sent to Lamar University directly by the testing agency. Applicants for the M.B.A. program should take the GMAT. All other graduate applicants should take the GRE. Deaf applicants may substitute WAIS-R in place of GRE or GMAT. Score requirements are competitive and are assessed by each academic department.

Readmission for Former Graduate Students

Students who have not returned within one full academic year from last enrollment term, must reapply to Lamar University and meet readmission criteria. Students returning less than one full academic year from last enrollment term may return to Lamar University without needing to reapply for admission and should contact their academic advisor.

Appeal of Admission Denial

Prospective students who have been denied admission to the College of Graduate Studies have the right to appeal to the appeals committee in the college to which they applied. The committee considers appeals on an individual basis and makes recommendations to the dean of graduate studies.

2. Admission to Graduate Programs - International Students

Lamar University welcomes students from around the world for both undergraduate and graduate studies. All admissions documents, including applications, are processed by the Lamar University Office of Admissions. After acceptance, the Office of Admissions will continue to communicate with students regarding the final documents needed to process the I-20. Once your visa is granted, the student will then work with the Office of International Education and Services for assistance in traveling to Lamar. https://www.lamar.edu/international. These offices work together to provide a pleasant admission and enrollment experience.

Admission Status Categories

Regular Admission Offered to students who meet all university, departmental, and language proficiency admission requirements.

Incomplete Lamar University has not yet received all of the documents required for admission

Departmental Review Graduate admission is competitive and requirements vary by the academic department.  Graduate applicants are placed in “Review Status” and the file is forwarded to the academic department after all admission documents are received.  The graduate academic department then reviews each applicant and communicates their decision back to the admissions office which notifies the applicant.

International Admission Requirements

Graduate admission at Lamar University is for international students who hold a bachelor's degree and wish to pursue a master's or doctoral degree at Lamar University. Graduate admission is competitive, and requirements vary by department. Upon receipt of all university-required documents, the Admissions Office will forward your file to your desired academic department for an admission decision. For more information on graduate degree programs, please check the websites of the individual academic departments that interest you using this directory of Academic Departments.

How to Apply for International Admission

Please use your name as it appears on your passport on your application and on all other communication with Lamar University

  1. Submit Application. All international graduate applicants should submit online applications through the Apply Texas system. Graduate applicants must select the International Graduate Application.
  2. International Academic Records:
    Colleges of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, and Business Graduate Applicants.     Submit official transcript(s) from all post-secondary institutions attended with an original signature of a school official or an original school seal. If transcripts are in a language other than English, an official translation from the school, recognized translator, or translation verified by a United States Embassy or Consulate must accompany the native language transcript. Transcripts should arrive in a sealed envelope, directly from the sending institution or recognized translator. Faxed, emailed, and/or notarized scanned copies will not be accepted. “Your transcripts should be sent to the Office of Admissions via one of the options listed below. They will be made available for an internal transcript evaluation.
    All Other Graduate Applicants. Graduate applicants (except the Colleges of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, and Business applicants) must submit a third-party transcript evaluation report. This official report must contain a course-by-course evaluation of all post-secondary work outside the United States, course grades, grade point average, the diploma or degree conferred, and verify U.S equivalency to a bachelor’s degree.  This report must be sent to Lamar University directly from one of the approved evaluating agencies listed here: https://www.lamar.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/foreign-transcript-evaluation.html. The report will suffice as your official transcript, so there is no need to send additional official transcripts from your home institution. The third-party agency of your choice may deliver your evaluated transcript electronically at luadmtran@lamar.edu, or mail directly to the address listed below.
    Lamar University
    Office of Admissions
    PO Box 10009Beaumont, TX 77710
    Or, if sending documents by courier:
    Lamar University Office of Admissions
    211 Redbird Ln
    Beaumont, TX 77710   
  3. U.S. Academic Records. Applicants who have attended institutions in the United States must submit the following official transcript(s) indicating: 1) The conferred bachelor’s or master’s degree as required for the intended program from a regionally accredited US institution or its equivalent. 2) The most recent attendance if it differs from the institution of the conferred degree. This requirement applies regardless of the length of time in attendance and regardless of whether credit was earned or is desired. If a department or program wishes to review additional transcripts from prior attendance, the department or program may directly request the applicant to submit the official transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions. Students must be eligible to re-enter all colleges and universities previously attended. Failure to disclose previous college attendance is justification for revocation of acceptance and dismissal from Lamar University.
  4. Submit Admission Test Scores. Applicants for the M.B.A. program should take the GMAT. All other graduate applicants should take the GRE (use school code 6360). Score requirements are competitive and are assessed by each academic department.  Scores must be received directly from the testing agency.
  5. Provide Proof of English Language Proficiency. International applicants, both undergraduate and graduate, must provide proof of English language proficiency through scores on the TOEFL or IELTS.

Graduate English Proficiency Requirements Category I

Test Regular Admission
TOEFL Internet-based Total 71
TOEFL Computer-Based Total 197
TOEFL Paper-based Total 527
IELTS Total 6.0
Duolingo 95

Category I students include: Chemistry and Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences; and the College of Engineering

Graduate English Proficiency Requirements Category II

Test Regular Admission
TOEFL Internet-based Total 79
TOEFL Computer-Based Total 213
TOEFL Paper-based Total 550
IELTS Total 6.5
Duolingo 105

Category II students include: Biology, English, History, Mathematics, Nursing, Public Administration, Psychology and Teaching Spanish in the College of Arts and Sciences; College of Business; College of Education and Human Development; and the College of Fine Arts and Communications

Note: PTE test scores are also considered

English Waiver Criteria

English requirements will be waived for students who:

  • Are from an English waiver country
  • Have completed 48 credits of secondary/post-secondary school from an English waiver country
  • Have completed 48 credits of secondary/post-secondary school, taught in English
  • Have completed a level 112 of Intensive English at a U.S. institution
  • Have completed English Composition I and II, or the equivalent, from an accredited US institution with a grade of "B" or better on a 4.0 scale.

Admission Status

After application materials have been received, the Office of Admissions will send the applicant an e-mail with a student identification number and a notice of any missing materials. This ID number, along with the applicant's birth date, can be used to Check Admission Status online.

International Graduate Admissions Questions

If you have questions regarding your admission, please contact International Graduate Admissions at gradmissions@lamar.edu.

After Acceptance

Upon receiving a letter of acceptance, submit students must submit the following documents to internationaladmissions@lamar.edu for I-20 issuing:

  • Copy of your passport
  • Financial statement

Before attending on-campus classes, students who are under age 22 must either receive a vaccination against bacterial meningitis or meet specific criteria for declining a vaccination. Get more information on complying with this requirement pursuant to Texas Senate Bill 1107

Mailing Documents

Lamar University
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 10009
Beaumont, TX 77710
    
By Courier
Lamar University
Office of Admissions
211 Redbird Lane
Beaumont, TX 77710

Acceptance Notices

Acceptance notices are issued to the email address listed on the ApplyTexas Application shortly after the required admission credentials are received.

Application Deadlines

Applicants should submit materials as soon as possible to allow time for visa interview appointments in the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, which may have wait times of days or weeks. Applicants who do not require Lamar University to issue their I-20 can follow the Domestic Admissions deadlines.

Fall (August) Priority Deadline: April 15, Final Deadline: July 1

Spring (January) Priority Deadline: Sept. 1, Final Deadline: December 1

Summer (June) Priority Deadline: Jan. 15, Final Deadline: April 15