McMicken College of Arts & Sciences
Center for Organizational Leadership

Graduate Studies

MHR Frequently Asked Questions

• Admission

• Courses

• International Students

Admissions

a) When should I apply?
Applicants may be admitted any quarter (fall, winter, spring, or summer). The deadline for applications is approximately one month prior to the beginning of the quarter in which the applicant intends to start. At the deadline, all application materials must have been received by the Center for Organizational Leadership. 

If any of the deadlines fall on a holiday, application materials must be submitted by the following Monday.

b) Where should I send application materials?
The MHR Coordinator
Center for Organizational Leadership
University of Cincinnati
PO Box 210094
Cincinnati OH 45221-0094
USA

c) Can a student defer admission?
Yes, students can defer admission within the academic year. An academic year consists of autumn-winter-spring-summer quarters. Students who wish to defer beyond an academic year must submit a new application to the university and pay another application fee. Admission into the program itself is secured. However, students who have been awarded financial aid and defer admission cannot be guaranteed funding when they begin taking classes.

d) What distinguishes part time from full time students?
Students must be registered for 10 or more graduate credit hours to be considered full-time students. However, students receiving a UGS must be registered for at least the number of graduate credit hours covered by the UGS in each quarter they are receiving support. This will usually require a UGS student to take at least 12 graduate credit hours.

e) If a student starts a program elsewhere, how many credits can be counted toward the MHR degree?
If the degree has been awarded, then the student cannot count credit hours from a previously earned degree toward the MHR program. However, students may petition to the committee to be excused from core courses. If a degree was not awarded, the student may petition the MHR Graduate Committee to transfer up to one-half of the required credit hours toward completion of the MHR degree.

f) Can students who are not admitted to the MHR program take MHR classes?
Graduate students in CCM or COB may register for graduate level MHR classes. Students majoring in other areas and non-matriculating students may take MHR courses if they obtain special permission from the instructor. Should the non-matriculating student later be accepted into the MHR program, a maximum of 9 credit hours may count toward the MHR program requirements. Additional general information on Graduate School Rules and Questions can be found at: http://www.grad.uc.edu/file pdf/handbook.pdf.

g) Can a student have the GRE/GMAT requirement waived?
An official GRE or GMAT score sheet of tests taken within the last 5 years is normally required of all applicants to the program. However, applicants with five or more years of experience in an HR position gained in the functional areas of compensation, benefits, training, staffing, etc., and strong letters of recommendation from individuals capable of assessing the applicants HR knowledge, may request to have the test scores waived. Prospective applicants who wish to request a waiver of the GRE/GMAT requirement should contact the MHR program director before submitting application materials.

Courses (top)

a) Are the Professional Development classes mandatory?
These courses are mandatory for those on the Managerial Track. If a student has sufficient HR work experience the Professional Development classes can be waived. Students taking the Strategic Track do not need the Professional Development classes. However, you are encouraged to take the PHR certification exam at some stage and the Professional Development classes aid in studying for this exam. Students enrolled in the Professional Development class are required to take the exam.

b) Can a MHR student take an Independent Study?
Yes. A student can take a total of six credit hours of Independent Study during the course of their career. In the past, Independent Study has been used for students to get credit for research. In very rare cases, a student may do an Independent Study in lieu of a course. Registering for independent study requires permission of the instructor.

c) Do I need to meet with an advisor to schedule my classes?
It is not required that you meet with an advisor to register for classes. Most students do not find that they need to have advising, as long as they use the checklist provided and keep in mind that courses are generally only offered once a year. If you have questions or wish to speak with someone about taking courses in the managerial versus strategic track, please feel free to contact the graduate director.

d) Who is my advisor for the final experience?
During the quarter in which you plan to complete your final experience, you should register for the 2 credit hour Capstone course. To determine the correct section to register for, contact Kimberly Raterman prior to registering for classes. You will then work with this faculty member to secure approval for your proposal and final deliverables.

