Photo by Jonathan Hillyer: Courtesy of Shepley Bulfinch.
MAJORS AND CONCENTRATIONS
ART + DESIGN
Art History, Graphic Design, Painting, Printmaking, Studio Art/Photography
BIOLOGY
(Salem State recommends an admission standard of a 2.7 GPA or higher.) Nuclear Medicine Technology; (combined undergraduate/graduate educator licensure programs are available)
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION**
Accounting, Analytics and Management Science, Corporate Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Financial Planning, Hospitality Management, Human Resource Management, Information and Data Science, International Business, Management, Marketing; (combined Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Master of Science in Accounting is also available)
CARTOGRAPHY AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
(combined Bachelor of Science in Cartography/Master of Science in Geo-Information Science is also available)
CHEMISTRY
Biochemistry
COMPUTER SCIENCE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE**
Criminal Investigation, Criminal Justice and Spanish, Criminology; (combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Criminal Justice is also available)
DANCE*
ECONOMICS
EDUCATION**
(Additional criteria may be required for admission to specific concentrations. All teacher license endorsements occur at the graduate level.) Early Education and Care, Educational Studies—Community Education, Educational Studies—Teaching
English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Social Justice in Education (fouryear program), Social Justice in Education with options in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education (joint bachelor’s/ master’s pathway completed in five years). Students interested in teacher preparation programs for biology, English, history, or mathematics in middle or high school and specialists in physical education or Spanish must apply to their content major, not education. All teacher preparation pathways are joint bachelor’s/master’s programs completed in five years.
ENGLISH
Creative Writing, Professional Writing; (combined undergraduate/graduate educator licensure programs are available; combined Bachelor of Arts in English/ Master of Arts in Teaching/Education are also available—see website for offerings)
EXPLORATORY (UNDECLARED)
FRENCH
(see World Languages)
GEOGRAPHY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Environmental Sustainability, Sustainable Tourism
GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Applied Geosciences: Sustainability; Earth Science, Earth Studies, Forensic Geoscience; (combined Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences/Master of Science in Geo-Information Science is also available)
HEALTHCARE STUDIES**
Healthcare Studies and Spanish
HISTORY
Africa, Asia and Latin America History, Applied History: Pre-Legal/Business, European History, Public History, United States History; (combined undergraduate/ graduate educator licensure programs are available)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
American Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies
ITALIAN
(see World Languages)
LIBERAL STUDIES**
MATHEMATICS
(combined undergraduate/graduate educator licensure programs are available)
MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION
Advertising, Journalism, Public Relations
MUSIC*
NURSING**
ACCELERATED BSN, BSN, LPN/BSN
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH STUDIES** (Applicants must submit a copy of their Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) license, official transcript of the COTA program completed, official transcripts of all other colleges attended.)
PHILOSOPHY
POLITICS, POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
American Government, Law and Policy; International Relations and Comparative Politics
PSYCHOLOGY**
Applied Behavior Analysis; (combined Bachelor of Science in Psychology/ Master of Science in Behavior Analysis and Bachelor of Science in Psychology/ Master of Science in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology are also available)
SOCIAL WORK**
(Salem State recommends an admission standard of a 2.7 GPA or higher. Currently, there is no internal transfer option into the social work major.)
SOCIOLOGY
SPANISH
(see World Languages)
SPORT AND MOVEMENT SCIENCE**
Exercise Science (Honors, Prehabilitation and Professional tracks), Recreation, Outdoor and Event Management, Sport Management (combined undergraduate/ graduate educator licensure programs are available)
THEATRE AND SPEECH COMMUNICATION*
BA: Musical Theatre Performance, Performance, Technical Theatre
BFA: Design, Directing, Performance, Playwriting, Stage Management, Technical Theatre
WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
Criminal Justice and Spanish, French, Healthcare Studies and Spanish, Italian, Spanish; (combined undergraduate/ graduate educator licensure programs in Spanish are available)
ONLINE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
BS, Fire Science Administration (Applicants must submit an official transcript of a completed fire science associate degree or seven (7) fire science courses and all other official college transcripts.)
