Undergraduate Admissions

Please click on the line below for information:

• Admissions Requirements
• Admissions Procedures
• Admissions Test
• Transcripts
• Health Certificate
• Transfer Credit Policy
• English and Math Placement
• Modern Language Policy
• International Student English Proficiency
• International Applicants
• Special Status
• Readmission/Reactivation

Basis of Selection
All prospective students are considered impartially on the basis of academic and personal qualifications and potential. Brenau University does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, religion, handicap, or national or ethnic origin.

Certain majors reserve the right to apply technical requirements for admission and have supplemental applications. Applicants in the following fields should consult the appropriate section of this Catalog for further admissions information:  Performing/Fine Arts; Nursing; Occupational Therapy; and Education.

Admissions Requirements
Freshman applicants who have successfully completed a college prep high school curriculum at a regionally accredited high school with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and have composite SAT scores of at least 900 (ACT of 18) will ordinarily be granted admission. Evidence of satisfaction of these requirements shall only be in the form of an official, sealed transcript from authorized school personnel or an official, sealed G.E.D. certificate. Applicants who completed high school more than seven years prior to application are not required to submit SAT/ACT scores. SAT/ACT scores must be sent directly from the testing company or be included on official transcripts. All home schooled students will be asked to come for an interview as well.

Transfer applicants who present a minimum GPA of 2.0 will ordinarily be granted admission. Students who have successfully completed over 30 semester hours of college level work at a regionally accredited post secondary institution may be exempt from the need to submit high school transcripts or standardized test scores. Evidence of satisfaction of these requirements shall only be in the form of an official, sealed transcript from authorized school personnel or an official, sealed G.E.D. certificate. Some programs have more stringent cumulative GPA requirements. Applicants should consult the appropriate section of this Catalog for further admissions information.  Students may be admitted to advanced standing on the basis of work completed at other regionally accredited colleges. Satisfactory enrollment and completion of course work at other institutions is evidence of a student’s ability to do university-level work. Brenau encourages applications from these prospective students in the belief that its academic programs and personnel can assist them in completing their baccalaureate programs. These students add desirable diversity and heterogeneity to the student body. Applicants for advanced standing shall submit an official, sealed transcript and some applicants will be asked to submit a statement of good academic standing from each institution previously attended. Transfer students generally must be in good standing as of the date of application. In some cases, letters of recommendation may be submitted or requested, in addition to the other documents.

Admissions Procedures

Application  Applicants must complete an application for admission on the form supplied by the University. This application must be submitted with a non-refundable application fee of $35.00 to the Office of Admissions at the appropriate Brenau campus.  To apply on-line, go to www.brenau.edu.

 

Admissions Test   Each applicant for admission must submit either SAT or ACT scores. If the student is transferring from another university or college with more than 30 hours, these tests are not required. Admissions tests may be waived if a first-time applicant has completed his high school or G.E.D. program over seven years prior to the date of application for admission. If admissions tests are waived, the applicant may be required to take the Brenau English placement test and Brenau Math placement test.

Transcripts   If a student is a first-time university applicant, an official, sealed high school transcript or G.E.D. certificate must be submitted. An official copy of the final high school transcript, showing the date of graduation, must be forwarded to the Office of Admissions prior to enrolling for the second semester. Transfer students must submit official, sealed transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended. An official copy of transcripts, showing completed coursework (no in progress grades), must be forwarded to the Office of Admissions prior to enrolling for the second semester. Failure to submit transcripts from all colleges previously attended, through omission or misrepresentation, will disqualify the applicant.

Health Certificate   All students who have been accepted and have submitted their deposit will receive a health form from the Office of Student Health Services. This form is to be completed by the student’s family physician and returned to Student Health Services prior to enrollment. All students who are full-time students (12 hours or more), all resident students, and/or all students enrolled in physical education must submit this form. A student cannot register for classes until this form is received from the student’s physician. In addition, Brenau denies all responsibility for injuries or other problems that may result from failure to properly advise Student Services personnel of the student’s medical status through the filing of the health certificate.

Brenau University Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy

A grade of “C” or better is required for transfer. Transfer credit is awarded for courses taken at regionally accredited institutions and can not be awarded based on placement tests or non-class credit awarded at other institutions.

