Graduate Admission

Students are admitted into graduate study at the University of Saint Joseph on a rolling admissions basis. However, several departments and programs have established their own deadlines due to high levels of prospective candidates. For more information on specific program deadlines, contact the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies at 860.231.5261. Admission decisions are made at the program level, which allows for individualized, personalized attention from the department for which candidates are seeking a master’s-level degree or certificate.

Application Process

All Graduate Program applications are available at www.usj.edu/grad-application. Once an application is received and processed by the Office of Graduate Admissions and Academic Services, a file will be generated for the candidate and the candidate will be informed of what admission requirements they will need to submit (based on their program of interest) via a standard mailing. All supporting documentation (transcripts, letters of recommendation, immunization records, etc.) should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions and Academic Services. When a file is complete, it is sent directly to the program director of the candidate’s program of interest for review. Candidates will be notified as soon as possible via email and a standard mailing concerning any decision regarding their application.

Several procedures are in place for application to the Graduate Programs.

1. Non-matriculated Entry

Students who wish to complete coursework outside of working towards a degree or would like to start coursework before being formally admitted into a graduate degree program may enroll in up to six credits of graduate work. The following items must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions and Academic Services:

• A completed application (www.usj.edu/grad-application)
• A nonrefundable $50 application fee
• Unofficial transcripts from the institution where bachelor’s degree was conferred (transcript must meet minimum GPA and prerequisites of the candidate’s program of interest)

2. Matriculation

Admission to the Graduate School takes place on a rolling basis. To be considered for matriculation into a graduate degree program, a student must submit the following items (requirements may vary by department):

• A completed application (www.usj.edu/grad-application)
• A non-refundable $50 application fee
• Sealed transcripts of a bachelor’s, or if applicable a master’s, degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Unofficial transcripts from any other course work
• Two letters of recommendation with cover sheets
• A planned master’s program of study developed in consultation with a faculty member
• Immunization records (waived for online degree programs and for individuals born by December 31, 1956)

See individual program listings for additional requirements. Students must be formally admitted into a Master’s degree program to receive financial aid. Students must be admitted into a graduate degree program no later than the completion of two courses (6 credits).

PLEASE NOTE: Taking non-matriculated courses, does not automatically indicate admission into a graduate degree program. Students are subject to specific requirements defined by the individual graduate programs located in the departmental listing in the catalog. Graduate program directors or department chairs must approve all degree-seeking students.

Incomplete Applications

The Office of Graduate Admissions and Academic Services will keep incomplete applications on file for one year. If an application has not been completed after one year, it will be considered inactive and the candidate will be administratively withdrawn. Incomplete files are destroyed after one year if the candidate has not been admitted or there has been no enrollment activity reported.

Readmission Policy

If you are a former, degree-seeking USJ graduate student who has not been in attendance for three or more consecutive semesters, excluding summer, you must apply for readmission through the Office of the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and follow the degree requirements associated with the term of your readmission to the University. (Former Non-degree students may be readmitted as Non-degree only.)

Please note that to be considered in attendance for any term, you must have been enrolled in at least one credit-bearing course, received a grade, and paid all tuition and fees for that term or have had arrangements for such payments approved by the Office of the Bursar and/or the Office of Financial Aid.

Students who were not in good academic standing at the time they left USJ will have their applications referred to the graduate dean and Graduate Program director/department chair for evaluation.

If you have taken courses at another college or university since you last attended USJ, you are required to submit official transcripts from those institutions as part of your re-admission application in order to receive transfer credit for those courses. 

If you do not meet the above criteria for readmission, please visit Graduate Admissions  to learn more about the admission process.

If You Reapply

1. The student must reapply on www.usj.edu/grad-application. The fee is waived due to the student’s previous coursework.
2. The student must request readmission by submitting a letter or email addressed to the Associate Provost of Graduate Studies. This request must describe the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal and the desire to return.
3. A review of past work by Associate Provost of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Program Director/Department Chair will determine the terms of re-admission. Completed coursework that exceeds seven years ordinarily will not be accepted for degree completion requirements. The semester the student takes the first graduate course begins the time period for determining the seven-year time period. It is at the discretion of the individual graduate program director(s) if courses older than seven years will be accepted for degree completion. Please note: Schools and programs may have more stringent standards that prevail over the Graduate School policy.
4. The student must meet the requirements for admission at the time of readmission. Note: If the student file has been archived, the student is responsible for paying the fee to retrieve documents from archive. If the file cannot be located, original transcripts must be provided to the Office of Graduate Admissions and Academic Services. Other admission documentation may be requested or waived at the discretion of the academic department.
5. Once a decision is made on readmission, the student is notified via email, followed by a letter, from the Office of Graduate Admissions and Academic Services and a copy of the readmission status is provided to the appropriate graduate program director. A readmitted student would be eligible to register for courses during the next registration period.

International Applications

International applicants will follow the same matriculation process; however, there are a few additional documents that will need to be submitted. International students would be required to complete a supplemental application, demonstrate sufficient financial support is available by completing a certificate of finances, and have any transcripts or degrees completed outside of the United States evaluated by an approved agency, www.naces.org.

Once the student has been admitted to a graduate degree program, the University will issue the student an I-20 for the purpose of obtaining an F-1 visa. For more information on international admissions, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions and Academic Services at 860.231.5261.

English Language Proficiency Policy

International students or non-native speakers of English who wish to pursue a graduate degree, must submit evidence of proficiency in the English language. Results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) require a minimum overall score of 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, or 80 for the Internet-based test. Results from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Model require a minimum overall score of 6.5.

Schools and programs may have higher standards that prevail over the Graduate School policy.