Admission Policies

Salem State welcomes applications to our wide range of graduate programs. Admission decisions are based generally on evidence of achievement in undergraduate studies, performance on standardized tests, strength of recommendations, clarity and professionalism of candidate’s written statements, and other materials submitted with the application. Standards are applied rigorously, the purpose being to identify applicants who show promise of benefiting from advanced studies and who are likely to make significant contributions to the graduate community and their chosen profession. Admission standards for graduate programs are generally more rigorous than those for undergraduate degrees.
 

Admission Requirements for All Graduate Programs

The following general admission requirements apply to all graduate programs. Admission policies stated here are the minimum requirements of the School of Graduate Studies. Individual programs may have requirements that exceed those of the School of Graduate Studies. These additional requirements may include tests or essays, valid teaching certification, personal interviews, specific course preparation, or a specific grade point average. Each program has additional requirements specific to that program. listed on your program page, or salemstate.edu/graduate/admissions for program specific requirements.

1. A completed online graduate admissions application form and non-refundable fee made payable to Salem State University.
2. Official transcripts documenting the award of a bachelor’s degree with grades of merit in an arts and sciences major or a major appropriate to the degree sought from an accredited college or university. The transcripts must contain the college seal and be in a sealed college envelope.
3. Official transcripts of any graduate courses taken or degrees held.
4. Three ‘Reference for Graduate Admission’ forms. Some programs require fewer references. Please check the program admission page for the number of references required. Recommender may attach a letter, but must also return the provided form. Appropriate references would include those from professors and academic advisors, and, in some cases, employers, supervisors, and other professional contacts.
5. Satisfactory scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), taken within the last five years. Those who already hold a master’s degree or a higher degree are exempt from this requirement. Graduate Certificates do not require the GRE, MAT or GMAT.
6. Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores if English is not your first language. If you have earned an academic degree at an institution in the United States or at an institution where the language of instruction was English, then your application can be reviewed without TOEFL/IELTS scores.
7. A 500- to 1,000-word, double-spaced statement of purpose addressing the following questions: What factors in your personal and professional history have influenced you in the past and now lead you to seek admission to this program at Salem State University? What are your long-term professional goals, and how will this program help you to meet them? Is there any other information that you think would help the admission committee evaluate your application?  Some programs have different content requirements. Please check the program admissions page for specific personal statement requirements.
8. Supplemental application materials for each program can be found at salemstate.edu/graduate. Please review requirements carefully as they vary for each program.
9. Graduate Coordinators and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies may waive the required entrance exams if the applicant has proven academic ability in the academic program by receiving a 3.5 GPA in 2 or more courses within the area of study, taken at Salem State University, prior to seeking admissions into the graduate program. This does not supersede pre-existing policies.

Testing Requirement Waiver

To waive the school of graduate studies requirement of admission testing for students who apply for admission for spring 2024, summer 2024, fall 2024, spring 2025, summer 2025, fall 2025, and spring 2026. This includes all specialized admission tests such as the GMAT or MTEL. For programs that need to maintain use of an admission test based on their accreditation or disciplinary mandates, their respective program needs prevail.

International Applicants

In addition to the information above, international students will need to provide the following information:

1. A complete, official transcript documenting the award of a bachelor’s degree (a photocopy is not acceptable). All transcripts from foreign universities must have an approved agency’s evaluation of courses, grades, academic degrees, and grade-point averages. Three approved agencies include the Center for Educational Documentation (cedevaluations.com), World Education Services, Inc. (wes.org), and North American Educational Group (naeg.org).
2. Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score report for all students for whom English is not a first language.
3. Financial documents, if you need an I-20 or DS2019.
4. A copy of your passport. 

Proficiency in English is required of all international applicants. Applicants whose native language is not English can fulfill proficiency requirements from one of two options outlined below:

Option 1: Submit test scores from an approved English proficiency exam

Important Information about Test Scores

The admissions office reserves the right to request students to submit additional proof of English proficiency, even if they meet the above-listed requirements. Sub-scores for different sections within the examination are also considered in determining whether a student has a strong enough command of the English language in order to succeed at Salem State University.

Option 2: Successfully completing an approved intensive English language program

Exemption policy

If you have received a high school, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree from an institution in the United States or a country listed below, an English proficiency examination is not required:

NOTE: The Admission Office reserves the right to request students to submit proof of English proficiency, even if they are from one of the above-listed countries.

Combined Bachelors/Masters degree programs

Students applying to the Combined Bachelors/Masters degree programs do so as an undergraduate student through an internal process. For additional information, please contact the appropriate department.

Master of Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Licensure-Only programs

Most M.Ed. and M.A.T programs offer preparation for state-and nationally-approved Massachusetts educator licenses at the initial or professional level. In addition to full degree licensure programs, Salem State offers non-degree licensure only programs in several fields.

All initial educator licensure programs require the following:

1. A bachelor’s degree with a major in or related to the field of the license sought.
2. An undergraduate cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.75 overall and 3.0 in the major field of study.

Passing scores on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).

Admission to all professional licensure programs requires an initial license from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the field of the professional license sought.

Candidates for admission to programs leading to educator licensure should refer to the specific program for additional admission standards and prerequisites, or modifications to the above standards.

Application Materials

Please note that all materials submitted as part of an application become the property of Salem State University and will not be returned. Access to this material is limited under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Materials received as part of the application process will not be duplicated for personal use by the applicant nor forwarded to a third party.

Individuals who are denied admission to a program of study are not entitled to have access to any materials related to the denied application.

Incomplete applications cannot be reviewed. It is the responsibility of the applicant to be sure all required materials are sent and received. Incomplete applications will be held for one year prior to being purged.

Standardized Test Information

Information about standardized tests (GRE, MAT, GMAT, TOEFL and IELTS) is available at their respective web sites.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Miller Analogies Test  (MAT)
Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT.org)
Test of English as a Foreign Language (ets.org/toefl)
International English Language Testing System (ielts.org)
 

Admission Decisions

All applications are reviewed by an admission committee, composed of some combination of program advisors, faculty, and administrators, which makes a recommendation to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Admission decisions are final and will not be reconsidered without additional, new information.

Admission to the School of Graduate Studies is granted in one of the following categories based on the candidate’s qualifications:
1.     Acceptance. Accepted students meet all of the admission requirements and standards and can be matriculated into the program. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the University of intent to attend.
2.     Conditional Acceptance. A conditionally-accepted student shows potential for success but has some component in their application that does not fully meet the admission standards of the program for which they are applying. These students will be admitted conditionally upon a specified condition being met and are not fully admitted to the program until they have met the stipulated condition. Students in this status are not eligible for federal financial aid.
3.     Not accepted. Students who do not meet the requirements for admission will receive notification to that effect. Please note that some programs can accept only a limited number of applicants due to limited program capacity.
4.     Deferred. In rare instances in which there is not sufficient evidence to make a decision, the admission committee may defer a decision and request further information.

Transfer of Credit and Prior Graduate Coursework

Salem State University graduate programs do not grant course credit for life experience or previous work experience.

For information on graduate policy related to the transfer of graduate credit, please visit the Academic Information & Policies    section of this catalog.