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Section II
Graduate Special Student
Licensure Programs
FasTrack Secondary Education Initiative
Graduate Course Work by Undergraduates
Admission of Post-Master's Degree Applicants
Bemidji State University offers holders of a baccalaureate degree the option for graduate study which, though it does not in and of itself result in the conferring of a degree, allows students the opportunity to improve their knowledge and expertise.
Though not actually a member of a degree or certificate program, the Graduate Special Student may pursue graduate course work without a planned objective, but with the goal of personal and/or professional enrichment. In order to be approved to this status, students must complete a Graduate Special Student Application, along with a $20 application fee, and must have an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. or approved international college or university.
A Graduate Special Student who subsequently is admitted for the purpose of pursuing a master's degree may be permitted to apply a maximum of ten (10) credits of graduate course work toward degree requirements.
Graduate Special Student status permits students to take courses for an indefinite period of time, provided that a 3.0 ("B") grade point average (GPA) is maintained. If the GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on probation and permitted two (2) additional semester registrations. If a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 is not achieved upon completion of these two (2) semesters of course work, the student will be dismissed from the graduate school. A Graduate Special Student may appeal by contacting the Dean, School of Graduate Studies. Students who have been dismissed because of a low GPA may continue study only on an audit basis.
The State of Minnesota grants licenses to students who complete requirements set forth by various state agencies. Students pursuing specific degree and licensure programs are prepared by the department to apply for licensure with the state. Completion of all licensure requirements may result in the recommendation for licensure to the state of Minnesota.
Courses used to satisfy licensure requirements must be completed for a letter grade. All transfer course work and substitutions to be used in fulfilling licensure requirements must have the approval of the program director, the department chair, and the Registrar. Transcripts listing transfer courses must be on file in the Records and Registration Office.
Licensure recommendations for each program follow state and university regulations. For Professional Education licensure and Health licensure programs, the recommendation to endorse is made by the Registrar to the State of Minnesota Department of Education, Teacher Licensure Section.
Students seeking licensure programs should submit a Graduate Special Student Application, official transcripts from their undergraduate institution(s), and a $20 application fee. (Graduates of Bemidji State University are not required to provide transcripts. Students who have previously attended other institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system will not be required to present those transcripts to the School of Graduate Studies.)
The FasTrack Secondary Initiative provides an alternative pathway to licensure by meeting the Minnesota Board of Teaching Standards of Effective Practice requirements via online coursework and portfolio. For additional information, students should visit the FasTrack website.
Students seeking to achieve licensure through the FasTrack program should submit a FasTrack Secondary Initiative Application, official transcripts from their undergraduate institution, and a $20 application fee.
Bemidji State University undergraduate seniors may register for graduate courses at the 5000-level only. Seniors who will be graduating within one (1) semester or summer term may petition to be considered for enrollment in graduate-level courses provided that each of the following conditions is satisfied:
The grades earned by an undergraduate student enrolled in graduate courses will be used in computing the graduate GPA and cannot be applied toward the undergraduate GPA. No course work completed at the graduate level can be used to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements.
Post-master's degree students who have not previously attended BSU School of Graduate Studies and intend to pursue only course work are required to complete the Graduate Special Student Application, along with a $20 application fee. A student who has previously received a master's degree from Bemidji State University is not required to apply for re-admission to graduate study. However, the School of Graduate Studies must be notified of the student's intent to pursue additional graduate-level course work.
Post-master's degree students who intend to pursue an additional or dual master's degree should refer to Dual Degree/Program Admission in this section, and Dual Degree/Program in Section IV.