Graduate School Information and FAQ

If you are part of the McNair Scholars Program, the Graduate School will waive the application fee upon submission of the appropriate paperwork. All other applicants must pay the application fee before their file is reviewed for an admissions decision. More information on this waiver is also available on our Financial Information page.

Am I allowed to do this? What are my limitations?

Students should first contact the Graduate School to make sure the desired courses are allowed for non-degree seeking students. Due to limited resources, some departments and programs will not allow non-degree students to take courses.

If approved, students can apply to the Graduate School as non-degree seeking with just the Graduate School application, official transcripts, application fee, and a personal statement. This statement should be one to two paragraphs that address your intentions as a non-degree seeking student, what level of coursework (graduate or undergraduate) that you want to take, and any educational or career goals associated with those courses. This statement can be uploaded directly to the student’s applicant portal once the Graduate School application is submitted. 

NOTE: Students listed as non-degree seeking are not eligible for Financial Aid.

Domestic students are United States citizens, permanent residents, refugees, and asylees. Domestic graduate applicants will apply through the Graduate School.

International students are citizens of or permanent residents of a country other than the United States or U.S. territory (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Applicants in the United States on an educational, worker, or visitor visa are considered international students and will apply through the International Student Services.

Note: International students are advised to review the application deadlines set forth by the International Student Office.

Graduate School application deadlines vary by program. Please review our Program Requirements and Deadlines list or contact the program advisor for specific information regarding admission requirements and deadlines.

International students should review application deadlines set forth by the International Student Office.

Yes. Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities previously attended, including foreign institutions. Foreign transcripts do not have to be official; however, they must be evaluated by one of WTAMU’s approved foreign credential evaluation agencies. The evaluation must be official.

• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools & Colleges
• Higher Learning Commission
• Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges & Schools
• Western Association of Schools & Colleges (Senior College & University Commission, Accrediting Commission for Community & Junior Colleges)

If your degree is from an institution not accredited by those agencies, please contact graduate school.

Submission of admission materials are done through the online application process and may vary by program. Please review our Program Requirements and Deadlines list for specific information on how to upload or request your documents.

Admission materials can be emailed to the Graduate School at graduateschool@wtamu.edu or sent by physical mail to the following:

Mailing Address (USPS):
Graduate School
WTAMU Box 60215
Canyon, TX 79016

Shipping Address (FedEx, UPS):
West Texas A&M University
Graduate School
2403 Russell Long Blvd
Canyon, TX 79016

During your GRE and GMAT assessment, you will supply your test proctor with your designated score recipients. Official Graduate Institution Score Reports will be sent directly to all authorized score recipients you designate. West Texas A&M’s school code is 6938.

• Designating score recipients for the GRE exam
• Designating score recipients for the GMAT exam

Congratulations on your admittance to the Graduate School at West Texas A&M University! Along with your admittance letter, you should have received a “Next Steps” flyer that you can reference for assistance.

Degree-Seeking Students

For degree-seeking students, you will need to contact your advisor, request a degree plan, and enroll in courses. The following are the necessary steps to prepare you for the registration process:

1. Obtain MyBuff Portal login. To gain access to this information, contact the IT department at 806-651-4357 with your Buff ID number.
   
   
2. Input Emergency Contact Information into Buff Advisor. You must update your emergency contact information every 180 days or a registration hold will be placed on your account.
   
   
3. Contact your advisor. Your advisor can assist you with planning courses and green light your account for you to register for classes. Contact your program advisor for more information.
   
   
4. Request your degree plan.
   
   
5. Begin class registration.
   • Log in to MyBuff Portal and navigate to the ‘Buff Advisor’ button.
   • Select the ‘Students’ button in the lower right corner of the page.
   • To check your ‘Green Lighting Status,’ select ‘General Academic Information’ under the Academic Profile heading. If you are green lighted, proceed to the next step. If you are not green lighted, please contact your program advisor.
   • Choose ‘Register for Classes’ under the Registration headline and follow the provided instructions.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

For non-degree seeking students, you will need to complete steps one through three, as well as step five. Non-degree seeking students do not request a degree plan.

Advising Note: Non-degree seeking students who are taking graduate-level coursework should contact the department/professor for green lighting. Students taking undergraduate level coursework should contact the Graduate School directly at 806-651-2730 or graduateschool@wtamu.edu.

Tuition information and scholarship applications.

View the cost of attendance and graduate tuition rates for the 2020-2021 academic year. You may also complete the Graduate Students Scholarship Application. For financial aid applications, as well as a financial aid estimator, federal student loan information, FAFSA information, visit the Financial Aid Office website.

Registration and payment deadlines.

Information concerning payment and registration deadlines can be found through the Registrar’s Office. Should you have further questions, you can contact the Registrar’s Office directly at registrar@wtamu.edu. 

Yes. Since each program has its own admissions requirements, reapplication is required. A complete review of the student’s file is necessary, and additional documentation may be required, so a new Graduate School application and application fee must be submitted. For additional program requirements, please see our Program Requirements and Deadlines.

The Graduate School requires that at least two-thirds of a student's degree coursework be completed through WTAMU, either online or on campus. Only outside classes in which a grade of A or B was earned may be eligible for potential transfer credit. However, transfer coursework is not guaranteed. Each program advisor will review and evaulaute coursework students wish to transfer to determine if it is acceptable towards their degree requirements.

If you wish to transer coursework from one WTAMU program to another WTAMU program, please contact your program advisor. Each program advisor will review and evaluate coursework students want to transfer to determine if it is acceptable towards the other degree requirements.

Note: The graduate school still requires that at least two-thirds of a student's degree coursework be completed through their current program, despite transfer work coming from a different WTAMU program.