*Admission into this program requires an audition or portfolio review. For more information, please visit salemstate.edu/auditions-portfolios
**Major can be completed in the evening; not all concentrations are available. Subject to change.
Visit salemstate.edu/programs for up-to-date list
SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY FACTS
• Location: about 15 miles north of Boston and 1 mile from downtown Salem
• Enrollment:
o Undergraduate: 4,853; Graduate: 1,386
o Approximately 600 transfer students enroll each year
o Students come from 40 states and 47 countries
• 33 majors, 100+ concentrations, 80+ minors
• 11:1 student to faculty ratio
• Five residence halls housing more than 1,400 students
• 50+ student groups and clubs
• Salem State fields Division III men’s and women’s teams in 15 sports
STEPS TO TRANSFER TO SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY
• Review admissions requirements for your desired major at salemstate.edu/apply
• Prepare application materials and review deadlines at salemstate.edu/transfer
• Estimate your transfer credit with the Transfer Credit Equivalency viewer at salemstate.edu/transfercredits
• Research “Articulation Agreements” between your community college and Salem State University
• Submit your application at salemstate.edu/apply
APPLICATION DETAILS
TRANSFER ADMISSIONS STANDARDS
Applicants must meet one of the below transfer standards:
• 12-23 college credits with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or,
• Up to 23 college credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0 and meets minimum freshman applicant requirements or,
• 24 or more college credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0
These are minimum admissions standards; Salem State has set higher standards for admission in some majors. Please visit salemstate.edu/admissions for additional admissions requirements.
Transfer applicants are reviewed based on college-level work. An official transcript from every college attended is required.
TRANSFER APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Apply online at salemstate.edu/apply. Application requirements:
• A completed online application and $50 application fee (MassTransfer Intent to Enroll Form is also sufficient; however, our online application is preferred)
• Official college transcript(s) from every college attended Dance, fire science, music, nursing, occupational health studies, and theatre programs require additional documents; see Majors and Concentrations page for program-specific details.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Below are suggested deadlines; we follow a rolling admission process until a program is full. Please note the nursing deadlines are firm.
SPRING 2025 (Jan.-May)
SUMMER 2025 (Evening Only, May-Aug.) FALL 2025 (Sept.-Dec.)
TRANSFER December 1 May 1 August 1
NURSING (day) December 1 May 15
ACCELERATED BSN (must have equivalent to U.S. BS/BA)
Early Action Deadline: November 15
Regular Decision Deadline: January 15
TRANSFER LPN TO BSN December 1 April 1 July 1
You do not need to wait for your final semester grades to apply; a decision can be made from your grades in progress.
2024-2025 TUITION AND FEES
All charges are subject to change. Please note some programs have additional fees. Visit salemstate.edu/tuition for more information.
RESIDENTIAL
$12,338 $27,234 OUT-OF-STATE $19,531 $34,427
IN-STATE EVENING STUDENTS (per credit) $465
OUT-OF-STATE EVENING STUDENTS (per credit) $645
ABSN (per credit): $655, in-state and out-of-state.
FINANCIAL AID
Students wishing to apply for financial aid must complete a FAFSA online at studentaid.gov. Salem State’s school code is 002188. Financial aid is awarded based on when the FAFSA is received and when an admissions decision is posted. Salem State’s priority deadline for filing the FAFSA is February 15. For more information, please contact 978.542.8000 or navcenter@salemstate.edu
We offer scholarships to help you reach your academic goals! Our scholarship application is open annually from November 15-February 15. Visit salemstate.edu/scholarships
TRANSFER BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (BSN)
The transfer BSN is a full-time, day-only program designed for first-time bachelor’s degree transfer students.
DEADLINES (rolling until program is full); Spring 2025 (December 1, 2024); Fall 2025 (May 15, 2025)
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
APPLICATION
REQUIREMENTS
Submit a completed application and $50 application fee, official college transcript(s) from every college attended, an official final high school transcript (or high school equivalent), and official TEAS exam scores.
• 12 credits of college-level work completed with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Two required science courses completed with a minimum C grade:
o BIO105 Biological Systems (with lab)
o CHE117 General Organic & Biological Chemistry (with lab)
o BIO200 Anatomy & Physiology I (with lab)
o BIO201 Anatomy & Physiology II (with lab)
o BIO304 Microbiology (with lab)
• The TEAS exam version 6.0 or 7.0 is required. Applicants must score proficient (minimum 58.7%) in all four subjects: English, Math, Reading, Science. Students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree do not need to submit the TEAS exam.
• Official final high school transcript (or high school equivalent) documenting graduation. Students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree do not need to submit high school documentation.
ACCELERATED SECOND DEGREE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (ABSN)
The ABSN is a rigorous, 15-month, full-time cohort program for those with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing academic program and who wish to pursue a degree in nursing.
