Traditional Program: General Information for Prospective Students

Admission Requirements and Procedures

All communication regarding entrance to the University should be addressed to the Office of Admission, 1500 Peachtree Street, Box 153, Jackson, MS 39202-1789. Eligibility for admission will be determined when the application, application fee, the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score (if required), and transcripts have been received by the University.

Belhaven University seeks students who desire an excellent education combined with a meaningful student life experience and who will have a reasonable chance of academic success at Belhaven University. Applicants providing evidence of completion of an accredited academic high school curriculum, scholastic achievement, acceptable entrance examination scores, and sound moral character conducive to contributing to the total premium of the University are admitted.

Belhaven University does not discriminate in the administration of its education policies, applications for admission, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and extracurricular programs. The rights, privileges, programs, and activities at Belhaven University are made available to all students who are enrolled regardless of sex, religion, color, national origin, handicap, or age.

College immunization requirements are established by the Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning. Belhaven University requires a Mumps, Measles, and Rubella (MMR) Immunization Certificate. One immunization in the past ten years or two in a lifetime are required for all first-time entrants and transfer students.

International Students should also submit a Mumps, Measles, and Rubella immunization certificate. Arrangements will be made for tuberculosis testing prior to registration.

Degree-Seeking, Freshman Application Process

1. All freshmen should complete an application for admission and submit the nonrefundable $25 application fee to the office of admission at Belhaven University.
2. The school counselor should send an official transcript directly to the University indicating at least six semesters of high school work and listing senior subjects.
3. Freshmen are required to submit results of either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), unless these scores appear on the student’s official high school transcript. A minimum ACT composite score of 18 or SAT I combined score of 940 on the critical reading and math tests and a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale are required for automatic admission.
   *Students who choose not to submit ACT, SAT or CLT scores as part of their admission application will need to indicate that they are applying as “Test Optional” on their admission application. If you are considering this option, we encourage you to speak with your admission counselor. Please note that some academic majors such as Education and Nursing require test scores and the University reserves the right to request an academic recommendation in lieu of test scores. Students must have a minimum of a 2.75 high school cumulative GPA to be eligible to apply as Test Optional.
4.  An essay, interview, and letter of recommendation may be submitted voluntarily by the student or may be requested by the admission office if the student does not meet minimum requirements for acceptance.
5. Final admission to freshman standing is contingent upon the successful completion of the senior year, graduation from an accredited high school, and receipt of an official copy of the final high school transcript stating the date of graduation. (An official copy is one that is mailed directly to the University from the high school or one that is signed by a school official, stamped with the official seal of the high school on it and is delivered in a sealed envelope.) Of the 16 units required, eight are prescribed and eight are elective. The prescribed units are four in English, two in mathematics, (Algebra I, Algebra II or Geometry), one in history, and one in natural science. The elective units may be chosen entirely from Group I or from both groups, provided not more than four units are counted from Group II.
    

   Group I	Group II
   English	business subjects - maximum 2 units
   *foreign language	speech, communications - maximum 2 units
   history	music, art, theatre - maximum 2 units
   mathematics
   science
   social studies

   
   *Belhaven University recommends that two units in foreign language be offered for entrance.
6. A student who has been educated at home (homeschooled) must submit a transcript outlining courses taken and ACT or SAT scores OR meet the requirements for students applying with a GED.
   *Students who will not submit ACT, SAT or CLT scores as part of their admission application will need to indicate that they are applying as “Test Optional” on their admission application. If you are considering this option, we encourage you to speak with your admission counselor. Please note that some academic majors such as Education and Nursing require test scores and the University reserves the right to request an academic recommendation in lieu of test scores. Students must have a minimum of a 2.75 high school cumulative GPA to be eligible to apply as Test Optional.
7. A freshman who applies during the registration process must produce an unofficial or official high school transcript in order to register for classes. If an unofficial copy of the transcript is submitted, the student will be given 30 days from the first day of class for the official transcript to be received in the office of admission. The official final transcripts must be received before the student is considered officially registered and eligible to receive financial aid. It is understood by all parties that if for some reason a student is denied admission as a result of not having all documentation at the appropriate offices by the deadline stated, Belhaven University is not liable for any losses incurred to the student.
8. Freshmen who have graduated and been out of high school for five years or more will not be required to submit an ACT or SAT score, but their applications must be reviewed by the admission committee.

Admission by Examination

A student who has earned the General Education Development (GED) certificate may be admitted. An official GED transcript must be provided from the State Department of Education of the state that issued the certificate. Students will need to reach a score of at least 145 on each subject and a total score of 580 or higher across all four subjects in order to be considered for admission.

