Coursework for Professional Development Admission

Minimum Credit Requirements

The minimum required number of credits is 30 for a Master’s degree and 12 for a certificate Most degree and certificate programs, however, have requirements which are in excess of this minimum.

Graduate Student Designations

Each graduate student’s status will be determined based upon the specifics of the application decision and the student’s individual circumstance.

Degree Status

Students who submit a complete application portfolio and meet the program admission requirements qualify for degree status.

Provisional Status for Degree Seeking Students

There are two general circumstances which lead to this designation:

A. Provisional/Academic

If a student does not meet an admissions criterion (i.e., GPA, test scores, etc.) but shows potential in other areas, the student may be admitted with provisional/academic status. Continued enrollment is contingent upon demonstration of sufficient ability to do graduate work. Generally, to receive degree status, students must achieve a minimum cumulative average of 3.00 in 9-12 credits of graduate work. This is determined by the Program Director.

B. Provisional/Administrative

This status applies to an applicant showing great promise but who has a missing component of information, such as a letter of recommendation or test score. This status allows students an initial semester to complete the admissions portfolio. In general, provisional students may not register for more than one semester however, specific programs may have different limits.

In either case, the responsibility is on the student to petition the Program Director by letter for a change to degree status as soon as the deficit has been alleviated. Generally, credits earned as a provisional student are fully applicable to graduate degrees and certificates.

Non-Degree Status

This designation is reserved for students who are not pursuing a degree at Gannon. There are a variety of common reasons for this status, including students who are pursuing a course or two for professional development, certificate students, students from other graduate schools who are planning to transfer course work back to their own institutions, or students who are attending workshops and institutes which offer graduate credit. In some cases, with the permission of a graduate program director, credits earned as a non-degree student may be applied toward a degree or certificate program at Gannon. With the exception of students in graduate certificate programs, the non-degree student is limited to nine credits of graduate course work under this status. Only with special permission of the program director and respective Academic Dean may a non-degree student enroll for more than nine credits.

Admission

While the requirements for admission to various programs differ, the general requirements and procedures are listed below. Please refer to the individual program description for specific details.

General Requirements

Applicants for graduate study must hold a bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited college or university, and demonstrate the motivation, ability, and preparation needed to pursue graduate study successfully. A determination of this capacity will be made by the graduate program director and/or the respective Academic Dean, based upon records of undergraduate achievement, prior graduate work (if any), scores on required standardized tests (GRE, GMAT, etc.), letters of recommendation, and other information. Official transcripts and test scores must be sent directly from the appropriate institution to the Office of Graduate Admissions of Gannon University.

Process

Prospective applicants must submit a completed application for graduate study. Applicants should direct all application materials and questions regarding the process of admission to the:

Office of Graduate Admissions 109 University Square • Erie, PA 16541-0001 Phone (814) 871-7474 • Toll Free 800-GANNON-U Email: graduate@gannon.edu

Admissions representatives assist prospective students with any questions regarding program admission requirements or the decision process.

Programs may require students to apply through a Centralized Application Service (CAS).

Standardized Admission Tests

Each of the master’s degree programs has its own requirements with regard to standardized admission tests. Please refer to the individual program descriptions for the appropriate tests or contact a graduate admissions representative. An applicant who already holds a graduate degree is not required to take an exam when applying to a Gannon master’s degree program. The results of standardized tests should be sent directly to the above office from the test administrator.