Admissions

Students who meet the following university requirements and the additional requirements of their chosen program may be granted degree-seeking status:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education
• Submission of all required admission materials, including:
  • Completed graduate application for admission, or printing, filling out, and mailing our graduate paper application
  • $30 nonrefundable application fee (unless you have previously applied to Grand Valley)
  • Official copies of transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended which have granted a baccalaureate degree to the applicant*. Transcripts must be sent from those institutions directly to the GVSU Admissions and Recruitment Office. 
    • NOTE:  We do not require official transcripts from Grand Valley State University graduates.
  • General eligibility requirements for federal aid require a valid Social Security Number. To assist with your financial aid processing, please complete this field on the application.
  • Scores from either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) by students whose primary language is not English. Beginning with the Fall 2017 semester the following GVSU Graduate Programs will accept successful completion of ELS 112 as demonstration of English language proficiency:
    • Computer Information Systems
    • Cell and Molecular Biology
    • Bioinformatics
    • Biostatistics
• Additional application requirements and application procedures are listed under each graduate degree program

Graduate Students Applying to GVSU’s College of Computing

If you are applying to a graduate program in GVSU’s College of Computing, you may submit unofficial transcripts to complete your application. A full list of eligible programs can be found on the College of Computing Graduate Studies page.  

Please note: Unofficial transcripts are only accepted for graduate applicants to the College of Computing. All other graduate programs require official transcripts at the time of application.

Required Transcripts:

• You must submit transcripts from all post-secondary institutions where you earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• You may submit either unofficial or official transcripts during the application process.

Important Enrollment Requirement:

• If you are admitted and choose to enroll, you must submit final official transcripts before the last day of your first semester at GVSU.
• If official transcripts are not provided by this deadline, any future course registration will be canceled, resulting in the termination of your SEVIS record . We strongly encourage submitting official transcripts as early as possible.

Transcripts for Degrees in Progress:You may submit an unofficial transcript showing in-progress coursework (a personal copy is acceptable). If admitted, you will be required to provide a final official transcript showing all grades and confirmation that the degree was awarded.

How to Submit Transcripts

Unofficial TranscriptsSubmit through the graduate application portal. These must:

• Be legible, uploaded in order, and include your name, date of birth, and other identifying information.
• Include an official English translation if the documents are not in English.
• Include a degree certificate (if applicable) when the transcript does not clearly show that a degree was awarded.

Official TranscriptsMust be sent directly from your institution either:

• Electronically to: [email protected] (preferred),or
• By mail to:
  Admissions and Recruitment Office
  Grand Valley State University
  1 Campus Drive
  Allendale, MI 49401

Note: If your official transcripts are not in English, they must be accompanied by an official English translation.

• Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree and are not enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program can take classes at Grand Valley as a nondegree-seeking student. Information about course offerings can be found in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog. 
• Students should complete the nondegree-seeking graduate application:
  • For personal development without completing a graduate degree nor receiving a graduate certificate.
  • For completion of prerequisites required for admission to their chosen graduate program. 
• Nondegree-seeking students are not eligible for federal or state financial assistance. 
• A maximum of 6 to 12 credit hours taken as nondegree may be applied to a graduate degree, depending on the program of interest.  Refer to the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog for specific requirements. 
• All graduate education students seeking a degree, endorsement, approval, licensure or certificate change must be formally admitted to graduate study by applying for “degree-seeking” graduate admission.

Changing Status from Non-degree to Degree SeekingTo seek a change in degree-seeking status:

1. Submit a degree-seeking application form to the Admissions and Recruitment Office
   • Students may complete the graduate application online or print, fill out, and mail our graduate paper application (mailing address listed on the paper application).
2. Submit all additional required admission materials

• Official GMAT scores
• One-page essay/personal statement

• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or sufficient relevant industry experience
• Two recommendations
• Resume
• Personal statement or essay (optional)

• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or satisfactory GRE or GMAT scores
• Resume
• Essay/personal statement
• Two recommendations

• Two recommendations
• Resume
• Personal statement or essay (optional)
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or sufficient relevant industry experience

• Applicants must apply online through ATCAS
  • In addition to completion of the ATCAS application, students must also submit the GVSU Supplemental Form and $30 application fee

• Applicants must apply online through CSDCAS
  • In addition to completion of the CSDCAS application, students must submit the GVSU Supplemental Form and $30 application fee

• Resume
• Essay/personal statement

• Three recommendations
• Essay/personal statement

• All official transcripts
• Three recommendations
• Typed response to the following questions, limit total response to five pages:
  • What are your career/educational plans for after the master's program?
  • What do you hope to achieve while in graduate school?
  • Why are you interested in the M.H.S. program at GVSU?
  • What experiences have prepared you for success in graduate school?
  • What are your research interests and why?

• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or satisfactory GRE or GMAT scores
• Resume
• Essay/personal statement
• Two recommendations

• One-page essay/personal statement
• Resume

• All official transcripts
• One-page essay/personal statement
• Resume
• Two recommendations

• One-page essay/personal statement
• Resume
• Two recommendations

• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• Official GRE scores
• Essay/personal statement
• Two recommendations
• Resume

• Applicants must apply online through DICAS
  • In addition to completion of the DICAS application, students must also submit the GVSU Supplemental Form and $30 application fee

• Resume
• Two recommendations
• Essay/personal statement

• Essay/personal statement
• Three recommendations, including two from current or former professors

• Two recommendations 
• Resume
• Personal statement or essay 
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or sufficient relevant industry experience 

• Two recommendations
• Resume
• Personal statement or essay 
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or sufficient relevant industry experience 

• One recommendation

• One recommendation
• Resume
• Essay/personal statement (approximately 500 words) answering the following questions:
  • Tell us why you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in higher education and student affairs. In your response, be sure to provide specific examples of how the curriculum and professional opportunities provided by the program at Grand Valley State University align with your professional interests and goals.
  • Tell us what you believe to be the most important issue facing post-secondary education in the United States and/or globally and why.

• All official transcripts
• One recommendation

• Essay/personal statement
• One recommendation
• Current resume must include the following:
  • Title of master’s project or thesis
  • Degrees received with dates, institutions, majors, and minors
  • Listing of employment
  • Description of leadership experiences, dates, and location
  • Presentations, publications, memberships, and professional development

• All official transcripts
• Resume
• Essay/personal statement
• Three recommendations
• International students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) that is equivalent to at least 3.0, when linearly scaled on a 0.0 - 4.0 scale, in all undergraduate coursework. They must also submit GRE scores, which must be satisfactory, independent of their cumulative undergraduate GPA.

• No additional documents required

• All official transcripts
• Resume
• Essay/personal statement
• Three recommendations
  • Note: Essay/personal statements and recommendations submitted previously for a graduate program other than health administration will not meet M.H.A. application requirements

• Two recommendations 
• Resume
• Personal statement or essay
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or sufficient relevant industry experience 

• Resume
• Essay/personal statement

• Two recommendations 
• Resume 
• Personal statement or essay
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or sufficient relevant industry experience 

• All official transcripts
• Resume
• Three recommendations
• Essay/personal statement
• Prerequisite verification and GPA calculation worksheet

• Resume
• Three recommendations
• Essay/personal statement

• Curriculum vitae/resume
• Provide typed responses to the two questions below following this guidance:
  • Submit a 3-5 page professional statement using APA 7th Edition format. First-person writing may be used for this paper, however it should have a professional tone and incorporate relevant scholarly resources. Your statement should address the following two areas
  • Resources for scholarly writing may be found at the American Psychological Association (APA) style website or through the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)
• 1. Nursing Philosophy
  • Life experience that have shaped your approach to patient care and professional practice
  • How your core values-such as empathy, curiosity, and commitment- guide your:
    • Interactions with patients
    • Relationships with families
    • Collaboration with Colleagues
  • Specific examples that illustrate how these values influence your nursing practice.
• 2. Nursing Vision & Future Leadership
  • A specific patient population you are passionate about.
  • Challenges faced by this population.
  • Your goals and strategies as an advanced practice nurse to improve outcomes for this group.
  • One domain of the AACN Essentials that aligns with your goals:
    • Explain how this domain informs your approach and planned interventions.

• Applicants must apply online through OTCAS
• In addition to completion of the OTCAS application, students must submit the GVSU Supplemental Form and $30 application fee

• Resume
• Three recommendations
• Essay/personal statement

• One recommendation

• No additional documents required

• Resume
• Three recommendations
• Essay/personal statement

• Applicants must apply online through PTCAS
  • In addition to completion of the PTCAS application, students must also submit the GVSU supplemental form and $30 application fee

• Applicants must apply online through CASPA
  • In addition to completion of the CASPA application, students must also submit the GVSU supplemental form and $30 application fee

• Curriculum vitae/resume
• One-page essay/personal statement

• All official transcripts
• Resume
• Three recommendations
• Essay/personal statement

• Resume
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• Two recommendations
• Typed response to the following questions: Limit total response to two double spaced pages (maximum).
  • 1.  What would make you an excellent candidate for the Grand Valley State University M.P.H. program?
  • 2.  What are your expectations for a future career in public health (highlighting your emphasis area of interest)?

