Academic Catalog

Admission: Undergraduate

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Welcome Center
42 W. Warren Avenue
PO Box 02759
Detroit, MI 48202
Telephone: 313-577-2100, Fax: 313-577-7536
https://wayne.edu/admissions

Service Hours: The Office of Undergraduate Admissions assists students by telephone and on a walk-in basis during posted service hours.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions has the primary function of recruiting, admitting, and enrolling new undergraduate students to the University. This office also helps to coordinate the recruitment activities of individual departments, alumni groups, and students. The office organizes visits and programs at local high schools and community colleges in the State of Michigan and selected regions outside of the state.

Also included in functions of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions are administration of the Presidential and Wayne State merit-based scholarships.

Application for Undergraduate Admission

An official application for Undergraduate Admission should be completed online. There is a $25.00 application fee.

Guidelines for Freshmen Admission

Admission to Wayne State is selective. In order to qualify for admission an applicant must submit an official high school transcript indicating college preparation, standardized test scores (ACT or SAT), and ability to undertake a college degree program. Admission decisions will be based on a full evaluation of each student's academic record. Students still in high school may apply after completion of their junior year.

Guidelines for International Applicants

A student from another country desiring admission who is not a permanent resident or citizen of the U.S. should complete the International Admissions Application. A student from a country in which English is not the native language must take an English Language Proficiency Examination prior to admission or have a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 (213 on computerized version).

Guidelines for Canadian Applicants

The Office of Admissions website includes information specific to Canadian students applying to Wayne State University.

Special Undergraduate Programs for Admission

The Center for Latino and Latin American Studies (CLLAS) and Academic Pathways for Excellence (APEX) both offer special undergraduate programs with additional admission standards. See the following sections form more information: Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies and Academic Pathways for Excellence (APEX).

Recommended High School Preparation 

  1. English (four years recommended): Effective use of the English language is central to one’s ability to succeed at the University and in the professions and occupations for which our students are preparing. Students entering the University should be able to:
    1. comprehend the main and subordinate ideas in written works, lectures, and discussions; and
    2. conceive ideas about a topic and be able to organize them for presentation in both verbal and written forms.
  2. Mathematics (four years recommended): While most careers for which University students are preparing require mathematical competency, an increasing number of careers in science and technical curricula require advanced preparation in mathematics. Entering students should be able to:
    1. understand ratios, proportions, percentages, roots and powers; and
    2. perform the mathematical operations of algebra and geometry. 
  3. Biological and Physical Sciences (three years recommended): A basic understanding of the physical and biological sciences is essential for many fields of college-level study and is necessary if one is to comprehend our world and the impact of science and technology on it. Students should be acquainted with:
    1. concepts of matter, energy, motion and force and the natural laws and processes of the physical sciences in general;
    2. the science of life and living matter with special reference to growth, reproduction and structure; and
    3. laboratory methods.
  4. Social Sciences/History (three years recommended): Students should study different cultures and societies — their social systems, customs, communities, values, economies, governments, and politics. A knowledge of the main events and ideas that have shaped our nation and its place in the world should also be possessed by entering students. They should understand how the past bears upon the present condition and future course of mankind. As the social sciences improve one’s appreciation of the scientific method and other approaches to critical analysis, an understanding of history is required for an informed exercise of citizenship in a free society.
  5. Foreign Languages (two years recommended): Proficiency in a foreign language not only introduces students to non-English speaking cultures but also heightens awareness and comprehension of one’s native tongue. Language is the basic instrument of thought, and the ability to read, speak and write in a foreign language permits one to understand another culture in a more fundamental way. Foreign language competency will open up career opportunities denied to those without it.
  6. Fine Arts (two years recommended): Students entering the University should be acquainted with the visual and performing arts, through study and/or participation. Several academic disciplines at the University require high levels of skill in the arts. Study in this area enriches life and heightens one’s sense of beauty and aesthetic perception.
  7. Computer Literacy: Some formal instruction in the logic and use of computers in problem solving and data retrieval is increasingly important in all fields of study.

Special Requirements and Professional Admission

The following Schools, Colleges and programs have requirements beyond those of regular undergraduate admission:

Transfer Admission

Transfer students are considered for admission if they meet the following minimum requirements:

A transfer applicant may be admitted, without consideration of high school work, upon completion of at least twenty-four semester credits of transferable college-level coursework from an accredited college or university with an overall grade point average of 2.5 and with no courses below a C grade for transferable credit. If the applicant has fewer than twenty-four semester credits of transferable college-level coursework, the applicant may be admitted provided freshmen admissions guidelines are met, subject to a holistic evaluation of each student's record. Students who have attended unaccredited institutions should consult with an admission counselor to determine admissibility.

Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA)

One main area of focus for transfer students is General Education Requirements. These are classes in addition to courses within your major that are required to ensure fundamental skills and a well-rounded education. The Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) was designed to facilitate the transfer of general education requirements from one institution to another. Students may complete the MTA as part of an associate's degree or as a stand-alone package at a Michigan community college.

MTA Requirements

Students must successfully complete at least 30 credits at a Michigan community college in six defined areas with at least a grade of 2.0 (or C) in each course in order to be MTA satisfied. These areas are:

  • One course in English Composition
  • A second course in English Composition or one course in Communication
  • One course in Mathematics
  • Two courses in Social Sciences from different disciplines
  • Two courses in Humanities and Fine Arts from different disciplines
  • Two courses in Natural Sciences (one lab science required) from two disciplines

Prior to Fall 2018: WSU requires students to take either a second course in English Composition or one course in Communications beyond the MTA requirements. This additional course can be taken at a Michigan community college or at WSU.

Starting Fall 2018: The additional course stated above is no longer required. Students transferring to WSU with MTA in fall 2018 and beyond will have satisfied all of Wayne State General Education requirements. 

All college, program, major and minor requirements must also be completed (at least 120 credits) for students who fulfill the MTA requirements.

Your community college will provide detailed information, including approved courses, for completing the MTA. We recommend that you review our transfer plans and consult your community college advisor about fulfilling MTA requirements and request your community college to review your record to add the MTA endorsement to your transcript.

Non-Matriculated Status

Non-matriculated status enables students to take undergraduate courses for which the prerequisites are met. Courses, credits and grades will be posted to the University's transcript. However, these will be used toward fulfillment of a degree only after formal admissions is granted through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor prior to registering for courses. The non-matriculated application should be completed online. There is a $25.00 non-refundable application fee. The holder of non-matriculated status is ineligible for any type of loan, grant or scholarship that is administered by Wayne State University.

Post-Bachelor Admission

Post-bachelor admission is an optimal choice for students who have already completed a bachelor's degree and are interested in either earning college credit without intending to use it toward another degree, and those students needing to complete prerequisite course work to gain admission to a graduate program.

Undergraduate Guest Admission

Students currently attending an accredited institution of higher education who are interested in taking undergraduate courses at Wayne State for one semester, or who wish to register for courses concurrently, are eligible to apply for Guest Admission. Requirements include the completion of twelve semester credits at the home institution and a minimum cumulative 'C' grade point average (equivalent to a 2.0 grade point average at Wayne State).

Re-Entry Following an Interruption in Attendance

Undergraduate students who were previously admitted and registered at Wayne State University and whose attendance has been interrupted need not reapply at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. It is expected that students who left in good standing report to the College of their choice for any special instructions regarding their return to classes.

Phoenix Program (Second Start)

The Phoenix Program provides undergraduate students who left Wayne State University on probation or dismissal with the opportunity to petition for return under a second-start policy. To be eligible, the student must not have enrolled at Wayne State University for at least three consecutive years immediately prior to petition for the Phoenix Program. Applications are submitted based on the School or College in which the student is matriculated or seeks to enter. Decisions are made either by the Phoenix Committee for the department or by the dean of the school or college. With the approval, the student and a phoenix advisor develop an academic contract, and the phoenix advisor closely monitors the student through the first twelve credits of course work.

To return to regular status, students must complete twelve semester credits with a grade of C or better within two years under the Phoenix Program (NOTE: a grade of C-minus is considered to be lower than a C). Students will be expected to complete both the general education and degree requirements in effect at the time of their return to the University. In addition to earn a Wayne State degree, the student must have thirty graded credits of which five courses or fifteen credits must be in the major and/or core. The thirty credits may include credits taken prior to admission to the Phoenix Program in consultation with the phoenix advisor. Should students earn any grade below C in their first twelve credits in the Phoenix Program, they will be excluded from the University. To maintain the integrity of students’ academic records, previous course work will remain on the transcripts; however, grade point average (g.p.a.) and the g.p.a credits will be adjusted to reflect the g.p.a. earned since the start of the Phoenix Program.

Please note that this program is currently offered to the following departments: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Business, College of Education and College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts. If your college is not included in this list, we encourage you to reach out to us for more information. We're happy to discuss potential opportunities and explore alternative options with you.

For information about the Phoenix Program, students can review the Phoenix Program website.

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