Graduate StudieS application for admiSSion

2

Application Process and DeadlineAdmission to graduate study at Shepherd University is handled on a rolling basis. Students are eligible to register for courses once their applications have been processed and they have been accepted. Applications are considered com-plete when this form, application fee, and all supporting materials are on file with the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for the status of the application. Deadline for fall applicants seeking to participate in assistantship interview process: February 15.

General Admission RequirementsAll degree-seeking students must:• Complete the graduate application. (Doctor of Nursing Practice applicants see

program section.)• Pay a non-refundable application fee of $40 ($60 for Master of Teaching).

There is no application fee for Doctor of Nursing Practice. Make check or money order payable to “Shepherd University.” There is no application fee for current students or Shepherd alumni.

• Have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

• Submit the official transcript for undergraduate studies with a minimum 2.75 overall GPA. See specific program for additional GPA or test score require-ments. Students who do not meet these standards may, at the discretion of the graduate program coordinator, be admitted on a conditional or provisional basis. See www.shepherd.edu/graduate-studies/apply-graduate.

• International students should see additional requirements at www.shepherd.edu/international-graduate-admissions.

• Please read carefully the statement at the bottom of this page which relates to the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA).

Individual Program RequirementsBusiness Administration, M.B.A. and 4+1 M.B.A.• Submit a résumé.• Have two letters of recommendation.• Complete a letter of intent that describes how you envision using the M.B.A.

degree to enhance your personal and career goals.• 4+1 M.B.A. applicants: Have a minimum 3.0 undergraduate overall GPA and

earned a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours.

College Student Development and Administration, M.A.• Complete a letter of intent that describe how you hope to use your M.A.-

CSDA to further your professional goals.• Submit a writing sample: 5-7 pages of a previously written research paper

OR a 5-7 page research paper discussing a current trend in higher education (maximum 500 words).

• Have a reference letter from a faculty member answering the following ques-tions: How is this student prepared for the rigor of graduate school, specifi-cally addressing oral and written communication skills? (Optional)

Curriculum and Instruction, M.A.• For licensed teachers: Submit a copy of the current teaching license.

For non-teaching educational professionals: Submit three letters of refer-ence from individuals who can speak to your work in an educational setting.

• Submit a letter of intent that describes your proposed discipline-specific con-tent area and how you envision using the degree of Master of Arts in curricu-lum and instruction to enhance your personal and career goals.

• Any applicant with a GPA below 2.75 must submit a minimum GRE score of 149 on the verbal and 146 on the quantitative sections or a minimum MAT score of 390.

• For Multi-Categorical Special Education (M.A.) applicants: Submit an ele-mentary teacher certification or a secondary certification in a specific academic content area (English, math, social studies, science, or biology).

Data Analytics and Information Systems, M.S.Provide one of the following items:• Score a 75th percentile on the quantitative section of the GRE or MAT.• Earn one of the following industry certifications:

º IBM certification in Cognos, Risk Analytics, or SPSS º SAS certification Foundation, Analytics, Administration, Data Manage-

ment, or Enterprise Business Intelligence. º Microsoft certification, such as MCITP, MCSA, MCSE, MCSM, or

MCDBA º Certified business intelligence professional º Certified analytics professional º Certified data management professional º Certified health data analyst

• Submit two letters of recommendation that speak to the applicant’s ability in the field and potential for success in a graduate program.

Teaching, M.A.T.• Have a 2.5 GPA in the content courses for the area in which certification is

sought.• Complete ENGL 101 (English and Rhetoric I), ENGL 102 (English and

Rhetoric II), and COMM 202 (Fundamentals of Speech) or equivalent courses with grades of C or above in each course.

• Earn a passing score on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests (CASE).The CASE tests maybe waived if the candidate: º Holds a master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education. º Currently holds, or has held, a West Virginia Professional Teaching, Stu-

dent Support Services, or Administrative Certificate. º Attained, from a single administration, a minimum composite score of 25

(ACT), 1035 (SAT), or 1170 (combined SAT Reading and Math scores, effective March 2005).

• Completion of at least 50 percent of all undergraduate content area work required for certification (with grades of C or better) OR completion of at least 25 percent of all undergraduate content area work required for certifi-cation (with grades C or better) and a passing score on the Praxis II Content Specialization Test for the certification content area.

• Any applicant with a GPA below 2.75 but not lower than 2.5, must submit a minimum GRE score of 149 on the verbal and 146 on the quantitative sec-tions or a minimum MAT score of 390.

Nursing Practice, D.N.P.Doctor of Nursing Practice students should submit admissions materials through Nursing CAS at www.nursingcas.org.

Graduate Certificate in Appalachian, Health Administration, Public Manage-ment, Sport ManagementNo additional requirement beyond general admissions requirements.

Transfer of Previous Graduate CreditShepherd University will accept a maximum of nine graduate credits in transfer toward a degree at Shepherd University. Courses must have a minimum grade of B and have been taken within seven years based on the date of admission to the degree program. To request transfer credit, contact the dean of graduate stud-ies and the coordinator of the graduate program to which you are applying. See www.shepherd.edu/graduate-studies/graduate-policies.

Directory information may be released on admitted or enrolled students as provided under the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act unless the student requests in writing that this information be withheld. Requests to withhold information should be sent to the registrar at Shepherd University with this admissions application form.