International Students (top)

The following information was obtained from UC International Services’ (UCIS) website and was accurate at the time of updating this handbook. However, for the most current information please visit UCIS’ website at http://www.isso.uc.edu.

a) What are the TOEFL score requirements?
The minimum score that the University of Cincinnati accepts is 520 for the paper-based test, 190 on the computer-based test, and 68 on the internet-based test.

b) What financial aid is available for international students?
There is no additional financial aid available for international students. The same financial aid regulations apply as for other students. Please see the section on financial aid.

c) Can I find out the status of issuing my I-20 form?
Yes. You can check the status of your I-20 by going to our website at www.isso.uc.edu. Under the "features" section you will see a link called "Check Your I-20 Status". Click on this link. Enter your name, email address and selection enrollment term (i.e. 08A for fall quarter 2008) from the drop down box. The email address you enter must match the email you submitted with your application. Click the "Email I-20 Status" button. You will receive an email within 24 hours telling you the status of your I-20.

d) Is there a deadline for submitting the Financial Certification Form?
No. There is no deadline for submitting financial certification forms to the UCIS. You simply will not be issued an I-20 until they are received in proper form. Keep in mind that it may take several months to obtain a visa and you will need your I-20 to apply.

e) My department has not yet made decisions on funding. Can I wait until I hear from my department about funding before I send the financial certification form?
Yes. Again, there is no deadline for submitting the financial certification forms. You simply will not receive your I-20 until the documentation of your funding is received.

f) If there is a problem with the financial certification documents submitted will UCIS contact me?
Yes. Anytime a student submits financial certification documents that are incomplete or inadequate, the UCIS will send an email or letter (if email is not available) to the student explaining the problem(s).

g) My funding from UC is equal to or greater than the amount of expenses required by the UCIS to be issued an I-20. Do I need to submit additional financial documents to the UCIS?
No. If the amount of funding coming from your department exceeds the amount of funding required by the UCIS to be issued an I-20 you do not need to submit additional financial documents.

h) I have been awarded University funding (a scholarship or assistantship); can I count the amount of the award as a source of support for subsequent years of study?
Yes. Any award given by the University (such as a UGS) can be counted as a source of support for all years of expected study.

i) Do I have to submit financial documents in U.S. dollars?
No. Your financial documents do not have to be submitted in U.S. dollars, although it is helpful that any document you submit in foreign currency contains the U.S. dollar equivalency. It is perfectly acceptable to submit documents in foreign currency such as RMB, Rupees, or Euro.

j) I need to have my original financial documents to apply for the student visa. Can I submit copies of my documents to the UCIS and keep the originals?
No. You must submit the original financial documents to the UCIS. We will send the original documents back to you with our I-20 form to apply for the student visa. Financial documents must be submitted in English or have an English translation attached.

k) Can I be issued an I-20 based on providing financial support for one year of study?
No. All students must provide financial support for all years of study needed to complete a degree. That is two years for Masters or Associates degrees, five years for a Bachelors degree or six years for a Doctorate degree. Funds for the first year of study must be documented and available. Funds for subsequent years of study must be attainable as demonstrated by income from employment or investments. This typically occurs when a sponsor (family or friend) is involved. If using personal funds (meaning money that appears on documents in your name) for any part of support the student must have the personal funds for all years of study. For example, a doctoral student who states that he or she will use $10,000 of personal funds for support would have to have $10,000 x 6 ($60,000) in order to be issued an I-20. Personal funds can't be earned, the student either has the funds or doesn't.

l) Can my I-20 be sent by express mail?
Yes. We recommend that you have your I-20 mailed by express mail. Regular mail overseas takes 4-6 weeks. To request express mail service you need to go to the following website: https://study.eshipglobal.com. We have discounted express mail rates negotiated for UC students with DHL and FedEx, but you must use the eshipglobal service. Do not go through the DHL or FedEx websites directly. You will need your UC student ID number, mailing address, email address, phone number and a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Discover cards only) to set up a user account. Our office will be notified once you have requested a shipment. If you experience any difficulty in registering and processing a shipment, please use the “Help” link in the site for step by step instructions. If you have additional questions about how to use this service, please email support@eshipglobal.com.

m) Will the UCIS tell me when my I-20 was issued?
We will send an email to all students (if email is available) when your I-20 is mailed. We will not search for your file upon request and tell you when your I-20 was sent or why it hasn't been sent. When it is mailed, you will be notified.