Students may also be admitted based on the receipt of official HiSET scores from ETS which meet all of the following:

• achieve a score of at least 8 on each of the five individual tests
• score at least 2 out of 6 on the essay portion of the Writing test
• have a total combined score on all five tests of at least 45

Special Admission Application Process

1. Requirements for EARLY ADMISSION of high school students: Students of superior academic potential who do not hold a high school diploma but who have completed a minimum of 15 units of academic courses at the high school level may be considered for admission as a first-time freshman if their academic preparation and maturity suggest that they can benefit from and contribute to the academic program of Belhaven University. A minimum score of 21 on the ACT or SAT I combined score of 970 on the critical reading and math tests, a 3.0 average on a 4.0 scale, a personal interview with the director of admission, and all other requirements for degree-seeking freshmen are required.
2. Requirements for DUAL ENROLLMENT: To be dually enrolled, the applicant must secure a letter of recommendation from his or her high school counselor and must have a minimum composite score of 21 on the ACT or SAT I combined score of 970 on the critical reading and math tests. This program offers highly qualified high school students the opportunity to earn college credits while they are enrolled in high school. Students may take one course per semester at the University, provided that the course does not interfere with their high school curricula.

Readmission

A student whose study at Belhaven University has been interrupted for two or more consecutive semesters must apply for readmission. The requirements for degrees in effect at the time of readmission must be completed.

Transfer Application Process

1. Transfer students must submit a completed application form, the nonrefundable application fee of $25, and a final official transcript from the last college/university attended to be “Final Accept.” Students who misrepresent information in filling out the admission application form or who find after admission or enrollment that they are ineligible for academic reasons or any other reason to return to their last institution and who fail to report this immediately to the office of admission will be subject to disciplinary action, including possible dismissal from the University.
   1. Student Athletes: the NCAA requires students competing in intercollegiate athletics to submit final official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended.
   2. Nursing Majors: State and national accrediting bodies require students in nursing to submit final official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended.
   3. Education Majors: State and national accrediting agencies require candidates making application to a School of Education Teacher Educator Preparation Program (TEPP) to submit final official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended.
2. An essay, interview, and letter of recommendation may be submitted voluntarily by the student or may be requested by the admission office if the student does not meet minimum requirements for acceptance.
3. A transfer student who applies during the registration process must produce unofficial or official transcript(s) from the last college attended in order to register for classes. If unofficial transcripts are submitted, the student will be given 30 days from the first day of class for the official transcript(s) to be received in the office of admission. The official final transcript(s) must be received before the student is considered officially registered and eligible to receive financial aid. It is understood by all parties that if for some reason a student is denied admission as a result of not having all documentation at the appropriate offices by the deadline stated, Belhaven University is not liable for any losses incurred to the student.
4. A student who is applying with fewer than 12 semester hours of college credit must send to the office of admission an official high school transcript showing the date of graduation as well as an official report of the ACT or SAT score directly from the testing service, if the score is not listed on the official transcript. Applications will be processed and admission status determined when all required items, including the ACT or SAT, where applicable, are on file.
   
   *Students who choose not to submit ACT, SAT or CLT scores as part of their admission application will need to indicate that they are applying as “Test Optional” on their admission application. If you are considering this option, we encourage you to speak with your admission counselor. Please note that some academic majors such as Education and Nursing require test scores and the University reserves the right to request an academic recommendation in lieu of test scores. Students must have a minimum of a 2.75 high school cumulative GPA to be eligible to apply as Test Optional.
5. A transfer student is automatically accepted with a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Nonacademic elective credits in health and physical education are excluded from grade point average (GPA) calculation.
6. Transfer credits may be accepted from other institutions of higher learning only when the program of the transferring institution is acceptable to the receiving institution.
7. A student under academic suspension from another college or university may not enter Belhaven for one fall or spring semester following his/her suspension. A student who has been permanently dismissed from another college or university will not be eligible for admission to Belhaven University.

Transfer Credits

1. Belhaven University usually allows full credit to transferring students for work completed at other accredited institutions; however, some courses that are not regarded as consistent with a liberal arts curriculum (to be determined by the provost) may not be credited toward a degree. Also, remedial courses are not transferable. A grade of D will be accepted for credit if the student has a general average of C on all courses transferred from that school. Only grades of C or better can be accepted for transfer credit in English Composition I. In the case of transcripts submitted from more than one institution, each transcript is evaluated as a separate unit in chronological order. Credits in dance, applied music and art must be validated by satisfactory work in advanced courses at Belhaven University.
2. After a student has earned a total of 64 semester hours of credit, from a junior/community college, no additional junior/community college hours will be accepted toward a degree at Belhaven University. The last 60 hours of credit applied toward a degree at Belhaven University must be earned at a senior college. (Also see residence requirement discussed in “Requirements for Degrees .”)
3. A minimum of six semester hours (the exact amount to be determined by the chairman of the major department) must be taken at Belhaven University in the student’s major or minor, but not more than 45 semester hours may be transferred for credit in any major toward a bachelor’s degree.
4. Belhaven University requires of candidates for a degree a minimum residence of one year. Please see residence requirement discussed in “Requirements for Degrees .”

International Application Process

1. All international students should complete an application for admission and submit the nonrefundable $25 application fee to the office of admission at Belhaven University.
2. An English translation and evaluation of all course work is required by Belhaven University. We recommend the following company and can provide an application for this service:

World Education Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 745
Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0745
Phone: 212-966-6311 or 800-937-3895
www.wes.org
E-mail: info@wes.org

International freshmen are required to have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale from high school. Transfer students are required to have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale from prior college/university work.

