Admission Information
Admission to graduate studies at Shepherd University is processed on a rolling basis. Applications are considered complete once the application, the application fee, official transcripts (electronic or mailed), and any requested supporting admission materials are on file with the Office of Graduate Studies. (See FAQ page for types of admission statuses.) Some degrees have specific requirements and/or materials beyond the general ones — see below for additional information. Program Coordinators make final decisions on all applications. Shepherd students applying for the accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program (4+1) are to provide the same admission documentation required for the degree.
International Students
Shepherd University welcomes students from around the world for graduate degree study. Shepherd has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best colleges and universities in the southeastern United States. We are confident that our campus community will provide you with an excellent academic and personal experience. For international students, please have an officially evaluated course-by-course transcript from an approved NACES service sent to the Office of Graduate Studies. You may learn more about the required admission and I-20 documents here.
Supporting Master’s Application Requirements and Materials
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution – official transcripts, undergraduate and graduate (if applicable)
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 for full admission
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) – Additional Admission Requirements
If GPA is below 2.75, a letter of intent, resume, and two reference letters are required. Because some foundational business experience is crucial to succeed in the Shepherd M.B.A. program, students must meet three content area prerequisites: Accounting, Statistics, and Economics. Applicants may begin the M.B.A. program while completing their prerequisite courses. Foundational courses must be completed within the first academic year of the M.B.A. program.
The foundation requirements may be fulfilled in one of four ways:
* Taken as an undergraduate within the last ten years with a grade of “C” or higher;
* Taking the appropriate graduate foundational coursework (do not count toward M.B.A.);
* Passing the appropriate CLEP test(s); or
* Submitting a portfolio of work-related experience for evaluation by the M.B.A. program coordinator.
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) – Additional Admission Requirements
* Content GPA 2.5 (Determined by completing a transcript analysis within the Office of Graduate Studies)
* Grade of C or Better in ENGL 101, ENGL 102, and COMM 202
* Passing Scores on Praxis CORE or Documentation of Exemption
Master of Education in Educational Leadership – Curriculum and Instruction – Additional Admission Requirements
* If GPA is below 2.75, a letter of intent and three reference letters are required.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
* Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for a baccalaureate degree and a minimum of 3.0 on all work beyond the baccalaureate level.
* Introductory courses in statistics, research, and pharmacology will be completed prior to starting the D.N.P. program.
* Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview.
* Professional Nursing License: All students in the post-baccalaureate option must have a current unencumbered license.
* Students may also need to have a valid nursing license for the state in which they will be completing the internship and D.N.P. practicum courses.
* Submission of a résumé or curriculum vitae.
* Submission of official transcripts of all college and university coursework.
* A letter of intent that describes how the student envisions using the D.N.P. degree to enhance his or her personal and professional goals (limit 500 words).
* Two professional references, at least one of which is from a current or former clinical supervisor.
Upon evaluation of students’ transcripts, post-M.S.N. applicants may need to verify clinical hours completed in order to enter the program. Applicants lacking in clinical hours will have the opportunity to take the Transition to Doctoral Practice course through Shepherd’s D.N.P. program. Supervised clinical hours completed in previous graduate programs may be accepted on a case by case basis.
Graduate Non-Degree Certificates
Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificates (Postdoctoral)
* Applicants must have a doctoral degree (D.N.P. or Ph.D.) from a regionally accredited institution, with a 3.00 minimum GPA for all work beyond the baccalaureate degree.
* The applicant must hold national certification in an Advance Practice Nurse role as a Nurse Practitioner (any population focus), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or Certified Nurse Midwife, and possess an unencumbered APRN license in all states in which clinical hours will be completed.
* Introductory courses in statistics, research, and pharmacology will be completed prior to starting the D.N.P. program.
* Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview.
* Professional Nursing License: All students in the post-baccalaureate option must have a current unencumbered license.
* Students may also need to have a valid nursing license for the state in which they will be completing the internship and D.N.P. practicum courses.
* Submission of a résumé or curriculum vitae.
* Submission of official transcripts of all college and university coursework.
* A letter of intent that describes how the student envisions using the D.N.P. degree to enhance his or her personal and professional goals (limit 500 words).
* Two professional references, at least one of which is from a current or former clinical supervisor.
Online D.N.P. and Postdoctoral Certificate Application
Upload your D.N.P. admission documents into your Nursing Centralized Application Service (CAS) application portal.
Shepherd University
Graduate Studies
P.O. Box 5000
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
304-876-5010
Graduate-studies@shepherd.edu
Title IX Director: Anne Lewin, J.D., Gardiner Hall G24, (304) 876 -5041