Admission Requirements

Admission to Texas Woman’s University is based on a number of criteria including academic achievement, academic preparation, scores from standardized tests, and other factors. An offer of admission is valid for two calendar years from the term of admission if the applicant has not attended another institution of higher education. If students do not attend within the two-year window, they must re-apply and submit the appropriate credentials. Students wishing to change their application term should contact the Registrar’s Office. Please refer to the admission categories below for specific admission requirements.

Contact Information

Office of Admissions
Texas Woman’s University
P.O. Box 425589
Denton, TX 76204-5589
e-mail: admissions@twu.edu or transfer@twu.edu
telephone: (940) TWU-3188 or 1-888-948-9984
web: http://www.twu.edu

All new students seeking admission to TWU must submit:

1) a completed application form

2) an application fee

3) official transcript(s)

4) test scores (if required)¹

¹ TASP (Texas Academic Skills Program) scores are required before enrollment in any collegiate level coursework for credit. Please refer to the appropriate TASP booklet, the application instruction booklet, or other relevant document for specific score requirements, alternative tests and scores, and TASP exemption information. See the TASP section in Academic Records and Enrollment.

Application Fee

Application for undergraduate admission must include an application fee of $30. This is a one-time nonrefundable fee and does not apply to former TWU students who are applying for undergraduate re-admission. Applications cannot be processed unless an application fee payment is included.

Application Deadlines – General

The following application deadlines ensure adequate application processing time and notification of the admissions decision prior to the beginning of classes:

Fall semester: June 30

Spring semester: December 1

Summer sessions: Prior to the first day of each session (see the Academic Calendar in the front of this catalog or in the Directory of Classes for semester start dates).

Application Deadlines - College, School, or Program

Individual TWU colleges, schools or programs may have different application deadlines. Generally, the deadlines for the Institute of Health Sciences academic units are as follows:

Fall Semester

February 1 Nursing (upper division)

December 31 Dental Hygiene

Spring Semester

September 1 Nursing (upper division)

For specific admission information, contact Nursing or Dental Hygiene directly. Addresses and telephone numbers are listed in the index.

All support documents necessary for satisfying admission requirements should be received on or before the application deadline to ensure a timely decision.

Assured Admission

First-time freshman applicants will be assured admission to Texas Woman’s University if they have:

1. graduated from a regionally accredited high school in Texas within the last two years; and
2. have class ranking which places them in the top 25 percent of their high school graduating class

Although in the above instance admission to TWU is assured, ACT or SAT test scores are required to ensure proper advising and course placement.

Regular Admission

Students who seek admission to Texas Woman’s University for their first semester in college will be admitted if they meet all of the following criteria:

1. graduated from a regionally accredited high school*
2. attained at least a 2.0 high school grade point average on a 4.0 scale
3. have class ranking which places them in the top 50 percent of their high school graduating class
4. scored at least 950 (verbal and math combined) on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)) OR scored 20 or above on the ACT Assessment.
5. completed at least 22 academic credits of the new recommended Texas high school graduation program.

*Admission officers may request additional materials from applicants who do not meet this requirement.

Provisional Freshman Admission

Applicants who are in the top 50% of their class, who have completed a minimum of 22 units of high school credit but who have not attained the requisite ACT or SAT score may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Applicants who fall below the top 50% of their class, but who have attained the requisite ACT or SAT score and who have completed a minimum of 22 credits of the new recommended high school curriculum requirements may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Applicants who are in the top 50% of their class, who have attained the requisite ACT or SAT score but who have not completed a minimum of 22 credits of the new recommended high school curriculum requirements will have their application reviewed by an admissions officer. Applicants will be given the opportunity to provide additional information to support their request for admission under this category.

Applicants who fall below the top 50% of their class, who have not attained the requisite ACT or SAT score but who have completed a minimum of 22 credits of the new recommended high school curriculum requirements will have their application reviewed by an admissions officer. Applicants will be given the opportunity to provide additional information to support their request for admission under this category.

Applicants who do not meet the above requirements are not eligible for admissions to the University.

Note: Students admitted under the provisional category are required to take University 1000, a skills enhancement course, and participate in a special academic advising program during their first 30 hours of college work. Upon completion of the first 18 credit hours of coursework at TWU with a GPA of 2.0 or better, the provisional status will be removed.

Freshman (home schooled)

Home schooled applicants who seek admission to Texas Woman’s University for their first semester in college should submit the following documents:

1. an official transcript showing completion of a secondary school education and the date of completion.
2. official test score results from SAT or ACT.

Applicants will be given the opportunity to provide additional information to support their request for individual consideration.

Freshman Transfer – less than 12 hours of college credit

Applicants who have attempted fewer than 12 semester hours of college-level credit at another college or university are considered to be freshman applicants and will be considered for admission under the beginning freshmen requirements. Applicants with 12 or more semester credit hours of college-level credit will be considered transfer students.

Transfer – 12 hours or more college credit

Students who have earned 12 or more semester hours of college- level credit at another college or university but who have not received a bachelor’s degree are considered transfer students. Transfer admissions requirements are as follows:

1. have attended a regionally accredited college or university
2. a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on a 4.0 scale on all college work attempted*
3. be in good standing at their previous institution

*Note: several departments have higher grade point requirements which students must satisfy before they are permitted to advance to upper level course work.

College, School, or Program Admission

For admission to a college or school within the University, and for entrance to a particular major, the student must satisfy all of the following and be accepted by the college or school:

1. requirements of the University
2. requirements of the particular college or school
3. requirements of the major or program

Please note: admission to the University does not automatically guarantee admission to a particular college, school, or program.

