Admission Application Process

1.      International students apply for graduate study through the Center for International Programs.  Since the patterns of undergraduate education vary widely across the globe, the graduate school admissions requirements often need significant interpretation when applied to international students. For this reason, as well as the need to deal with the complications of visa status, international students apply for study through the Center for International Programs.
 

a.   Those wishing to apply for graduate study should apply online by following the instructions at http://www.bsu.edu/internationaladmit/graduate/ or obtain printable application forms which should be completed and returned to the Center for International Programs.
 

                                                        i.      The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers graduate programs only at the Master's level. You will be asked to indicate your degree objective on a line on the first page of the application form. To do this, simply list one of our departmental majors (actuarial science, mathematics, statistics, or mathematics education) on the next line, which is labeled "Subject of specialization (major)."
 

                                                        ii.      In your International Application you need to provide supporting documentation to show that you have enough verify adequate funding to pursue studies at Ball State University. Past experience indicates that our applicants often do not sufficiently address this issue when applying. Please carefully document all financial support you have available. Privately sponsored applicants should provide a sponsor's letter of support indicating the specific U.S. dollar amount of support and a certified bank statement which indicates that these funds are available. Government or agency-sponsored students should provide an official letter that indicates the U.S. dollar amount per year of their award and any special billing instructions. Some of the tuition and fee expenses can be covered by awarded graduate assistantships or scholarships.  However, you cannot be considered for an assistantship unless you have first met all the requirements of the graduate school, including documenting that you have adequate funding.
 

                                                        iii.      International applicants for admission to graduate programs in the Department of Mathematical Sciences must first meet standards judged to be equivalent to the admission requirements of the Graduate School. 
 

1.    This includes an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (all undergraduate course work, including work completed prior to the baccalaureate degree, is used to calculate the grade point average) OR a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the latter half of the baccalaureate.
 

                                                        iv.      The International Application requires that you submit a TOEFL examination score to BSU.  The minimum TOEFL requirement for full admission is 550 (213 CBT/ 79 IBT). Students with TOEFL score below 550 are eligible to attend English Language Programs on the BSU campus. Please contact the International Admission Office for details. The TOEFL, SAT, GRE and GMAT code for BSU is 1051.
 

                                                         v.      The GRE is NOT required for admission.  However, students not meeting the minimum admission requirements who are seeking probationary admission will be required to take the GRE.  The GRE code for BSU is 1051.
 

b.   Once you have sent all of the required documents to the Center for International Programs your file will be evaluated and sent by the Center for International Programs to the Graduate School for an admission decision.  The Graduate School will make the decision concerning whether or not you will be admitted to the Graduate School, but you must then still be admitted to the program of your choice, a decision which will be made by the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
 

c.    Upon successful admission to the Graduate School copies of your materials will then be forwarded to the Department of Mathematical Sciences for a decision on admittance into the program of study you listed.
 

                                                        i.      This decision will be based primarily on the amount and quality of your undergraduate course work in the mathematical sciences. Please also note that there are program specific admission requirements for each program. See M.A. in Actuarial Science, M.A. in Mathematics, M.S. in Mathematics, M.A. in Mathematics Education - Option 1: Elementary and Middle School Mathematics, M.A. in Mathematics Education - Option 2: Secondary Mathematics, M.A. in Statistics, or Certificate Program in Elementary Mathematics Teacher Leadership. 
 

d.    The final decisions regarding your admission to both the Graduate School and to the Department of Mathematical Sciences program of your choice will be reported to you through a letter from the Center for International Programs.
 

e.    International students should apply for admission no later than January 1 for Fall admission and no later than June 1 for Spring admission.
 

Graduate Assistantship Application Process

The Department of Mathematical Sciences generally supports about 20 students with graduate assistantships. There are normally about 10 of these assistantships available to award each year, although this number can vary significantly in some years.

•       If you wish to be supported by a graduate assistantship, you must make application directly to this department.  It is NOT enough to merely indicate an interest in a graduate assistantship on your graduate school application for admission through the Center for International Programs.  
   

•         Please complete the on-line application form, download a copy of the application packet, or contact our Director of Graduate Programs, Dr. Richard Stankewitz (rstankewitz@bsu.edu, 765-285-8645) to request that a packet be sent by mail. Please provide a full mailing address in your e-mail message and also indicate your intended program of study. Since your admissions application packet will be forwarded to the Department of Mathematical Sciences from the Center for International Programs you will NOT need to resubmit your letters of recommendation OR send an additional copy of your transcript when applying for a Graduate Assistantship.
   

•         The assistantship application deadline for first-round offers is February 1 in any year in order to receive first-round consideration. Applications will gladly be accepted after that date, but the candidate will likely not be considered for the first round of offers. 

Summer GA available for Mathematics Education Only.

Assistantships outside of the Department of Mathematical Sciences

If you are interested in obtaining an assistantship outside of the Department of Mathematical Sciences (in case the department is not able to offer you one), please read the information provided at http://www.bsu.edu/gradschool/assistantships/ and http://www.bsu.edu/students/careers/students/viewjobs/. If you have any questions about these web sites, please use the contact information listed on the web sites.

General Ball State University Information

•       If you want to learn more about Ball State University in general (including information about tuition, housing, and facilities) click on http://www.bsu.edu/factbook/.