Graduate Admissions
The Office of Graduate Admissions can help you select from the wide range of options for advanced study available at DeSales and can support you as you navigate the admission process.
DeSales University’s graduate programs operate on a rolling admissions basis, except for the physician assistant program, doctor of nursing practice program, and doctor of physical therapy program whose applicants must apply by a deadline determined by the program.
Each graduate degree program has specific admission requirements and procedures. You should begin the admission process by reviewing the admission requirements below.
Upon receipt and review of all required admissions materials, applicants are notified of their admissions status. DeSales University accepts applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, or disability.
To assist in graduate school research, you are welcome to schedule an appointment to learn more about opportunities for graduate study at the University. Please email gradadmissions@desales.edu.
Admission Requirements for Individual Programs
Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: Yes
- Resume Required: Yes
Applicants to the MCJ program must have:
- A bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges) or its equivalent from a foreign institution with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher.
- A background or interest in the field of criminal justice.
- Evidence of potential for graduate work: A personal statement must be submitted that will serve as a demonstration of your ability to write at the graduate level. It should state your personal and professional goals, as well as how an MCJ degree from DeSales University can assist you in achieving them.
Applicants who lack one or more requirements may be admitted to the program on a provisional basis. Individuals with special needs or goals may be considered for admission to the program.
International applicants must contact Leslie Bartholomew, Designated School Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 1859 or Leslie.Bartholomew@desales.edu to inquire about international admission requirements for this program.Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: No
- Resume Required: No
Applicants to the MAHS program must have:
- A bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges) or its equivalent from a foreign institution with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher
- A background or interest in the field of criminal justice or homeland security.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation. No letters are required for certificate programs.
Applicants who lack one or more requirements may be admitted to the program on a provisional basis. Individuals with special needs or goals may be considered for admission to the program.
International applicants must contact Leslie Bartholomew, Designated School Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 1859 or Leslie.Bartholomew@desales.edu to inquire about international admission requirements for this program.Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: Yes
- Resume Required: Yes
Applicants to the MBA program must have:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Applicants who have not earned a degree in a related field may still be eligible for admission based on professional experience and potential to succeed in the program.
- A personal statement explaining why you want to pursue an MBA and what you feel you could bring to the classroom discussion/experience, etc.
- 2 professional references/recommendation letters. No letters are required for certificate programs.
- An undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 or higher. GPAs below a 3.0 are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Additional requirements for international student applicants:
- English Competency Exam Required: TOEFL (minimum score of 90)
- Transcript Evaluation Required: Yes
- Certificate of Finances Required: Yes
Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: No
- Resume Required: Only for M.Ed. in Higher Education and related certificate programs. Resume is not required for M.Ed. in Teacher Education and related certificate programs.
Applicants to the M.Ed. program must have:
- A bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.0.
Additional requirements for international student applicants:
- English Competency Exam Required: TOEFL (minimum score of 90)
- Transcript Evaluation Required: Yes
- Certificate of Finances Required: Yes
Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: Yes
- Resume Required: No
Applicants to the MFA program must have:
- A completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited American university.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation.
- Personal statement that addresses three questions:
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- What writers or writing experiences have led you to this degree?
- Why do you want to enroll in this MFA program?
- What kind of book-length project do you think you want to write while in the program?
- Either a 20-page writing sample of prose (short story/stories/novel, chapter/essays/memoir) or a 10-page sample of poetry.
Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: Yes
- Resume Required: Yes
Applicants to the MSBA program must have
- A personal statement explaining why you want to pursue this degree and what you feel you could bring to the classroom discussion/experience, etc.
- 2 professional references/recommendation letters
- An undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 or higher from an accredited institution. GPAs below a 3.0 are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Additional requirements for international student applicants
- English Competency Exam Required: TOEFL (minimum score of 90)
- Transcript Evaluation Required: Yes
- Certificate of Finances Required: Yes
Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: Yes
- Resume Required: Yes
Applicants to the Cyber Security program must have
- A bachelor's degree in a computer related discipline from an accredited US institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B). Applicants who have not earned a degree in a related field may still be eligible for admission based on professional experience and potential to succeed in the program.
- A personal statement detailing your professional goals as well as how the program from DeSales University can assist you in achieving these goals.
Applicants who lack related coursework may be eligible for ‘provisional’ admission to the program. Provisional admission simply requires the completion of one or two additional foundational courses as part of your plan of study.
International applicants must contact Leslie Bartholomew, Designated School Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 1859 or Leslie.Bartholomew@desales.edu to inquire about international admission requirements for this program.
Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: Yes
- Resume Required: Yes
Applicants to the Data Analytics program must have
- A bachelor's degree in a computer related discipline from an accredited US institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B). Applicants who have not earned a degree in a related field may still be eligible for admission based on professional experience and potential to succeed in the program.
