Admissions

University of Saint Joseph accepts applicants from interested students of every race, age, and religious affiliation who want the challenge of an excellent academic program while pursuing the interests and goals that will shape their future lives. 

A student’s application is evaluated based on sufficient ability and potential in the academic record, standardized test scores, an essay and letters of recommendation.

Applicants who have been officially accepted by Admissions are considered degree-seeking, matriculated students.  Students seeking to register for courses at the University on a non-matriculated basis should see the non-matriculated students section for further information.

Undergraduate Admission

First-Year Admission

Candidates for admission should complete a four-year course of study in a state accredited secondary school. The program should include a minimum of 16 academic units in college preparatory courses distributed among the areas of English, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Foreign Languages.

Special consideration may be given to selected applicants whose preparation varies from the recommended pattern, but whose record gives evidence of genuine intellectual ability and interest.

Application Procedure

Admission to the University of Saint Joseph is based on a rolling admissions system, which means that an offer of admission can be made shortly after the application is complete. In order for an application to be considered complete, the following items must be submitted:

1. A completed admission application with a non-refundable fee of $50; the fee is waived if the application is completed online
2. Personal Essay.
3. An official copy of the high school transcript or GED.
4. Official SAT or ACT scores. Applicants should have the results of these tests sent directly to the Office of Admissions. The code number for the University of Saint Joseph is 3754 for SAT reporting and 0588 for ACT reporting. Test scores that are posted on the official high school transcript are also accepted as official.
5. A school counselor’s or teacher’s letter of recommendation.
6. If the Common Application is used, a University of Saint Joseph supplement is also required.

Admissions reserves the right to request additional information.

Home-Schooled Students

Students who have been home-schooled must submit:

1. A completed application with a non-refundable fee of $50; the fee is waived if the application is completed online.
2. Personal Essay.
3. Official Home School Transcript required and copy of the home school curriculum with course descriptions may be requested.
4. Official SAT or ACT scores. Applicants should have the results of these tests sent directly to the Office of Admissions. The code number for the University of Saint Joseph is 3754 for SAT reporting and 0588 for ACT reporting.
5. An academic letter of recommendation.
6. An interview with an admissions counselor. The applicant is encouraged to have all records sent to the Office of Admissions prior to the appointment.
7. If the Common Application is used, a University of Saint Joseph supplement is also required.
8. Admissions reserves the right to request additional information.

Notification

Notification of admission for first-year students is made on a rolling basis. A candidate’s acceptance is contingent upon the successful completion of high school.  To accept the offer of admission, an applicant submits the enrollment confirmation form and deposit.  This deposit is refundable if requested in writing before May 1.

Deferring Enrollment for Deposited Students

By submitting a written request enrollment and scholarship may be deferred up to one year.  Students may not attend another college during this time.  The tuition deposit will be retained and credited to her account upon return within one year.

International Admission

An International student’s application will be reviewed when the following items have been submitted to the Office of Admissions:

1. A completed application and an International supplement.
2. Personal Essay.
3. Evaluation of official secondary school record, and all college, university or other post-secondary work.  It must be evaluated by an approved agency.  Please visit www.NACES.org for a list of approved agencies.
4. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Academic IELTS, or equivalent test of English Language Proficiency is required of all international applicants whose native language is not English.  SAT or ACT scores may be submitted, but are not required of international applicants.  Other exams specific to a country may be required.
5. An official Certification of Finances form translated into U.S. dollars and certified by a bank official.

Visas

The University of Saint Joseph is permitted by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to admit non-immigrant students. F-1 visas are granted at the discretion of the Primary Designated School Officer (PDSO). Upon admission to a degree program, the student is issued an I-20 A/B, which is used to pursue a student visa through the American Embassy or Consulate in the student’s home country. This must be current at all times. Before an immigration form is issued, the following must be submitted to the University:

1. A copy of a valid passport (and current visa, if applicable).
2. Declaration and Certification of Finances form, with supporting documentation.
3. I-20 Request form.

