Graduate Application Procedures
Applying for Graduate Programs
Graduate Studies Online Application
You may access the application form HERE.
International Graduate Students please visit our website HERE for application information.
Doctor of Nursing Practice Students must apply online through the Nursing CAS system at www.shepherd.edu/dnp.
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 are processed and they have been accepted. Applications are considered complete when the online application and application fee are submitted, and all supporting materials are on file with the Office of Graduate Studies. Please feel free to contact the Office of Graduate Studies to check on the status of your application.
General Application Procedures
Please follow the steps listed below to complete the application:
- The application is required of all graduate degree and non-degree seeking students, regardless of whether you are interested in part-time or full-time studies.
- A non-refundable application fee of $40 is required of all applicants, except for those pursuing the M.A.T. or D.N.P. degrees. Application to the M.A.T. program requires a total of $60 for the application fee and transcript analysis.
- 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.
Admission Requirements
Shepherd University grants full, conditional, and provisional admission status for graduate students.
Full Admission
Full admission status may be granted to an applicant who meets the minimum graduate admission requirements. It should be noted that some programs may have higher and/or other admission requirements. For full 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 and an officially evaluated course-by-course transcript from an approved NACES service).
- 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.
- 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 may be granted by the graduate program coordinator. It should be noted that some academic units may require a higher GPA or additional admission requirements. Conditional admission has a maximum time limit of one academic year, abd applicants admitted 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. 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.
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 holding a baccalaureate degree and seeking to transfer Shepherd University graduate credits without matriculating may apply online as a non-degree seeking student. Upon acceptance, individuals will complete the Non-Degree Registration form and obtain permission from the graduate program coordinator and college dean from which the course(s) are offered, then submit it to the Office of Graduate Studies prior to the start of classes. A Petition to the Graduate Council is required if adding or dropping after the deadline. Non-degree students are limited to seven (7) credit hours a semester. 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 a baccalaureate degree and seeking to complete Shepherd University graduate credits for personal enrichment may apply online as a non-degree seeking student.
Upon acceptance, students will complete the Non-Degree Registration form and obtain permission from the graduate program coordinator and college dean from which the course(s) are offered, then submit it to the Office of Graduate Studies prior to the start of classes.
A Petition to the Graduate Council is required if adding or dropping after the deadline. A non-degree seeking student may subsequently apply to a Shepherd University graduate program, but the ability to take and complete graduate courses as a does not indicate that a student will be admitted to a graduate degree program. Non-degree students are limited to seven (7) credit hours a semester.
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 on the international graduate admissions page. A test of language proficiency is required for international graduate students, except in the case where English is the primary language of instruction.
Shepherd University Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses at Shepherd University
Any Shepherd University student who has earned a minimum of 75 credits with a 2.75 GPA, may apply to take up to a maximum nine (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 website found at www.shepherd.edu/veterans/ for full details on veterans benefits at Shepherd University.
Programmatic Admissions Requirements
Master of Arts in Appalachian Studies (APST)
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
- 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) or provide proof of exemption as per current WV state testing requirements..
- 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.
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.
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
- Official transcripts from all colleges with required cumulative GPA in all undergraduate coursework to meet full or conditional acceptance.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- A résumé.
- A letter of intent that describes 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 for success in Shepherd University’s M.B.A. program, students admitted 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; however, students must receive a grade of S in each of the graduate-level foundation courses
- 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 a prerequisite.
Master of Education in Educational Leadership (M.Ed.)
- Official transcripts from all colleges with required cumulative GPA in all undergraduate coursework to meet full or conditional acceptance.
- A letter of intent that describes how the student envisions using the M.Ed. degree to enhance their personal and career goals.
- Three letters of recommendation attesting to the student’s ability to complete a graduate program and/or character as a professional educator.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P)
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.
- A bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all undergraduate coursework and a minimum of 3.0 on all work beyond the baccalaureate level.
- Introductory courses in statistics, research, and pharmacology will be completed before starting the DNP program. Nurse Practitioner-FNP and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-PMHNP 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.
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