Graduate Admissions

Graduate Application Procedures

Applying for Graduate Programs

Graduate Studies Online Application

Please go to www.shepherd.edu/graduate-studies/apply-graduate to access the online application. Note: Download Adobe XI (11.0.02) of Adobe Reader to fill in the form: get.adobe.com/reader/.

International Graduate Students please go to www.shepherd.edu/international-graduate-admissions/ for application information.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Students please go to http://www.shepherd.edu/dnp/dnp-apply for application information through the Nursing CAS system.

Instructions for Completion of the Graduate Admission Application (www.shepherd.edu/graduate-studies/apply-graduate)

Deadlines (please read carefully)

Admission to graduate study at Shepherd University is processed on a rolling basis. Students are eligible to register for courses once their applications have been processed, and they have been accepted. Applications are considered complete when this form, the application fee, and all supporting materials are on file with the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please feel free to contact the Office of Graduate Admissions to check on the status of your application.

General Application Procedures

Please follow the steps listed below in completing this application form:

1. The application is required of all degree-seeking students, regardless of whether you are interested in part-time or full-time studies.
2. A non-refundable application fee of $40 is required of all applicants, except for those pursuing the M.A.T. degree and those parties listed in #3. Application to the M.A.T. program requires a total of $60 for the application fee and transcript analysis. A check or money order, payable to Shepherd University, should be sent with this application form to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
3. Application fees are waived for current Shepherd students, alumni, and employees.
4. Please read carefully the statement at the bottom of this page which relates to the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA).
5. Doctor of Nursing Practice students should click on the hyperlink listed above for fees and application information through the Nursing Central Application System (CAS).

Application Notification and Review

Once your application is received, the Office of Graduate Studies will notify you of your admission status and any additional information that may be required.

Once an application is complete, it is reviewed by a program admissions committee of graduate faculty members, who make recommendations to the Division of Graduate Studies.  The graduate dean reviews these recommendations and makes the final decision in consultation with the academic unit program director and/or coordinator(s).

Admission Requirements

Shepherd University grants full, conditional, and provisional admission status for graduate students.

Full Admission

Full admission status, upon the recommendation of the academic program admissions committee, in consultation with the graduate dean, may be granted to an applicant who meets the minimum admission requirements of the Division of Graduate Studies. It should be noted that some programs may have higher and/or other admission requirements. For full admission status in the Division of Graduate Studies, an applicant must, as a minimum:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree granted by a regionally accredited institution (for international students, a degree granted by a recognized institution).
• Have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all undergraduate coursework; or have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework; or have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the applicant’s major field of study; or have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all courses taken at the graduate level.
• Where required, submit programmatically acceptable scores in the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or, where applicable, other appropriate standardized measures. These include a score of 390 or higher on the Miller Analogy test, and
• Satisfy and/or meet any and all additional admission requirements of the program where admission is being sought.

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission is intended for those students whose undergraduate record does not reflect their current capacity to successfully complete graduate work. In those circumstances conditional admission status, upon the recommendation of the graduate program coordinator, admissions committee, and graduate dean, may be granted. It should be noted that some academic units may have higher or other admission requirements. Conditional admission has a maximum time limit of one academic year. Applicants admitted on a conditional basis must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 while enrolled. A final admission decision shall be reserved by the academic unit until an applicant’s performance has been evaluated after one academic year of enrollment. For conditional admission status, an applicant must, as a minimum:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree granted by a regionally accredited institution (for international students, a degree granted by a recognized institution).
• Have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.3 in all undergraduate coursework; or have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework; or have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.5 in the applicant’s major field of study.
• Submit programmatically acceptable scores in the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or, where applicable, other appropriate standardized measures.
• Satisfy and/or meet any and all additional admission requirements of the program where admission is being sought.

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission is intended for students meeting regular or conditional admission requirements who are missing admissions materials other than an application and application fee. Provisional admission status may be granted upon the recommendation of the graduate program coordinator, admissions committee, and/or Graduate Dean. Final decision on an applicant admitted on a provisional basis shall be reserved until all missing documents are received. The time period for provisional admission may not exceed one semester. For provisional admission status, an applicant must, as a minimum:

• Meet the criteria for regular or conditional admission.
• Submit official transcripts or test scores.

Deferred Admission

Applicants who cannot enroll in the term for which admission was offered may request to have their admission deferred for up to one year. Such requests must be in writing and will be considered only once. Because enrollments are limited and competition for admission may vary from year to year, such requests may not be granted. Applicants who have received approved deferment of their admission cannot register for graduate coursework at the university during the period of deferment.

Transient Admissions

Students seeking graduate studies without matriculating and wishing to transfer courses taken at Shepherd University to another university may do so with permission of the dean of graduate studies and continuing education. Transient students must fill out a non-degree-seeking form prior to start of classes and a petition requested if starting after add/drop but before classes start. A transient student may subsequently apply to a Shepherd University graduate program, but the ability to take and complete graduate courses as a transient student does not indicate that a student will be admitted to a graduate degree program.

