Graduate Admissions Requirements

Who Should Apply?

Graduate Studies within the College of Communication and the Arts offers Master of Arts degree programs in Communication and Museum Professions. Each program provides students with dynamic learning experiences involving theoretical frameworks and practical components that permit students to recognize, test and translate course material into academic, professional and workplace settings required of a complicated and highly interactive world.

Candidates for admission to the programs within Graduate Studies should possess a strong academic record, demonstrated potential for academic success at the graduate-level, and be current or aspiring leaders in the field.

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for the Fall and Spring semesters and are completed entirely online.

• Fall semester - July 1 (Priority deadline - May 1)
• Spring semester - December 1 (Priority deadline - November 1)

For priority review, including consideration for available Dean’s Graduate Scholarships, applicants should submit complete applications and all supporting materials by the priority deadlines. Please note, the fall semester begins in late-August and the Spring semester begins in early-January.

Application Requirements

To be considered for admission to any of the graduate degree programs, applicants are required to submit the following materials:

• Electronic application and application fee
• Resume/Curriculum vitae
• Personal statement (up to 550 words, about 2 pages) - please review our tips and suggestions
• Official transcript(s) from all institutions attended - including pre- and post-baccalaureate coursework
• GRE or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores (see below for waiver criteria)
• Letters of recommendation (2)

GRE/MAT Test Score Waiver Criteria

Qualified applicants may request a waiver of the standardized test requirement if one of the following conditions is met:

1. Undergraduate cumulative grade point average is 3.4 (on a 4-point scale) or higher
2. Completed a master's-level degree and earned a 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) cumulative grade point average or higher.

To be formally considered for a GRE or MAT waiver, a written request must be sent via email to Ms. Brittany Scoles.  The transcript(s)* included with the applicant's application will be considered as part of the waiver process.  Students granted a waiver will receive written confirmation.

* An international applicant's eligibility for a GRE/MAT waiver is evaluated based on cumulative grade point average as determined by an official course-by-course transcript evaluation.

Criteria for Admissions Materials

• Test scores, transcripts, and transcript evaluations must be received directly from the appropriate agency.  Unofficial documents will not be considered as part of the review process.
• GRE or MAT scores must be from within the last five years
• Letters of recommendation must be from academic and/or professional sources.  Letters of recommendation submitted from non-academic or non-verifiable sources (e.g. Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc email exchanges) are not accepted.

Application Review

Completed applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Studies' Admissions Committee.  Under no circumstances will an incomplete application be reviewed.  All prospective students are encouraged to apply, but preference is given to students who meet the following criteria-

• Bachelor's degree with overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
• GRE or MAT scores in the 50th percentile or higher (combined scores)
• For international applicants, TOEFL score above 80 or IELTS score above 7

International Applicants

In addition to the above application materials, international applicants must satisfy the following admissions requirements-

• Course-by-course transcript evaluation from an accredited transcript evaluation agency
• TOEFL or IELTS exam (if English is not an applicant's native language)
• Video conference, as requested

Approved transcript evaluation agencies include:

• World Education Services
• Educational Credential Evaluators
• Global Credential Evaluators, Inc.
• Evaluation Service, Inc.
• Center for Applied Research, Evaluation and Education, Inc.

If English is not an applicant's first language, please arrange to have official TOEFL or IELTS scores sent directly to Seton Hall University.  The institution code for Seton Hall University is 2811.

Note: International applicants who require a student visa are not eligible for offers of conditional admission and all required documents for admission consideration must be received for an applicant's file to undergo review.

International Student Visa Requirements

For international applicants who require a student visa, the Office of International Programs (OIP) will evaluate an applicant's materials to determine if they are sufficient to issue an I-20.  An I-20 is used to apply for an F-1 student visa.

The documentation necessary for an I-20 includes-

• Declaration and Certification of Finances with attached proof of ability to pay for the cost of education
• Request for Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) form
• International students currently residing in the United States must also complete a Visa Sponsorship Transfer form indicating the SEVIS release date.