1. The university will accept ALL liberal education courses regardless of the date of satisfactory completion unless the liberal education course is also a major course. 
2. The university will accept major courses taken within 15 years unless listed below. 
3. The university will accept major courses taken within 5 years for the specific courses listed below. 
4. Exceptions to any policy above will go to the dean of the appropriate school for a final decision. 
5. Courses with technical content (e.g. computer programming/applications, etc.) taken over five years prior to admission may not be eligible for transfer. 
6. Changing majors after an admissions decision has been made may alter the eligibility of course that have been already designated on a previous program plan. 
7. Developmental Studies and English as a Second Language Courses do not transfer. 
8. In no case will a student be permitted to transfer more than 65 semester hours of credit (97 quarter hours) from two year institutions to a Brenau program. This 65-hour limit represents the total of all credit taken at all 2 year colleges the student might have attended before applying for admission to Brenau. This 65-hour maximum does not affect Brenau’s minimal residency requirement. 
9. Departments reserve the right to require a student to take a prerequisite course for a Brenau course at a four year institution.
    

 Five Year Exception Rule Applies to the following Courses:

English and Math Placement

English  Students who did not complete EH 101 (Written Communication) prior to admission, will be placed into EH 099 or EH 101 based on ACT or SAT scores. Students who do not have an ACT/SAT score will take the English Placement Test. The placement exam is available via the internet through Blackboard. Based on the results of the placement exam, the student will be placed into college level English, EH 101, or remedial level English, EH 099. Students admitted to the honors program are encouraged to register for the honors version of EH 101, EH 111H. In order to progress to EH 102, a grade of “C” or better is required for EH 101.

The minimum passing score for the English Placement test is 70 percent.

The ACT/SAT score required to place into EH 101 (Written Communication): minimum ACT-Verbal score of 19 or SAT-Verbal score of 490

Note: EH 099 carries academic credit for financial aid purposes and enrollment status (part time, full-time), but does not count toward graduation.
 

Mathematics  Placement into mathematics is determined by placement exam or by ACT or SAT scores. Undergraduate School students who do not have ACT or SAT scores can take the math placement exam available via the internet through Blackboard. All Women’s College students must place into math via the placement exam. Based on the results of the placement exam, the student will be placed into college level math (MS 101, MS 111, or MS 210) or remedial level math. The placement exam is available via the internet through Blackboard.

The ACT/SAT/Placement Exam information for math is:

• MS 101, College Algebra – placement exam score of 55-79/ ACT math score of 18-20 / SAT math score of 471-540
• MS 111, Pre-calculus – Math placement exam score of 80 or higher / ACT math score of 21-23 / SAT math score of 541-589
• MS 210, Calculus – passing score on the calculus placement exam. Please see the math and science department for more information.

Note: Students who place into MS 210 may not elect to take MS 101 or MS 111 without departmental approval.

Note: MS 099 carries academic credit for financial aid purposes and enrollment status (part time, full-time), but does not count toward graduation.

The minimum passing score for the math placement exam is 65 percent.

Women’s College students who do not place into MS 101 by virtue of ACT/SAT scores or the placement exam must take the for-credit class MS 099. Students who do not place into EH 101 by virtue of ACT/SAT scores or the placement exam must take the for-credit class EH 099. MS 099 and EH 099 must be passed with a minimum grade of C to proceed to MS 101 and EH 101.

Evening and Weekend and Online Studies students who do not place into MS 101 by virtue of ACT/SAT scores or the placement exam will complete a non-credit self-paced course (MS 098) on Blackboard and pass the final exam of that course with an 85% prior to enrolling in MS 101. There is no cost for MS 098 and the course does not carry academic credit and therefore does not count toward enrollment status. Students who do not place into EH 101 by virtue of ACT/SAT scores or the placement exam must complete the EH 099 course with a minimum grade of C prior to enrolling in EH 101.

Mathematics Placement into mathematics is determined by ACT or SAT scores. Students who do not have ACT or SAT scores can take a math placement exam available via the internet through Blackboard. Based on the results of the placement exam, the student will be placed into college level math (MS 101, MS 111, or MS 210) or remedial level math. The placement exam is available via the internet through Blackboard.  

