II. Enrollment Objectives of Graduate Students

Students who hold the baccalaureate degree may be admitted to the Graduate School either as degree-seeking graduate students or as nondegree-seeking graduate students.

A. Degree-seeking Graduate Students

Degree-seeking graduate students may be admitted to a program that awards master’s, educational specialist, doctoral, or professional degrees.

B. Nondegree-seeking Graduate Students

Purdue provides a variety of educational opportunities for students who wish to acquire knowledge and training beyond the baccalaureate degree. 

Nondegree‑seeking students who have been admitted to graduate study must have the prerequisites or background and experience needed for any course in which they seek to enroll.  They may be required to secure consent from each of the departments in which they would like to register for courses.  Consultation and/or registration approval by course instructors may be required.

Nondegree‑seeking graduate students have enrollment objectives in one of the following categories:

1. Nondegree

   Holders of a baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent, who undertake graduate (50000- or 60000-level) coursework without admission to a degree program must be admitted as nondegree students. 

   Nondegree admission is not provisional admission to a degree program.  However, it is possible for those  in this enrollment objective to be considered for admission to the Graduate School as degree-seeking graduate students for a subsequent session.  Applications from nondegree students to enter a degree program must include the same supporting materials required of other degree program applicants.

   While there is no limit to the number of course credit hours that an individual may accumulate while registered in nondegree status, there is a limit of 12 credit hours that can appear on a plan of study, as stated in Section VII-B-1-a-(2).

2. Teacher License

   Holders of baccalaureate or advanced degrees who, without degree objective, seek to work toward an advanced teaching license may be admitted as teacher license students. Admission in this category does not ensure subsequent admission to a degree program.  Teacher license students are subject to the same restrictions as are nondegree students if they are subsequently admitted for degree study.  [See Section VII-B-1-a-(2).]

3. Graduate Certificate Program
   
   Holders of baccalaureate or advanced degrees who desire to complete pre-specified courses to attain a graduate-level, academic credit certificate in a specific area may be admitted through the graduate certificate program enrollment objective.  Students in this category are subject to the same restrictions as are nondegree students if they are subsequently admitted for degree study.  [See Section VII-B-1-a-(2).]