Non-Degree Admissions

Individuals holding baccalaureate degrees may with permission of the instructor, graduate program coordinator, and/or graduate dean register for graduate courses. These individuals are designated as “non-degree students.”  A non-degree-seeking form must be filled out prior to the start of classes and a petition requested if starting after add/drop but before classes start. Non-degree students are not required to file an application for admission to the graduate school and are not candidates for a graduate degree. Potential students should fill out and obtain the necessary signatures for the form located at www.shepherd.edu/wordpress-1/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/non-degree.pdf.

Non-degree students are not normally permitted to register as full-time students (i.e., 9 or more credits).

The ability to take and complete graduate courses as a non-degree-seeking student does not indicate that a student will be admitted to a graduate degree program.

Applicants Not Admitted

Applicants who are denied admission may have their applications reconsidered if they furnish additional material that was not available at the time of the original decision, such as evidence of further academic achievement or more recent and improved standardized test scores.

International Applicants

Shepherd University welcomes students from around the world for undergraduate or graduate degree study. International students seeking admission will follow the process outlined at www.shepherd.edu/admissions/international-students. A test of language proficiency is required for international graduate students except in the case of a diploma or degree from an accredited college or university in which the primary language of instruction is in English.

Senior Shepherd University Students Taking Graduate Courses at Shepherd University

Any senior Shepherd University student who has earned a minimum of 90 credits with a minimum 2.75 GPA, may apply to the Graduate Council to take a Shepherd University graduate course, up to a maximum of 9 credits. Credits earned in this manner may be applied EITHER to the undergraduate program OR held in reserve for a future Shepherd University graduate degree. Approval to take graduate courses for undergraduate or reserve graduate credit does not constitute a guarantee or promise of future admission to a Shepherd University graduate program. Tuition and fees will be charged at the undergraduate tuition rate.

Veterans Benefits

All veterans, regardless of rank, branch, or active versus reserve/guard, are encouraged to take advantage of graduate courses at Shepherd University. Please see the veterans website found at www.shepherd.edu/veterans/ for full details on veterans benefits at Shepherd University.

Programmatic Admissions Requirements

Appalachian Studies Certificate (Graduate):

Admissions Requirements:

• Students wishing to pursue a graduate certificate in Appalachian Studies may enroll as a certificate-only student or may pursue the certificate while working toward any graduate degree, as certificate study will serve to add an extra dimension to one’s understanding of the region and better serve students’ workforce and professional goals.
• Students interested in the Appalachian Studies Certificate Program should apply for graduate studies admission to Shepherd University as a certificate/professional development student, selecting on the application form Certificate in Appalachian Studies. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a 2.5 minimum GPA in order to apply.

Master of Arts, College Student Development and Administration:

Entrants must have completed a bachelor’s degree with either

• a 2.75 cumulative GPA in all undergraduate coursework OR meet the requirements for conditional admission.

CSDA students must complete one essay question: What do you hope to do with a Master’s in College Student Development and Administration?

Writing Sample: 5-7 pages of a previously written research paper OR submit a 5-7 page research paper discussing a current trend in higher education.

Reference letter from a faculty member answering the following question: How is this student prepared for the rigor of graduate school, specifically addressing oral and written communication skills? (optional)

• Deadline for fall applicants seeking to participate in assistantship interview process: February 15
• Deadline for fall applicants not interested in assistantship interviews: July 31
• Deadline for spring applicants November 15

Master of Arts, Curriculum and Instruction

For licensed teachers:

• Copy of your current teaching license.

For non-teaching educational professionals/non-licensed teachers:

• Three letters of reference from individuals who can speak to your work in an educational setting.
• A letter of intent that describes your proposed discipline-specific content Strand area and how you envision using the degree of Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction and your content Strand area to enhance your personal and career goals.

A 2.75 cumulative GPA in all undergraduate coursework OR meet the requirements for conditional admission. 

Admission Procedure: Applicants to the M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction should fill out a graduate application (http://www.shepherd.edu/graduate-studies/apply-graduate) or request one by phoning 304-876-5313. Please provide documentation of Teacher Certification with your application if required. The application and $40 application fee should be sent to:

Graduate Studies Office

Shepherd University

P.O. Box 5000 Shepherdstown, WV 25443-5000

Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be sent separately from the institution to the above address.