Modern Language Requirement

Women’s College  The liberal education modern language requirement for WC students (typically 3 – 6 credits finishing at the 201 level or above) is described below. Note that students who place into the 101 level of a language they studied in high school will require 9 credits of language study if they continue in that language in order to reach the required intermediate level competency.

Students with a transcript from a high school in the United States: No placement test is required for students choosing a new language at the 101 level. Students continuing a language studied in high school must take a placement test. Their scores are immediately available upon completion of the test, along with a recommendation for placement. They should print this page and have it when working with an adviser or member of the Registrar’s staff. Note that no credit is earned by taking the placement test; it merely identifies the level at which a student might begin study of that language at Brenau University. A link to guidelines for taking the online placement test appears on the home page of the Department of Humanities.

A student who places at the intermediate level (201 or above) will need three credit hours in that language to complete the modern language requirement. Depending on the score earned, the three credits may come from an intermediate level course, an upper division literature or culture course, an approved applied modern language course, an approved course taken through another university, or a study abroad approved by the language faculty. Students scoring over 400 will need to consult a member of the Modern Languages faculty for advisement. If this student chooses to study a new language rather than continuing with the language in which she has been tested, the requirement will be 6 credits (101 and 102).

A student who places at the 102 level will need six hours (102 and either 201 or 215) to complete the modern language requirement.

A student who places at the 101 level in a language studied in high school may choose to continue study of that language but will need to complete at a minimum the 201 level (nine hours), OR this student may choose to study a modern language NOT appearing on the high school transcript for at least six hours (101 and 102). Native speakers may not take 101 for credit to meet this option.

Prospective students who graduated from high school 7 or more years prior to enrollment at Brenau may take 101 and 102 of any modern language Brenau offers (as if taking a new language); alternately, they will take the placement test and complete the requirement as described above.

Women’s College transfer students who have completed college level 101 and 102 or higher of a modern language will satisfy the modern language requirement as long as the courses were taken prior to enrollment at Brenau University.

Evening and Weekend Studies and Online Studies  The liberal education modern language requirement for EWC and OL students is 3 credits at any level. International students who are non-native English speakers may exempt the modern language liberal education requirement by virtue of a score of 61 or better on the internet-based TOEFL (or the equivalent; see below)*

English Language Proficiency for International Students

According to Brenau University policy, proficiency in the English language can be proven through submission of a score of 61 or better on the internet-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The following are considered equivalent to a score of 61 or better on the internet-based TOEFL:

1. score of 173 on the computer-based TOEFL
2. score of 500 on the paper-based TOEFL
3. score of 61 on the internet based TOEFL
4. score of 5 on IELTS
5. SAT score of 900, with 450 as the minimum verbal score
6. ACT composite score of 18
7. grade of “C” or better in EH 101 and EH 102 from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university

International Students who meet this proficiency also meet the Liberal Education Modern Language requirement.

Tuition Deposit  To confirm acceptance and ensure enrollment, a non-refundable deposit is required of all Women’s College students. On-campus housing is assigned in the order that tuition deposits are received and priority is given to the student with the earliest deposit date in the room selection process. Several Evening/Weekend and Online Programs require deposits also.  Please refer to the appropriate section of the catalogue for this information.

Additional Information Regarding Admission

Enrollment to Brenau for Evening/Weekend and Online Applicants. If admission deadlines cannot be met for reasons beyond the student’s control, the undergraduate applicant for Evening and Weekend Studies or Online Studies will be allowed to register for a maximum of twelve credit hours under conditional enrollment. All twelve credit hours must be completed within one semester. The student’s admission file must be completed and acceptance granted by the end of the conditional enrollment period in order to allow continued enrollment. Any student receiving a cumulative grade point average below a 2.0 during the conditional enrollment period and who meets all admission requirements will be accepted on probation. The conditionally enrolled student must understand that acceptance to Brenau University is not guaranteed.  Financial Aid cannot be awarded until the student is fully admitted; therefore students choosing conditional enrollment should be prepared to meet all financial obligations. Conditional enrollment is not permitted for students requesting an I-20.