• Resume
• Two recommendations
• Essay/personal statement

• Resume
• Three recommendations
• Typed response to the following:
  • Discuss your background and experiences that have led you to pursue school psychology (rather than other related fields), your specific interest in GVSU's program, and your future career goals.

• Two recommendations
• Essay/personal statement
• Submitting a GRE score is not required. However, applicants who have neither a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or five years of professional experience may consider submitting a GRE score to strengthen their application.

• All official transcripts
• Three recommendations
• Resume detailing work and volunteer experiences
• Coursework requirement form - Complete this form within the online graduate application.
  • As stated in the GVSU School of Social Work Admission requirements, all applicants must have a minimum of 18 credits in a combination of human biological, social, and behavioral science courses, with a good representation in sociology, psychology, and/or social work.
  • Please list prior academic courses in these areas.  This information will be used to determine whether you will need to take prerequisite courses prior to admission in the MSW program.
• Applicants should answer the following questions in a minimum of 2 pages and a maximum of 3 pages (double-spaced, 12-point font). These statements will be used by the GVSU Admissions Committee to assess writing skills, self-reflection, conceptualization, and critical thinking, as well as suitability for graduate studies within our MSW program. We are looking for your personalized, original responses in these statements; applicants should not submit essays generated exclusively by AI.
  • Describe your motivation to pursue a master's degree in social work at this time and how your past personal and professional experiences, opportunities, qualifications, strengths, and/or challenges have prepared you to become a master's level social work student.
  • The MSW program at GVSU is committed to social, political, economic, racial, and environmental justice and human rights. Describe your goals in social work and how these commitments/our MSW program will prepare you to become an effective social worker. How will you use your MSW degree to advance these commitments in your career? We encourage you to discuss a specific social problem, population, or type of social work within your response to this question.

• Two recommendations 
• Resume 
• Personal statement or essay (optional)
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or sufficient relevant industry experience

• Applicants must apply online through CSDCAS
• In addition to completion of the CSDCAS application, students must also submit the GVSU Supplemental Form and $30 application fee

• Three recommendations
• Essay/personal statement

Grand Valley State University is committed to assisting all members of our community in providing for their own safety and security. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available on the Grand Valley State University Police Department website at www.gvsu.edu/gvpd/. If you would like to receive a printed copy of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, you can stop by the Facilities Service Building or you can request a copy be mailed to you by calling (616)-331-3255. The report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety including topics such as: crime prevention, fire safety, university police law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, disciplinary procedures, and other matters of importance related to security and safety on campus. The report also contains information about crime data for three previous calendar years. Statistics include reported crimes that occurred on the campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by GVSU and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. This information is required by law and is provided by the Grand Valley State University Police Department.  

Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972 requires that all entities receiving federal funds or financial assistance prohibit sex discrimination and sexual harassment in their education programs and activities. Learn more about Title IX at www.gvsu.edu/titleix/.

Our privacy policy is available for review.

Grand Valley State University is committed to assisting all members of our community in providing for their own safety and security. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available on the Grand Valley State University Police Department website. If you would like to receive a printed copy of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, you can stop by the Facilities Service Building or you can request a copy be mailed to you by calling (616)-331-3255. The report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety including topics such as: crime prevention, fire safety, university police law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, disciplinary procedures, and other matters of importance related to security and safety on campus. The report also contains information about crime data for three previous calendar years. Statistics include reported crimes that occurred on the campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by GVSU and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. This information is required by law and is provided by the Grand Valley State University Police Department.  

Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972 requires that all entities receiving federal funds or financial assistance prohibit sex discrimination and sexual harassment in their education programs and activities. Learn more about Title IX.

You are responsible for notifying the Admissions Office in writing of any new or additional criminal charges filed against you subsequent to submitting this application and prior to attending classes.

Grand Valley State University is an Antidiscrimination, equal opportunity institution. It encourages diversity and provides equal opportunity in education, employment, all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. It is committed to protecting the constitutional and statutory civil rights of persons connected with the university. 7/20