Undergraduate Admission
2004-2006 Undergraduate Catalog | Catalogs

Roosevelt University is committed to educating students of differing ages, personal backgrounds, and school and work experiences. Each student who applies to Roosevelt University is evaluated on individual merit. Test scores and grade point averages (GPAs) are only a part of this evaluation, and special consideration is given to adult students who are returning to school after some time away from the classroom. The following information is presented to help answer questions on admission but should not discourage potential applicants. The University’s broad resources can often assist students who need extra advising or course work to give them the tools necessary for success.

Each campus offers comprehensive admission services. Counselors can answer questions regarding application procedures, transfer credits, scholarships, the Roosevelt University Assessment, class scheduling, and University life. Call 312-341-3515 for the Chicago campus or 847-619-8600 for the Schaumburg campus to speak with an admission counselor or make an appointment to visit the campus.

Admission materials vary by type of student (freshman, transfer, student-at-large, international) and by college (Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Performing Arts, Education, or University College). Roosevelt University recognizes certain advanced standing credits, such as AP, CLEP, and selected proficiency exams, as well as transfer credit from other regionally accredited institutions. Roosevelt University is a participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows articulation of the Illinois transferable general education core curriculum between participating institutions.

Some programs have additional requirements such as auditions or interviews. Other programs require that prerequisite course work be taken before entrance to a major. Students should read carefully the sections of this catalog which pertain to their interests to make sure they are fully aware of all admission requirements. Please contact either the program or college office or the Office of Admission with any questions.

Permanent residents complete the same application for admission as US citizens. Asylees and those in change of status proceedings should consult International Admission before applying. All nonimmigrant or international students must submit an Application for International Undergraduate Admission and necessary documentation to comply with US Department of Immigration and Naturalization requirements. The admission policies below apply primarily for US citizens and legal permanent residents.

Admission policies

• Students seeking to earn a degree or certificate must be admitted to Roosevelt University before they may register for classes.
• Application materials will be reviewed promptly and an admission decision made. Candidates will be notified by mail of this decision.
• Applications for admission are accepted throughout the year; however, it is recommended that they be received at least eight weeks before the semester begins to allow sufficient time for processing and review. Candidates for admission should not wait to be admitted to apply for financial aid.
• The $25 application fee is nonrefundable. (A different fee structure applies for the Chicago College of Performing Arts.)
• All degree-seeking undergraduate students, except those seeking a second bachelor’s degree, are required to take the Roosevelt University Assessment (RUA) and meet with an advisor prior to registration. International students and all students with international credentials must fulfill the TOEFL/TWE or English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements as well as the mathematics portion of the RUA.
• Roosevelt University does not discriminate against students or applicants for admission on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, handicap, or disability. Students who believe that they have experienced unlawful discrimination are advised to file a written complaint with the vice president for enrollment and student services at the Chicago campus.
• Applicants to the Chicago College of Performing Arts should also refer to the admission section of CCPA.

Degree-seeking students

Freshman applicants

Students who have graduated from high school or completed a GED and who have completed fewer than 15 semester hours of transferable college credit are freshman applicants. In addition to the application and fee, freshmen must submit official high school or GED transcripts, official transcripts from any colleges attended, and either the American College Testing Program (ACT) or College Board’s Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) standardized test scores. Scores may be posted on official high school transcripts. Roosevelt’s ACT code is 1124; SAT code is 1666. Students with no transfer credit who have not taken the ACT or SAT within five years of applying must take the Roosevelt University Assessment (RUA) before an admission decision is made.

Current high school students may submit official transcripts to be considered for admission after two and one-half years of high school work. A final official transcript will be required upon graduation. Fifteen units of credit from an accredited high school are required including college preparatory work in English, foreign languages, history, mathematics, and laboratory science.

Freshman admission requirements are a minimum high school GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and an ACT score of 20 or above or an SAT score of 960 or above. Students possessing a GED certificate are expected to have above-average test scores. For students not possessing ACT or SAT scores, evidence of the potential for successful freshman-level work based on the results of the RUA may be used. Consideration is also given to the applicant’s essays. An interview with an admission counselor may be recommended.

