Post-baccalaureate or non-degree admission is a pathway for you to take a graduate class, without having to take an admissions test, complete prerequisites, or commit to a specific program. Whether for personal enrichment to brush up on your French for an upcoming trip, earn continuing education credit for your job, or see if Data Science is the new career for you, enrolling as a post-baccalaureate student is a simple process. Additionally, students seeking to take courses beyond the baccalaureate degree for transfer to another institution, or as prerequisites for admission to a graduate degree program, may enroll as a post-baccalaureate.
Benefits to starting as a post-bac
- To pursue postgraduate studies for professional or personal enrichment.
- To take courses while completing an application for admission to a graduate degree or certificate program at UNC Charlotte.
- To take courses as prerequisites for admission to a graduate degree or certificate program at UNC Charlotte.
- To take courses at UNC Charlotte for transfer to a program at another college or university.
- To obtain or renew a professional license.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or its U.S. equivalent, from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body. See the Graduate Catalog Glossary for a list of accrediting bodies.
- Post-baccalaureate students may register for coursework at any level for which they have satisfied the prerequisites. NOTE: Some courses require a permit for registration, so individuals are encouraged to review the Schedule of Classes and contact the individual professor to request and obtain a permit to register.
- If you are seeking initial K-12 Teacher Licensure, you should apply for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Teaching program (rather than apply as a post-baccalaureate student). However, if you do not meet the criteria for admission, you should apply as a Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Teacher Licensure Path student (referred to as GPA forgiveness). Contact the Teacher Recruiter in the Cato College of Education for assistance.
- For non-native English language speakers: official and satisfactory scores on the English language proficiency scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the DuoLingo test are required. Learn more.
- A nonrefundable, non transferable application fee of $25 USD for each application submitted. Admission is valid for one specific term only so individuals should apply for post-bac admission each semester they wish to enroll.
Additional Information
- Students will be subject to academic regulations and standards required of degree-seeking students.
- The post-baccalaureate classification carries with it no implication that a student will be admitted to a degree program.
- The application fee for post-baccalaureate admission $25. Admission is limited to one term and students must apply for each term they wish to enroll as a post-bac.
- Students who enroll in undergraduate-level courses are charged at the undergraduate rate for those courses and those who enroll in graduate-level courses are charged at the graduate rate for courses for which they are registered. Registration will be reviewed after the add/drop period has ended, and tuition charges will be adjusted for any undergraduate level courses taken.
- A post-baccalaureate student who is subsequently admitted to a graduate degree program may request completed graduate credit be used toward their degree program. All coursework must be approved by the Graduate Program Director of the degree program.
- F-1 and J-1 Visa Holders: UNC Charlotte cannot provide visa sponsorship for post-baccalaureate study for international students who are on, or hope to attain, F-1 or J-1 Student/Scholar visa status. However, certain international students already on post-program Optional Practical Training (for F-1) or Academic Training (for J-1) may be eligible to undertake post-baccalaureate study if 1) the individual holds a valid Employment Authorization Document for the entire duration of admission term, and 2) the individual has consulted with their visa sponsor/former institution about the rules, eligibility for, and implications of undertaking "incidental study" while simultaneously on OPT or Academic Training.
- Post-baccalaureate students may register for graduate and/or undergraduate courses if permitted by the departments. Note, however, that post-bac students are not guaranteed access to specific courses since that may have restricted registration: such courses may require prerequisites, may already be full/at capacity for enrollment, or may only be available for students admitted to certain degree/certificate programs. To accommodate degree-seeking students, some academic departments only allow students already admitted to degree programs to enroll in their courses. On an individual basis, post-baccalaureate students may be issued a ‘permit’ (by the academic unit) to register for restricted courses if they meet stated prerequisites and have written permission from the course instructor and/or department chairperson.
- Post-Baccalaureate students are not eligible for financial aid or funding. You can set up a payment with Student Accounts.