International students wishing to pursue a degree in an online program are not eligible for an F-1 visa. Since the degree is completed online, the student does not need to travel to campus at attend class; therefore, according to federal regulations, an F-1 visa is not granted to students completing online degree programs.

Notification

Notification of admission of international students is made on a rolling basis.  To accept the offer of admission, the applicant submits the enrollment confirmation form and deposit.  This deposit is refundable if requested in writing before May 1.  Please note that I-20 forms are issued to students following deposit for full-time study and verification of sufficient funding.

Transfer and Second Bachelor Degree Admission

The University of Saint Joseph considers qualified students for transfer from accredited colleges and universities.

Application Procedure

An applicant’s file will be reviewed when the following items have been submitted to the Office of Admissions:

1.   A completed application with a non-refundable fee of $50; the fee is waived if the application is completed online.
2.  Official transcript(s) from all college(s) and post secondary institutions previously attended, including evidence of degrees earned and/or status at point of separation.
3.  Letters of recommendations and a personal statement about academic or personal goals are not required, but strongly recommended.
4.  An official high school or GED transcript is required for transfer applicants.
5.  Letters of recommendation and a personal essay are not required, but strongly recommended.
6.  An interview with an admissions counselor is highly recommended.

Admissions reserves the right to request additional information.

Admission to a Second Bachelor’s Degree Program

Students who have already received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university may enroll in selected majors at the University of Saint Joseph to pursue a second bachelor’s degree. Students seeking admission must submit a completed application and official transcripts from all colleges previously attended. Upon receipt of these items, they will be forwarded to the appropriate department for review and decision by the faculty. Please contact the Office of Admissions for details pertaining specifically to the second-degree nursing program.

Notification

Notification of admission for transfer and second degree students is made on a rolling basis except those applying for the nursing program.  A candidate’s acceptance is contingent upon the successful completion of any academic work currently in progress. 

To accept the offer of admission, an applicant submits the enrollment confirmation form and deposit.  This deposit is refundable if requested in writing before May 1.

Deferring Enrollment for Deposited Students

By submitted a written request, enrollment and scholarship may be deferred for one semester.  Students may not attend another college during this time.  The tuition deposit will be retained and credited to her account upon return within that year.

Adult Learners Admission

The Program for Adult Learners is designed for women and men with the maturity, commitment, and preparation to succeed in an intensive undergraduate professional degree program. Applicants should have 12 or more credits from a regionally accredited college or university and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (preferred) or 2.0 (required). Applicants with fewer than 45 credits must have completed high school at least four years before applying (this time requirement is waived for veterans).    

Applicants with fewer than 12 credits may be admitted conditionally and will need to complete six credits of general education course work in the first semester, and six additional credits through coursework of the prior learning assessment process.

Application Procedure

An applicant’s file will be reviewed on a rolling basis when the following items have been submitted to the Office of Admissions:

1. An application with a non-refundable fee of $50; the fee is waived if the application is completed online
2. Official transcript(s) from all college(s) and post-secondary institutions previously attended, including evidence of degrees earned and/or status at point of separation
3. An official high school or GED transcript (waived for students who have earned an Associate’s Degree)
4. A personal essay about your educational or professional goals (recommended, but not required)

Admissions reserves the right to request additional information.

Guaranteed Admission Program

RN to B.S. in Nursing:  Students enrolled in good standing in the Connecticut Community College Nursing Program (CT-CCNP) may apply for dual admission into the RN to B.S. in Nursing program in the University of Saint Joseph Program for Adult Learners. Applications may be submitted during any spring semester of the student’s enrollment in the CT-CCNP. In addition to a completed application, an Academic Standing Verification form signed by a CT-CCNP Nursing faculty advisor is required. Students must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in Connecticut prior to beginning the RN to B.S. in Nursing program. For more details, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Other Academic Programs:  Students enrolled in good standing at a Connecticut community college may apply for dual admission into the University of Saint Joseph Program for Adult Learners to study Accounting, Management, Psychology or Social Work.  Applications may be submitted at any point in the student’s  community college program.  In addition to a completed application, a current community college transcript is required.  For more details, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Notification

Notification of admission for the Program for Adult Learners is made on a rolling basis. A candidate’s acceptance is contingent upon the successful completion of any academic work currently in progress.  To accept the offer of admission, an applicant submits the enrollment confirmation form and deposit.  This deposit is refundable if requested in writing before May 1.

