Admission Policies

Notice to Students Seeking Graduate Credit

A student wishing to receive graduate credit from Loras College must be admitted to their intended program of study as either a degree-seeking student or as a graduate special (non-degree seeking) student. The admission process needs to be completed prior to the start of the semester in which the student wishes to take the first graduate course. Only admitted students are allowed to receive graduate credit.

General Requirements for Admission to Degree Study

Students desiring admission to a graduate program as a degree-seeking student must submit the following materials to the Director of Admission for Graduate and Professional Development Programs:

1. Completed online application for admission to the graduate program (either through loras.edu, PostBacCAS, or ATCAS)
2. Official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended
3. Recommendations (three required for Applied Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and School Counseling; two required for Master of Athletic Training and Biomedical Sciences; recommendations not required for Applied Analytics, Coaching Leadership, or Disability Studies).
4. Personal Statement (not required for the MS in Applied Analytics, Master of Arts in Coaching Leadership, or MA in Disability Studies)
5. Professional resume
6. Observation Hour Log (only required for Athletic Training)

In general, to be eligible for admission to study as a degree-seeking student the applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an institution that is regionally accredited.
2. A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (3.0 minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA required for Master of Athletic Training and Master of Arts in Coaching Leadership). (Only the graduate grade point average will be considered for those who have completed at least 12 graduate credits.)
3. Completion of at least 9 credits (for Counseling and Applied Psychology)/12 credits (for School Counseling) in the behavioral sciences; completion of 10 specific science prerequisite course requirements (for Athletic Training).

After all application materials are submitted and reviewed, the student may be contacted regarding scheduling an interview if required for the program. After review of the application file (and completion of the interview, if required), the Director of Admission for Graduate and Professional Development Programs notifies the applicant of the admission decision through their online student status portal. Upon acceptance, students are required to pay a confirmation deposit of $100, which will be applied to their tuition. This deposit secures their spot in their respective program and allows them to register for courses.

For the Counseling and School Counseling programs, admission to study in the graduate program is not the equivalent of being accepted as a candidate for an advanced degree. Admission to candidacy must be earned through preliminary coursework successfully completed in the individual program (see requirements for Admission to Candidacy). Students seeking admission to candidacy after completing 9-12 (15-21 for Counseling) graduate credits must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

Conditional Admission Policy

A program director may require specific conditions be completed to meet the program requirements prior to full admission into a graduate program. A student may be awarded a conditional admission if the program director recommends the student complete additional undergraduate coursework to achieve a program’s minimum GPA requirement. If a student has not met all program requirements at the time of application, a student may be awarded a conditional admission per the discretion of the program director. Refer to the individual program policies and program directors for specific conditional admission policies. The School Counseling and Counseling programs do not have a conditional admission policy.

Provisional Admission Policy

After Loras’ receipt of all required application materials (and after successful completion of the interview, if applicable), applicants who are undergraduate students in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree may be awarded a provisional acceptance, with full acceptance contingent upon Loras’ receipt of the final, official transcript(s) showing final grades and the conferred undergraduate degree date. If a program has a minimum GPA requirement, the student must meet the minimum GPA at the time the undergraduate degree is conferred for full acceptance.

Non-Degree Seeking/Non-Pathway Seeking Students Policy:

Individuals who would like to take some graduate courses for professional development, continuing education credits, or just personal enrichment may take up to 9 graduate credits as a non-degree (“Special”) student. Special students may not enroll in practicum, clinical, or internship courses without approval from the program director.

In order to enroll in the course(s):

1. Complete the free Loras College Special Course Application. Select “Graduate Course” as the Course Registration Type. You will need to upload copies of your unofficial transcript(s) from each college/university attended before submitting the application.
2. The transcripts will be evaluated by the Program Director to ensure that any necessary pre-requisite course requirements have been met.
3. After review of the transcript(s), the Registrar’s Office will be in touch with information about your next steps.

