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Graduate Admissions

Admissions Process

Application Checklist

Each program's application deadlines, eligibility requirements, and admissions process vary, but some of the basic fundamentals hold true across all programs.

  • Review important dates and deadlines
  • Review specifics for each graduate program
  • Review process for international students
  • Create your account in the Application Portal and Submit Application (with a non-refundable fee of $40)
  • Upload your transcripts, letters of recommendations, and other documents through the Application Portal. Be sure to check your program for specific requirements.

Admission Requirements for International Students

Applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States and planning to attend classes on-campus are considered international students and must meet additional requirements for admission.

See Full Requirements

Important Dates

Our application deadlines are flexible and we accept applications year-round. Please reach out to an enrollment adviser when in doubt.

Business

Our deadlines are flexible and we accept applications year-round. When in doubt, please reach out to an enrollment adviser.

Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: August 25
Winter: January 12
Summer: May 12		 Fall: July 1
Winter: November 1
Summer: April 1		 Fall: May 1
Winter: September 1
Summer: February 1 
Computing
Our deadlines are flexible and we accept applications year-round. When in doubt, please reach out to an enrollment adviser.

Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: Jul 1
Winter: Nov 1
Summer: Apr 1		 Fall: Jul 1
Winter: Nov 1
Summer: Apr 1		 Fall: May 1
Winter: Sep 1
Summer: Feb 1
Counseling
Our deadlines are flexible and we accept applications year-round. When in doubt, please reach out to an enrollment adviser.

Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: August 25
Winter: January 12

 Fall: July 1
Winter: November 1

 Fall: May 1
Winter: September 1
Education
Our deadlines are flexible and we accept applications year-round. When in doubt, please reach out to an enrollment adviser.

Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: August 25
Winter: January 12
Summer: May 12		 Fall: August 1
Winter: Nov 15
Summer: April 1		 Fall: N/A
Winter: N/A
Summer: N/A
Nursing
Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: August 25
Winter: January 12		 Fall: August 1
Winter: Nov 15		 Fall: May 1
Winter: September 1
Religion
Our deadlines are flexible and we accept applications year-round. When in doubt, please reach out to an enrollment adviser.

Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: August 25
Winter: January 12
Summer: May 12		 Fall: August 1
Winter: Nov 15
Summer: April 1		 Fall: N/A
Winter: N/A
Summer: N/A
Social Work
Our deadlines are flexible and we accept applications year-round. When in doubt, please reach out to an enrollment adviser.

Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: August 25
Winter: January 12
Summer: Not an entry term		 Fall: July 1
Winter: November 1		 Fall: May 1
Winter: September 1

Program-Specific Admissions Requirements

Business
Program Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution.

  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  1. Graduate application: Submit completed application with a non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two professional recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Graduate Managment Admission Test (GMAT) is waived if GPA is 3.25 or above, or if applicant has a GPA of 3.0 and 5+ years of full time business experience.

Nursing and Business Dual Degrees:

Bs to DNP/MBA
DNP/MBA
MSN/MBA

 Check out the program-specific requirements for each advanced degree offered
  1. Graduate application: Submit a completed application with a non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit three completed recommendation forms, at  least two clinical, one can be academic. 
  4. Written statement: Submit a description of your purpose and goals for pursuing this degree..
  5. Résumé: Submit your current résumé through your Application Status page.
  6. Interview with faculty.
  7. Graduate Managment Admission Test (GMAT) is waived if GPA is 3.25 or above, or if applicant has a GPA of 3.0 and 5+ years of full time business experience.

Social Work and Business Dual Degree:

MSW/MBA
  • Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution.

  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with a non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Personal statement: Submit a personal statement describing your motivation for graduate school in social work.
  5. Resumé: Submit your current resumé through your Application Status Page
  6. Graduate Managment Admission Test (GMAT) is waived if GPA is 3.25 or above, or if applicant has a GPA of 3.0 and 5+ years of full time business experience.
Computing
Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
  • MS in Applied Computer Science: Applicants can have a bachelor's degree in any discipline.
  • MS in Computer Science: Applicants must have an ABET-accredited bachelor's degree in computer science.
  • Graduate Certificate:  A bachelor's degree in any discipline.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a completed application with a non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
Counseling
For comprehensive information regarding the Counseling programs, visit the Program's Catalog Page.

  Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
 
  • Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with a non-refundable fee of $40
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit three professional recommendation forms. One can be academic. 
  4. Submit a statement of purpose.
  5. Resumé: Submit your current resumé through your Application Status Page.
  6. Background Check: Successfully complete a background check.
  7. Criminal-Record Release and Declaration: Sign and submit the statement. Your signature on this form gives the School of Education, Psychology, and Counseling permission to retain your record and affirms that you are not a registered sex-offender.
  8. Personality test: Complete the required exam.
  9. Interview with faculty.
Education
Program Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
  • Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Submit a statement of purpose.
  5. Résumé: Submit your current résumé through your Application Status page.
  6. Background check: Successfully complete an approved background check.
  7. Criminal-Record Release and Declaration: Submit the Criminal-Record Release and Declaration.
Master of Science in Education (MSEd)
  • Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  • Instructional Leadership emphasis: Applicants must have two years of teaching experience.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Submit a statement of purpose.
  5. Résumé: Submit your current résumé through your Application Status page.
  6. Background check: Successfully complete an approved background check.
  7. Criminal-Record Release and Declaration: Submit the Criminal-Record Release and Declaration.
MSEd - Outdoor Education
  • Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Submit a statement of purpose.
  5. Résumé: Submit your current résumé through your Application Status page.
  6. Background check: Successfully complete an approved background check.
  7. Criminal-Record Release and Declaration: Submit the Criminal-Record Release and Declaration.
Nursing

For comprehensive information regarding the MBA program, visit the program's catalog page.

