Hero Image

Graduate Admissions

Admissions Process

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

Application Checklist

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

Business
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
Computing
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
Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: Jul 15
Winter: Nov 1		 Fall: Jul 15
Winter: Nov 1		 Fall: May 1
Winter: Sep 1
Education
Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: Aug 1
Winter: Nov 15
Summer: Apr 15		 Fall: Aug 1
Winter: Nov 15
Summer: Apr 15		 Fall: May 1
Winter: Sep 1
Summer: N/A
Nursing
Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: Apr 1
Winter: Oct 1		 Fall: Apr 1
Winter: Oct 1		 Fall: May 1
Winter: Sep 1
Religion - Master of Ministry
Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: Jul 1
Winter: Nov 1
Summer: Apr 1		 Fall: Jul 1
Winter: Nov 1
Summer: Apr 1		  
Religion - Master of Arts in Religion
Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Summer: Apr 15 Summer: Apr 15  
Social Work
Semester Starts USA Deadlines International Deadlines
Fall: Jul 1
Winter: Nov 1		 Fall: Jul 1
Winter: Nov 1		 Fall: May 1
Winter: Sep 1

Program-Specific Admissions Requirements

Business
Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
  • 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 a graduate application with a non-refundable fee of $65.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. 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.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with a non-refundable fee of $65.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Resumé: Submit your current resumé through your Application Status Page.
Counseling
  Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
 
  • Bachelor's degree: A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited program.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
  • Behavioral science courses: 6 hours of undergraduate upper-division coursework in the behavioral sciences.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with a non-refundable fee of $65.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit three letters of recommendation, including one academic and one professional from recent sources.
  4. Statement: 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: Submit the Criminal-Record Statement. Your signature on this form gives the School of Education and Psychology permission to retain your criminal-history record and affirms that you are not a registered sex-offender.
  8. Personality test: Complete a personality test, as required by the School of Education and Psychology.
  9. Interview with faculty.
Education - Master of Arts in Teaching
Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
  • Bachelor's degree: A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with non-refundable fee of $65.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Statement: Submit a statement of purpose.
  5. Resumé: Submit your current resumé 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.
Education - Master of Science in Education
Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
  • Bachelor's degree: A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00.
  • Certification: Current NAD Basic certification or state initial certification, or proof of past NAD Basic or state initial certification.
  • Instructional Leadership emphasis: Applicants must have two years of teaching experience.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with non-refundable fee of $65.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Statement: Submit a statement of purpose.
  5. Resumé: Submit your current resumé 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
Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
Licensure
  • Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in Tennessee or current multistate license with the privilege to practice in the state of Tennessee. A Georgia license is strongly encouraged for nurse practitioner students.
  • Online students must have current licensure in the state or country of practice.
Work experience
  • Applicants should have a minimum of two years (4000 hours) of RN nursing experience prior to starting the nurse practitioner practicum hours. For those seeking an Acute Care or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Emphasis - see below.
    • Acute Care: RN experience should include the following: invasive hemodynamic monitors (such as pulmonary artery catheter, CVP, arterial); cardiac assist devices; mechanical ventilation; and vasoactive infusions. Examples of critical care units may include but are not limited to: Surgical Intensive Care, Cardiothoracic Intensive care, Coronary Intensive Care, and Medical Intensive Care.
    • Psychiatric Mental Health RN experience should include experience in psychiatric and mental health, behavioral health, or similar care settings.
    • BS to DNP
      • Work experience as RN is recommended but not required for admission to the program.
      • Students with limited RN experience will be required to document a minimum of 4000 hours of RN experience before beginning any nurse practitioner practicum in the DNP program.
  • Exceptions related to work experience may be considered for students with limited work experience. These students are required to obtain and maintain ongoing work experience as a registered nurse or nurse practitioner while enrolled in the graduate curriculum. LPN or other healthcare experiences will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Check out the program-specific requirements for each advanced degree offered.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with a non-refundable fee of $65.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Written statement: Submit a statement describing your purpose and goals for pursuing this degree.
  5. Resumé: Submit your current resumé through your Application Status Page.
  6. Interview with faculty.
Religion - Master of MInistry
Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
  • Bachelor's degree: A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with non-refundable fee of $65.
  2. Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts.
  3. Recommendations: Submit two recommendation forms completed by work supervisors or professors.
  4. Statement: Submit a statement of purpose.
  5. Resumé: Submit your current resumé 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.
  • Bachelor's degree: Bachelor's 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.
  • Evangelism and World Mission, and Biblical Counseling Emphases applicants must provide a written list of:
    1. church offices held such as elder, deaconess, Sabbath School leader
    2. church outreach activities such as conducting Bible studies
    3. work in Revelation seminars, and assisting with health-education seminars
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate 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.
Religion - Master of Arts in Religion
Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
  • Bachelor's degree: A bachelor's 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.
  • Emphasis in Old Testament Studies or New Testament Studies: Applicants to either of these emphases must have six semester hours of credit in a biblical language with a minimum grade of C. Applicants to Old Testament Studies must have six semester hours of biblical Hebrew, and applicants to New Testament Studies must have six hours of biblical Greek. This may be counted as part of the required 12 hours in religion.
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with non-refundable fee of $65.
  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.
Social Work
Admissions Requirements Admissions Process
  • Bachelor's degree: A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution.
  • GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 for foundation program for the last 60 college credits of college degree, and GPS of 3.0 for advanced program. Dual degree program https://southern.edu/graduatestudies/master-of-social-work-mba.html
  1. Graduate application: Submit a graduate application with a non-refundable fee of $65.
  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