Please note:

• Non-degree seeking students interested in Counseling courses must meet the minimum MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program admission requirements.
• Please note that enrolled degree-seeking students have registration preference if a course is full.
• After the completion of 9 non-degree credits, a student must then apply for formal admission into the graduate program in order to move forward and take additional courses.
• Graduate courses completed by a “Special” student with a grade of B or better may be applied to a future graduate degree at Loras College with the approval of both the Program Director and the Academic Dean.
• Financial aid is not available to non-degree “Special” students.
• Students interested in any of Loras’ Professional and Continuing Education programs should refer to the individual program webpage for application and enrollment instructions.

Undergraduates in Graduate Course Admission Policy

Highly qualified, undergraduate degree-seeking students may be approved to register for graduate level coursework (numbered 500-699) if:

1. They have senior standing (90+earned credits) and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.500.
2. They are otherwise eligible for admission to the graduate program offering the course.
3. They limit their load to a maximum of fifteen (15) credits for the semester, including undergraduate and graduate credits.
4. They complete the Application for Undergraduate Enrollment in a Graduate Course form and secure the approval of the Associate Provost, the Program Director, and the course instructor prior to enrollment in any graduate level course.

Note: Completion of the Application for Undergraduate Enrollment in a Graduate Course form is not a guarantee of enrollment, regardless of an undergraduate student’s qualifications. Priority enrollment for graduate courses is granted to admitted graduate students and the number of undergraduate students permitted in any course section will be limited.

Undergraduate students approved to take graduate courses under this policy are limited to 3 credits of graduate coursework in any semester and not more than 9 total credits of graduate coursework. Credits earned under this policy may not be used to fulfill any undergraduate requirements and will not be applied to a student’s undergraduate GPA.

Up to nine (9) graduate credits earned under this policy may be applied at a later point to the student’s graduate degree if:

1. The student’s earned grade meets the minimum grade requirements set forth by the program to which they wish to apply the course.
2. The student is admitted to the graduate program.
3. The student secures the approval of the graduate program director.

Exclusion for Accelerated Degree Programs

This policy does not apply to students accepted into an approved accelerated degree program (e.g. 3+2, 4+1) or courses in the School Counseling or Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs.

Notice to International Applicants

In addition to the General Requirements for Admission to Degree Study listed above, international applicants may be required to submit the following documentation:

Copy of passport photo

All international students will be prompted to upload a copy of their passport photo to their online application prior to being able to submit their application.

English Language Proficiency Loras College requires international students to demonstrate a minimum level of English proficiency for graduate level studies.

Applicants for graduate programs must submit one of the official test scores below:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
  • Internet-based test - score of 80 or higher
  • Paper-based test - score of 550 or higher
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
  • 6.5 or higher
• SAT: 500 or higher on evidence-based Reading and Writing sections
• ACT: 21 or higher on both English and Reading sections

Proficiency scores must be sent directly to Loras College from the testing center and must not be more than 2 years old. The applicant’s file is not considered complete without the test scores.

Applicants whose undergraduate degree was taught fully in English, and/or who have received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in Australia, Barbados, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, United Kingdom, or the United States will not be required to submit English proficiency scores.

Credit Evaluation for College Coursework Completed Outside the U.S.

All international graduate applicants must order a foreign credential evaluation report showing the United States equivalency for academic credentials earned in other countries. Loras College accepts evaluations directly from either Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (https://www.ece.org/ECE) or Foreign Credits, Inc. (https://www.foreigncredits.com/). This evaluation will assist our Admission Office, advisors, and Registrar in helping applicants meet their educational goals.

Applicants should contact the Director of Admission for Graduate and Professional Education Programs if they have already received a foreign credential evaluation report from an organization other than ECE or Foreign Credits.

Because the external credential evaluations will require official transcript(s), applicants may submit an unofficial copy of their college transcript(s) from each institution attended to Graduate Admissions in lieu of an official copy(ies).

If admitted, international students will be required to complete Loras College’s Certification of Finances Form in order for us to start the I-20 process.