International Applicants

Brenau is authorized under the United States Immigration and Nationality Act to enroll non-immigrant alien students. Applicants needing a student visa must complete the admissions procedures outlined below before a Form I-20 will be issued. Conditional enrollment is not permitted for students requesting an I-20. Students requiring an F1 student visa are not eligible for admission to Online Studies. Permanent resident aliens who are proficient in English will provide a copy of Resident Alien Card and follow the regular admissions policies described earlier in this section of the Catalog.

Non-immigrant alien students are required to follow the regular admission procedures, submit an International Supplemental Application and provide proof of English proficiency.

Credential Evaluations.  Credential evaluations of transcripts in languages from countries other than the U.S. must be completed by a professional service and the student will bear the cost of this evaluation. Evaluations by an outside agency such as World Education Service or Education Credentials Evaluators are required to assure accuracy in determining U.S. equivalents, and the student will pay for that service. Information regarding these services may be obtained by contacting the admissions office.

Financial Requirements. All international students, residential and commuting, must have sufficient funds to pay full university tuition fees, textbooks, living expenses, transportation expenses, health insurance, and other incidental expenses while attending a university in the United States. Documentary evidence of means of financial support must be provided to Brenau for admission purposes and issuance of the Form I-20. This evidence is also required by the United States Embassy or Consulate when applying for a student visa to enter this country.

United States Immigration and Naturalization Service Laws and Regulations. It is the student’s responsibility to know and to comply carefully with all non-immigrant visa requirements as stated under the United States laws under Section 101 (a) (15) (F) (I) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Admissions Committee.  The Admissions Committee functions in an advisory capacity to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing with regard to cases in which the stated criteria are not met; in which special admissions situations warrant a collective decision; in which probation or suspension issues are raised; and in which readmission after exclusion is desired. The Committee shall also periodically review the admissions criteria and their execution, thereby ensuring compliance with overall Brenau admissions standards. The student may be officially accepted as a student with one or all of the following conditions being imposed.
 

1. Accept the applicant on a probationary basis for one or more semesters.
2. Accept the applicant on condition that remedial or developmental course work be completed at this or another college or university.

Special Status (Undergraduate)  Students wishing to enroll in one or more undergraduate courses but who do not seek a degree must complete an application for admission (application fee waived) to enroll in courses at Brenau. They will not be eligible for financial assistance and must adhere to the following policies for all special status students. Prerequisites courses will apply for any courses student is attempting to enroll in. Special-status students will be registered for courses only if space is available. No more than twelve hours, and a maximum of two semesters of enrollment, will be allowed for students registered as special-status. All students who are classified as special-status will be subject to the academic policies and procedures governing probation and suspension. To become a regular degree seeking student, special-status students must apply for regular admission to the University and meet all admission criteria, including application fee payment. If the student applies for a degree program hours completed as a special status student will count as the period of conditional enrollment.

Readmission after Leaving Brenau  A student whose enrollment at Brenau has been interrupted for any reason for two or more semesters, including summer, must reapply for admission. If students have enrolled in other colleges or universities during the period since attending Brenau, the applicants must also submit official, sealed transcripts of all academic work undertaken at the other institutions. Students suspended from the University who desire readmission must contact the office of Academic Affairs and receive written permission to reapply to the University. If permission is granted student must follow all application procedures as outlined.

A student whose enrollment in a Brenau undergraduate or graduate program has been interrupted for more than one semester and is applying for re-admission to the same program within two years of the last semester of attendance, must submit a Reactivation Form to the Office of the Registrar or print out the form from the Registrar’s Office website and fax to (770) 538-4790. The student must be in good academic and financial standing, not have attended any other school during the period of interruption, and meet current admission requirements. Students may complete their degree under their previous program plan if it is still in effect. Note that academic departments reserve the right to make changes or additions to the program plan of a reactivated student. 

Students re-applying after the two year time limit will be evaluated based on the catalog in effect at the point of readmission. Transfer credit will be examined based on current transfer credit criteria and a new program plan drafted based on the program plan in effect at the point of readmission. Students must be in good academic and financial standing, have no record of misconduct, and must meet current admission requirements. Students returning to Brenau beyond the two-year time limit must submit a new application via www.brenau.edu. Students who have attended another institution after they attended Brenau must re-apply.  They will be re-evaluated based on current catalog transfer credit policy and academic curriculum guidelines.