Shippensburg University takes a holistic approach to graduate admissions. While previous academic success is required, The Graduate School also takes into account previous work experience, life experience, and your vision for how a master's or doctorate degree will help you personally prosper and serve your profession and community.
“A combination of my preferred area of research, friendly professors, and funding opportunities led me to pick Shippensburg for my graduate degree”
While Shippensburg University is committed to ensuring your academic and personal success, we may require additional information to supplement your application folder. Please check the drop-down menus below for additional information about program requirements.
If you are an international applicant, please see our International Graduate Application requirements page for additional materials that will need to be provided.
Scan and upload all materials through your application status portal, unless otherwise noted.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Administration of Juvenile Justice (JCJC) applicants must submit:
Applicants may be asked to interview.
There are two primary requirements for admission to the JCJC program:
The JCJC program is available to full-time county juvenile probation officers in Pennsylvania who graduated from an accredited college or university with at least 18 credits in the behavioral or social sciences, and who are currently employed in the Juvenile Justice System. As space allows, county juvenile detention staff (and other juvenile justice professionals) may be admitted to the program upon the recommendation of the Juvenile Court Administrative Judge.
For more information on JCJC, visit the JCJC program page.
This program is a Fall start only, with the application opening in September and closing in March. The program holds interviews in April and students will be notified of their application decision in May.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Applied History applicants must submit:
For more information, visit the Applied History program page.
Applied History has rolling admission with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the fall, spring, or summer terms. Once the application is completed, the History/Philosophy Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Applied Psychology applicants must submit:
Applicants must also:
Applied Psychology has rolling admission with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the fall, winter, spring, or summer terms. Once the application is completed, the Psychology Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Biology applicants must submit:
Applicants must also:
It is recommended applicants have completed a course in evolution, mathematics through calculus, and one year of physics.
The English language proficiency test scores requirement for the Biology program are as follows:
For more information, visit our Biology program page.
Biology has rolling admission with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the fall, spring, or summer terms. Once the application is completed, the Biology Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Business Administration applicants must submit:
In addition, applicants are required to meet the following prerequisites, via work experience or undergraduate credits in:
If you fail to meet the prerequisite course work or work experience, you can enroll in the following courses at Shippensburg University or take comparable courses at a different institution with the approval of your Shippensburg advisor.
ENG 114 Writing Intensive First-Year Seminar
SCM 200 Statistical Applications in Business
MIS 142 Business Computer Systems
HCS 100 Human Communication Studies
For more information, visit our MBA program page.
Business Administration has rolling admission with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the fall, spring, or summer terms. Once the application is completed, the Business Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Computer Science applicants must submit a resume.
Students with a bachelor’s degree or at least a minor in computer science will find a traditional M.S. in Computer Science. Students who wish to transition from math, science, or engineering into computer science may be fully enrolled in the program after taking recommended courses based on their background.
Computer Science has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms. Once the application is complete, the Engineering Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), applicants to programs within the Department of Counselor Education must submit:
School Counseling applicants are required per PA Department of Education requirements to have a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time of application. If your current GPA is below 3.0, please consider applying for an alternate specialization within the Department of Counselor Education. Once your cumulative GPA rises above a 3.0, students can then transfer into the School Counseling track.
For more information, visit:
Counseling (M.S./M.Ed.) has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms. Once the application is complete, the Counseling Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
Counseling (Ed.D) has a cohort every three years, with the next cohort beginning in Fall of 2025. The application will open by Summer 2024 and will close in February 2025. In-person interviews and presentations will occur in April 2025, and students will be informed of their acceptance over the summer for an anticipated start of August 2025.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Criminal Justice applicants must submit:
Applicants will be expected to have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, administration of justice, or related social science field from a regionally accredited college or university. Admission is based on prior academic success. This program requires a minimum grade point average of a 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with less than a 2.75 undergraduate GPA will be required to take the Graduate Requisite Examination (GRE) and provide a sufficient score before they are eligible for admission. They may also take the Millers Analogies Test (MAT) and provide a sufficient score.
The Criminal Justice program is only offered as a Fall start. Students should plan to complete their application by July, or by March if they are interested in applying for a Graduate Assistantship. Once the application is completed, the Criminal Justice Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Curriculum & Instruction applicants must submit:
The Curriculum & Instruction master's degree program is intended for individuals who possess a teaching certificate or those seeking to obtain certification. Both the early childhood education concentration and the middle level concentration have options that do not require students to hold certification and thus lead to a Pennsylvania teaching certificate. The degree is designed to enhance teaching and learning through exploration of theoretical principles and practical applications to educational settings. Based on the concentration you select and option within the concentration, the credit requirements vary. The M.Ed. without certification is a 36-credit M.Ed. program.
Curriculum and Instruction has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms. Once the application is complete, the Teacher Education Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Educational Leadership applicants must submit:
For more information on the master's program, visit the Ed Leadership (M.Ed.) program page.
For more information on the doctoral program, visit the Ed Leadership (Ed.D.) program page.
