Admissions

Graduate and Professional Studies applicants may apply at any time during the year, regardless of program choice. Admission status is granted based upon the specific program requirements. For undergraduate programs, all applicants must be graduates of an accredited public or private high school must have passed a GED examination or provide proof of completion of a GED equivalent or must have completed a state-approved high school diploma through home schooling.Applicants must have completed high school with an average grade of “C” or better, have a standard 2.0 or better for GED students or show college credit with a cumulative grade point of 2.0 or better for admission to an undergraduate degree program. Applicants who do not meet the cumulative grade point standard may be allowed to enroll as  a Continuing Education (CE) student and take specific introductory course work. If the course work is completed with a grade of 2.5 or better, the applicant may reapply to the desired undergraduate program.

In determining accreditation, Saint Joseph’s College uses the publication Accredited Institutions of Post-secondary Education by the American Council on Education (ACE) published in consultation with the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Applicants who have attended a foreign institution must have their transcripts evaluated by a member institution of the National Association of Credential Evaluator Services (NACES) to determine accreditation equivalency and transferability of credits. Canadian nurses will be managed on a case by case basis.

Acceptance into undergraduate degree programs is provisional until six credits of courses in the program of study are successfully completed with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better and all admissions requirements have been met. At that time, a determination is made regarding advancement to matriculated status. A lower grade-point average may result in dismissal or academic probation, at the discretion of the College.

Applicants with no prior college course work must submit a high school transcript. Applicants who have completed college course work need not submit a high school transcript but must submit official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended.

Most undergraduate programs allow applicants to enroll in course work prior to program acceptance. In those cases, applicants may enroll in a maximum of two courses prior to being evaluated and accepted into a degree program.

Prerequisites

In some instances, courses in the undergraduate degree programs at Saint Joseph’s College will have prerequisites which must be completed prior to enrolling in the specific course. Unless other­wise specified, prerequisites may be transferred, completed through Saint Joseph’s, or fulfilled by satisfactory CLEP or DANTES proficiency examination scores. When using actual courses for prerequisites fulfillment, students may only use course work passed with grades of “C” or better. See specific program for prerequisites requirements.

Transfer Credits

The Division of Graduate & Professional Studies values prior formal learning and career-based experiences. The College follows the American Council on Education guidelines in granting transfer credit. Transfer credits may include:

• Courses of study from accredited colleges or universities, with a grade of “C” or better, examinations through CLEP, ACT/PEP and DANTES DSST programs (the maximum number of semester-hour credits which may be challenged and transferred is 30);

• ACE/PONSI approved credit;

• ACE-approved military training and experience credits.

• Undergraduate students may submit a portfolio demonstrating experiential learning to challenge a specific course. Guidelines are available from Graduate & Professional Studies, Enrollment Services, at 800-343-5498 or 207-893-7800. The maximum number of credits that may be awarded by portfolio process is: Baccalaureate Degree: 18 credits Associate Degree: 9 credits Certificate 6 credits

At the undergraduate level, transfer credit is awarded for appropriate coursework taken at hospital-based Schools of Nursing and hospital-based Schools of Radiologic Technology. Transfer credit is not awarded for pre-collegiate level or remedial coursework.

Saint Joseph’s College is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC) Degree Network System (DNS), a subset of SOC Consortium member institutions selected by the military services to deliver specific associate and bachelor’s degree programs to servicemembers and their families. As a member of the DNS, we have agreed t adhere to academic policies intended to support military students in their academic endeavors towards degree completion. Saint Joseph’s College is currently approved for membership in SOCAD and SOCNAV at the bachelor’s degree level. See Military and Veterans.

At the undergraduate level, students must complete a minimum of 25% of the course requirements at Saint Joseph’s College in order to meet degree requirements:

For transfer credit review, official transcripts must be sent directly from the credit-granting institution to Enrollment Services, Division of Graduate & Professional Studies, Saint Joseph’s College, 278 Whites Bridge Road, Standish, ME 04084. Proficiency examination score reports must be sent directly from the testing service to Enrollment Services, Division of Graduate & Professional Studies.

Note:

Alabama State authorization to provide the Masters of Science in Education program related to the preparation of teachers or other P-12 school/system personnel does not indicate eligibility for an Alabama certificate. Applicants for an Alabama certificate based on reciprocity must meet Alabama’s test requirements and submit a valid, renewable professional educator certificate/license issued by another state at the degree level, grade level, and in the teaching field or area of instructional support for which an Alabama certificate is sought and for which Alabama issues a certificate. Applicants for Alabama certification in an area of administration must also document at least three years of full-time employment as an administrator in a P-12 school system(s). www.alsde.edu
 

Alaska Commission on Post-secondary Education Institutional Authorization: The Saint Joseph’s College of Maine program is exempt from authorization as an on line or distance delivered program and does not have a physical presence in the State of Alaska.

Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board certification does not constitute an endorsement of any institution or program. Such certification merely indicates that certain criteria have been met as required under the rules and regulations implementing institutional and program certification as defined in Arkansas Code Sec. 6-61-301.

