Non-Degree Applicants

Although most graduate students at Cal U are enrolled in degree programs, there are opportunities to take some graduate programs, either for personal or professional growth or for certification, without becoming an applicant for a University graduate degree.

If you wish to take graduate courses at California University but do not wish to enroll in a formal certification program or as a possible applicant for a degree, you will nevertheless have to apply for admission and pay the normal application fee. Your acceptance will be based on the amount and quality of your preparation as determined by the academic department in which you will be taking courses.

Upon admission, you will be permitted to take a maximum of two courses, but completion of these courses does not automatically and in itself lead to admission to a degree or certification program. Only six credits taken as a non-degree student are normally applicable upon transfer to a degree program.

Graduate students from other universities (sometimes known as "transient students") who wish to take courses at California University of Pennsylvania should be certain, before they enroll, that the courses they plan to take here will be counted toward their graduate programs at their home institutions.

Policies about the transfer of graduate credits vary from institution to institution but commonly, universities do not permit graduate students to transfer to any of their programs more than six semester credits taken elsewhere. For more information, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 724-938-4187.