Admissions

Associate & Bachelors Programs:

Applicants who seek admission into a Saint Joseph’s College Online undergraduate degree program, who have not obtained college credit at a regionally or nationally accredited post-secondary institution, must submit one of the following:

• Official transcript from an accredited high school with a minimum grade point average of C.
• Official GED examination record with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
• Official record of completion from a state-approved high school diploma home schooling program

Applicants who have completed college coursework at regionally or nationally accredited, post-secondary institutions must submit the following documentation:

• Official transcripts from all regionally or nationally accredited institutions previously attended.
• Cumulative minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Undergraduate Certificate Programs:

• Applicants who seek admission into an undergraduate certificate, are not required to submit official transcripts, unless seeking transfer credit.

Transfer Credit:

In determining accreditation, Saint Joseph’s College uses the publication Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary 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.  

Saint Joseph’s College Online 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:

• ACE/PONSI approved credit;
• ACE-approved military training and experience credit 
• CLEP, ACT/PEP and DANTES DSST programs (the maximum number of semester-hour credits which may be challenged and transferred is 30);
• Undergraduate students may submit a portfolio demonstrating experiential learning to challenge a specific course. Guidelines are available from Saint Joseph’s College Online, 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 awarded for appropriate coursework taken at and hospital-based Schools of Radiologic Technology. Transfer credit is not awarded for pre-collegiate level or remedial coursework.

Undergraduate Associate Degrees

• 66 semester-hour credits are required for successful completion of an Associate of Science degree at Saint Joseph’s College.
• Students must earn a minimum of 25% of the course requirements within their degree, at Saint Joseph’s College. Students may transfer up to 48 semester-hour credits from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• Students must earn a minimum of 15 semester-hour credits within the major/specialization, at Saint Joseph’s College.

Undergraduate Bachelor Degrees

• 120 semester-hour credits are required for successful completion of a Baccalaureate degree at Saint Joseph’s College.
• Transfer credit is awarded from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, at the time of graduation.
• Students must earn a minimum of 25% of the course requirements within their degree, at Saint Joseph’s College. Students may transfer up to 90 semester-hour credits from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• Students must earn a minimum of 18 semester-hour credits within the major, at Saint Joseph’s College.
  • If students are taking a single minor, students are allowed to transfer a maximum of 6.00 semester credits towards that minor.  If students are completing two minors, students can transfer in up to 9.00 semester credits towards each minor.
• Undergraduate courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C, to be eligible in transfer.
• Course descriptions/syllabi may be requested on an individual basis
   

Undergraduate Certificate Programs:

• Transfer credit is awarded from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, at the time of attendance.
• 18-Credit Certificates: Students are eligible to transfer up to 6 semester-hour credits of curriculum related undergraduate-level work, from a regionally or nationally accredited post-secondary institution, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• 15-Credit Certificates: Students are eligible to transfer up to 3 semester-hour credits of curriculum related undergraduate-level work, from a regionally or nationally accredited post-secondary institution, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education

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 admissions decision.  

STATE AUTHORIZATIONS

States have long had the authority to regulate institutions offering education within each state’s boundaries, regardless of the educational modality (face-to-face, distance, other) being used. 

Maine is now the 36^th state to join the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), an initiative that will make distance-education courses more accessible to students across state lines and make it easier for institutions to participate in interstate distance education.  Participation in SARA was approved in the statute by the 127th Maine Legislature, allowing the State Board of Education to enter into the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) regional compact, designating Maine DOE as the portal agency for SARA.

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

What is SARA?

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts.  For further information, please visit the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements website at http://nc-sara.org/content/basic-questions-about-sara.  Maine’s Acting Education Commissioner, Bill Beardsley says, “SARA facilitates Maine’s interface with education opportunities across the country while bypassing the old case-by-case burdensome course approval system. Maine students benefit and state red tape is minimized with no loss of accountability. It is a state consortium approach we value.”

Professional Licensure/Responsibility of Students:

It is important to note that NC-SARA does not deal with professional licensing board approval for any courses or programs leading to professional licensure.  Saint Joseph’s College of Maine cannot know nor guarantee where our coursework will meet requirements for professional licensure, endorsements, or license renewal in states outside of Maine.  If you are planning on using our coursework towards a license or credential in your state, we recommend that you consult with the appropriate licensing agency or board in the state for which you seek to obtain licensure.

Students should review the specific academic requirements for the program in which they are enrolling, including those related to practicum/internship as well as pre-qualifications of licensure, such as the need for a criminal background check.  SJC highly recommends that students contact the applicablie licensure board(s) in their state of residence or in the state where they intend to obtain a license before beginning an academic program that results in licensure and prior to beginning any internship/practicum.  Many licensure boards require more than successful degree completion to obtain a license.  Please be advised that state laws, regulations, and policies may change at any time.  Changes in requirements can impact the program’s ability to meet education requirements for licensure.  It is the responsibility of the student completing the licensure program to check with the licensing board(s) in their state of residence or in the state in which they intend to obtain a license for the most recent information and requirements.  SJC shall not be held liable if the student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdication or cannot obtain a practicum/internship location.

Relocation:

Relocating during the course of a program to another state may impact if the student can remain in the program, meet the state licensure requirements and/or continue to receive financial aid funding.  Prior to considering relocation, please contact your program director to discuss authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.