SHEPHERD UNIVERSITYOffice of Graduate Admissions

P.O. Box 5000 • Shepherdstown, West Virginia 25443-5000304-876-5313 • 800-344-5231, Ext. 5313 • FAX 304-876-5390

www.shepherd.edu/graduate-studies

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF THE GRADUATE ADMISSION APPLICATION

3

ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

I wish to apply for £ Fall (Year) £ Spring (Year) £ Summer (Year)

I am a £ First-Time Applicant £ Readmit: Last enrollment (Semester) (Year)

Residency: £ Out-of-State Resident£ West Virginia resident Number of years you (or your spouse) lived in West Virginia: (Years)

Citizenship: £ U.S.£ Non-U.S. (Please provide a copy of green card or visa) Visa Type:

Please print or type neatlyLast Name First Name Middle Name

Social Security Number Shepherd SID (if applicable)

Permanent Home Address Street or P.O. Box City State Zip County Country

Mailing Address (if different) Street or P.O. Box City State Zip County Country

Home Phone Number Cell Phone Number Email

Have you ever been enrolled in school under any other name(s)? £ Yes £ NoIf Yes, please provide full name(s).

Are you a current Shepherd student or alumnus/alumna? £ Yes (The application fee is waived.) £ No

Have you ever served in the Armed Forces of the United States? £ Yes £ No

Will you be applying for veterans benefits? £ Yes £ No

Have you ever been convicted of any offense other than a misdemeanor or minor traffic violation? £ Yes—please explain on a separate sheet £ No

SHEPHERD UNIVERSITYAPPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO GRADUATE STUDIES

Please read the instructions and guidelines before completing the application. Please submit this application, application fee, and supporting mateirals toShepherd University Office of Graduate Admissions, P.O. Box 5000, Shepherdstown WV 25443

ADDITIONAL PERSONAL INFORMATIONNOTICE: All responses to the personal data questions are strictly optional and will in no way affect the decision of whether to admit any applicant. Shepherd University

requests that these questions be completed to assist the university in complying with its obligations under state and federal law to attempt to collect these data and to periodically report the statistical totals in various reports, including the annual EEO/AA Plan published by the Affirmative Action Officer.

Gender: £ Male £ Female Date of Birth (YYYY/MM/DD):

Are you Hispanic / Latino? £ Yes £ No

With which race/ethnicity £ American Indian/Alaskan £ Asian £ Black/African American £ Hispanic/Latinodo you most closely identify: £ Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander £ White £ Two or More Races

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATIONLast Name First Name Middle Initial

Relationship Phone

4

ACADEMIC INFORMATIONDo you already hold a baccalaureate degree? £ Yes £ No

Are you currently enrolled at Shepherd? £ Yes £ No

Are you currently a certified teacher? £ Yes £ No Current Employer:

Test Scores: GRE GMAT MAT MFAT-MBA MFAT-BBAPlease have test scores sent to the Shepherd University Office of Graduate Admissions.

The University provides opportunity to all prospective and current members of the student body, faculty, and staff on the basis of individual qualifications and merit without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national origin, or ability. The University neither affiliates knowingly with nor grants recognition to any individual, group, or organization having policies that discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or ability, as defined by applicable laws and regulations and the University does not tolerate any such acts or policies of discrimination and/or harassment by any person or entity. Shepherd University’s complete institutional information on Non-Discrimination and Civility is available at: www.shepherd.edu/civility-memo

SIGNATUREI have read and understand the application instructions, and I certify that all statements in this application are complete and true.

I give Shepherd University permission to use this information for statistical and reporting purposes. I further understand thatany willful misrepresentation of information given in this application may be grounds for denial of my admission or dismissal.

__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________Signature Date

£ Master of Arts in College Student Development and Administration

£ Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (Choose only one concentration area)£ Individualized£ Multi-Categorical Special Education

£ Master of Arts in Teaching (Choose at least one concentration area)£ Secondary Education

£ Art (PreK-Adult)£ Biology (Grades 9-Adult)£ General Science (Grades 5-Adult)£ English (Grades 5-Adult)£ Family and Consumer Sciences (Grades 5-Adult)£ Health (Grades 5-Adult) only with Physical Education£ Physical Education (PreK-Adult)£ Mathematics (Grades 5-Adult)£ Chemistry (Grades 9-Adult)£ Social Studies (Grades 5-Adult)£ Spanish (Grades 5-Adult)

£ Elementary Education

£ Master of Business Administration£ 4+1 M.B.A. (Current Shepherd University undergraduates only)£ Health Administration (Optional)£ Public Management (Optional)£ Sport Management (Optional)

£ Master of Science in Data Analytics and Information Systems

4+1 M.S.-DAIS (Current Shepherd University undergraduates only)

Graduate Certificate£ Appalachian Studies Graduate Certificate£ Health Administration Graduate Certificate£ Public Management Graduate Certificate£ Sport Management Graduate Certificate

OTHER COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES ATTENDEDList all colleges you have attended and the credit hours/degrees earned:Name City State From-To (MM/YYYY) Credit Hours/Degree GPA

Are you presently enrolled in any college or university? £ Yes £ No

Have you ever been suspended or expelled from any college or university for academic or disciplinary reasons? £ Yes £ No

If yes, are you currently eligible to return to that institution? £ Yes £ No

Briefly explain the nature of suspension or expulsion:

Applicants must have an official transcript from the degree-awarding undergraduate institution. Coursework relevant to program prerequisites or content area requirements that are from other institutions and do not appear on the degree transcript require an official transcript submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS