Admissions

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Mansfield University began its first graduate programs in the summer of 1966. Music and Elementary Education  programs offered the first degrees and other programs were added in succeeding years. Today, Mansfield University offers education-related master’s degree programs in Education, School Library and Information Technologies, Special Education, Nursing, and Organizational Leadership. We also offer two Master of Arts degree programs in Music. These programs were designed to be completed as full-time and/or part-time programs.

Mansfield University has a rolling admissions policy. Applications are considered based upon academic credentials and space availability for the entry date requested.

Application Procedures

• Official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended, regardless of whether or not a degree was earned, must be submitted as part of the application packet. These transcripts must be sealed by the registrar and remain sealed until their arrival at the Graduate Admissions Office. If the course(s) or the degree is completed at Mansfield University, the applicant is not required to submit the transcript.
• One or more letter(s) of recommendation required by graduate programs (see Additional Admissions Requirements for Specific Graduate Programs).
• Copy of current teaching certificate, if applicable.
• $25.00 application processing fee

Admission to a graduate program is based on a full review of application materials and recommendation by the faculty of the admitting graduate program, and upon acceptance by the Office of Graduate Admissions.  

Application Requirements

To apply for Graduate, School contact the Graduate Admissions Office located in South Hall at (570) 662-4806 or apply online at http://ssl.mansfield.edu/forms/gradapply.cfm. A completed application will include the following:

• Evidence of at least one completed undergraduate degree program from a regionally accredited university or in the case of international students, a nationally recognized institution.  
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale unless an exception is recommended by the graduate program faculty. Such an exception will result in a provisional admission. A student in provisional status:
  • Must maintain communication with the program academic advisor via email or phone.
  • May take up to six (6) credits in the graduate degree program and must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in those credits to be eligible for continuing enrollment. Please consult with the program academic advisor to determine the courses that will fulfill this requirement. A student who receives an “F” is automatically dismissed from the University. All normal University policies and procedures apply thereafter.
  • Must contact the program academic advisor prior to registration for the following semester. An Academic Hold will be placed on the student’s account and can only be released by the program academic advisor prior to scheduling for subsequent coursework.
  • May receive financial aid during the period, subject to the standard methodology utilized to determine eligibility for all matriculated students.

Additional requirements may be required by specific graduate programs. Please see below.

Additional Admission Requirements for Specific Graduate Programs

• Education, Master of Science
  1.  One academic or professional letter of recommendation.
  2.  Copy of current teaching certificate, if applicable.
  3.  Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in an undergraduate degree earned or calculated on the last 48 semester hours. 
   
• Organizational Leadership, Master of Arts
  1.  Applicants must submit a personal letter of intent, which speaks to the path and progression of lifelong learning in leadership (approximately 500-1000 words)
  2.  Two academic or professional letters of recommendation.
  3.  Resumé or curriculum vitae. 
   
• Music, Master of Arts
  1.  On-campus audition required 
  2.  One academic or professional letter of recommendation.
   
• Nursing, Masters of Science in Nursing
  1.  Evidence of a valid professional nursing license required.
  2.  A completed BSN degree required OR any bachelor’s degree with the completion of the following prerequisite courses:
       a). Introduction to Statistics (MA 1125)
       b). Community Health Nursing (NUR 4471) or Practices and Principles of Community Health (NUR 4417) or equivalent.
  3.  Two letters of recommendation; one professional and one academic preferred to speak to applicant’s academic, writing, and critical thinking abilities as well as applicant’s motivation to achieve the MSN degree.
  4.  If GPA is 2.8 or 2.99, the applicant will be considered for Provisional Acceptance. Provisionally accepted students will work with an advisor to schedule and complete six graduate level credits. Once the student can demonstrate that s/he is capable of succeeding at the graduate level (achieving a 3.0 or higher on 6 graduate credits), then, through department recommendation, the student may be eligible to continue on the path toward graduation.
   
• School Library & Information Technologies, Master of Education
  1.  Copy of current teaching certificate.
  2.  One academic and one professional letter of recommendation that addresses the applicant’s abilities, motivation and dispositions.
  3.  Official transcripts from every college/university where coursework was completed.
  4.  Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in an undergraduate degree earned or calculated on the last 48 credit hours.
  
  • Provisionally admitted students in the School Library & Information Technologies Program will be expected to take in their first year the following courses: LSC 5501 Instructional Collaboration, LSC 5535 Information Literacy and Academic Standards, or LSC 5540 Information Searching, Retrieval and Presentation Strategies.
    
• Special Education, Master of Education
  1.  One academic or professional letter of recommendation
  2.  Copy of current teaching certificate, if applicable
  3.  Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in an undergraduate degree earned or calculated on the last 48 semester hours
   

Clearance Requirements

Clearances are required for the following degree programs:

• Master of Science, Education and Master of Education, Special Education
  Students must submit copies of their clearances via US mail to: Ms. Beth McClure, 205 Retan, Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA  16933. If you have any questions, please call (570) 662-4024. Current Public School Employees may use this form http://mansfield.edu/teacher/initial-clearance-instructions/public-school-employee—clearance-letter/ to satisfy this requirement.
• Master of Education, School Library and Information Technologies
  Students must submit copies of their clearances via US mail to: Ms. Jill Scott, 202 Retan, Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA  16933. If you have any questions, please call (570) 662-4790. 

Non-Degree Students

Students not matriculated into a specific graduate program may take up to nine (9) credits in a “non-degree” status. To continue taking graduate courses, they must complete a regular graduate application and be formally admitted to a graduate program or indicate that they wish to remain non-degree for enrichment purposes.

Checklist for Graduation

Submit an Application for Graduation via WebAdvisor no later than one year prior to your intended graduation date.

Graduate students need to purchase academic attire approximately eight weeks prior to graduation.  If it is not convenient for you to come to Mansfield to purchase your attire, please contact the Campus Bookstore at (570) 662-4922 (see the Policy Section, Bookstore, Mansfield University).

Graduate Student Advisors

One of the special characteristics of graduate programs at Mansfield University is the importance placed on the advisor-advisee relationship. We regard it as essential that  an advisor be assigned when entering a program. There are many opportunities to tailor programs to a graduate student’s unique professional goals. The graduate advisor works as a collegial professional mentor with their assigned graduate student. Once enrollment is confirmed, it is the graduate student’s responsibility to contact the academic department to be assigned an advisor. For the graduate student’s convenience, this information is available on the New & Current Graduate Students website: http://admissions.mansfield.edu/more/graduate-students/current/. Degree seeking graduate students will not be allowed to progress beyond nine (9) graduate credits without being assigned an advisor.