A student who has completed the junior year of high school with an outstanding record may be considered for admission as a full-time freshman. Early admission is considered on a case-by-case basis. For information on early admission, contact the Office of Admission to speak with a counselor.

Transfer applicants

Students who have completed 15 or more semester hours of transferable college credit at a regionally accredited institution are considered transfer applicants. A transfer applicant’s cumulative GPA should be a minimum of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Consideration is also given to the applicant’s essays. An interview with an admission counselor may be recommended. In addition to the application and fee, official transcripts must be received from each college where course work was attempted. A transcript is considered “official” when it is embossed with the institutional seal and delivered in a sealed envelope on institutional stationery.

Transfer credit and credit evaluations

Transfer credit is accepted from regionally accredited colleges and universities. Prospective and newly admitted students may receive unofficial guidance from an admission counselor on the transfer credit that may be applied to a degree program.

The University accepts courses with grades of D for general education course requirements except for English composition where a C is required. Grades of C or higher are required in the major. (See University Writing Requirement and Credit by Examination for further information.) The student may apply no more than 66 transferable semester hours from accredited two-year institutions toward the bachelor’s degree. A minimum of 30 credit hours must be completed at Roosevelt University. Please see your advisor for specific college requirements. Credit is not given for developmental, technical, college-level ELP, vocational, life experience, library use, orientation, study skills, career counseling, or most physical education courses.

Official evaluations of credit earned at other institutions are completed by the credit evaluators of the Registrar’s Office after a student is admitted to the University and all official transcripts have been received. Copies of the evaluation are provided to the student and placed in the student’s permanent academic record.

Certificate students

Students seeking a certificate from Roosevelt University must meet admission requirements and submit the same materials as freshmen or transfer students.

Dual admission

Roosevelt has dual admission programs with numerous community and two-year colleges in the Chicago metropolitan area. Through dual admission, community college students are able to create a four-year plan for completing the bachelor’s degree, assure a smooth transfer of credit between institutions, guarantee graduation requirements as long as continuous enrollment is maintained, and facilitate early financial planning. Check with the Office of Admission or visit the Roosevelt website for transfer students (www.roosevelt.edu/transfer) for up-to-date information on community colleges with which Roosevelt maintains a dual admission program.

Second bachelor’s degree

Students who have been granted a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university are eligible for admission as second bachelor’s degree candidates. Official transcripts from each college previously attended are required along with the application and fee. Second bachelor’s degree students must meet all degree requirements including general education and liberal studies course work. These requirements may be met with transfer credit, Roosevelt University courses, or a combination of both. Students possessing a bachelor of arts or sciences degree from a four-year accredited institution in the United States will have met the University writing requirement.

Non-degree-seeking students

Students not seeking a degree may register for undergraduate courses as students-at-large. Financial aid, including loans, is not available to students in these categories. Admission and registration procedures occur in the Office of the Registrar. An average of C is required during each semester of at-large enrollment. An individual who fails to maintain good standing will not be eligible to return in that status. Only the first 15 semester hours of credit earned in non-degree status are certain to be applied toward a bachelor’s degree. Application of hours beyond 15 will be determined through individual review by the Office of Admission and the Registrar.

Change of academic status for non-degree-seeking students

Non-degree-seeking undergraduates who wish to become classified as degree-seeking must submit an Application for Admission to the Office of Admission at either campus. Such applicants must submit official transcripts and meet all admission requirements. No more than 15 credit hours taken as a non-degree-seeking student are certain to be applied towards a Roosevelt degree.

International student admission

Roosevelt University is approved by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service to admit individuals in nonimmigrant status to programs of study. To be considered for admission to undergraduate study, an international applicant must have completed the equivalent of a United States primary and secondary curriculum, that is, 12 years of study, with passing grades.

