Admission and Transfer Policies
General Admission Policy
Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application package as outlined in the degree level Admission Requirements and Required Documents below in order for Trident to render a decision on admissibility. Students are also required to review and sign the Enrollment Agreement and Disclosure (EAD) form as part of the admission process. Prospective students are encouraged to review this catalog, program specific information, and disclosures prior to signing the EAD.
Students will be allowed to enroll in and begin class in a pre-admission status upon submission of the application and EAD, pending receipt of all remaining documents to complete the application package as outlined in the General Admission Policy. Students will not be considered regular students at the University until all required documents for admission are received, reviewed, and accepted by the Registrar’s Office. For students who intend to utilize Federal Financial Aid to cover tuition and fees, no Federal Financial Aid funds will be disbursed to a student’s account until all required documents for admission are received, reviewed, and accepted. Any student who does not provide documentation, or who submits improper documentation, or who provides documentation from an invalid school or organization will be administratively withdrawn from the University.
Deadlines to provide admission documents are as follows:
- 8-week sessions: 16 weeks from the student start date
- 12-week sessions: 25 weeks from the student start date
Following submission of all documents required for admission, the student may be fully admitted or conditionally admitted to Trident:
- Full admission - Students will be fully admitted with no restrictions following receipt of all official documents required for admission and upon meeting all other requirements for admission.
- Conditional Admission - Graduate and Doctoral students who do not meet the requirements for admission may be admitted to Trident with conditions following receipt of all official documents required for admission. These students will be required to appeal for approval an admission to the Committee on Academic Standards (CAS). See Admission Appeals for more information. Conditional admission will be revoked if students fail to meet the conditions imposed by CAS.
- Conditional Admission for Doctoral Students: Doctoral students who do not meet minimum admission requirements with respect to grade point average, an earned Master’s degree in a related discipline, or professional experience may be conditionally admitted by the Doctoral Studies Director. Doctoral students admitted conditionally must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements during the first two sessions of enrollment. Conditionally admitted doctoral students who meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements will be granted full admission to the program. Students who do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements will no longer be eligible for enrollment. Students no longer eligible for enrollment may follow the Admission Appeals process.
Post-Graduate Certificates
Trident offers stand-alone certificates through a pre-designated set of courses to provide post-baccalaureate graduate students expanded knowledge, including the latest information and research available in a specific field of study. These certificates do not qualify for Title IV federal financial aid or Veteran’s Education Benefits and are not guaranteed to lead to any particular job or employment opportunity. Students must apply for post-graduate certificates separately from other degree programs or concentrations.