General Admission Requirements

St. Catherine University welcomes applications from individuals seeking to contribute to our diverse graduate learning community. Admission to St. Catherine University is based on a holistic review of each applicant’s qualifications, taking into consideration a wide variety of criteria. No single factor guarantees admission.

Applicants are selected for admission because of their demonstrated ability to succeed in a rigorous graduate course of study, contribute to the University’s diverse learning environment and, after graduation, make a positive contribution to their professional and scholarly communities.

Successful applicants have the capacity to develop advanced skills for ethical leadership, critical thinking, communication and respect for individuals from all backgrounds. They have the ability to act in a professional and compassionate manner, advocate for social justice, and engage in global citizenship in an interconnected world. They are capable of achieving excellence in leadership within their professions and their communities, influencing others and creating opportunities for positive change.

To be considered for admission, applicants must provide evidence of a successfully completed, regionally accredited baccalaureate or graduate degree. Acceptable baccalaureate or graduate degrees are those granted by a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting organization (as recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, see http://www.chea.org) or, if the degree was earned outside the U.S., evaluated as the equivalent of a regionally accredited four-year U.S. baccalaureate or graduate degree.

Applicants must demonstrate academic preparedness as evidenced by a strong undergraduate record of achievement and, where applicable, a strong prior graduate record of achievement. The preferred minimum cumulative GPA from the college or university at which the applicant earned a baccalaureate degree is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; individual programs may require a higher minimum GPA. Grades earned at the graduate level may be taken into consideration as well. Some programs may consider extenuating factors, and most recent coursework may be weighted more heavily in the admission decision. Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in writing.

Each applicant must submit an official transcript from their baccalaureate degree-granting college or university and, if applicable, graduate degree-granting college or university as well.

Some programs may require transcripts from other colleges and universities attended (if applicable), an admission essay, a resume/curriculum vitae, and/or recommendation forms or letters.

 Additional requirements for some applicants:

  • Applicants with a primary language other than English must provide results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or 80 on the iBT, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.5. This requirement is waived for applicants who have completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree in the United States.
  • Applicants who have earned a baccalaureate or graduate degree outside the United States must submit an evaluation from an approved credential evaluation agency (World Education Services, Inc.).

All degree and certificate applicants must meet admission requirements for the intended graduate program. Individual St. Catherine graduate programs have specific admission requirements, which may include official test scores, work/volunteer experience, and prerequisite courses, in addition to submitting the materials listed above.

Program-specific admission requirements, forms, and deadlines are available on the Graduate Admission website. Interested individuals may also direct questions to the Office of Graduate Admission at 651.690.6933.  Fulfillment of the admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

 

Summer Starts with Bachelor's Degree Program in Process

Applicants applying to graduate programs with a summer start who are still in the process of completing their bachelor's degrees will need to supply the following if their degrees will not be posted until after the graduate program begins:
 
  • Application in review: Student must provide a letter from the registrar of their institution indicating that student is in good standing and is on track to complete all necessary graduation requirements with a planned graduation date that precedes the start of the graduate program.
  • Accepted students: Student must submit a second document from the registrar of their institution indicating that the student has met all graduation requirements and that an official transcript with degree posted is forthcoming.