Deferring Enrollment for Deposited Students

By submitting a written request, enrollment and scholarship may be deferred for one semester.  Students may not attend another college during this time.  The tuition deposit will be retained and credited to the student’s account upon return within that year.

Readmission

A student who has officially withdrawn from the University, or who was administratively withdrawn, and is seeking readmission must submit a completed application through the Office of Admissions along with official transcripts from any colleges or universities attended after the point of withdrawal from the University.  A student who was not in good academic standing will have their application referred to the Records Committee for evaluation, and will be required to provide evidence of improved ability to assume responsibility for college work.

Notification

Notification of readmission is made on a rolling basis.  A candidate’s acceptance is contingent upon the successful completion of any academic work currently in progress.

To accept the offer of admission, an applicant submits the enrollment confirmation form and deposit.  This deposit is refundable if requested in writing before May 1.

Deferring Acceptance

If a candidate for The Program for Adult Learners decides to defer admission after submitting a deposit, a written request must be submitted. The acceptance and any applicable scholarship may be deferred up to one semester. Should candidates attend another college or university during this time, the application and updated transcript will be reevaluated for admission and scholarship. The tuition deposit will be retained and credited to their account upon return for the following semester.

Transferring Credit into the University of Saint Joseph

The University of Saint Joseph recognizes academic credit that has been awarded to students at other regionally and nationally accredited higher education institutions. Credit for completed courses that are of the general nature of courses offered at the University of Saint Joseph will be applied toward the minimum semester credit-hours required for graduation. Only grades of C- or better are accepted in transfer credit. The University of Saint Joseph does not grant transfer credit for “credit by examination” completed at other colleges. The University of Saint Joseph does not usually accept P grades unless they are proven to be worth C or better. Students wishing to transfer into the nursing program must have no grade below a C in any science courses that they wish to transfer.

A matriculated student who wishes to transfer credits from another accredited institution for non-major courses must obtain signed approval from her academic advisor and the Registrar. Classes that students wish to be transferred toward the major must be approved by the academic advisor and the department chairperson. This policy also governs summer and intersession courses. Transfer credit will not be awarded as a repeat course for a non-passing or low grade received at the University of Saint Joseph.

Students who transfer credit to the University of Saint Joseph will receive a “T” (transfer) grade on their academic record. Only the credits earned per class will reflect in total earned credits; letter grades (A – D) do not transfer.  Transfer credit will not be awarded for a class taken outside of the University of Saint Joseph if that same course has been awarded credit at the University.

Transfer Credit Policy

1. Only official transcripts from other schools may be used to evaluate and/or award credit. New students or previously enrolled students must request that an official transcript from ALL previously attended colleges be mailed to the Office of Admissions
2. Credit will not be awarded to second-degree nursing students with Biology or Chemistry course work that is more than eight years old
3. The University accepts transfer credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities. The following are the accrediting bodies recognized:
   • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC-ACCJC, WASC-ACSCU)
   • Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU)
   • North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA-CASI, NCA-HLC)
   • Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS)
   • Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA)
   • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CIHE, NEASC-CTCI)

We reserve the right to request additional information about coursework including course descriptions, syllabi, and catalogs.

Intercollege Course Equivalent

The University of Saint Joseph has entered into Intercollege Agreements with two-year institutions, both private and community colleges. These agreements expand the opportunities for qualified students to transfer into the University knowing which courses will be applicable to their bachelor’s degree program.

