Admission Policies

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Student Profile - School of Graduate and Professional Programs

The students attending the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs are as diverse as the programs offered. The vast majority of students are working adults who are balancing the demands of career, family, and civic responsibilities. While the gender ratio and age vary within each program, overall, 69% percent of the students are female and 31% percent are male. The median age is 33 years with an age range of 19 to 70 years.

Admission

Saint Mary’s University adheres to the principle that all persons have equal opportunity and access to admission, employment, facilities, and all programs and activities of the university regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or status with regard to public assistance.

Office of Admission

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
2500 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404-4403
Phone: (612) 728-5100
Toll-free: (866) 437-2788
Fax: (612) 728-5121
E-mail: tcadmission@smumn.edu

Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Programs Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply for admission to undergraduate degree programs at any time during the year. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful undergraduate coursework. Applicants must demonstrate an overall grade point average of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale with evidence of at least 30 transferable semester credits*. These credits must include completion of one basic English composition course with a grade of C or better I**.  Applicants may be required to complete an interview with a program administrator as part of the admissions process.

Applicants must submit:

1. Completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee (fee not required for alumni or students seeking readmission or veterans and active military personnel and their immediate family)

2. All official transcripts issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from all previous institutions attended with a minimum of 30 semester credits with a basic English composition course.  (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards).  Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted.

*These credits may be made up of:

• Industry Training and Military Separation Paper carrying American Council on Education (ACE) credit recommendations or,
• Past College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) exam credits or,
• International credits evaluated by a source accepted by Saint Mary’s University or,
• Any credits transferable from a regionally accredited or non-regionally accredited institution.

For more on transferable credits, please see section on Transfer Credits.

**The English composition course requirement helps the student prepare for college level coursework. The applicant may be conditionally admitted if he or she cannot prove competency in this area, in which case the CLEP College Composition exam with essay or a similar university course must be taken within the first semester of study at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

See policy on Awarding a Second Bachelor’s degree. 

See individual programs for additional application requirements.

Master’s Degree and Graduate Certificate Programs Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply for admission to most master’s degree programs at any time during the year.  Applicants may have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and maintained an overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework. Applicants may be required to complete an interview with a program administrator as part of the admission process.

Applicants must submit:

1. Completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee (fee not required for alumni or students seeking readmission or veterans and active military personnel and their immediate family) and,
2. An official transcript issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor’s degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards).  Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted. 
3. A personal statement which includes:
   1. brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience and,
   2. statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and his or her reasons for seeking admission to the program and,
   3. description of the areas the applicant considers to be his or her strengths and areas in which the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities and,
   4. personal information the applicant wishes to share.
4. Letter(s) of recommendation that verify professional and/or volunteer experience and academic ability.
5. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.

See individual programs for additional application requirements.

School of Business and Technology Master’s Degree and Graduate Certificate Programs Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply for admission to master’s degree programs at any time during the year.  Applicants may have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and maintained an overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework. Applicants may be required to complete an interview with a program administrator as part of the admission process.

Applicants must submit:

1. Completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee (fee not required for alumni or students seeking readmission or veterans and active military personnel and their immediate family) and,
2. An official transcript issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor’s degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards).  Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted. 
3. A personal statement which includes:

• brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience and,
• statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and his or her reasons for seeking admission to the program and,
• description of the areas the applicant considers to be his or her strengths and areas in which the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities and,
• personal information the applicant wishes to share.

4. Names of two people (including title, organization, email, phone number) who could serve as professional references, if needed, during the application review process. The best references are those who know you in a professional capacity, such as current or former supervisors.
5. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.

See individual programs for additional application requirements.

Specialist Degree Program Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply for admission to the specialist degree at any time during the year. A master degree from a regionally accredited institution, for which applicant maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, is required for admission. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework.  Applicants must complete and interview with a program administrator as part of the admission process.

Applicants must submit:

1. Completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee (fee not required for alumni or students seeking readmission or veterans and active military personnel and their immediate family) and,
2. An official transcript issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed master’s degrees and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards).  Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted.
3. All applicants must submit a personal statement which includes:
   1. brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience and,
   2. statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and his or her reasons for seeking admission to this program and,
   3. description of the areas which the applicant considers to be his or her strengths and areas in which the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities and,
   4. personal information the applicant wishes to share.
4. Letter(s) of recommendation that verify professional and/or volunteer experience and academic ability.
5. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.