SUMMER 2025 COHORT APPLICATION DEADLINES
Early Action: November 15, 2024; Regular Decision: January 15, 2025
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
• A completed bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0. (For students with a degree from outside the U.S.*)
• Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of B-:
o Anatomy and Physiology I and II (with lab)
o Chemistry (with lab)
o Microbiology (with lab)
o Statistics
o Developmental Psychology
• An applicant may be enrolled in up to two prerequisite courses at the time of the application deadline. Applicants must have all prerequisites completed prior to enrollment. Completed transcripts must be submitted prior to the start of the program in May. Proof of enrollment in these courses must be provided by the application deadline.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Submit a completed application and $50 application fee, official college transcript(s) from each college attended.
*Graduates of a non-U.S. college or university are eligible to apply if the following condition is met: completion of the MassTransfer Gen Ed Foundation at a Massachusetts community college with the official stamped transcript on or before the start of Summer Session I of the year in which enrollment begins. Learn more at mass.edu/masstransfer
LPN TO BSN
The LPN to BSN is a part-time program designed for working LPNs with a current LPN license issued in the U.S.
DEADLINES
(rolling until program is full): Spring 2025 (December 1, 2024); Summer 2025 (April 1, 2025); Fall 2025 (July 1, 2025)
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
• An unencumbered LPN license
• Official transcript from an accredited LPN program attended with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• 12 credits of college-level work completed with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Two required science courses completed with a minimum C grade:
o BIO105 Biological Systems (with lab)
o CHE117 General Organic & Biological Chemistry (with lab)
o BIO200 Anatomy & Physiology I (with lab)
o BIO201 Anatomy & Physiology II (with lab)
o BIO304 Microbiology (with lab)
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Submit a completed application and $50 application fee, official college transcript(s) from each college attended, official LPN transcript, an official final high school transcript (or high school equivalent), copy of LPN license, and TEAS exam scores.
• The TEAS exam version 6.0 or 7.0 is required. Applicants must score proficient (minimum 58.7%) in all four categories: English, Math, Reading, Science. Students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree do not need to submit the TEAS exam.
• Official final high school transcript (or high school equivalent) documenting graduation. Students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree do not need to submit high school documentation.
ADDITIONAL
TRANSFER NURSING
ADMISSION INFORMATION
TRANSFER CREDIT
salemstate.edu/transfercredits
• Courses that are comparable to Salem State courses generally transfer. Transfer credit is based on factors including, but not limited to, accreditation, comparability of courses, faculty credentials, and other requirements.
• In general, C- is the minimum grade required to transfer a course.
• A total of 75 credits may be transferred from two-year institutions.
• Nursing courses do not transfer from other institutions.
• Advanced Placement (AP) credit cannot count towards admissions prerequisites.
INTERNATIONAL TRANSCRIPTS
TEAS (TEAS exam is not required for students who already have a bachelor’s degree) atitesting.com/teas
• T he TEAS exam version 6.0 or 7.0 is required. Applicants must score proficient (minimum 58.7%) in all four categories: English, Math, Reading, Science.
• Applicants must take the ATI TEAS exam at Salem State in the School of Nursing Testing Center. Applicants who have previously taken the TEAS version 6.0 or 7.0 may submit their exam scores obtained directly from ATI Testing.
• Applicants may take the exam a total of two times in the academic year prior to submitting their application.
• The TEAS exam is only valid for two years prior to the application deadline.
Verification for any non-U.S.-based education (secondary and college level) must be validated by an approved agency. Five approved agencies include the Center for Educational Documentation, Educational Credential Evaluators, North American Educational Group, SpanTran, or World Education Services.
TRANSFER FAQ s
Who is considered a transfer student?
You are considered a transfer student if you have completed more than 12 credits of college-level work. If you previously attended Salem State as a degree-seeking student, you are considered a re-admit applicant and you should apply through the Academic Advising office at salemstate.edu/readmit
What credits will transfer?
Courses that are comparable courses generally transfer. Transfer credit is based on factors including, but not limited to: accreditation, comparability of courses, faculty credentials, and other requirements. In general, C- is the minimum grade required to transfer a course. Transfer Services will provide an official transfer credit evaluation after acceptance. Learn more at salemstate.edu/transfercredits
How can I predict my transfer credit?
The Transfer Equivalency Viewer database allows you to see which courses from your current institution have been evaluated by Salem State in the past and how/if they can be transferred. If a course is not listed in the database, please contact admissions@salemstate.edu for more information.
