Graduate Admissions Requirements

Your personal statement should reflect your ability to write at the graduate level and should be no more than 500 words. In addition to providing evidence of appropriate grammar, spelling, form and structure throughout your statement, we ask that you address the following areas:

1. Your professional and personal goals.
2. Your reasons for selecting your chosen graduate program at TESU.
3. How you expect your chosen graduate program to help achieve your goals.
4. How your background and leadership style will enhance the experiences of other students in your chosen graduate program.

Upload Your Personal Statement

Provide our admissions team with an updated, professional resume that reflects your work experience and education in detail.

Upload Your Resume

For admission to our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, you must:

• Have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
• Have an active RN license from the United States.

For admission to our Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program, you must have 24 credit hours in the following accounting courses (a minimum of three 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

For admission to our Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, you must have completed one undergraduate course in each of the following topics:

• Financial Accounting
• Microeconomics
• Statistics

MBA with Area of Study in Accounting

In addition to the requirements above, you must have 12 credit hours in undergraduate accounting courses. Two of those courses must be 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 Heavin School Admissions Committee. Students admitted in a restricted status will be evaluated upon successful completion of six 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 (PDF) after submitting an application.

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Each specialization of the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program has additional requirements.

Building Leadership Specialization

In addition to the general Master of Arts in Educational Leadership requirements above, the Building Leadership specialization requires three 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.

District Leadership Specialization

In addition to the general Master of Arts in Educational Leadership requirements above, the District Leadership specialization requires:

• Three years of successful educational experience in a public or nonpublic school/district or a regionally accredited higher education setting.
• A valid New Jersey (or equivalent out-of-state) instructional, educational services or administrative certificate (if seeking the principal or supervisor endorsements of this program).

You will be required to provide a statement of your educational experience as part of your application. And, if applicable, please upload a copy of your certificate after submitting your application.

School Business Administration (SBA) Specialization

In addition to the general Master of Arts in Educational Leadership requirements above, the School Business Administration specialization requires relevant professional experience. Certification is not a requirement for this specialization.

Additionally, you must identify a site supervisor who is a New Jersey standard certified principal or assistant principal to complete the SBA-specific Site Supervisor Form (PDF).

For admission to our Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, you must:

• Provide an official transcript indicating a master’s degree in business, management, organizational-related studies or a closely related field from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Have a graduate GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Complete an assessment of prior academic course work and research methods.
• Have a minimum of three years of organizational leadership, management or equivalent professional experience.
• Undergo an applicant interview.
• Provide two personal essays (see below).

Essay Requirements

Applicants must complete two personal essays for admission to the DBA program. Each essay should be no more than 550 words.

• First Essay: In your first essay, identify one research area you're interested in and how earning a DBA would advance your knowledge and contribute to the literature in that field.
• Second Essay: For your second essay, choose one of the two prompts below to write about:
  • Why is earning a DBA important to you and how will it influence your career goals?
  • Which personal and/or professional experiences have prepared you for earning a DBA at TESU?

DBA Start Terms

The DBA program introduces new cohorts twice each year in January and July.

Students are eligible for degree program admission and course enrollment using the following admissions criteria:

• Master’s degree in management, education, human resource management, training and development and organizational development, and/or closely related fields earned from a regionally accredited college or university
• Graduate GPA of 3.0 or above
• Assessment of prior academic coursework
• Minimum three years of leadership, management, corporate, higher education and consulting or equivalent professional experience
• Evaluation of graduate school application including undergraduate and graduate academic transcripts, essay and resume
• Applicant interview
• Official Transcripts should be sent to the Office of the Registrar. Upload essays and/or resumes here

Ed.D. Entry Terms:

• Students start in either the January or July term.

For admission to our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, you must:

• Have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution and a nationally accredited school of nursing (i.e., accredited by CCNE, CNEA or ACEN)
  -OR-
  Have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a nationally accredited school of nursing and a master's degree in a related discipline from a regionally accredited higher education institution.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in your completed master’s program.
• Provide names and contact information for two academic and/or professional references.
• Provide two written statements or essays (see instructions below).
• Possess relevant professional work experience (recommended).
• Possess an active RN license from the United States.
• Provide a current resume.
• Undergo an applicant interview with the School of Nursing Admissions Committee.

Statements and Essays

As part of your application to the DNP program, you are required to submit a personal statement and a scholarly essay. Read the full instructions (PDF).

• Personal Statement: Provide a statement of your background and future goals.
• Scholarly Essay: Provide a well-written essay based on our prompt.

When complete, upload these documents to your application.

DNP Start Terms

The DNP program introduces new cohorts twice each year. Apply by the outlined date for the term you wish to begin:

• To start in the October term, apply by August 1.
• To start in the January term, apply by November 1.

For admission to any graduate certificate program in the TESU School of Nursing, you must:

• Have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Have a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Possess an active RN license from the United States.

Additionally, an applicant interview may be requested.

If Your GPA is Lower than 3.0

If your graduate GPA is below 3.0, we require the following additional materials as part of your application:

• A current resume.
• The name and contact information of one academic and/or professional reference.
• A personal statement of background and goals no more than 500 words that addresses the following prompts:
  • Your professional and personal goals.
  • Your reasoning for selecting your chosen program for graduate study.
  • How you expect this program to help you achieve your goals.

These materials, especially your personal statement, will be evaluated and used to determine your admission to a graduate certificate program in the School of Nursing.