Students seeking nonimmigrant visas must meet strict requirements when submitting applications for admission. Application, school records, and all required documents must be submitted by May 1 for fall enrollment and October 1 for spring. The US Immigration law applicable to the admission, transfer, work authorization, and continuing presence of students as nonimmigrants is very complex and subject to constant modification. All questions about privileges and requirements should be referred to the Office of International Student Programs.

A packet for international student admission may be obtained from the Office of International Student Programs in Chicago, from the Office of Admission in Schaumburg, or from our website www.roosevelt.edu. Students are encouraged to call International Admission to clarify procedures, 312-341-3531. All applicants must submit the following:

• Application and fee (paid via money order or bank draft).
• Completed, signed, and notarized financial statement.
• Official transcripts of any college or university work (translated into English if necessary) evaluated at the applicant’s expense by Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. The director of international admission determines whether exception to such evaluation might be possible.
• Proof of completion of the equivalent of a high school diploma (12 years of school, translated into English).
• Affidavit from a parent, guardian, or sponsor guaranteeing verifiable financial support while the student is attending Roosevelt University.
• An official bank statement showing proof of available funds.
• Transfer Verification Form, if the prospective student is already in the US on an F-1 visa and wishes to transfer to Roosevelt. This form may be obtained from the Office of International Programs.

Prospective international students must present TOEFL scores of 525 (computer-test scale 197) and a TWE score of 4.0 or enroll in Roosevelt’s English Language Program (ELP). Those applicants whose scores are below these levels will take a placement examination given by the Roosevelt English Language Program (ELP) during International Student Orientation, in January or August.

The required Orientation Program each semester is for both new and transferring international students. Orientation is designed to address the special needs of international students, which includes information on US immigration law, the US educational system, cultural adjustment, academic advising, class registration, and medical insurance requirements. Orientation dates are provided along with the admission packet.

Readmission and reinstatement

Former degree-seeking Roosevelt students who have been absent for three consecutive semesters (excluding summer) must submit an application for readmission to the Office of the Registrar at either campus. Readmission is assured for students who were in good standing when last enrolled. Students who have attended another college or university since last attending Roosevelt or who have not attended Roosevelt within the past five calendar years must submit official transcript(s) to the Office of the Registrar.

Readmitted students must contact their college to confirm their intention to continue and to obtain up-to-date information on degree requirements. Former degree-seeking students who have been away for five years or more must comply with degree requirements in the current catalog.

Former students who were on academic probation or were dropped for poor scholarship must be reinstated before they apply for readmission (see policy on academic standing). Applications for reinstatement are available at the advising centers on both campuses and on the Internet. International students apply for readmission through the Office of International Admission.

Types of credit

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Roosevelt University students may receive academic credit in selected subjects by successfully completing CLEP examinations. The number of credit hours, up to a maximum of six for each test, is determined by the score as well as any previously earned credit in the discipline in which the CLEP exam is taken. Credit will be awarded only after the student completes 12 semester hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 at Roosevelt University, and credit will not be given if the student has attempted or completed that course previously. See the Registrar’s Office regarding previously earned credit. Contact the Academic Advising and Assessment Center for CLEP information.

Advanced placement

To encourage students with outstanding ability and enterprise, Roosevelt University welcomes participation in the College Entrance Examination Board’s Advanced Placement Program. The University will grant credit towards graduation for any advanced placement examination passed with a grade of 3 or higher to a limit of 30 credit hours. Students with a sufficient number of AP grades will enter with sophomore status.

International Baccalaureate

In recognition of academic excellence Roosevelt University welcomes applications from International Baccalaureate students. Students may submit an International Baccalaureate diploma or course work in individual subjects for credit toward graduation. Contact the Office of Admission for details.

Proficiency examination/experiential learning

Proficiency examination credits transcribed on a student’s transcript from another college are not accepted in transfer. Experiential learning credits are not accepted in transfer.

In applied music subjects, credit for the examination is not recorded until the student completes a higher course in the same department with a grade of C or higher (in performance major subjects, grade of B). A grade of D on a proficiency examination taken in a music course is not considered a passing grade by the Chicago College of Performing Arts.