NOTE: To enter a dual-degree program, students must be admitted to both schools (the School of Business and the School of Nursing). Most students complete one set of courses at a time, though some overlap is possible depending on scheduling.

Program Admissions Requirements Admissions Process

Nursing Degrees:

DNP
BS to DNP
MSN
Post-Master Certificate
DNP Specialist Certificate
Check out the program-specific requirements for each advanced degree offered
  1. Graduate application: Submit a completed application with a non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit three completed recommendation forms, at  least two clinical, one can be academic. 
  4. Written statement: Submit a description of your purpose and goals for pursuing this degree.
  5. Résumé: Submit your current résumé through your Application Status page.
  6. Interview with faculty.
  7. Graduate Managment Admission Test (GMAT) is waived if GPA is 3.25 or above, or if applicant has a GPA of 3.0 and 5+ years of full time business experience.
Nursing and Business Dual Degrees:

Bs to DNP/MBA
DNP/MBA
MSN/MBA
  • Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution.

  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a completed application with a non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit three completed recommendation forms, at  least two clinical, one can be academic. 
  4. Written statement: Submit a description of your purpose and goals for pursuing this degree..
  5. Résumé: Submit your current résumé through your Application Status page.
  6. Interview with faculty.
  7. Graduate Managment Admission Test (GMAT) is waived if GPA is 3.25 or above, or if applicant has a GPA of 3.0 and 5+ years of full time business experience.
Religion
Program Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
Master of Ministry
  • Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • Religion courses: Minimum of 12 semester hours in religion. Waivers may be requested for some or all of this requirement, based on the applicant's full-time ministry experience.
  • GPA requirements: Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 OR for an undergraduate GPA of 2.50 to 2.99 applicants may request to be admitted on a provisional basis.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a completed application with non-refundable fee of $40
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts. Many institutions subscribe to the convenient transcript-request service at National Student Clearinghouse, or you may also contact your institution directly. Have your transcripts sent to the Graduate and Professional Studies office (gradtranscripts@southern.edu). If you earned your prerequisite degree at Southern, you do not need to complete this step.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors. One of these recommendations is to be from your employing conference, if employed by the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination. This should be done as part of the online application process. If you are employed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, one recommendation must be from a superior in the organization.
  4. Service record: Submit a denominational service record (usually available from your SDA employer), if applicable, OR the Record of Service form.
  5. Statement of Purpose: Candidates are to submit a written “Statement of Purpose through the Application Status Page following the guidelines provided by the School of Religion.
Master of Arts in Religion
  • Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • Religion courses: A minimum of 12 semester hours in religion. Waivers may be requested for some or all of this requirement, based on the applicant's full-time ministry experience.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25 OR for an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 to 3.24, applicants may request to be admitted on a provisional basis. A formal academic paper to demonstrate academic competency may be required of the candidate.
  • Intermediate level Biblical Hebrew or Greek with a grade of C or higher. Courses may be part of the 12 semester hours in religion required above. Theological Studies emphasis is excluded from this requirement.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a completed application with non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts. Many institutions subscribe to the convenient transcript-request service at National Student Clearinghouse, or you may also contact your institution directly. Have your transcripts sent to the Graduate and Professional Studies office (gradtranscripts@southern.edu). If you earned your prerequisite degree at Southern, you do not need to complete this step.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors. One of these recommendations is to be from your employing conference, if employed by the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination. This should be done as part of the online application process. If you are employed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, one recommendation must be from a superior in the organization.
  4. Service record: Submit a denominational service record (usually available from your SDA employer), if applicable, OR the Record of Service form.
  5. Statement of Purpose: Candidates are to submit a written “Statement of Purpose through the Application Status Page following the guidelines provided by the School of Religion.
Graduate Certificates
  • Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • GPA requirements: Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 OR for an undergraduate GPA of 2.50 to 2.99 applicants may request to be admitted on a provisional basis.
  • Religion courses: A minimum of 6 semester hours in religion. Waivers may be requested for some or all of this requirement, based on the applicant's full-time ministry experience.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a completed application with non-refundable fee of $40
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts. Many institutions subscribe to the convenient transcript-request service at National Student Clearinghouse, or you may also contact your institution directly. Have your transcripts sent to the Graduate and Professional Studies office (gradtranscripts@southern.edu). If you earned your prerequisite degree at Southern, you do not need to complete this step.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors. One of these recommendations is to be from your employing conference, if employed by the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination. This should be done as part of the online application process. If you are employed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, one recommendation must be from a superior in the organization.
  4. Statement of Purpose: Candidates are to submit a written “Statement of Purpose through the Application Status Page following the guidelines provided by the School of Religion.
Social Work
NOTE: To enter a dual-degree program, students must be admitted to both schools (the School of Business and the School of Social Work). Most students complete one set of courses at a time, though some overlap is possible depending on scheduling.

Program Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
Master of Social Work(MSW)
  • Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  1. Graduate application: Submit completed application with a non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Personal statement: Submit a personal statement describing your motivation for graduate school in social work.
  5. Resumé: Submit your current resumé through your Application Status Page

Social Work and Business Dual Degree:

MSW/MBA
  • Bachelor's degree: A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  1. Graduate application: Submit completed application with a non-refundable fee of $40.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two  forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Graduate Management Admissions Test is waived if GPA is 3.25 or above, or if applicant has a GPA of 3.0 and 5+ years of full-time business experience.