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)

Candidates for the M.A.T. degree program must meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning.
• An overall 2.75 GPA in all higher education coursework.
• A 2.5 GPA in the content courses for the area in which certification is sought.
• Completion of ENGL 101, ENGL 102, and COMM 202 with grades of C or above in each course.
• A passing score on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests (CASE).
• The CASE tests may be waived provided the candidate: a) holds a master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education; or b) currently holds, or has held, a West Virginia Professional Teaching, Student Support Services or Administrative Certificate; or c) attained, from a single administration, a composite score of 25 on the American College Test (ACT), 26 on the ACT enhanced (effective November 1989), 1035 on the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT), 1125 on the re-centered SAT (Critical Reading and Mathematics - effective April 1995), or 1170 on the revised SAT using the combined Critical Reading and Math score (effective March 2005).
• Completion of at least 50 percent of all undergraduate content area work required for certification (with grades of C or better) OR
• Completion of at least 25 percent of all undergraduate content area work required for certification (with grades of C or better) and a passing score on the Praxis II Content Specialization Test for the certification content area.

*Students with a GPA lower than 2.75, but not lower than 2.5, may be admitted conditionally.

Application Procedure:

A graduate application can be downloaded at www.shepherd.edu/graduate-studies/apply-graduate or requested by contacting the Office of Graduate Studies at 304-876-5313. Completed applications and an application fee of $60 should be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies. All transcripts and GRE or Miller scores should be sent separately by the school or the testing agency to the Office of Admissions. For test dates, fees, test center locations, online registration for the GRE, and information on test preparation, visit the GRE website. All PRAXIS test scores should be sent separately by the testing agency to the Department of Education.

After the application and all transcripts have been received, they will be analyzed for required content courses, and all other admission criteria. Students will receive written notification of what criteria have been met and what, if any, criteria still need to be addressed prior to admittance.

To find out more information about the PRAXIS, TOEFL and other assessment of learning tests, please go to the ETS website www.ets.org.

Information on the Miller Analogies Test may be found on Pearson’s website at www.pearsonassessments.com/postsecondaryeducation/graduate_admissions/mat.html.

Master of Business Administration

A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher OR for students with less than a 2.75 GPA, meet the requirements for conditional admission.

Additionally, all students must also submit the following:

• Two letters of recommendation.
• A résumé.
• A letter of intent that describes the how the student envisions using the M.B.A. degree to enhance their personal and career goals.

M.B.A. Foundations Program

Because some foundational experience in accounting, statistics, and economics is crucial to success in the Shepherd M.B.A. program, students admitted to the M.B.A. must meet three content area prerequisites: Accounting, Statistics, and Economics.

Applicants can fulfill the foundational requirements by:

• Submitting transcripts with foundational courses at the undergraduate level which were taken within the last 10 years with a grade of “C” or higher.
• Successfully completing the appropriate graduate foundations coursework at the graduate level: MBA 5FDA, MBA 5FDE, MBA 5FDS. These are admissions requirements and do not count toward the overall M.B.A. degree attainment.*
• Passing the appropriate CLEP test(s).
• Submitting an industry-recognized certification which is reviewed and approved by the program coordinator during the admissions process.

Applicants may begin the M.B.A. program while completing their prerequisite courses.

Foundational courses must be completed prior to the courses for which they serve as prerequisites.

*M.B.A. Foundation Passing Grade Policy: Foundation course grades do count toward the overall graduate GPA. Students must receive a grade of C or better in each of the graduate level foundation courses (MBA 5FDA; MBA 5FDE; MBA 5FDS; or any future foundation courses) they may have to take as a condition of acceptance. However, a grade of C in the graduate level foundation course is considered minimal preparation for M.B.A. core classes and as such, advisors and students should evaluate seriously whether to take M.B.A. graduate core classes without additional preparation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

All applicants to the D.N.P. program will be evaluated individually based on prior educational work and current employment experience. Programs of study will be designed to include additional coursework, if necessary, to meet the educational objectives of the program.

Students applying to the post-baccalaureate option must have a B.S.N. from a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC) accredited program.

Note: Post-master’s degree level students entering the D.N.P. desiring to change their area of professional practice may be considered for admission for the current term. These applicants may require additional coursework from the professional core or concentration.  

Admission Criteria

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 for baccalaureate degree and a minimum of 3.00 on all work beyond the baccalaureate level*.
• Introductory courses in statistics and research will be completed prior to starting the DNP program. Nurse Practitioner-FNP and Nursing Leadership-Education track applicants must also have completed a course in pharmacology.  (Most applicants will have met this requirement with the B.S.N. program.)
• Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview.
• Professional Nursing License: All students in the post-baccalaureate option must have a current unencumbered license as a Professional Registered Nurse (RN) from the State of West Virginia prior to beginning their clinical practicum courses. Students may also need to have a valid nursing license for the state in which they will be completing the Internship and D.N.P. practicum courses.
• Submission of a résumé or curriculum vitae.
• Submission of official transcripts of all college and university coursework.
• A letter of intent that describes how the student envisions using the D.N.P. degree to enhance his or her personal and professional goals (limit 500 words).
• Two professional references, at least one of which is from a current or former clinical supervisor.
• Upon evaluation of the student transcript(s), post-M.S.N. applicants may need to verify clinical hours completed in order to enter the program. Applicants lacking in clinical hours will have the opportunity to take the Transition to Doctoral Practice course through Shepherd’s D.N.P. program.