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The Graduate Admissions Process

The Application and Admissions Process
Stockton draws its graduate student body from a large variety of prospective applicants, including recent baccalaureate degree recipients and college graduates in the professions. Committed to diverse educational opportunities, Stockton encourages the enrollment of those who meet the individual graduate programs’ admission criteria. Individual graduate programs will evaluate the transcript for currency and may require the student to complete some courses as prerequisites to graduate study.

Enrollment Terms
Applications for admission to graduate programs are submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions for available, open terms. Applicants are limited to one graduate application per admissions cycle/term and may only be enrolled in one graduate program (degree-seeking and/or certificate) per cycle/term. Each graduate program has a committee that evaluates completed applications. Students should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions website for deadlines.

Part-Time Study Opportunities
Depending on the degree program, opportunities for part-time study are available. A person interested in part-time study as a matriculated student is required to complete all steps of the admissions process. People interested in part-time study as non-matriculated students should complete and submit the online application. At the time that the non-matriculated student wishes to change their student status to matriculated and/or is at their cap for non-matriculated graduate coursework, they must formally apply to the University through the Graduate Admissions Office. Financial aid and veteran’s benefits programs define a part-time student as one who carries fewer than 9 credits.

Application Process
Application for admission as a matriculated student should be completed online with the University at the earliest opportunity. Complete application instructions are included on the Graduate Admissions Process page and within the online application system. A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee is required for each application. Every graduate student must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education before graduate matriculation.

Program admission deadlines vary; please consult the graduate program’s website for specific information. To ensure full consideration, applications and all required supplemental materials must be received prior to the established deadline. Applications received after the deadline may not receive full consideration. The Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy programs utilize a centralized application system (CAS). For the CAS applications, only verified applications who also pay the $50 Stockton supplemental fee move on to the faculty review committees.

The applicant is responsible for requesting official test scores (if applicable), transcripts from all institutions attended, and letters of recommendation (through the Stockton application system). Admission decisions will not be made until all application documents have been received. A personal interview may be required for admission to the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, Master of Arts in Counseling, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, and Master of Social Work program.

Other Admissions Requirements
Admission to a specific graduate program may be based on the Grade Point Average (GPA) and test scores on the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Applicants should read the admissions requirements specific to the individual graduate program included in the program descriptions in the following sections.

Meeting the minimum requirement for admission does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

Admissions requirements specific to an individual graduate program are included in the graduate program descriptions online. Additional information concerning educational background may be required. Letters of recommendation, transcripts from all colleges attended, essays, test scores, and other application materials will be reviewed as part of the admissions process.

Applicants who are non-native English speakers are required to report scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or proof of successful completion of ELS Language Center’s Level 112 of the ELS Intensive English for Academic Purposes program. Applicants must take the TOEFL, GTEC, Duolingo, IELTS or complete ELS Level 112 in time to have their scores reported to Stockton before registering for classes.

Review of Applications

The Office of Graduate Admissions works with applicants as well as the graduate program’s admission committees to ensure the committees receive completed applications including supplemental materials. All completed applications will then be reviewed by the graduate program’s admission committees to which the applicant applied. Applicants may receive correspondence from each of these entities requesting clarification or additional information or documents.

Formal admission to Stockton University is offered only by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants admitted to the graduate program will receive an offer of admission from the Office of Graduate Admissions viewable on the online application system. To accept or decline the offer, applicants must notify the Office of Graduate Admissions by the date listed in their acceptance offer letter or the offer becomes null and void. In some programs, applicants are allowed a onetime only deferral of admission of up to one year, subject to approval by the graduate program. Applicants who are unsuccessful in gaining admission to a graduate program are also notified in writing by the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Wait List

The Office of Graduate Admissions often receives more applications than there are spots available for admission. Waitlists are created for cohort programs to ensure that if an applicant decides not to attend Stockton, another qualified applicant can be admitted in their place. If this occurs, a member of the Graduate Admissions team will reach out to offer admission to a student on the waitlist. During this time, the applicant is responsible for updating the application with additional test scores, college transcripts, and any other material requested by the Office of Graduate Admissions or the program or is deemed important by the applicant in support of this re-evaluation.

Graduate Transfer Credits

The University can accept 3-9 transfer credits (depending on the graduate program) that sufficiently match the corresponding Stockton courses, provided that the grade earned is a B (3.0 GPA) or better. Transfer credit requests should be submitted at the time of application via the online application system. Any other supporting material to complete any transfer requests should be submitted to the student’s advisor for prior approval, no later than the first semester following admission to the program. All transcript evaluations are done by the individual graduate program. Please note that transfer of credit will only be considered once. Upon matriculation into a Stockton University graduate program, students must complete all program requirements at Stockton to receive their degree.

