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Doctoral Programs, Master’s Degrees, Post-Master’s Degrees and Graduate Certificates Admissions Policy

Thomas Edison State University was established to serve adult learners. The University’s graduate admission policy is reflective of its mission and purpose. Applicants to TESU graduate programs are expected to have requisite knowledge and skills to handle complex concepts and to communicate clearly about them.

General Admission Requirements top of page

The University requirement for admission to any master’s degree program is the demonstration of the completion of a bachelor’s degree from an institution recognized under our Transfer Credit Policy. Students with a GPA of 3.0 or above as reflected on the official transcript of the institution awarding their degree are considered to have demonstrated the requisite knowledge and skills to handle graduate-level work and will be admitted without further requirements.* Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree in a field unrelated to the graduate degree for which they are considering application are advised to speak with an admissions counselor first to discuss the background and preparation needed to be successful in the desired program.

*Several programs have additional requirements beyond GPA for admission and those requirements are listed at the bottom of this section.

Students whose GPA is less than 3.0 are invited to submit a resume and a personal statement (more information below) describing their background and goals for the consideration of an Admissions Committee from the School they wish to attend.

Upload resume and personal statements

Sending Transcripts and other Documents top of page

An official undergraduate transcript from the institution that awarded the baccalaureate degree is required. If applicable, please also have an official transcript sent from any school at which you have earned graduate credit so we can complete a transfer credit evaluation.

Transferred graduate credits that were earned seven or more years prior to the student’s enrollment date may not be applied to the degree without permission of the appropriate School dean.

View full information on sending transcripts

Personal Statement (if required for Admissions Committee review) top of page

The personal statement (not to exceed 500 words) should reflect the applicant’s ability to write at the graduate level, with attention to appropriate grammar, spelling, form and structure in preparing the statement. Applicants are asked to address:

  • Their professional and personal goals
  • Their reasons for selecting the program for graduate study
  • How they expect their chosen graduate program will help them achieve their goals
  • How their background and leadership style will enhance the experiences of other students in the graduate program.

Upload personal statements

International Applicants top of page

In addition to an official transcript, international applicants must provide a foreign credential evaluation indicating the earning of the equivalent of a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree. In addition, in order to receive a transfer credit evaluation or meet program specific requirements, students who were educated in a country other than the United States must submit a course-by-course foreign credential evaluation from an agency approved by Thomas Edison State University.

Applicants whose primary language is not English and who have not received their undergraduate degree from a U.S. college or university must demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English by submitting official results from the iBT (Internet-based test) versions of either the Test of English as a Foreign Language or International English Language Testing System (IELTS link) to the Registrar. At minimum, TOEFL scores should be 79 on the Internet-based test (iBT). At minimum, the IELTS score should be 6.5. Students are responsible for taking either the TOEFL or IELTS and having the official scores sent to the Office of the Registrar at Thomas Edison State University by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Graduate Academic Requirements top of page

Program Specific Admissions Requirements top of page

In addition to the requirements listed above, the following programs have supplemental requirements:

Graduate Courses

Contact Us

Questions?
Please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 609-777-5680 or gradadmissions@tesu.edu.

Graduate Admission Deadlines

To start in the January term:
Apply by November 15

To start in the March term:
Apply by January 15

To start in the May term:
Apply by March 15

To start in the July term:
Apply by May 15

To start in the September term:
Apply by July 15

To start in the November term:
Apply by September 15

Please note the entry terms for doctoral programs

DBA Entry Terms:
Two terms per year: January and July.
There are no application deadlines for the DBA program.

Ed.D. Entry Terms:
Two terms per year: January and July.
There are no application deadlines for the Ed.D. program.

DNP Entry Terms:
Six terms per year: January, March, May, July, September, and November.
There are no application deadlines for the DNP program.

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