Admission – Graduate

Admission Standards

Graduate Certificates

Graduate certificates are available in several disciplines. Please visit http://www.bridgew.edu/graduate to view a full list of graduate certificates as well as admissions requirements.

Postbaccalaureate Programs

Postbaccalaureate programs are available in the following areas:

• Early Childhood Education (initial licensure)
• Educational Leadership (initial licensure)
• Elementary Education (initial licensure)
• Health (initial licensure)
• Health Professions and Pre-Medical Sciences
• Physical Education (initial licensure)

Students seeking admission to one of the initial licensure postbaccalaureate programs must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution of acceptable standing recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Postbaccalaureate initial licensure applicants must meet the following criteria in order to be admitted to the College of Graduate Studies and College of Education and Health Sciences:

• A minimum 2.8 undergraduate GPA
• Three appropriate letters of recommendation. At least one letter of recommendation should be an academic reference from a professor.
• A qualifying score on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure^® (MTEL). Other MTEL^® scores may be required depending on area of licensure.
• Official sealed transcripts of undergraduate and graduate course work
• Online application, application fee, current résumé and personal statement

Graduates of Bridgewater State University and persons who have taken non-degree credit at the university do not need to request copies of their Bridgewater transcripts as the Office of Graduate Admission will obtain them.

Please note that admission decisions to postbaccalaureate programs are made on a rolling basis when applications are submitted within a reasonable time frame of six to eight weeks prior to the start of an academic semester.

Candidates are subject to a review of their course backgrounds in the license areas; additional courses may be required in the content areas.

Accelerated Postbaccalaureate Licensure Program (APB)

An accelerated postbaccalaureate licensure program is available in the following subject areas:

• Biology (8-12)
• Chemistry (8-12)
• Dance (all levels)
• Earth and Space Sciences (8-12)
• English (5-12)
• Foreign Language: Spanish (5-12)
• History (5-12)
• Mathematics (5-8 or 8-12)
• Music (all levels)
• Physics (8-12)
• Theatre (all levels)
• Visual Arts (PreK-8 or 5-12)

Students seeking admission to one of these accelerated postbaccalaureate initial licensure programs must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Candidates for the APB program are admitted to the College of Graduate Studies based upon the recommendation of the APB coordinator and the College of Education and Health Sciences. The coordinator will determine the admission recommendation on the candidate’s potential to be an effective teacher based upon multiple indicators including, but not limited to, the following:

• A minimum 2.8 undergraduate GPA
• Content competence demonstrated by a passing score on the subject matter test portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure^® (MTEL)
• A qualifying score on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure^® (MTEL)
• Resumé
• Three letters of recommendation
• Experience with youth at the licensure level
• Official sealed transcripts of undergraduate and graduate course work
• Online application, application fee and personal statement

As part of the admission process, each candidate’s transcripts will be reviewed by the APB program coordinator in collaboration with the appropriate departmental graduate coordinator for relevant content area course work. A list of required topics has been determined by the specialized professional associations. The result of this review may require courses be taken in the content area in addition to the 15 core education credits; this course work must be completed prior to the practicum.

NOTE: As an alternative to the APB program, the Department of Secondary Education and Professional Programs will allow accepted postbaccalaureate students to follow the undergraduate course sequence listed for the secondary education major, with the exception that the cognate course, PSYC 336 - Developmental Psychology , is not a requirement. Contact the program coordinator for details.

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Students seeking admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching degree program must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited four-year institution recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The MAT program is designed for high school and middle school teachers who have an initial license and are seeking a professional license in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to be admitted by the College of Graduate Studies:

• A minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA based upon four years of course work or a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA based upon course work completed during the junior and senior years
• Some programs require a composite score of 290 on the quantitative and verbal parts of the GRE General Test*
• An initial teaching license
• Three appropriate letters of recommendation (At least two letters of recommendation should be from professors and the third letter of recommendation could be from a professional employer.)
• Official, sealed transcripts of undergraduate and graduate course work
• Online application, application fee, current resumé and personal statement

*Some applicants to the MAT program may be eligible for a GRE waiver if they are a current BSU undergraduate senior or recent BSU alumnus (three years or fewer) and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Please visit individual program pages for details on participating programs and additional stipulations if applicable.

NOTE: Applicants not holding a bachelor’s degree in the content area being pursued for the MAT are subject to a transcript review by the academic department to determine whether additional content course work will be required as program prerequisites.

Master’s Degree Programs

Please note that a number of graduate programs (including counseling, criminal justice, psychology, public administration, social work and certain education programs) have additional admission requirements, which are outlined in the appropriate departmental sections of this catalog.

