Admission Policies and Process

Fresno Pacific University welcomes those students who qualify academically, who demonstrate physical and emotional capacity for university work, who accept the purposes and standards of the university and who would benefit from a Christian university education. Students are admitted without discrimination as to race, color, nationality, creed or sex.

Graduate Programs

Admission Policy

Students applying to a graduate program should present a record of achievement that documents their academic and professional experiences. Skills in critical thinking, communication and a solid foundation of knowledge in the area of study selected is highly desirable.

The graduate programs are guided by the university philosophy expressed in the Fresno Pacific Idea, which emphasizes a holistic, integrated approach to education, learning in community, integration of theory and practice and an ethic of servanthood and leadership. The admission process seeks to admit students likely to respond positively to these goals within a context of academic excellence.

To be considered for admission to a FPU graduate program, students should meet the following criteria:

• A minimum 2.75 GPA is required. However, a minimum 3.0 GPA is required for certain programs. (See individual program details for additional information.)
• Personal values compatible with the university mission and philosophy.
• A commitment to professional growth, excellence and servanthood.
• Each program may have additional requirements (see individual program details for additional information).

Application Process

The graduate application for admission and required materials should be submitted as early as possible. Application deadlines vary by program (see respective program section for individual program deadlines).

Applications received after the regular application deadline may be deferred to the next term of enrollment. Student notification is made on a rolling basis throughout the year. Students may apply for admission online at fpu.edu/apply.

Each graduate program has different application requirements as each program is unique. In general, to apply for a graduate program, the following documents must be submitted before an application will be reviewed:

• Graduate Application for Admission with $45 non-refundable application fee.
• Official transcripts—verifying bachelor's degree and any post baccalaureate work from a regionally accredited institution that is deemed relevant to this application.
• Statement of Intent—provide a statement of career goals and a description of how participation in this graduate program will contribute to growth and development towards these goals. This essay should be no longer than two pages.
• Reference Form(s)—Completed by academic or professional acquaintances familiar with a student's ability to complete graduate-level work. The number required varies by academic program.

Additional documents or an interview for admission may be required for individual programs as listed on the respective program section of this catalog.

When all required admission materials are on file, the admission committee will review the materials and notify the applicant in writing of its decision- usually within 4 weeks of the file being completed, unless otherwise specified.

Additional Information

• All application materials are kept on file for two years and become property of Fresno Pacific University.
• Transcripts received from other institutions will not be returned to the student or released to another institution or third party.
• Submitting false information on the application for admission is grounds for denial of application, withdrawal of any offer of acceptance, cancellation of enrollment, or any appropriate disciplinary actions including degree revocation.
• Any offer of admission to Fresno Pacific University prior to the applicant's completion of a baccalaureate degree is provisional, subject to successful academic work during the remainder of the term and proof of graduation. Any offer of admission to an applicant transferring from another college is provisional subject to successful completion of course work in progress at the time of application and proof of good standing from the previous college.
• Meeting admission requirements does not guarantee admission.
• Admitted students may elect to defer their enrollment for one year by notifying the admission office.
• If a student is denied admission, they may reapply after one academic year (unless otherwise stipulated in their denial letter).
• An appeal of an admission decision can be made in writing to the Director of Graduate Admissions. Applicants must provide new and compelling evidence not previously considered. The appeal will be reviewed by the Vice President of Enrollment Management and the Graduate Admissions Committee.

Readmission

Graduate and seminary students who have not enrolled for one or more semesters and have not been granted an official leave of absence will need to reapply to the university. Students may reapply by meeting with their program director and submitting a Graduate Admissions Application Update form to the Graduate Admissions Office. Additional admission materials may be required for certain programs as deemed necessary.

Non-Degree Students

Students who wish to enroll in a graduate or a seminary class but do not intend to earn a degree/credential/certificate from Fresno Pacific University can apply for unclassified standing.  Students desiring to apply as a non-degree student need to submit a graduate application for admission indicating non-degree status and provide a transcript showing proof of bachelor's degree. Course pre-requisites may apply, and students must adhere to the academic policies in place at the time of enrollment. Non-degree students are not eligible for any financial aid (including student loans).

Criminal History 

Students with a felony or misdemeanor conviction or adjudication, may not be eligible for clinical or internship placements, state licensure, or other certifications required for successful program completion and/or employment. (i.e.: nursing clinicals, state education licensure, social work internships and licensures). 

Graduate Prerequisite Courses

Graduate applicants needing baccalaureate courses as prerequisites to a specific graduate program should meet with their admission counselor to discuss course registration. Courses are available through the degree completion program or the traditional undergraduate program.

Baccalaureate Students Taking Graduate Courses

• Baccalaureate seniors at Fresno Pacific University who wish to enroll in a graduate class must fulfill the following requirements in addition to completing an application for unclassified standing:
• Meet with and obtain written approval from their baccalaureate program director or mentor/advisor.
• Be a last-semester senior in good standing, with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA and no more than 15 units remaining to complete the bachelor's degree. (Leadership studies, MBA, and teacher education programs require a 3.0 cumulative GPA.)
• Obtain written permission from the Director of Graduate Admissions.

No more than 6 graduate units may be taken prior to completion of the bachelor's degree unless specified by the academic program. See program details for additional information.

Students currently enrolled in baccalaureate studies at an institution other than FPU and wishing to enroll in graduate classes at FPU must fulfill the above requirements, apart from meeting with their program director or mentor/advisor. They must also include a letter of good standing from their home institution.