Educational Leadership (M.Ed) has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms. Once the application is complete, the Educational Leadership Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
Educational Leadership (Ed.D) has a cohort every fall. Once the application is complete, the Educational Leadership Department will begin the review process and will contact you to set up an interview.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Literacy applicants must submit:
The Literacy program requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
If an applicant for the Literacy program is not presently employed in a school district, the following additional information is required upon confirmation of enrollment:
For more information, visit our Literacy program page.
Literacy has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms, although summer start is encouraged. Once the application is complete, the Teacher Education Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Organizational Development and Leadership (ODL) applicants must submit:
Admission is based on prior academic success. Students with a GPA below 2.75 may be asked to obtain a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or interview with the program director.
For more information, visit our ODL program page.
Organizational Development and Leadership has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms. Once the application is complete, the
Sociology and Anthropology Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
For post-baccalaureate certificates and other professional opportunities, please visit our Office of Workforce Development.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Public Administration applicants must submit:
Admission is based on prior academic success, and you may be asked to obtain a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Applicants who do not meet minimum requirements may be required to take an introductory course. Students who have full-time managerial employment in a relevant profession may apply for an internship waiver when applying to the MPA program. Students obtaining a waiver for the six credit-hour internship are required to choose a three credit-hour experiential skills course.
For more information, visit our MPA program page.
Public Administration has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms. Once the application is complete, the Political Science Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Social Work applicants must have/provide:
Students may apply for regular or advanced standing admission.
Students may apply for advanced standing admission if they graduated from a CSWE-accredited social work program within the past eight years and have an overall GPA of 2.8 or better and a social work GPA of 3.25 or better. They must also submit a reference from the BSW program director. If you are seeking Advanced Standing, please submit the Advanced Standing Form
Regular standing admission is for students who completed a baccalaureate degree with a major other than social work as well as students who graduated from a CSWE-accredited social work program within the past eight years but did not meet the QPA requirements for advanced standing.
For more information, visit our MSW program page.
The Social Work program starts in the Summer for the face to face program and Summer or Fall for the online program each year. While we do rolling admissions, please ensure your application is submitted with all supplemental materials by the end of March prior to the summer term starts or by the end of July for online fall admission. Once the application is complete, the Department of Social Work and Gerontology will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Special Education applicants must submit:
The Special Education program also requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Special Education program applicants are required to present evidence of previous successful experience working with students and a commitment to teaching students with disabilities.
Special Education has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms. Once the application is complete, the Educational Leadership and Special Education Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
Select the Graduate and Doctorate application when beginning your application. This professional certificate option is not located on the non-degree and certificate application.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Special Education Supervisory Certificate applicants must have Level II teacher certification, and applicants must submit:
Students who have earned an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, or a related field, i.e., Reading, Curriculum & Instruction, Early Childhood, Special Education, and need only Special Education Supervisory Certification may apply to the Dean of Admissions for the Post-Master's Special Education Supervisory Certification Program. The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires a minimum of five years of successful special education teaching in elementary, middle, or secondary schools in order to be eligible for the Special Education Supervisory certificate.
The Special Education Supervisory Certificate has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms. Once the application is complete, the Educational Leadership and Special Education Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Strategic Communication applicants must submit:
Students for whom English is not their primary language are required to complete an English language proficiency test. The English language proficiency test scores requirement for the Strategic Communication program are as follows:
Strategic Communication has rolling admissions with no application deadline. However, applicants are encouraged to submit their applications at least three weeks before the start of the term in which they intend to begin the program. Students can begin the program during the fall, spring, or summer terms. Once the application is complete, the Communication, Journalism and Media Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
Select the Graduate and Doctorate application when beginning your application. Then, check the box for ‘graduate certification’ within your application.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Superintendent Letter of Eligibility applicants must have Level II teacher certification, and applicants must submit:
Upon completion of the residencies, candidates will be eligible for the Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility in Pennsylvania provided that they also meet the experience and state exam requirements.
For more information, visit our LOE program page.
The Superintendent Letter of Eligibility has a cohort beginning every spring. Once the application is complete, the Educational Leadership Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
Select the Graduate and Doctorate application when beginning your application. This professional certificate option is not located on the non-degree and certificate application.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Supervisory/Principal Certificate applicants must have Level II teacher certification, and applicants must submit:
A candidate who has completed a master's degree other than the Master of Education degree in educational leadership at Shippensburg University will not be required to complete a second master's degree; however, his or her program may need to include additional courses identified as necessary to attain the required competencies. Students who have earned an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, or a related area, i.e., Reading, Curriculum & Instruction, Early Childhood, and need only K-12 Principal Certification may apply to the Dean of Admissions for the Post-Master's K-12 Principal Certification Program. The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires a minimum of three years of professional school experience in order to be eligible for the Administrative I certificate.
The Supervisory/Principal Certificate has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms. Once the application is complete, the Educational Leadership Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
In addition to the application and transcript(s), Supply Chain Analytics applicants must submit:
Supply Chain Analytics has rolling admissions with no application deadline. Students can begin the program during the spring, summer, or fall terms. Once the application is complete, the Business Department will begin the review process and make a prompt decision.
