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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.
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.
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.
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
Learn more about Graduate Transfer Credit requirements
Learn more about Graduate Enrollment and Academic requirements
Learn more about TESU’s Graduate Student Reenrollment Policy
Program Specific Admissions Requirements top of page
In addition to the requirements listed above, the following programs have supplemental requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree must be a BSN.
- Applicants must have an active RN license from the United States.
Candidates for the Master of Science in Accounting must have competed 24 credit hours in accounting in the following classes (a minimum of 3 credit hours per class):
- Financial Accounting
- Intermediate Accounting I
- Intermediate Accounting II
- Auditing I
- Cost Accounting
- Managerial Accounting
- Federal Taxation I
- Accounting for Municipals and Not-For-Profit Organizations/ or Accounting Information System
Candidates for the Master of Business Administration are required to have completed one undergraduate course in each of the following topics:
- Financial Accounting
- Microeconomics
- Statistics
In addition to the MBA admissions criteria, 12 credit hours in undergraduate accounting with an equivalent to Intermediate Accounting I and II.
A GPA of 3.0 is required for admission into this program. Students who do not meet the 3.0 threshold may be considered for restricted admission by submitting a resume and personal statement for the consideration of the Admissions Committee. Students admitted in a restricted status will be evaluated upon successful completion of 6 credit hours of graduate coursework in the program with a 3.0 GPA.
Applicants must identify a site supervisor who is a New Jersey standard certified principal or assistant principal and upload the appropriate Site Supervisor Form here after submitting an application.
See below for requirements for each MAEdL specialization.
All applicants must have 3 years of successful educational experience under a valid New Jersey (or equivalent out-of-state) instructional, educational services or administrative certificate.
You will be required to provide a statement of your experience as part of your application. In addition, please upload a copy of your certificate after submitting your application
All applicants must have 3 years of successful educational experience in a public or nonpublic school/district or a regionally accredited higher educational setting. A valid New Jersey (or equivalent out-of-state) instructional, educational services administrative certificate, if seeking the principal or supervisor endorsements.
You will be required to provide a statement of your experience as part of your application. In addition, please upload a copy of your certificate after submitting your application.
Applicants should have relevant professional experience. Certification is not needed for application to this program.
All applicants must sign the MAEdL Site Supervisor Responsibilities form for SBA students and upload the Site Supervisor form after submitting an application.
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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Toni M. Terry, BA
"I am 67 years old, soon to be 68, and to be able to say I did this at this day in my life is just gratification for my own self."