The degree map is a tool to view your plan of study at Salem State. Using the Transfer Equivalency Viewer and degree map together helps you estimate your transfer of credit before you apply. To view a degree map, please visit catalog.salemstate.edu and find your program.
What is an articulation agreement?
Articulation agreements outline how a specific academic program at a specific institution transfers into a particular major at Salem State. Learn if your current school has an articulation agreement at salemstate.edu/transfer
What is the academic residency requirement?
Students must successfully complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at Salem State in order to receive a bachelor’s degree. A maximum of 75 credits may be transferred from two-year institutions and 90 credits from four-year institutions.
My previous college has closed, how do I obtain an official transcript? When a college or university closes, the official student records are transferred to either another institution or agency. The closing institution will provide the destination of student records prior to the closure. If you should need assistance securing your transcript from your closed university, please contact admissions@salemstate.edu
Launch our Transfer Equivalency Viewer!
MASSTRANSFER
For students starting their academic career at a Massachusetts community college, there are various programs, pathways and resources to assist you to optimize your transfer credit and to complete your bachelor’s degree.
Are you only looking to take a few courses?
The online Course Equivalency Database allows you to search for equivalent courses among our public community colleges, state universities and UMass campuses. Learn more at mass.edu/masstransfer
Are you unsure of your major? Are you looking to transfer early?
Start out with the MassTransfer Gen Ed Foundation! It is a block of courses that meet the general education requirements of all Massachusetts public four-year universities. This set of 34 credits will transfer into any major at Salem State. An associate degree is not a requirement to achieve the MassTransfer Gen Ed Foundation, however, the credits can also apply towards most associate degrees.
Credits Subject Areas
6 English composition/writing
9 Behavioral and social sciences
9 Humanities and fine arts
7 Natural or physical science
3 Mathematics/quantitative reasoning
See which Gen Ed Foundation Courses will transfer at mass.edu/masstransfer/gened/coursesearch.asp
Want to earn an associate degree with guaranteed transfer of credit?
A2B DEGREE (associate to bachelor’s degree) linked programs lay out a set of freshman and sophomore courses in your major so that the credits you earn at your community college are guaranteed to transfer to the linked major at Salem State. Benefits will vary depending on GPA and eligibility requirements. Benefits include guarantee of credit, guaranteed admission and the MassTransfer Tuition Waiver.
*Reference mass.edu/masstransfer to see what linked degree programs exist between your community college and Salem State University. Not applicable to all majors.
What is Commonwealth Commitment?
Commonwealth Commitment offers additional financial benefits for students completing an A2B degree linked pathway program. Learn more about eligibility requirements at mass.edu/masstransfer/macomcom
TRANSFER CONNECTIONS
salemstate.edu/transferconnections
Northern Essex Community College (NECC), North Shore Community College (NSCC) and Salem State University (SSU) created the Transfer Connections program to streamline the steps toward a bachelor’s degree.
Transfer Connections to Salem State provides you with a clear path to transfer, no matter what stage of your process.
Whether you are a high school student considering starting at a community college or a current NSCC or NECC student, Transfer Connections is here to help plan your transfer journey.
BENEFITS OF TRANSFER CONNECTIONS
• Personal Transfer Connections coach
• Meet with our transfer connections coach in person—NECC (Haverhill, Lawrence campuses), NSCC (Danvers, Lynn campuses), or at Salem State!
• Smooth transition and enrollment assistance
• Major cost savings! Completing your associate degree through MassTransfer will save you tuition costs.
• Make every credit count. Whether you are following a specialized A2B Pathway, an articulation agreement, or are still unsure of your plan, an expert is available to help you maximize your credit.
TRANSFER CONNECTIONS FELLOW SCHOLARSHIP
SSU’s Transfer Fellow Scholarship provides $3,000 to full- and part-time students who transfer to Salem State with an associate degree from NECC and NSCC. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to further your education and save!
QUALIFICATIONS
• Graduate of NECC or NSCC (complete the associate degree at the community college and then transfer to SSU within a year of graduating)
• Enrolled in the day program at SSU
• Consecutive enrollment (Fall and Spring)
• FAFSA completed each year (before the start of classes)
• Complete the bachelor’s degree within five years of transferring to SSU
• Good academic standing (2.0+)
• Enroll in at least two classes per semester
• Both in and out-of-state students qualify