The University of Saint Joseph has articulation agreements with all Connecticut community colleges as well as other private two-year colleges. The institutions with which course equivalents have been signed are:

Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield, CT
Lincoln College of New England, Southington, CT
Capital Community College, Hartford, CT
Gateway Community College, New Haven, CT
Goodwin College, East Hartford, CT
Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport, CT
Manchester Community College, Manchester, CT
Middlesex Community College, Middletown, CT
Mitchell College, New London, CT
Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury, CT
Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winsted, CT
Norwalk Community College, Norwalk, CT
Quinebaug Valley Community College, Danielson, CT
Three Rivers Community College, Norwich, CT
Tunxis Community College, Farmington, CT

Credit for Other than College Course Work

The University of Saint Joseph may award up to 15 credit-hours for educational experiences gained outside of courses in accredited colleges and universities. Currently, the University considers acceptable alternatives to classroom instruction as Advanced Placement scores, proficiency examinations, guided learning experiences and experiential learning through portfolio development as acceptable alternatives to classroom instruction. Credit will be awarded, however, only when these alternatives are equivalent to existing courses at the University. Students with potential for greater than 15 credits for prior learning, and who have transferred less than 60 credits from other colleges, may petition for additional credits. Students must consult their advisor prior to applying for additional credit. A maximum of 30 credits may be obtained for credit for other than college-level course work.

Experiential Learning: Portfolio Development

Credit will be awarded for guided learning experiences that can be validated to the satisfaction of an appropriate academic department and the Provost. A fee schedule pertinent to the evaluation of such experiences is available in the Graduate and Professional Studies Office.

Credit may be awarded to students for prior learning that is college-level in nature, identified, documented and evaluated through a successfully completed portfolio, and related to the student’s degree program. Such credits will be applicable to electives only. Those applying for portfolio credit must be matriculated students. Students are required to attend a workshop to begin the process.

Credit for Service in the Armed Forces

The University of Saint Joseph will award one semester hour of transfer credit for completion of basic military training. Other educational experiences earned during military service will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and require an official transcript from the respective college or university for consideration.

Transfer Credits & General Education Requirements

When students transfer into the University of Saint Joseph the credits they transfer prior to official matriculation are what governs general education requirements to be fulfilled. A student transferring in with 24 or more credits is waived from:

1. First-Year Seminar
2. One Religious Studies course
3. Either Philosophy OR the values/ethics perspective

If upon transfer to the University of Saint Joseph a student transfers in 23 credits and later completes additional transfer credits, those credits are not added to the original 23 to grant waiver from the above three mentioned requirements.

Advanced Placement

Students who enter the University of Saint Joseph with an Advanced Placement score of 4 or above will be granted advanced placement and credit. Select courses are granted transfer credit with a score of 3 or higher.

Proficiency and CLEP Examinations

College credit may also be awarded to matriculated students for successful completion of proficiency examinations. Such examinations may be designed and administered by the faculty of a department for specific courses, or standardized exams such as CLEP (College Level Examination Placement) or Dantes may be used as the basis for awards.

Non-Matriculated Undergraduate Students

Any student who wishes to take classes without first enrolling in a degree program is considered to be a non-matriculated student. Non-matriculated students may enroll in courses for credit or on an audit basis.

If a student applied for admission to the University of Saint Joseph as a matriculated student and was denied admission by the Committee on Admissions, that student must wait a minimum of 12 months (one year) from the date of denial before enrolling in any courses at the University, including enrollment as a non-matriculated student.

Except for those students involved in the University of Saint Joseph High School Challenge Program, all students must have graduated from high school or have acquired a GED in order to be eligible for enrollment. Although no previous college work is necessary to be a non-matriculated student, certain courses may have prerequisites or be restricted to upper-level degree candidates. Because degree-seeking students of the University have priority for space in all classes, non-matriculated students are admitted to classes on a space-available basis.

A maximum of 15 credits may be taken as a non-matriculated student at the University of Saint Joseph. Eligibility for enrollment at the completion of or prior to 15 credits must be determined in consultation with an academic advisor.

