Catalog 2024-25

Application Requirements (Graduate)

Application Requirements (Graduate)

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

  • A master’s degree, in any major, from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • For Ed.D. plus Superintendent Credential:
    • Valid Washington State teaching, administrator, or ESA certificate
    • Three years of building or district level leadership experience
  • For Superintendent to Ed.D.:
    • Washington State Superintendent Certificate completed at a Professional Educator Standards Board approved superintendent program
      • Applicants who have completed superintendent credentials in other states may be able to transfer courses based on a course-by-course review
  • Online application
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Résumé
  • Personal statement

Doctor of Nursing Practice

BSN to DNP

  • A Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

MSN to DNP

  • Master of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

Additional Requirements for both pathways

  • Current, unencumbered WA State RN license
  • Completion of college-level statistics (both descriptive and inferential) with a 3.0 (B) or better
  • Online application
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Résumé
  • Statement of professional goals

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy

  • A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a major in Family Studies, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, or the equivalent or a minimum of 15 semester hours (22.5 quarter hours) in Family Studies, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, or the equivalent
  • Online application
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Résumé
  • Personal statement
  • Interview, if invited
  • Official TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS score report (for international applicants only)

Master of Education Residency Certification and M.A.E. Alternative Routes

Standard Application

  • A bachelor’s degree, in any major, from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Online application
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Two letters of recommendation, one of which speaks to the applicant’s work with youth
  • Résumé
  • Application essay
  • Score reports on the WEST-B or equivalent
  • Interview, if invited
  • Post-admission requirements (if admitted):
    • A passing score (240) on the WEST-E and (220) on the NES (or equivalent)
    • Completion of all content coursework
  • Official TOEFL Duolingo, or IELTS score report (for international applicants only)

Master of Business Administration

Standard Application

  • A bachelor’s degree, in any major, from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Online application
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • One letter of recommendation
  • Résumé
  • Personal statement of educational and professional goals
  • Official TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS score report (for international applicants only)

Master of Fine Arts - Low Residency Creative Writing

  • Online application
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Personal statement
  • A creative writing sample
  • A 500-word literary critique
  • Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

Master of Science in Kinesiology

The Master of Science in Kinesiology program is on hiatus for the 2024-25 academic year.

Standard Application

  • A bachelor’s degree, in any major, from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Online application
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Résumé
  • Personal statement
  • Official TOEFL or IELTS score report (for international applicants only)

Master of Science in Marketing Analytics

The Master of Science in Marketing Analytics program is on hiatus for the 2024-25 academic year.

Standard Application

  • A bachelor’s degree, in any major, from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Online application
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • GRE or GMAT scores (Optional)
  • Résumé
  • Personal statement of professional goals and quantitative skills
  • Official TOEFL or IELTS score report (for international applicants only)

Master of Science in Nursing

Entry-Level MSN

  • A bachelor’s degree, in any major, from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Completion with a minimum grade of 3.0 (b) or better in each prerequisite course (see program website for requirements)
  • Official TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS score report (for international applicants only)

BSN to MSN

  • A Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Current, unencumbered WA State RN license
  • Completion of college-level statistics (both descriptive and inferential) with a 3.0 (B) or better on a 4.0 scale

Additional Requirements for both pathways

  • Online application
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Résumé
  • Statement of professional goals

Master of Social Work

Regular Standing

  • A bachelor’s degree, in any major, from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

Advanced Standing

  • Bachelor’s degree of social work from a CSWE accredited program
  • GPA in social work courses of 3.0 or higher and cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may also be considered. Applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA are encouraged to provide additional information related to the context of their GPA in the application.

Additional Requirements for both pathways

  • Online application
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Résumé or vita
  • Personal essay
  • Personal interview (optional)

Fast track application: Current PLU social work majors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in social work courses may apply to the M.S.W. program (advanced standing) by submitting only a resume and a personal essay. Current PLU social work minors with a cumulative 3.0 GPA may apply to the M.S.W. program (regular standing) by submitting a resume and personal essay. Fast track applicants are not guaranteed admission.

Transfer credits: With the approval of the M.S.W. director, a maximum of 9 graduate credits may be transferred from other universities. The courses must fulfill PLU M.S.W. course requirements and learning outcomes.

Post-Graduate Nurse Practitioner Certificate

  • Current, unencumbered WA State RN license or WA Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) certification
  • For Family Nurse and Psychiatric Mental Health NP Certificates
    • For candidates with an ARNP certification, a master’s degree or above from a nationally-accredited school of nursing
    • For candidates with a RN license, a doctoral degree in any field from a nationally-accredited school
  • For Emergency Nurse Practitioner certificate
    • Current, unencumbered WA State Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) license or eligible to obtain WA state licensure
    • A current Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification
    • Completion of prerequisites (see program website for requirements)
  • Online application
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Résumé
  • Statement of professional goals

All records become part of the applicant’s official file and can be neither returned nor duplicated for any purpose.

An offer of admission is good for one term in all graduate programs. Admitted students who have not enrolled in any coursework for the admitted term must reapply for another term or request permission for deferral. Approval for deferral is subject to the discretion of each program.