- A personal statement detailing your professional goals as well as how the program from DeSales University can assist you in achieving these goals.
Applicants who lack related coursework may be eligible for ‘provisional’ admission to the program. Provisional admission simply requires the completion of one or two additional foundational courses as part of your plan of study.
International applicants must contact Leslie Bartholomew, Designated School Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 1859 or Leslie.Bartholomew@desales.edu to inquire about international admission requirements for this program.
Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadline: None – Rolling Admission
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: Yes
- Resume Required: Yes
Applicants to the MSIS program must have
- A bachelor's degree in a computer related discipline from an accredited US institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B). Applicants who have not earned a degree in a related field may still be eligible for admission based on professional experience and potential to succeed in the program.
- A personal statement detailing your professional goals as well as how the program from DeSales University can assist you in achieving these goals.
Applicants who lack related coursework may be eligible for ‘provisional’ admission to the program. Provisional admission simply requires the completion of one or two additional foundational courses as part of your plan of study.
International applicants must contact Leslie Bartholomew, Designated School Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 1859 or Leslie.Bartholomew@desales.edu to inquire about international admission requirements for this program.
Applicants for dual degrees (MSIS+MSN) must also meet the admission requirements for the MSN program.
All admissions to an MSN/NP program will be at the discretion of the program director. The admission process and entrance requirements are rigorous; demonstrating minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the MSN program.
Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadline: Semester-Based Rolling Admission
- Summer semester (July) deadline is May 15
- Fall semester (August) deadline is June 15
- Winter semester (January) deadline is November 15
- Spring semester (April) deadline is February 15
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: Yes
- Resume Required: Yes
Applicants to the MSN/NP program must have
- A baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement may submit an official copy of GRE or MAT scores from within two years of application to a DeSales program.
- A copy of a current RN license or eligibility for licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. New Jersey licensure as an RN is also required prior to beginning the clinical sequence for all MSN programs.
- Evidence of the equivalent of 12 months full-time nursing practice within the last three (3) years.
- A 500-700 word personal statement, written in narrative format, addressing each of the following:
- Why you chose your intended MSN track.
- How this academic program will help you meet your career goals.
- Where you see your career 5 years post-graduation.
- Additional relevant information that may assist the committee in the overall evaluation of your application.
Applicants to specific Nurse Practitioner programs
For the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) track
- Evidence of the equivalent of one (1) year of full-time nursing practice in an adult acute care/ICU specialty area (i.e. medical/surgical ICU, trauma ICU, neuro/neurosurgical ICU, cardiac ICU, open heart unit, burn unit, etc.) within 18 months of application completion.
- Students will be required to continue to work as an Acute Care/ICU registered nurse to fulfill the one year of nursing practice experience required to progress to the specialty clinical courses.
For the Family/Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track
- Evidence of the equivalent of two years full-time family RN experience prior to starting clinical courses.
- Currently practicing nurses who have only had pediatric or labor and delivery experience will be required to obtain employment as an RN in the care of the adult while completing the program part-time.
For the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track
- Evidence of the equivalent of 12 months full-time experience as a practicing psychiatric RN within 18 months of application completion.
- Students will be required to continue to work as a psychiatric nurse to fulfill the 12 months of nursing practice experience required to progress to the specialty clinical courses.
For the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) track
- Students with less than one year’s experience will be required to continue to work as a registered nurse to fulfill the 1 year of nursing practice experience required to progress to the specialty clinical courses.
Applicants transferring from another program
- The MSN program (not applicable for NP programs and certifications) will generally accept up to six (6) transfer credits or two (2) courses into the declared MSN track based upon the following criteria:
- Course work must have been completed within five (5) years before admission to the MSN program.
- Courses transferred must be similar in credits, scope and subject matter to the courses offered in the MSN program. The student must provide a course syllabus and topical outline for any courses requested for transfer for evaluation by the chair of graduate programs upon acceptance.
- Only courses from an ACEN or CCNE accredited college or university will be accepted for transfer.
- Grades for transfer courses must be a B or higher.
Additional requirements for international student applicants
- International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or CAE) as part of their application.
- An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Division of Nursing at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034.
- All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program.
Applicants for dual degrees (MSN+MBA; MSN+MSIS) must also meet the admission requirements for the second program.
Upon matriculation, students will be required to maintain the following
- Current professional liability insurance.
- Current Healthcare Provider CPR or ACLS certification.
- Current criminal background check, child abuse clearance, FBI fingerprinting and drug screening.
All applications to this program must be submitted through CASPA.
The Physician Assistant Program at DeSales University is a full-time academic program. Advanced placement is not possible. There is no credit awarded for experiential learning. The didactic courses are completed in sequence as listed in the curriculum.
Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadline: December 1 (CASPA verification)
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: No
- Resume Required: No
All applicants to the MSPAS program must have
- Verification of their submitted application in CASPA no later than December 1.
