Doctorate Programs CGPS

Doctoral Degree Student Regular Admit Requirements:

Degree and GPA requirements for regular admission:
- A 3.0 master's degree CGPA and,
- A master's degree from an approved institutionally accredited university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in an appropriate academic field (or related field and significant major-specific professional experience), or
- A master's degree from an approved internationally accredited university recognized by the country awarding the degree in an appropriate academic field (or related field and significant major-specific professional experience)
- A minimum of three (3) years full-time equivalent professional work experience in a field related to the intended program of study.
Applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from a U.S. institution must provide evidence of one of the following:
- A 90 on the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or
- An overall 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or
- A PTE score of 60, or
- A Duolingo score of 110, or Memorandum of Instruction in English (MOI) - must be approved by Director of Admission
On a case-by-case basis, conditional admission will be reviewed for applicants who:

Have a master's degree from a non-approved institutionally or internationally accredited university in an appropriate or related field and a combined GRE verbal/quantitative score of 300. (A GMAT score of 570 or higher may substitute for the GRE at the discretion of the Department Chair, Program Director, or Dean.) The scores must not be more than five years old from July 1 of the application year. An official copy must be sent to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies directly from Educational Testing Service.
i. Note: GRE scores are considered alongside several other factors during the application review process. Admission will not be exclusively decided based on the student's GRE score.
Fall below a 3.0 master's degree CGPA, but have extensive professional experience, other academic coursework, and other supporting documentation. Applicants who fall below a 3.0 CGPA may also be asked to complete the GRE as additional supporting evidence. Applicants may also be considered for doctoral degree admission if they fall below a 3.0 CGPA, but complete master's courses at Trine University chosen by the Dean.
Have a master's degree unrelated to the chosen program but relevant industry experience. Industry experience should be documented in a resume and with additional material such as certifications, trainings, seminars, etc. Applicants in this category must complete specific courses within their first two semesters and achieve a letter grade of B or better to demonstrate academic proficiency.

Direct Entry Pathways for CGPS Doctorate Degrees

Direct Entry - Undergraduate to CGPS Doctorate

This policy establishes a Direct Entry for high-achieving high school seniors admitted to Trine University who seek conditional admission to a CGPS doctoral program while completing undergraduate and graduate preparation at Trine University.

Eligibility

All Applicants must intend to complete:

A Trine University bachelor's degree, and

A Trine University master's degree prior to doctoral enrollment

Admission Process

To be considered, applicants must:

Be admitted to Trine University as an undergraduate student

Submit a Direct Entry Application for a CGPS doctoral program

Meet any additional program-specific requirements as determined by the doctoral program

Academic Maintenance Requirements

Student admitted under this policy must maintain the following academic standards:

Successfully complete a bachelor's degree at Trine, maintaining a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale)

Successfully complete a master's degree at Trine, maintaining a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale)

Failure to meet GPA requirements at any stage may result in removal from the Direct Entry Pathway.

Professional Experience Requirement

Prior to formal enrollment in the doctoral program, student must complete:

Three (3) years of relevant professional work experience

Experience must be:

At a mid-level position or higher
Directly related to the selected doctoral discipline

Professional experience may be completed during or after the master's degree but must be completed before doctoral matriculation

Direct Entry - Graduate to CGPS Doctorate

This pathway is designed for current Trine master's students and Trine master's alumni who intend to continue into a CGPS doctoral program.

Eligibility Requirements

Student must:

Be in the final semester of a Trine University master's program or have already completed a Trine University master's degree

Maintain a minimum cumulative master's GPA of 3.75 (4.0 scale)

Three (3) years of relevant professional work experience at a mid-level position or higher

Submit a Direct Entry Intent form

Meet any additional doctoral admission requirements in effect at the time of doctoral matriculation

Doctoral Degree Student Application Documents:

Prospective doctoral degree students are required to submit the following documents as part of their application package:

Completed doctoral degree application
Official academic transcripts from each previous undergraduate and graduate institution attended (except Trine University).
Personal narrative that explains the student's interest in pursuing a graduate level education.
- Note: If being considered for conditional admission, applicants will be asked to describe the challenges or extenuating circumstances that led to the student earning less than 3.0 CGPA in graduate work in their personal narrative. Students must include a description of specific strategies they will use to ensure academic progress within their doctoral degree program.
The applicant's resume or vita indicating positions held that demonstrate task commitment, knowledge, and skill relevant to the applicable course of study.
References- three letters of recommendation from academic and professional sources
For international applicants, additional non-academic documents such as a passport, English Test scores, and a financial guarantee are required. Complete information can be found on the international admission requirements page.

Upon receipt of all materials, applications are reviewed by the admission department. Conditional applicants will be reviewed by the school, and a recommendation will be made to the appropriate Dean for conditional admission.

Note: Additional program-specific admission requirements may exist. Some graduate programs may have additional admission requirements. Please refer to admission requirements for the specific program. Admittance to any graduate program is valid for one year from the time of admission to enrollment.