2016-2017 Graduate Academic Catalog

Page 7 2016–17 Graduate Academic Catalog Graduate Programs Academic Information The test must have been taken within the last five years unless the applicant has completed an entire baccalaureate or graduate program in residence in the United States. International applicants applying for graduate residential programs must submit an affidavit of financial support, along with credible documentary evidence (bank statements, fixed certificates of deposit, etc.) that you have enough readily available funds to meet all expenses (tuition, room, board, etc.) for the first year of study without having to seek outside employment. International students are limited to on-campus employment only and cannot displace qualified U.S. citizens for such positions. Transcript and Standardized Test Policy Graduate applicants generally have a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited or otherwise approved university. Transcripts received for admission review must be official. Applicants are required to submit official college transcripts from all postsecondary institutions in which the student has enrolled, even if no credit was earned. The degree-granting institution transcript should also indicate the degree conferred and the date granted. If a graduate applicant is currently completing a baccalaureate degree during the admission review, conditional admission may be granted until the final degree-granting transcript is received. If transcripts are in a language other than English or are from a non-U.S. college/university (graduate students), the original transcript must be submitted to a credential evaluation service. The original transcript should be submitted along with the official evaluation from the evaluation agency. The cost for credential verification and translation is the responsibility of the applicant. We recommend the following credential evaluation/translation services: • International Consultants of Delaware • World Education Services (WES) • Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. • International Education Research Foundation If required by a degree program, standardized test scores should be submitted directly from the testing agency to University Admissions. The test must have been taken within the last five years prior to applying. Standardized test scores, if required by a program, will be considered along with other factors in making the admissions decision. Academic Information Cedarville University graduate and professional practice degree programs are designed to meet the professional, personal, and spiritual needs of adults who desire to honor God with their careers and lives. Truth from Scripture is integrated with the knowledge taught in each course to provide effective learning and enduring life values. The knowledge and skills learned from the curricular experiences provide adults with an excellent background for professional competence in their chosen fields. Academic Advising Each student is assigned to an academic advisor by the director of the particular graduate program. The academic advisor offers counsel concerning course scheduling. Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor prior to registration, whenever an academic problem is encountered, or when considering any changes in their educational program. Degree-seeking students may review their academic program progression by using the Program Evaluation option in Student Planning at cedarville.edu/ studentplanning. Conditions of admission not met by the communicated deadline could lead to dismissal from the program at the end of the term. Academic deficiencies include but are not limited to the following: • Undergraduate GPA does not meet the program requirements. • Undergraduate degree is from an unaccredited or unapproved institution. • Final, official undergraduate transcript has not been received. (Used to offer conditional admission to current applicants in their final semester of undergraduate study or used to offer conditional admission to late applicants who submit unofficial transcripts. In both cases, a final and official transcript would be needed to meet the conditions of admission.) • Program course deficiencies (may be taken at Cedarville University or other accredited university): A program course deficiency is defined as courses that are lacking in the student’s undergraduate preparation and indicate that the student is inadequately prepared to begin master’s-level work as determined by the program admissions committee. A course deficiency is not the same as a course prerequisite. • Required entrance examination scores have not been received (includes international student test scores) or need to be retaken for higher score. Note: Program directors may require GRE/GMAT of applicants prior to considering for/approval of conditional admission. Denied Admission Graduate applicants who do not meet the stated requirements for admission to the University and/or the desired graduate program may be denied admission. Applicants may appeal decisions directly to the graduate admission committee for consideration if additional information is provided that addresses the reason for the deny decision. Deadlines and Notifications With the exception of the School of Pharmacy, Cedarville University follows a rolling admissions process. Applicants to graduate programs should note the admission decision deadline on each respective program website. An admission decision is made when application files (i.e., application form and required documents) are complete. Applications should be completed at least two weeks prior to the admission decision deadline to allow time for proper review and decision. Applicants are officially notified by letter as soon as a decision is reached. Applicants may also monitor the status of their application online. Extenuating circumstances for late applicants may be considered on a case- by-case basis. Applicants for the School of Pharmacy should refer to the pharmacy program’s section of this catalog for application deadlines. Graduate students may request to defer their acceptance to a future term for up to one year from the original application term. Students should send a written request to University Admissions for review and approval. If a reservation deposit has been paid, it will be credited to the requested term. International Applicants International applicants coming from countries in which English is not the native language will need to demonstrate their proficiency in English by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Test (IELTS). All international applicants must submit official results from either TOEFL or IELTS. The required score on the TOEFL is an Internet-based score of 80. The required score on the IELTS is a 6.5. Cedarville University’s institution code for TOEFL is 1151.