3. To be accepted to a degree program at Belhaven University as an international student, you must score at least a 71iBT or 6 IELTS or complete our ESL program. A TOEFL or IELTS score is not necessary to enroll in our ESL program. Students will be evaluated before the semester begins. Typically, a student would enroll in 2 semesters of ESL courses if he or she is in the beginning level or 1st semester if he or she is in the intermediate level. In registering for the TOEFL, note the Belhaven TOEFL code number is 1055.
4. All international students, whether freshmen or transfers, to whom English is not the primary language must contact our ESL instructor for evaluation and placement prior to registration.
5. All international students must submit an academic reference that has been completed by a counselor, teacher, or employer.
6. All international students must include with the admission application an official guarantee of funds (in the form of an official letter of sponsorship and/or an official bank statement showing funds available for the first academic year of attendance). This form may be referred to as an affidavit of support.
7. International students are required to have medical insurance that meets the requirements of the University. Students will be allowed to purchase medical insurance prior to registration.

Non-degree seeking, Special Student Application Process

1. Complete an application for admission and pay a $25 nonrefundable application fee.
2. Non-degree seeking students, after attempting six semester hours, must either apply for admission as a degreeseeking student or make a request to be continued as a non-degree seeking student (maximum of 12 hours).
3. Non-degree seeking students must submit a letter of good standing or an official transcript from the last college attended. A non-degree seeking student will be allowed to apply during registration if an unofficial transcript or letter of good standing is available. The student will be given 30 days after registration for the official document to be received in the office of admission.

Auditor Application Process

By special permission, a person not enrolled at Belhaven University may audit one or more courses with the permission of the registrar. All auditors must apply for admission and must pay a $25 application fee. Semester hour credit and quality points will not be awarded for courses that are audited; however, the course(s) will be recorded on a permanent record as an audit. For auditing fee, see “General Fees ” listing.

Veterans’ Admission

Belhaven University is approved for veterans who qualify for education under the privileges provided by federal laws. Veterans with a high school diploma or a satisfactory GED certificate, obtained by completing eight units of high school work and passing the General Education Development Test (GED), will be considered for admission.

Part-Time Student Admission

Students enrolled for fewer than 12 semester hours are considered part time. Students not seeking a degree from Belhaven are not eligible for financial aid. An application form must be completed, and an application fee of $25 is required. A letter of good standing from the last institution attended must be mailed to the office of admission. If degree-seeking, the student would follow the standard requirements for admission.

Master of Fine Arts in Dance Regular Admission

The following are required at the time of application:

1. Completed application for admission and $25 nonrefundable application fee.
2. Submit official transcripts from any college or university attended (undergraduate degree in dance or related area with a min. 2.8 GPA overall and a min. 3.0 GPA in Dance studies).
3. 300-500-word letter of intent to articulating interest in graduate dance studies, including an example of incorporation Christian faith in a dance context.
4. Two letters of recommendation (one academic and one dance-related).
5. A professional resume (a minimum 2 years of field-related experience is preferred).
6. A writing sample (no more than 15 pages) which demonstrates analytical and verbal ability, preferably related to the field of dance.
7. A choreographic and/or performance sample from the last five years, 10-15 minutes, via hyperlinks from YouTube or vimeo.
8. Personal interview with the chair of the dance department and the director of MFA in Dance program.
9. Audition in person for the chair of the dance department and dance faculty for admission to the program. 

Artist Diploma in Performance (String) Regular Admission:

1. Provide an official transcript from an accredited college or university showing evidence of the following: graduation from a baccalaureate music degree program with violin, viola, cello, or string bass as the principal performance instrument, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and a cumulative 3.0 GPA in courses in the music major
2. Submission of an audio or audio/visual recording of a senior violin, viola, cello, or string bass recital which meets or exceeds the requirements for a senior violin, viola, cello, or string bass recital at Belhaven University OR
3. Presentation of a live audition or audio/visual recording in lieu of a live audition including memorized performances of at least one movement of a solo Bach violin, viola, cello, or string bass Sonata or Partita, a movement of a violin, viola, cello, or string bass concerto from standard concert repertoire, and one violin, viola, cello, or string bass concert show piece (i.e. Polonaise by Wieniawski) or one Caprice by Paganini. One movement of a violin, viola, cello, or string bass and piano sonata from the standard repertoire (i.e. Sonata in D Minor, Op. 108 by Brahms) is also required; music may be used for this part of the audition
4. Receipt of a professional resume/vita showing music, professional and academic experience.
5. Applicants who do not meet aforementioned admission requirements but show the potential for success in the Artist Diploma in Performance (String) program, may be admitted on a conditional basis.  These applicants will be required to submit two letters of recommendation and an essay speaking to their development as a musician, their goals for study in this program at Belhaven and their aspirations for a career as a violinist, violist, cellist, or string bassist.  All applications for admission into the Artist Diploma in Performance (String) program will be reviewed by the Director of the program and the Music Chair.