Degrees and Certificates
Pacific Lutheran University offers graduate and post-baccalaureate certificate programs in advanced professional education within a context of the liberal arts tradition. Graduate degree programs in business, creative writing, education, marriage and family therapy, social work, and nursing challenge students to increase their understanding and competence in theory, research and practice. Graduates are prepared to become thoughtful and effective leaders in their professions and communities. Graduate students have the opportunity to study in unusually close and supportive working relationships with full time doctorally-prepared faculty and professionally qualified part-time practitioners.
Business
The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) can be completed full- or part-time in as little as nine months. The M.B.A. is available to students from any academic background and includes a required 10-day faculty-led international experience. Students choose between tracks in Business Administration or Management Science and Quantitative Methods. The Business Administration track focuses on strategy, innovation, and effective decision making. In Management Science and Quantitative Methods, students will be introduced to the quantitative methods used in all areas of Business Analytics. Students may also choose to earn an emphasis with their degree in Entrepreneurship and Closely-Held Enterprise, Healthcare Management, Supply Chain Management, or Technology and Innovation Management. The M.B.A. is accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The Master of Science in Marketing Analytics (M.S.) is a STEM-designated program that offers an intimate, advanced learning environment, hands-on experience with clients and a healthy balance of rigor and support. The MSMA is offered as a fully online program or a hybrid program, which includes some on-campus classes. Through coursework, multiple client projects within industry and capstone consulting research with a regional or national company, MSMA candidates develop knowledge, skills and experience attractive to employers. The M.S. is accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The Master of Science in Marketing Analytics program is on hiatus for the 2024-25 academic year.
Creative Writing
The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) is a 36-month low-residency program in the fields of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction intended for those wishing to develop and pursue careers as writers. M.F.A. students are on campus for a ten-day residency each summer, and work from home with a faculty mentor for the rest of the academic year. As part of Pacific Lutheran University, the M.F.A. program is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Education
The Master of Arts in Education (M.A.E.) with Teacher Certification can be completed in 12 months. Students complete a year-long internship in a local school and take classes in the late afternoons and evenings and a few Saturdays. An Alternative Routes Teacher Certification program can be completed in 10-12 months. It is designed for non-certificated paras and teachers working in schools in subject areas with known shortages. Most classes are on Saturdays and online. A second year of coursework is required to earn the Master of Arts in Education.
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership is designed for working school leaders to obtain their Ed.D. in three years. The Ed.D. with Washington Superintendent Certification option includes a year-long internship in a P-12 district. Students in this pathway are eligible for the Superintendent certificate at the end of the second summer and can complete all degree requirements in three years. The second option provides a pathway for certified Superintendents to complete a doctoral degree within a three-year time frame.
Kinesiology
The Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.) can be completed in 14 months. The practitioner focused program blends strong theoretical knowledge with real-world application. Courses begin in the summer, extend through the academic year and conclude the following summer. Most classes are face-to-face in the evenings and on weekends, with some classes using a hybrid format.
The Master of Science in Kinesiology program is on hiatus for the 2024-25 academic year.
Marriage and Family Therapy
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) is a 24- to 28-month program that trains students to practice therapy from a systemically oriented, contextually competent worldview. The MFT program trains students to address a wide range of clinical concerns impacting individuals, couples, and families. Classes in the first year are typically twice a week, 3:00 to 6:30 p.m., with increasing time commitments in the second year. The M.A. MFT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Nursing
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree at the highest level of nursing practice. The sequence of study recognizes the academic and professional success of the baccalaureate degree as the groundwork for graduate study. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree prepares graduates in the advanced practice specialty area of Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. PLU also offers post-master’s options for master’s-prepared nurses who wish to complete the Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, or Nurse Executive specialty and for advanced practice nurses who wish to complete the DNP. Additionally, PLU offers a DNP/MBA Nurse Executive program, which is designed for nurses with an MSN degree to earn the Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Business Administration degrees simultaneously. The DNP program is accredited by the Washington State Board of Nursing and by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org/).
The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) offers two pathways to entry. The Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing is a 27-month program designed for those with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Classes are typically full-time during the 15-month pre-licensure and during the 12-month post-licensure portion of the program. The Master of Science in Nursing is a 12-month program for registered nurses (R.N.) holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) who wish to further their education. The PLU M.S.N. program is accredited by the Washington State Board of Nursing and the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org/).
Social Work
The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) has a focus on health and behavioral health and is designed to help students prepare for careers related to physical and behavioral health. There are two pathways to enter the MSW program. The regular standing option is a 24-month, 60-credit program for students who do not have an undergraduate degree in social work. The advanced standing options is a 14-month, 36-40-credit program for students who have an undergraduate degree in social work. Courses will be offered primarily in person in the late afternoon or early evening. This program is to prepare graduates to become a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the State of Washington.
Certificate Programs
- Certificate Programs Offered in Business
- Certificate in Technology and Innovation Management
- Certificate in Healthcare Management
- Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Closely-Held Enterprises
- Certificate in Supply Chain Management
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Accounting
- Coursework Leading to Certification in Education
- Master of Arts in Education with Certification
- Post-Master’s Principal Certification
- Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with Superintendent Certification
- Certification Programs Offered in Nursing
- Post-Graduate Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Post-Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Post-Graduate Certificate in Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP)
- The ENP certificate program is on hiatus for the 2024-25 academic year