International Graduate Student Admission

Stockton encourages international applicants to apply for admission. International applicants can be admitted for the fall or spring terms. To receive consideration, complete credentials should be filed before March 15 for the fall, or November 1 for the spring.

International applicants must file complete applications to receive consideration for admission. International applicants interested in applying to a program without ever entering the country (fully online programs, I.e. MAHG and MAIT) will apply via the graduate electronic application. All other international applicants requesting a visa to study in the U.S. (including international applicants interested in applying to a program without ever entering the U.S.) will need to submit the following:

International applicants must complete the online Stockton graduate application including essay and resume and pay the non-refundable application fee. Applicants applying to the Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, or the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy programs must apply also via the respective centralized application systems. Additional requirements, including test scores, transcript evaluations, English proficiency, letters of recommendation, essays, and the I-20 process can be found on the Office of Graduate Admissions' international graduate student admission web page. All international applicants must earn a degree which equates to (minimum) a bachelor’s degree to apply for graduate studies. Transcript evaluators will determine the level of degree and relevant coursework. Stockton accepts transcript evaluations from numerous entities which are listed on the international graduate student admission web page.

Financial Opportunities

Graduate students may be eligible to receive federal financial assistance to support their graduate education. To apply for federal aid, students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available at fafsa.gov annually.

Federal Direct Graduate Unsubsidized Loan

A student may be eligible for a Federal Direct Graduate Unsubsidized Loan if they are enrolled in a degree seeking program and are registered and attending at least 5 credits per semester at Stockton University. Eligible students can borrow a direct loan from the U.S. Department of Education. To have these loans applied to a student's account, the student must accept the loans and complete the necessary Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note at studentaid.gov.

Students may borrow up to $20,500 in Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan funding each academic year. Interest will accrue from the date of disbursement until the loan is fully repaid. Borrowers will be required to begin repayment six months after ceasing attendance at less than half-time status or upon graduation from their program. When combined with other financial aid resources, the total loan amount may not exceed the cost of attendance at the time of disbursement to the institution.

Learn more about Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans for graduate students at studentaid.gov.

TEACH Grant

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants for students who intend to teach full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years at schools that serve students from low-income families. If any student fails to complete the four-year teaching obligation, the grant will be converted to an unsubsidized loan and must be repaid with interest.

Applicants must be accepted into the Master of Arts in Education (MAED) program and complete a FAFSA. Each year the applicant must complete TEACH Grant Counseling and a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve. When the student graduates, changes to a program that is not TEACH Grant-eligible, or leaves the institution, EXIT Counseling also is required. Visit studentaid.gov or contact the Office of Financial Aid at Stockton University for more information.

New Graduate Student Scholarship

New, incoming graduate students are eligible for scholarships for the fall and spring semesters. This is a one-semester award that will apply to the students’ first semester. This scholarship will be applied to the bill after the student registers for courses. Graduate admission review committees can nominate new students for this award upon application review. Scholarship awardees will be notified via the online application system at the time of admission.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are an important form of financial support for degree seeking graduate students and are offered by each of the graduate programs. Assistantships are granted in the form of tuition waiver and can vary from one credit waiver to nine credits or the maximum tuition charge per semester, whichever is applicable. Awards are made on a semester basis during the academic year (August – May). Award nominations are made by the faculty and program chair of each graduate program in collaboration with the Office of Graduate Admissions for final approval. Students who are approved for an assistantship will receive an official award letter from the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Eligibility
Students must matriculate into a graduate program at Stockton University to apply for a Graduate Assistantship. Students must have and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and be in good academic standing. Students on probation are not eligible for graduate assistantships. Violations of the Campus Code of Conduct may also impact a student’s eligibility to hold a GA position. Graduate assistants must enroll in graduate study at the University during each semester of the assistantship and maintain the minimum enrolled credits during the entire semester. The assistantship can be rescinded if registration drops below the minimum requirements. Stockton employees are not eligible for graduate assistantships.

Application Process
Students must submit a Graduate Assistantship Application and letter of interest for each semester in which they would like to receive a tuition waiver. Returning students should submit their application through the online application system by the deadlines: October 31 for spring semesters and March 31 for fall semesters. New applicants to Stockton University should submit their Graduate Assistantship Application when they apply to Stockton University through the Office of Graduate Admissions’ online application system.

Duties
The main purpose of a graduate assistantship is to further the professional and/or academic development of the graduate student. While the graduate assistant’s duties may involve some clerical work, the assistantship is expected to serve as a meaningful learning experience. For example, a graduate assistant may contribute to the following types of projects.