Students seeking admission to a program leading to a master’s degree must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution. Students applying to licensure programs in the College of Education and Health Sciences must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution recognized by the Massachusetts Office of Educator Licensure, Elementary and Secondary Education. (College seniors may be admitted to graduate programs contingent on receipt of a conferred undergraduate degree.) Master’s degree applicants must meet the following criteria in order to be accepted as a “clear admit” (full graduate student status):

• GPA requirements vary by program
• Some programs require a minimum composite score on the quantitative and verbal parts of the GRE General Test. Please consult the appropriate program section of the catalog.*
• Letters of recommendation
• Candidates for education programs leading to initial licensure need to provide a qualifying score on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure^® (MTEL). Some programs may require additional MTEL^® test(s). Please refer to the appropriate departmental section of this catalog.
• Official, sealed transcripts of undergraduate and graduate course work
• Online application, application fee, current resumé and personal statement

Applicants who do not meet the “clear admit” status may be considered for a “conditional acceptance” as defined by the program coordinator or admissions committee. Students accepted conditionally must meet with their advisor who will discuss parameters that must be met before they will receive a clear admit status.

If students fail to meet the parameters set by the program, they may have their acceptance to the program rescinded.

*Applicants to some program may be eligible for a GRE waiver if they are a current BSU undergraduate senior or recent BSU alumnus (three years or fewer) and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Please visit individual program pages for details on participating programs and additional stipulations if applicable.

CAGS, EdS and Postmaster’s Licensure Programs

Students seeking admission to a postmaster’s, CAGS or EdS licensure program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution recognized by the Massachusetts Office of Educator Licensure, Elementary and Secondary Education and a master’s degree from an accredited institution and must meet the following criteria in order to be admitted by the College of Graduate Studies:

• GPA requirements vary by program
• Three appropriate letters of recommendation (at least two letters of recommendation should be from professors and the third letter of recommendation could be from a professional employer)
• Candidates for education programs leading to initial licensure need to provide qualifying scores on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure^® (MTEL)
• Official, sealed transcripts of undergraduate and graduate course work
• Online application, application fee, current resumé and personal statement

Please refer to the appropriate departmental section of this catalog for additional information.

Application Procedures

For most programs, the College of Graduate Studies admits students for the fall and spring semesters and summer sessions of each year. Priority application deadlines include:
 

Applicants who have questions regarding graduate application procedures and deadlines should contact the Office of Graduate Admission at gradadmissions@bridgew.edu or 508.531.1300. It is the responsibility of graduate students to make certain that all application documents are received on time. Applicants should indicate a specific degree or licensure program (and also the area of study) when they request application information.

Certain programs require a formal interview with the graduate program coordinator. Please consult the department requirements presented in this catalog.

Applications and the application fee should be submitted online at: www.bridgew.edu/graduate. Any materials that are unable to be uploaded online should be sent to:

Office of Graduate Admission
Bridgewater State University
Maxwell Library – Room 019
10 Shaw Road
Bridgewater, MA 02325
 

Please note: all materials submitted to the university become the property of the university and will, in no case, be returned to the applicant or forwarded to any third party.

An application is not complete unless all of the required documents have been received by the Office of Graduate Admission. These documents may include:

1. Graduate application and application fee
   Prospective graduate students should create an account online and submit the application fee of $50 to begin the application process.
    
2. Official sealed transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work
   Official sealed transcripts must be mailed or emailed directly to the Office of Graduate Admission from the institution you attended and must bear the seal and/or stamp of the issuing college or university. Copies of transcripts are not acceptable. Graduates of Bridgewater State University and persons who have taken non-degree credit at the university do not need to request copies of their Bridgewater transcripts as the Office of Graduate Admission will obtain them.
    
3. Letters of recommendation
   Three letters of recommendation are required for most programs. Recommendations are to be completed through the online application. When you have submitted your application, you will be prompted to enter your reference’s contact information and send an electronic request to them. Each reference will answer evaluative questions and should upload a letter of support as well. Recommendations provide an estimate of applicants’ abilities to successfully pursue programs in their proposed fields or concentrations. Please consult program sections for any additional instructions. 
    
4. Graduate Record Examination (GRE)*
   For those programs requiring the GRE as an admission requirement, students are required to submit the results of the General Test. Applicants must arrange to have their official score report sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to the Office of Graduate Admission. Bridgewater State University’s CEEB code is 3517. Photocopies and scores submitted by applicants are not acceptable. Students who have earned a master’s degree may be exempt from the GRE requirement (subject to departmental approval).
    
5. Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
   Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Accountancy applicants are required to submit GMAT scores. Applicants must arrange to have an official score report sent directly from the testing service to the Office of Graduate Admission. Bridgewater State University’s CEEB code is 3517. Photocopies and scores submitted by applicants are not acceptable. Students who have earned a master’s degree may be exempt from the GMAT requirement (subject to departmental approval).
    
6. Language Proficiency Exams (if necessary, in accordance with English language skills). Students for whom English is not their native language will be required to submit an official copy of results either from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson English Language Test (PTE), or Common European Framework of References for Language (CERFL) unless they have completed a college level that was taught entirely in English. If this is the case, documentation of the teaching method must be provided. Typically, when a degree outside the U.S. is taught in English, it is documented on the transcript or other official document. Students taking the TOEFL must receive a score of 213 from a computer-based test, 550 from a paper-based test, or 79 on the internet-based test. Students taking the IELTS must receive a minimum total score of 6.0. Students taking the PTE must receive a minimum total score of 53. Students taking the CEFRL must receive a minimum total score of B2.
7. Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure^® (MTEL)
   Applicants must provide a qualifying score on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure^® (MTEL) as a graduate admission requirement if applying to one of the following education programs:
   • Postbaccalaureate and Accelerated Postbaccalaureate (APB) initial teacher licensure programs
   • MEd, CAGS and EdS programs leading to initial administrator licensure
   • All MEd programs leading to initial teacher licensure
   • MEd, Postmaster’s, CAGS and EdS programs leading to initial support specialist licensure; e.g., school counselor, reading specialist

Note: Some programs may require additional MTEL^® test(s). Please refer to the appropriate departmental section of this catalog.

8. Additional departmental requirements
   There may also be special departmental requirements relative to the application, such as an interview or a supplemental information form. Such requirements, if any, are to be found under each department’s description of its graduate program(s) in this catalog.

*Bridgewater State University, College of Graduate Studies Current Student and Recent Alumni GRE Waiver:

Applicants are eligible for the GRE waiver if they are a current BSU undergraduate senior or recent BSU alumni (three years or fewer) and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. If both of these criteria are met, the GRE/GMAT requirement will be waived as an admissions requirement for the individual. Certain participating programs have additional eligibility requirements that must be met. Please visit individual program pages for details on participation and additional stipulations if applicable.

Participating programs
Athletic Training, MS
Educational Leadership, (Non-Licensure), MEd
Educational Leadership, (Non-Licensure), EdS
History, MAT
Music, MAT

Programs with additional eligibility requirements
Clinical Psychology, MA
Computer Science, MS
Criminal Justice, MS   
Criminal Justice, Administration of Justice Concentration, MS   
Criminal Justice, Crime and Corrections Concentration, MS
Master of Business Administration, MBA
 

Applicants who are granted a GRE/GMAT waiver under the Agreement must meet all other admissions criteria and submit all other application materials required for the program to which they are applying, by the program’s respective deadline.

For Current students in their senior year of their undergraduate program:

• Students must have a current cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and meet any other eligibility criteria for the waiver as specified for each program.
• Students must satisfactorily complete all required undergraduate courses and must maintain the required cumulative 3.5 GPA. If the final cumulative GPA is below a 3.5, students will be required to submit the GRE or GMAT that have been waived under this agreement.
• Although students may be accepted into the graduate program at this point, they will be classified as undergraduate students until all requirements of the bachelor’s degree have been fulfilled and the bachelor’s degree has been conferred. Students will be admitted and classified as graduate students in the semester they begin their graduate program.

International Student Admission Requirements

For the most recent International Student Admission Requirements, see https://www.bridgew.edu/graduate/graduate-international

Admission Decisions

Action by the Academic Department

All completed applications are sent by the Office of Graduate Admission to the academic departments. After reviewing these applications, departments make admission recommendations to the Office of Graduate Admission.

Action by the College of Graduate Studies

The Office of Graduate Admission, after reviewing the recommendations of the academic department, notifies applicants of the decision.

Course Work at Bridgewater prior to Matriculation

Prior to matriculation, students can enroll in up to six credits in most programs with 39 or fewer credits. In programs requiring 40 or more graduate credits, students may enroll in up to nine graduate credits.

Transfer Credit

Please see the Transfer Credit section of the Graduate Academic Policies page.

Program Enrollment and Reinstatement

While graduate students are required to be continually enrolled in order to maintain active student status, we realize that unexpected situations sometimes require taking an academic absence at some point in their graduate career. Previously enrolled graduate students who have not enrolled in a course at Bridgewater State University for one academic year or longer (three consecutive terms inclusive of the summer session) are required to submit an Application for Reinstatement and be formally reinstated by the College of Graduate Studies. A student who has not been enrolled for at least six years must reapply to the program.