n) I want to bring my spouse and children to the U.S. with me. What do I need to do?
You need to show an additional $4,000 per year for a spouse and $2,000 for each child. This is in addition to what you need to show to meet your own living and educational expenses. We will also need to know the name, date of birth, city and country of birth and country of citizenship for each dependent.

o) Must the Financial Certification Form be notarized?
Yes. Any financial certification made by a sponsor must have a notary seal affixed to the sponsors signature or the form will not be accepted. A notary seal is an official stamp certifying that the person signing the form is the sponsor. A notary seal can be obtained in any country, although the formal name may not be a notary. Lawyers, bankers, police officers and other government officials typically have the authority to make such certifications. In some countries (especially China) such officials may not stamp or seal the UCIS Financial Certification Form because it is written in English. It is acceptable in such instances to send a form appropriate from your home country with the appropriate seals instead of the UCIS Financial Certification Form.

p) Can I have a friend pick-up my I-20 and mail it to me?
Yes. You may designate anyone you want to pick up your I-20. But you must indicate to us in writing who that person is, and how to contact them.

q) Can the UCIS tell me if I have been awarded a scholarship or assistantship or grant me an extension to the deadline to accept my offer of admission?
No. Individual departments grant financial aid, not the UCIS. You must contact your admitting department directly about financial awards or exceptions to deadlines.

r) Estimated Annual Expenses for International Graduate Students for the 2008-2009 Academic Year

	Most Programs including MS Architecture	12-Month Programs	Master of Architecture
Tuition (subject to change)	$20,880	$27,235	$27,840
Living Expenses	$11,319	$11,319	$11,319
Other Fees	$2,739	$3,652	$3,652
Total	$34,938	$40,293	$42,811

1. Tuition is assessed for most full-time students based on three quarters of study (an academic year). Enrollment during the Summer is optional for these students. However, a few programs (i.e., one year M.B.A. program, etc.) require students to be enrolled all four quarters. There are additional tuition and fees for these students.
2. Living expenses are estimated on a 12 month basis for all students. While Summer enrollment may be optional for some students, food, rent and other expenses are not.
3. Other fees include a general fee of $249 per quarter ($747 per year). All students are required to pay this fee unless otherwise indicated in an award letter.
4. Other fees include an Informational Technology and Instructional Equipment Fee (ITIE). All graduate students (except College of Medicine) are required to pay this fee for costs associated with labs, instructional equipment and supplies, and information technology. The fee will be $105 per quarter ($315 per year) and will be included on your bill at the time of registration.
5. Other fees also include a Campus Life Fee. Main campus students are required to pay the $147 per quarter ($441 per year) fee.
6. Other fees also include Health and Accident Insurance. All international students are required to carry the University Student Health Insurance policy unless they can prove coverage equal to or greater than the University policy. Such insurance must be provided by a United States based company. Foreign based policies WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Insurance fees will be included on your bill. The fee is $412 per quarter ($1,236 per year). Students are responsible for paying this fee each quarter. Students who qualify for a waiver of the policy must follow the guidelines established by the Student Health Insurance Office for obtaining a waiver. Summer coverage is free for students who pay during Spring quarter. Family coverage is available at an additional charge.
7. The first month in the United States demands more financial outlay than any other single period. An additional $1,000 should be available to meet these expenses.
8. A student with a family should budget approximately $4,000 per year for a spouse and $2,000 per year for each child. If your spouse and children will be accompanying you to the U.S. please let us know. We will need to know name(s), date(s) of birth and country of birth for all dependents.
9. Travel to and from the student's country and buying an automobile are not included in the estimate of personal expenses.
10. Costs for such things as buying an automobile are not included in the estimate of living expenses.
11. Graduate residence hall rent is due at the beginning of each month.
12. Tuition and fees must be paid at the time of registration for courses. No exceptions are made for this requirement.
13. It is important for the student to know his/her government's regulations on currency exchange and bank procedures for the transfer of needed funds.
14. Students must have adequate finances to cover all expenses for the entire time that is required to earn the degree.
15. Tuition and other fees are subject to change.