  • Work collaboratively with faculty on a research or program project.

  • Work collaboratively with faculty on curricular projects for an undergraduate course.

  • Gather and analyze data for the program.

  • Creating content, updating, and designing a web site, a research instrument, or scholarly project.

  • Performing other tasks as determined by the student’s graduate program, as they relate to research, practical experience, or scholarly work.

  • Assisting with a project related to improving practice and affecting change in graduate education.

To the extent possible, graduate assistants are assigned to units that complement their areas of academic study. Generally, the maximum number of hours in an assistant’s workload is in proportion to the number of credits for which a student receives a tuition waiver. The work hours are defined by the program or unit in which the assistant is assigned. In some instances, temporary work assignments may be made in the evenings or on weekends to meet the special needs of the graduate assistant’s work or research assignment.

Policies
Graduate assistants must abide by all academic policies and procedures, as well as rules and regulations of the University as set forth in this Bulletin as well as in student and program handbooks. Graduate assistants are always expected to conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner. The assistantship work assignment must be performed in an acceptable manner. Work logs must be submitted through the online application system; instructions are provided at the time of offer.

Resignation or Termination of Assistantship
If, for any reason, a graduate assistant resigns or is terminated prior to the end of the appointment, the following conditions apply:

  1. Two weeks’ written notice of the resignation must be sent to the Director of Graduate Admissions and a copy provided to the faculty supervisor and, if applicable, to the site supervisor as well.

  2. If the resignation takes place after the 12th week of the semester in which the assistantship is awarded, the tuition waiver for that semester remains in effect.

  3. If the resignation or termination takes effect after the University deadline for withdrawal with refund (generally 15 days after the Drop/Add period) as indicated on the Academic Calendar, a bill will be issued to the student for the balance of the tuition.

  4. Unsatisfactory performance of the assistantship tasks may result in termination of an assistantship, as determined by the policies of the respective graduate program.

  5. Failure to maintain enrollment in course work for the semester the assistantship is awarded.

  6. Failure to meet the performance criteria expected by the unit providing the assistantship.

  7. Failure to uphold graduate school, program, and/or University policies, including, but not limited to, policies on academic integrity in your own academic work.

For more information on aid opportunities available for graduate students, visit https://stockton.edu/financial-aid/sources-of-financial-aid/graduate-sources.htm.

Taxation of Awards
External fellowship awards in excess of tuition, general fees, and required course-related expenses (such as required books) may be subject to federal income tax. This may include Graduate Assistantships, Distinguished Research Fellowships, and/or scholarship awards. Please see your tax accountant with any questions.

Special Consideration and Opportunities

Early Admission

Early admission to graduate studies is a possibility in some undergraduate-graduate dual-degree programs such as Doctor of Physical Therapy (3+3), Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, Master of Arts in American Studies, Professional Science Master’s in Environmental Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration and Leadership and Master of Public Health.

Direct Entry

Stockton offers “direct entry” into one of the graduate programs listed below for a limited period of time upon the recommendation of the appropriate graduate program Chair. Stockton students and alumni who meet the eligibility requirements as established by the graduate program will not need to complete a traditional graduate application for admission, rather, the Office of Graduate Admissions will waive the graduate application fee. The academic program specifies the eligibility requirements and the timeframe to complete the Direct Entry Request application. Please visit the Direct Entry website for eligibility requirements and application instructions.

The following programs offer Direct Entry:

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master’s)
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Educational Endorsements (Certificate of Graduate Study)
Family Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master’s)
Master of Arts in American Studies (MAAS)
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ)
Master of Arts in Education (MAED)
Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies (MAHG)
Master of Arts in Instructional Technology (MAIT)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration and Leadership (MBA-HAL)
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Master of Science in Accounting (MSAC)
Master of Science in Data Science and Strategic Analytics (DSSA)
Master of Science in Coastal Zone Management (MS-CZMT)
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Professional Science Master’s in Coastal Zone Management (PSM-CZMT)
Professional Science Master’s in Environmental Science (PSM-ENSC)
Training and Development Certificate of Graduate Study

Student Grievance Procedures

Stockton is concerned that University policies and procedures be applied as equitably and fairly as possible. The University is especially aware of its obligation not to discriminate because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, marital status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States or nationality.

Students who have a complaint regarding non-award, withdrawal, or termination of financial assistance, or who feel that they have been the subject of possible discriminatory treatment on the basis of the above-mentioned criteria or others their handicap/disability, should direct their initial complaint to the Chair of the graduate program. If the complaint involves the program chair or remains unresolved at this level, the student should direct his/her appeal within 20 days to the Director of Graduate Admissions.