- A minimum of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, with a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum science cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale), to be completed prior to matriculation.
- A minimum of three letters of recommendation, maximum of five. Some examples of appropriate references include instructors/professors, academic advisors, and supervisors, especially those supervising you during your direct patient care experiences. We highly recommend you do not submit a reference from someone you have shadowed for only a brief time, or a family member or friend.
- All prerequisite coursework completed prior to matriculation into the program. You may submit your application while completing prerequisite courses, however only two outstanding courses can be completed after the deadline. There are three courses that must have been taken within five years of applying: Microbiology and Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II. Exceptions may be made if you have been active in the medical field since taking the courses or graduating.
- Completed the Physician Assistant College Admissions Test (PA-CAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Scores should be reported using the DeSales University Program Code: 0540. We do not require a minimum score, however competitive PA-CAT and GRE scores are generally considered to be in the top 50th percentile. The MCAT exam will be accepted with an overall score of 500 or higher. Please note that scores must be received by the December 1 deadline.
- A minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care experience (paid, volunteer, or shadowing). The experience must be completed within the United States due to the wide variety of global health care delivery systems. The most useful health care hours relate to direct patient contact, including but not limited to EMT, CNA, MA, surgical technician, patient care technician/associate, dietician, medical scribe, pharmacy technician, campus health center volunteer. We will also accept up to 50 hours of virtual shadowing, provided there is contact information in CASPA.
Additional requirements for international applicants
- Applicants from a country where English is not the primary language must submit TOEFL scores with a minimum overall score of 90.
- Applicants with a degree or coursework outside of the U.S. should review the CASPA requirements for evaluated transcripts.
Military applicants
- As a proud Yellow Ribbon Program participant, special consideration is given to applicants who have served or are serving in the U.S. military.
Evaluation methods
Potentially qualified applicants will be granted a personal interview by invitation only. Applicants will be evaluated on academic credentials, accountability, communication skills, preparedness, professionalism, respectfulness, self-confidence, understanding the role of the PA/Healthcare, and experience with vulnerable or traditionally under-served populations.All applications to this program must be submitted through CSDCAS.
Quick Admission Points
- Application Deadlines
- Early application: December 1
- Final deadline: February 1
- Rolling admissions after February 1
- Standardized Exam Required: No
- Official Transcripts Required: Yes
- Personal Statement Required: Yes
- Resume Required: Yes
Applicants to the MS in SLP program must have
- A minimum of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or, for international students, the equivalent degree from a foreign institution.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and in the sciences.
- 25 observation hours with an ASHA certified, licensed provider.
Additional requirements for international student applicants
- English Competency Exam Required: TOEFL (minimum score of 90)
Pre-requisite Coursework
- Introduction to Biology or Biology I
- Statistics
- Introduction to Psychology
- A Chemistry or Physics course
- Phonetics
- Audiology
- Speech and Hearing Science
- Introduction to Communication Sciences & Disorders
- Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
- Language Development
To apply to the DNP program, you must have:
- a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution
- a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- completion of a master's level statistics course with a grade of "B" or better within the last 5 years
- current licensure as a registered nurse in the United States
- national certification as an advanced practice nurse (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA)
- evidence of a minimum of 500 precepted/supervised clinical practicum hours during the applicant’s advanced practice program
- evidence of the equivalent of 12 months of full-time nursing practice within the last three years
New graduates are expected to obtain APN certification and an APN position within the first six months of program matriculation.
Requirements to apply to a BSN-DNP track:
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Students admitted to BSN-DNP programs shall be currently licensed as a registered nurse (RN) or, if enrolled in an RN to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or RN to Nursing Doctorate (ND) program, shall complete all competencies for undergraduate requirements prior to taking graduate courses.
- New graduates are expected to obtain RN licensure within the first semester of program matriculation.
- New graduates are expected to obtain a RN position within the first semester of program matriculation-specific to track option selected.
- Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware RN licensures are also required prior to beginning the clinical sequence for all BSN-DNP track specialty curriculum.
- Completion of an undergraduate health assessment course with a grade of “C” or higher.
- Current Healthcare Provider CPR or ACLS certification.
- For the BSN-DNP Family/Individual Across the Lifespan NP track
- 24 months of care in the adult population prior to entering the clinical sequence.
- For the BSN-DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP track
- evidence of 24 months of adult acute care / ICU specialty area (i.e. medical/surgical ICU, trauma ICU, neuro/neurosurgical ICU, cardiac ICU, open heart unit, burn unit) experience prior to entering the clinical sequence.
- For the BSN-DNP Psychiatric/Mental Health NP track
- evidence of 24 months of psych mental health experience prior to entering the clinical sequence.
- For the BSN-DNP Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist track
- evidence of 24 months of adult gerontology RN experience prior to entering the clinical sequence.