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

Applications are available online at www.usj.edu/graduate or by contacting the Admissions office at 860.231.5261. Paper applications and all supporting documentation (transcripts, letters of recommendation, immunization records, etc.) should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. Students are responsible for the submission of all application materials, however requirements vary by department. Specific program requirements are identified on the graduate application. Once an application is received by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies, a file will be generated for the candidate. When a file is complete, it will be delivered to the program office for consideration. Candidates will be notified as soon as possible concerning any decision regarding their application.

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

1. Non-matriculated Entry

Students who wish to enter a program prior to matriculation may enroll in up to six credits of graduate work. The following items must be submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies:

• A completed application form
• A nonrefundable $50 application fee
• Unofficial transcripts from the institution where bachelor’s degree was conferred (must meet minimum program GPA requirements for admission)

2. Matriculation

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

• A completed application form
• A non-refundable $50 application fee
• Sealed transcripts of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, sent from the institution to the Graduate Office at the University of Saint Joseph; sealed transcripts of any graduate work, also sent directly to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies 
• Two original letters of recommendation
• 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 on or before December 31, 1956)

See department listing for additional requirements. Students must be formally accepted to a program of study to receive financial aid. Students are expected to matriculate no later than the completion of two courses (6 credits).

PLEASE NOTE: Admission to the Graduate School does not automatically indicate matriculation. 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 and Professional Studies will keep incomplete applications on file for one year. If an application has not been completed after one year, it will be considered withdrawn. Incomplete files are destroyed after one year if no enrollment activity has been reported. If a transcript has enrollment activity, the file will be retained in the Office of the Registrar and retained according to archive standards.

Re-Admission Policy

If a student should return from a withdrawal, the following procedure must be followed:

1. The student has to reapply for admissions by formal request. A letter or email addressed to the Dean, School of Graduate and Professional Studies, must be sent describing the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal and desire to return.
2. A review of past work by Graduate Dean and Graduate Program Director/Department Chair will determine the terms of re-admission.
3. 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. Once a decision is made on re-admission, the student is notified via letter from the Graduate Office and a copy of the re-admission status is provided to the appropriate graduate program director.
5. Student is provided an application (fee waived) and is notified to provide graduate admissions with an updated planned program of study (POS) obtained from her/his advisor and signed by the graduate program director/school dean.
6. Student must meet the requirements for admission at the time of re-admission. 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 Graduate Admissions Office. Other admission documentation may be requested or waived at the discretion of the graduate admissions department.

International Application Process

International graduate students must possess the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from a U.S.-accredited college or university. If the record was not conferred in the United States, it must be translated and evaluated by an approved agency. Please visit www.NACES.org for a list of approved agencies. In addition to the application for graduate study, international applicants must complete an application supplement, which is available as a link from the online application or can be obtained by contacting the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies at 860.231.5261.

International graduate students must demonstrate that sufficient financial support is available to study at the University. Once the student has been accepted to the graduate program, the Admissions Office will issue the student an I-20 for the purpose of obtaining an F-1 visa. For more information on international admissions, contact the Admissions Office at 860.231.5216.

English Language Proficiency Policy for Graduate students

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.

Undergraduates Earning Graduate Credit at the University of Saint Joseph

Seniors of high academic standing (as defined by their major departments) may earn up to six graduate credits, subject to the following conditions:

• The student must submit an application form approved by the student’s advisor, instructor of the course, department chair, and dean of the school
• The undergraduate student will be responsible for the same assignments as graduate students with a comparable quality of work expected
• Credit earned in graduate courses is applied to the completion of a student’s undergraduate degree. Following graduation and matriculation into a graduate program, up to six graduate credits can be applied toward a graduate degree
• Departments may restrict graduate courses available within this option. They may also impose whatever additional restrictions they deem appropriate for their discipline. Departments will be asked to describe particular restrictions and file them with the Graduate Office, the Provost, and the Registrar

Veterans and Reservists

Undergraduate and Graduate

Veterans and students eligible for VA educational benefits must complete an application for admission. In addition, they must contact Jaclyn Piscitelli, VA School Certifying Official in the Registrar’s Office at 860.231.5205 or jpiscitelli@usj.edu to apply for educational benefits.