A graduate division was created at West Georgia College in 1967 following action by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia granting permission to the college to offer graduate courses and to confer the master's degree. A Graduate Council was created to act as a policy-making body chosen from the graduate faculty and administration.

In 1973, the division was given the status of a Graduate School in accordance with the new organizational structure approved by the Board of Regents. All graduate work was administered by the Graduate School and the Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS).

Prior to the 2011-2012 academic year, the graduate studies administration was reorganized and students were directed to address questions about policies and procedures to the college or school that housed the academic program of interest.