Applicants for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, iBT, IELTS, or CAE) as part of their application. An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Division of Nursing at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034. Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- The Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)
- All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program.
International applicants must contact Leslie Bartholomew, Designated School Official, at 610-282-1100, ext. 1859 or Leslie.Bartholomew@desales.edu to inquire about international admission requirements.
Admissions Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- A minimum of 1 year (preferably 2 years) of full-time ICU/critical care experience.
- Completed application to DeSales University.
- ACLS/BLS/PALS certification.
Application Requirements
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended (when applicable).
- Electronic official transcripts can be sent to: gradadmissions@desales.edu
- Paper official transcripts can be mailed to:
DeSales University Admissions Office
ATTN: Graduate Programs
2755 Station Ave.
Center Valley, PA 1803 - All transcripts from any degree-granting institution outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES-approved evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Inc., with the resulting report submitted directly to the Division of Nursing.
Visit www.naces.org for more information. DeSales University’s institutional reporting code is 002021.
- Current RN license and other national certifications as applicable
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
- Documentation of 15 hours of shadowing and submission of CRNA Shadow Form provided by DeSales University.
- Letters of recommendation (Three total)
a. Nurse Manager, Nursing Supervisor, or Unit Charge Nurse
b. Physician
c. Secondary Supervisor - DNP Vision Statement
The DNP Vision Statement is a 250 – 500 word description of the applicant’s future intentions and goals upon completion of a particular BSN-DNP track as a DNP graduate. The Statement should clearly express the applicant’s reasons for applying to the SLUHN/DSU Nurse Anesthesia Track and future professional and leadership goals as a doctorally-prepared Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
*For applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement, completion of the GRE or MAT will be required to be considered for admission to the program
*International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, iBT, IELTS, or CAE) as part of their application. An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Division of Nursing at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034. Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- The Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)
All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program.
A $2000.00 non-refundable deposit is due 2-weeks from date of acceptance to maintain the student’s offer of admission to that cohort. Students who have not deposited within that timeframe will be considered to have withdrawn their application, and a student from the waiting list will be offered their seat. All waitlisted students will receive communication 1-month from decision and leading up until start of program as to whether or not a seat is available. Deadline to apply is April 15. One cohort will be accepted annually for a Fall/August start. Interviews for the SLUHN/DSU Nurse Anesthesia Program will begin February 1 and continue the first week of each month up until the cohort is filled.
The admission process and requirements are rigorous; demonstrating minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the DNP Program. Applicants selected for potential admission are required to have an interview before a final admission decision is rendered. Interviews will be conducted in person and will only be scheduled once all application materials have been received.
All applications to this program must be submitted through PTCAS.
Unless otherwise indicated, all items must be submitted to PTCAS by the final deadline date for the application to be considered eligible for review:
- Submission of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, with evidence of completion of all required prerequisite courses, or plan for completion no later than June 30 prior to the start of the session to which the applicant has applied.
- Submission of completed Prerequisite Coursework form. Suggested minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a suggested minimum 3.2 GPA in mathematics and science prerequisite courses at time of application. No grade below C and no more than one re-take on any prerequisite course will be accepted. Prerequisite coursework GPA will be calculated to include all occurrences, including retakes, of all required prerequisite courses.
- Optional GRE submission for those with suggested combined verbal and analytic scores of 300 and/or verbal score of 150. Visit www.ets.org for additional information. DeSales University’s institutional reporting code is 4460.
- Demonstrate understanding of and ability to meet all Technical Standards and Essential Functions required of physical therapy practice.
- Answer all required program questions detailing your interest in the field of physical therapy, and including a description of academic, employment and volunteer preparation and experiences to support the application.
- Complete 40 hours of observation/volunteer/internship/employment hours in a single physical therapy facility. Additional observation hours in a variety of physical therapy practice settings is highly recommended, i.e., outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation, pediatrics, acute care/hospital, extended care facility, geriatrics, home health, sports medicine, etc. Referring PTs should submit their evaluation directly to PTCAS.
- Two references, completed by non-relative, professional individuals, including, but not limited to, professors, employers, and coaches, and excluding the licensed physical therapist(s) with whom clinical observation was performed. All completed references should be submitted directly to PTCAS by the individuals that complete them—not by the applicant.
- If selected for application review, qualified candidates must complete an on-campus interview with DPT program faculty for final determination of admission.
- All international applicants from a country where the official language is other than English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and present documentation of scores with the minimum requirement of 104 for the Internet-based test. Please visit www.ets.org for additional information.
- All transcripts from any degree-granting institution outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES approved evaluation service with the resulting report submitted with the DPT program application to PTCAS. Please visit www.naces.org for additional information.
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Graduate Admissions
Contact
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610-282-4361 -
gradadmiss@desales.edu -
Dooling Hall