Thesis/Project Time Limitations

Continuous Registration

 If a student has not completed the thesis/project by the end of the culminating experience course as outlined in the course requirements, the student will be given the grade of IP (in progress) for the course and will have one additional consecutive semester (including summer) to complete the work without paying an additional fee. If the student exceeds the timeframe, the student is required to register for Continuation of Thesis/Project each semester and pay the corresponding fee until all requirements for the degree are complete, all substantive and format revisions have been made and the thesis/project is signed off by the dean.

Leave of Absence for Culminating Experience

A student may apply for a leave of absence under extenuating circumstances from thesis/project study for one semester. The leave must be supported in writing by the department chair in order to be valid. A student cannot have any outstanding financial balance when applying for a leave of absence. See also, Leave of Absence. During the leave of absence, the student will remain in active status (i.e., the leave still counts against the 6 or 8 year time limit given to complete the program), but no tuition is charged. Following a leave of absence, the student must resume continuous registration until the thesis/project is complete and signed by the dean. No retroactive leaves will be granted.

Inactive Status

If a thesis student allows the continuous registration to lapse for two consecutive semesters, the student will be placed on inactive status. The student's thesis committee will dissolve, and all other services will cease. If the student would like to be reinstated, the student will need to apply for readmission as follows.

Readmission after Inactivation

If a student has exceeded the program/degree time limit or his/her status is inactive, the student must reapply to the program and submit an application for advancement to candidacy.

Time Limit Extension

 If the thesis/project is not complete by the end of the length of time to complete a graduate degree, program faculty will review a request for an extension of one year beyond the sixth or eighth year, if the following conditions have been met:

• All coursework has been completed.
• There are no outstanding IPs.
• The student has been advanced to candidacy, has formed a committee, has an approved proposal, and is currently making significant progress on the thesis/project as verified by the thesis/project chair.
• The student is not financially delinquent.

If the student does not have an approved thesis/project proposal, the student may appeal for an extension but may be required to take more coursework.

International Student Enrollment

International Graduate Admission

An international student is defined as any student who is not a United States citizen or a United States permanent resident.

If you are planning to enroll at FPU on an F-1 student visa, please refer to the instructions below. If you have a different status, please contact the international admission specialist to verify what requirements you will need to meet.

Admission Process for Graduate Degree Seeking International Students

International students are encouraged to submit all application materials as early as possible to ensure there is enough time to obtain a student visa.

In addition to the documents listed in the graduate admissions application process and individual program sections, international students desiring to apply need the following documents:

• Official transcript(s) from each post-secondary school attended (college or university) along with a certified English translation and official evaluation that verifies that the candidate holds a bachelor's (or master's) degree that is equivalent to a degree granted by a regionally accredited college or university.
• Official transcript evaluations must be completed by a Fresno Pacific University approved evaluator (i.e.: WES, ECE, IERF, SpanTran). A course-by-course report must be obtained (not the document (degree) report). The document report is included in the course-by-course report). Contact the international admission office for more information.
• Proof of English proficiency as described below, such as TOEFL, IELTS, or a transcript from the completion of the Intensive English Language Program at Fresno Pacific University. College coursework completed at a U.S. university may also be considered for establishing English proficiency.
• Financial certification form that includes an affidavit of financial support along with corresponding bank documents.
• Copy of current passport (must be valid for the student's entire stay in the U.S.).

When all required admission materials are on file, the International Admission Committee, along with the Graduate Admissions Committee will review the materials and notify the applicant of its decision. Acceptance to Fresno Pacific University does not guarantee later admission to a specific academic program (if applicable).

F-1 (Student) Visa

Once the application process has been completed and the student has been accepted and completed all the international pre-enrollment paperwork and deposit, Fresno Pacific University will provide the I-20 document needed to apply for a visa. International students may request an express mailing service for their immigration documents at their own expense. A link with express mail options will be provided upon acceptance notification.

• International students in F-1 status are not permitted to study in unclassified standing unless enrolled in another program full time at Fresno Pacific University or another institution.
• Please note, there are many forms of additional immigration statuses other than F-1. If applicants do not intend to enroll as F-1 visa category students, they may contact the international admissions specialist to verify enrollment eligibility as some visas do not permit study.

English Proficiency Requirements

International students need to demonstrate English proficiency to be admitted to FPU. There are two ways to demonstrate and fulfill this English Proficiency requirement:

English Testing

Students may demonstrate English proficiency by providing official transcripts demonstrating the minimum scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

• Office score reports must be sent directly to FPU by the testing organization.
• Photocopies or score reports from other institutions are not acceptable.

Prior Studies in English

Students may demonstrate English proficiency by verifying that prior post-secondary studies were conducted in English. FPU reserves the right to verify that the language of instruction was English. Students must verify all the following by providing academic transcripts:

• Completed a four-year baccalaureate-level degree conducted in English.
• Completed at least two years of full-time study without ESL support/classes.

Additional Information about English Proficiency

The university reserves the right to require support classes if application materials and interviews indicate that the student's level of English proficiency may not be sufficient. In addition, faculty at FPU may recommend students to take English support classes if students appear to be having difficulty in their studies. The student's ability to communicate in English will be important for success in studies at FPU. If, while in graduate classes, it is determined that the student's ability to communicate and participate in English is below the necessary institutional standard, students may be referred to the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) program for additional help.