Links to Professional Licensure Boards/Requirements:

NC-SARA Professional Licensure Directory:

https://www.nc-sara.org/professional-licensure-directory

National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards

https://www.nabweb.org/state-licensure -requirements

U.S. Department of Education

https://www.ed.gov/

Nursing

https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm

Social Work

https://www.aswb.org/

Consumer Grievance Information

The following are links to consumer information notices and disclosures provided in accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act with the reauthorized Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

Consumer Grievance Contact Information

Consumer Grievance Form and Release

Saint Joseph’s College is authorized or exempted from authorization in all 50 states.  Please read state-specific disclosure language below.

Individual State Disclosure Statements
Non-SARA Participating State Specific Language

California  Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF)    You must pay the state-imposed assessment for the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) if all of the following applies to you:

1. You are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program and prepay all or part of your tuition either by cash, guaranteed student loans, or personal loans, and
2. Your total charges are not paid by any third-party payer such as an employer, government program or other payer unless you have a separate agreement to repay the third party.
3. You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment, if either of the following applies:
   • You are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program, or
   • Your total charges are paid by a third party, such as an employer, government program or other payer, and you have no separate agreement to repay the third party.

The State of California created the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic losses suffered by students in educational programs who are California residents, or are enrolled in a residency programs attending certain schools regulated by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

You may be eligible for STRF if you are a California resident or are enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of the following:

1. The school closed before the course of instruction was completed.
2. The school’s failure to pay refunds or charges on behalf of a student to a third party for license feesor any other purposes, or to provide equipment or materials for which a charge was collected within 180 days before the closure of the school.
3. The school’s failure to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federally guaranteed student loan program as required by law or to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the school prior to closure in excess of tuition and other costs.
4. There was a materials failure to comply with the Act or this Division within 30 days before the school closed or, if the material failure began earlier than 30 days prior to closure, the period determined by the Bureau.
5. An inability after diligent efforts to prosecute, prove, and collect on a judgement against the institution for a violation of the Act.

However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number. For further information, contact the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at www.bppe.ca.gov or (916) 431-6959.

SARA States & Institutions

To view updated SARA States and Institutions:  http://www.nc-sara.org/

Applicants who seek admission into a Saint Joseph’s College Online graduate degree program, with the exception of the Master of Science in Nursing program, must provide the college with the following:

• Official undergraduate transcript indicating successful completion of an undergraduate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution, at the time of graduation, with a minimum cumulative degree GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Master of Science in Nursing applicants are required to have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791) or ACEN accredited institution at the time of graduation, with a minimum cumulative degree GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.  Please see program specific admission criteria for the Master of Science in Nursing.
  • Master of Accountancy applicants are also required to submit undergraduate transcripts from previously attended regionally or nationally accredited institutions, where undergraduate pre-requisites have been completed with a minimum grade of B-/2.7. Please see program specific admission criteria for the Master of Accountancy program.
• Official transcripts from all regionally or nationally accredited institutions previously attended for any graduate curriculum related coursework.   

Graduate Certificate Program: Applicants who seek admission into a graduate certificate program, are required to submit an official undergraduate transcript, indicating successful completion of an undergraduate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution, at the time of graduation, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. 

Post-Graduate Certificate Program Applicants who seek admission into the CAGS post- graduate certificate program, are required to submit an official graduate transcript indicating successful completion of a graduate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution, at the time of graduation, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 

Post-Graduate- Nursing Certificate Programs: Applicants who seek admission into the post-graduate Nursing certificate program, are required to submit an official graduate transcript indicating successful completion of a Master of Science in Nursing degree, from a CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791) or ACEN accredited institution, at the time of graduation, with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

*Please see additional program specific admission requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing  , Master of Accountancy  , Master of Business Administration  and Master of Health Administration  programs:

Transfer Credit

In determining accreditation, Saint Joseph’s College uses the publication Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary 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.  Graduate transfer credit will not be awarded for undergraduate coursework or graduate courses that had been used previously to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements.

Graduate Programs:

• Transfer credit is awarded from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, at the time of graduation.
• Graduate courses must be completed with a minimum grade of B, to be eligible in transfer.
  • Nursing courses must be completed with a minimum grade of B, from a CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791) or ACEN accredited institution at the time of graduation
• Course descriptions are required.  Syllabi may be requested on an individual basis.
  • Students who seek graduate nursing, must provide course descriptions and syllabi for review.
• Students are eligible to transfer up to 6 semester-hour credits of curriculum related graduate-level work, from a regionally or nationally accredited post-secondary institution, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Transfer credit is awarded from regionally or nationally accredited institutions, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, at the time of attendance.
• Graduate courses must be completed with a minimum grade of B, to be eligible in transfer.
  • Nursing courses must be completed with a minimum grade of B, from a CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791) or ACEN accredited institution at the time of graduation
• Course descriptions are required.  Syllabi may be requested on an individual basis.
  • Students who seek graduate Nursing, must provide course descriptions and syllabi for review.
• Students are eligible to transfer up to 6 semester-hour credits of curriculum related graduate-level work from a regionally or nationally accredited post-secondary institution, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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 admissions decision.  

Transcripts:

International applicants must 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 National Association of Credential Evaluator Services (NACES) agency: http://www.naces.org/members.htm

Applicants who seek admission into the Master of Science in Nursing & Post-Master of Science in Nursing graduate certificate programs, must submit an external evaluation from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) http://www.cgfns.org/

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Scores:

Submit original Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores, if English is not your primary language.  A TOEFL score at or above the 50^th percentile on the internet-based, computer-based or paper-based exam is preferred.  An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score may be accepted in lieu of the TOEFL.

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