Students from the State of Georgia when confronted with a grievance situation also have the right to appeal to the office of Nonpublic Post-secondary Education Commission, 2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 220, Tucker, GA 30084, (770) 414-3300. A Georgia student who withdraws is entitled to a refund based on the college’s refund policy or the refund policy established by the State of Georgia (www.gnpec.org), whichever is more favorable to the student.

Saint Joseph’s College is currently licensed by the Board of Regents of the State of Louisiana. Licenses are renewed by the State Board of Regents every two years. Licensed institutions have met minimal operational standards set forth by the state, but licenses does not constitute accreditation, guarantee the transferability of credit, nor signify that programs are certifiable by any professional agency or organization.

Saint Joseph’s College is registered as a private institution with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to sections 136A.61 to 136A.71. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions.

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is authorized by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act.  This authorization is subject to periodic review and authorizes Saint Joseph’s College of Maine to offer field placements within the following degree program:  Master of Science in Nursing.  Authorization by the HECB does not carry with it an endorsement by the board of the institution or its programs.  Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the HECB at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA  98504-3430.
 

Graduate & Professional Studies applicants may apply at any time during the year, regardless of program choice. Admission status is granted based upon the specific program requirements.

All graduate programs require applicants to have a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher learning accredited or accepted as accredited in the United States, with a cumulative grade point of 2.5 or better, with the exception of the MSN program, whose applicants must have a baccalaureate degree with a cumulative grade point of 3.0 or better. Applicants who do not meet the cumulative grade point standard may be allowed to enroll as a Continuing Education (CE) student and take specific introductory course work. If the course work is completed with a 3.0 or better , the applicant may reapply to the desired graduate program. For additional requirements, see specific program information.

In determining accreditation, Saint Joseph’s College uses the publication Accredited Institutions of Post-secondary Education by the American Council on Education (ACE) published in consultation with the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Applicants who have graduated with a foreign bachelor’s degree equivalent must have their transcripts evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluator Services (NACES), and the degree must be deemed equivalent to a degree at an accredited institution. Canadian nurses will be managed on a case by case basis.

Acceptance into graduate programs is provisional until six credits of courses in the program of study are successfully completed with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and all admissions requirements have been met. At that time, a determination is made regarding advancement to matriculated status. A lower grade-point average may result in dismissal or academic probation, at the discretion of the College.

Applicants must provide official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions, and graduate transcripts for courses in curriculum-related areas. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the transmitting institution(s). Transcripts and any additional supporting documentation must be received in order to implement the evaluation process. Once all official transcripts and supporting materials have been received, a decision regarding acceptance will be made, appropriate courses will be determined, and the applicant will be notified immediately of acceptance. See specific program for any additional required documentation.

Official transcripts must be sent directly to Enrollment Services, Division of Graduate & Professional Studies, Saint Joseph’s College, 278 Whites Bridge Road, Standish, ME 04084.

Many graduate programs allow applicants to enroll in course work prior to program acceptance. In those cases, applicants may enroll in a maximum of two courses prior to being evaluated and accepted into a degree program .

Prerequisites

In some instances, courses in the graduate degree programs at Saint Joseph’s College will have prerequisites which must be completed prior to enrolling in the specific course. Unless other­wise specified, prerequisites may be transferred, completed through Saint Joseph’s, or fulfilled by satisfactory CLEP or DANTES proficiency examination scores. When using actual undergraduate courses for prerequisites fulfillment, students may only use course work passed with grades of “C” or better. See specific program for prerequisites requirements.

Transfer Credits

Saint Joseph’s College recognizes the value of previously earned academic credits within specific guidelines. For all graduate degree and certificate programs, the applicant may transfer two curriculum-related courses, of 3 semester-hour credits each, from an accredited college or university, with a grade of “B” or better.

At the graduate level, it is Saint Joseph’s College policy that credit can not be created and must be transferred from another accredited college or university or one deemed equivalent by a NACES member organization. Graduate transfer credit will not be awarded for undergraduate coursework or graduate courses that had been used previously to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements.

For transfer credit review, a photocopy of the catalog course description(s) should be sent to Enrollment Services, Division of Graduate & Professional Studies, Saint Joseph’s College, 278 Whites Bridge Road, Standish, ME 04084.

International students are required to submit, in English, certified copies of their secondary school transcript from their home country or certified copies of their post-secondary course work, in addition to the requirements for regular admission.  They must also submit an external transcript evaluation from an authorized agency and a satisfactory score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  A student, whose primary language is not English, must provide copies of TOEFL test scores directly from the testing service for admission.  A minimum score of 485 or higher for the paper-based version or 161 for the computer-based version is required for undergraduate applicants.  Graduate applicants must submit minimum scores of 550 for the paper-based version or 213 for the computer-based version of the exam.  The TOEFL requirement is waived for applicants who submit proof of graduation from an English-speaking Institution, which is either accredited or deemed equivalent by the evaluating agency.

For more information on TOEFL, contact your local U.S. Consulate or Embassy or contact:
Phone: 1-609-771-7100
Fax: 1-609-771-7500
Mail: TOEFL Services, Educational Testing Services, PO Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
Web site: www.toefl.org Saint Joseph’s College’s TOEFL identification number is 3764