High School Advantage Program (Dual and Concurrent Enrollment)

Current high school juniors and seniors with a minimum of a B average may apply for concurrent/dual enrollment in the High School Advantage Program. An official transcript, a letter from a school counselor or principal recommending early admission, and an official TASP (or alternate test) score are required. The Director of Admissions must approve the request for admission.

Non-degree Seeking

Applicants who are not seeking a bachelor’s degree but who wish to take credit courses must submit an application, an application fee and an official transcript from their last institution attended. First time in college applicants must meet the same secondary school requirements as degree seeking students. Transfer students must be eligible to return to the last institution they attended.

Post Baccalaureate Students Seeking a Second Degree

Applicants who are seeking a second undergraduate degree must submit a completed application, an official transcript(s), and an application fee. Admission to the University does not imply admission to a specific college, program, or major. Please contact the specific academic unit for admission information. Their addresses and telephone are listed in the index.

Readmission

An application is not required if attendance at TWU is within the last two calendar years.

If a student has attended another institution since her/his last enrollment at TWU they must submit an official transcript from each additional school attended.

A student who was once admitted and enrolled as a degree-seeking candidate at TWU but who has not enrolled for at least two calendar years is required to apply for readmission. Only a completed application is required. No application fee is needed.

Individual TWU schools, colleges, or programs may have additional readmission requirements. Please check with them.

It is recommended that application for readmission be completed and returned to the Office of Admissions at least two weeks prior to registration to ensure adequate processing and notification.

Admission of International Students (Undergraduate)

Applicants applying for an F-1 student visa will be issued an I-20 (the immigration form required to obtain a visa) after all official papers pertaining to admission have been received and evaluated as satisfactory in the Office of Admissions.

To apply for admission to the University, each international student must:

1. Complete and submit an application form to: Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 425589, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX 76204.
2. Submit official copies of all transcripts of previous college or university course work, or secondary school credits to the Office of Admissions at TWU at the address above. Note: all transcripts must be sent in a sealed, unopened envelope. Faxed copies or unofficial copies are not acceptable.
3. Meet the following standards:

1. Students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for all previous college or university course work.
2. All international students, including transfers and resident aliens, must present an acceptable Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 or higher.

• At the undergraduate level, provisional admission may be granted with a TOEFL score of 500 through 549. Provisional undergraduate admission will require supplementary courses in English during the student’s first two semesters of enrollment.
• International students who score below 500 on the TOEFL will be encouraged to enroll in the Intensive English Language Institute under an agreement between Texas Woman’s University and the University of North Texas, also located in Denton. Students who graduate with Level Six English proficiency will then be admitted to TWU without a TOEFL score.
• The following exceptions apply to the English proficiency requirement:

1. Students from countries where English is the primary language of instruction and the language spoken at home may petition for an exception by writing the Coordinator, Office of International Education, P.O. Box 425379, TWU, Denton, TX 76204
2. Students who have completed at least one English Composition course at the University level with a grade of C or above may petition for an exception by writing to the address above.
3. Students who have earned a high school diploma from a United States high school are exempt from the TOEFL requirement.

Returning Adult Students

An applicant who does not fall into any of the beginning freshmen categories listed above may apply under the returning adult student status if the following conditions are met:

1. has a high school diploma or GED, and
2. has been out of high school for five years and not enrolled in any college or university
3. Applicants must submit an application form, fee, and official high school transcript or GED. Official TASP scores are also required. See note 1 on page 22.

Senior Citizens

Prospective students who are at least 65 years of age are eligible to enroll in up to six hours of coursework and receive a waiver for tuition. Senior Citizens may audit appropriate academic courses on a space available basis at no charge.

Admission Appeal Process

Any undergraduate applicant denied admission to Texas Woman’s University may appeal the decision in writing. The appeal should be sent to the Director of Admissions.

Academic Fresh Start

Academic Fresh Start is a state-directed academic forgiveness program. Course work must have been attempted at least 10 years prior to the starting date of the semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll. An applicant will not receive any credit for courses taken 10 or more years prior to their enrollment. Request for consideration for Academic Fresh Start should be made in writing to the Registrar’s Office.

The RESTART Program at TWU

The academic forgiveness program, RESTART, seeks to accommodate students who are returning to school with a less than adequate academic record. The program aids students in overcoming previous low grade point averages that inhibit successful academic progress.

Students may apply for the RESTART program only if their grade point average is less than 2.0 and they were not enrolled in any college or university during the previous seven-year period. The petition for RESTART must be filed by the student and submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

Under the RESTART program previous academic course work will not count toward any degree requirements. The student’s transcript will reflect all previous academic course work and the grades received but will be excluded from the student’s initial and subsequent TWU grade point average. A student’s participation in the RESTART program will be noted on the transcript. RESTART students are not considered for honors designations upon graduation.

The standards expected for continuous enrollment and the penalties for substandard performance will be the same as for all regularly admitted students. A third suspension after participation in RESTART will be final.

Credit by Examination, AP, CLEP

A student entering Texas Woman’s University may be able to gain University credit for past experience or education. There are four types of examinations that are given to determine a student’s eligibility for credit. They include:

1. The Advanced Placement Program (AP) of the College Entrance Examination Board
2. The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
3. Professional society tests in specific disciplines
4. Departmental examination and/or reviews

Admission to Graduate Programs Specific requirements are outlined in the graduate catalog. To obtain a copy of the graduate catalog write to: Office of Admissions, Texas Woman’s University, P.O. Box 425589, Denton, Texas 76204. E-mail: Admission@twu.edu.