See individual programs for additional application requirements.

Doctoral Degree Programs Admission Requirements

A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, for which applicant maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, is required for admission. Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework. Applicants must complete and interview with a program administrator as part of the admission process.

Applicants must submit:

1. Completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee (fee not required for alumni or students seeking readmission or veterans and active military personnel and their immediate family) and,
2. An official transcript issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards).  Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted.
3. All applicants must submit a personal statement which includes:

a.  brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience and,
b.  statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and his or her reasons for seeking admission to this program and,
c.  description of the areas which the applicant considers to be his or her strengths and areas in which the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities and,
d.  personal information the applicant wishes to share.

4. Letter(s) of recommendation that verify professional and/or volunteer experience and academic ability.
5. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.

See individual programs for additional application requirements.

Program Admission Requirements for Master of Social Work Advanced Standing Track

To be admitted to the Saint Mary’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program in the Advanced Standing track, a candidate must meet the following requirements.

Candidates must have earned a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program, recognized through its International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Services, or covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors, within the last 10 academic years (for example, if a BSW was conferred in spring 2009, the student would need to enroll in and begin courses no later than spring 2019 in order to satisfy this requirement).

If BSW was earned more than 10 academic years ago, students may be admitted as Advanced Standing, but are required to successfully complete four social work generalist courses before being admitted to the program: Generalist Practice I and II and Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE) I and II. If these courses are not available, an alternative will be developed with the student.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for all undergraduate classes must have been earned.

For students who do not meet the GPA requirements, the MSW Program Director will review transcripts. The student will be required to enroll in Saint Mary’s MSW equivalent courses for any BSW social work courses in which the student earned less than a B or A/B.

Additionally, regardless of GPA, if an Advanced Standing student received a C or below in BSW core social work course, they will be required to enroll in the MSW equivalents at Saint Mary’s.

Students are asked to address their undergraduate performance in the personal statement for admission.

Application Criteria for Students with International Transcripts

Students with transcripts from universities located outside of the United States or a waiver country listed below are required to take and pass English Proficiency testing. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota accepts the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 72, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0 the International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP) with a minimum score of 4.0 or Pearson Test of English with a score of 51.

Additionally, students that have completed 30 undergraduate or 12 graduate credits from an accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent of these credits from an institution in a waiver country listed below will be exempt from English Language Proficiency test.

Approved waiver countries
The United States (including all territories), the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and Canada (except for the Quebec Province), Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Montserrat, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands

WES/ECE and TOEFL/IELTS must be sent officially to Saint Mary’s through the respective testing organizations, along with the Saint Mary’s school code*: 6632

Deferred Admission and Reapplication

Students are expected to begin their coursework in the semester for which they applied. Students may request to delay beginning their coursework by providing written notification to the admission office. If approved, students will be required to meet the degree requirements effective at the time they enroll into the program. If students do not enroll in courses within two semesters of admission, they will be withdrawn and will be required to complete the readmission process.

See individual program pages for program specific requirements.

Program Cancellations or Delayed Starts

Saint Mary’s University reserves the right to delay or cancel the start of any bachelor’s completion or graduate program or cohort.  Delays or cancellations may occur due to low course or cohort enrollment, lack of an instructor, or other factors.  New students will be notified of a canceled or delayed program start no later than 30 calendar days prior to the start of the term.  In the event of a delay, University Admissions staff will work with students to identify an appropriate program start time.  In the event of course cancellation, a full tuition refund will be applied to the student tuition account for all tuition and fees paid for the course within 14 calendar days.

Readmission

Students who have been withdrawn and wish to resume their studies must reapply in order to be readmitted. If readmitted, students must meet degree requirements effective at the time of readmission.  Students seeking readmission to the bachelor’s completion program must resubmit an application. Students seeking readmission to the master’s, graduate certificate, specialist or doctorate programs must submit an application, and personal statement to initiate the readmission process.  The office of the registrar will determine if additional materials are needed to complete the application process.

Students seeking readmission who left Saint Mary’s not in good academic standing will be reviewed, and if approved, will be placed on academic probation and be subject to Academic Probation policy. 

Additional transcripts with credits students earned since last attendance at Saint Mary’s will be evaluated for transfer, based on the Transfer of Credit policy.  See Transfer Credit Policy and program for program specific transfer credit policy.

Immunizations

Minnesota law (M.S. 135A.14) requires all students born after 1956 and enrolled in a public or private post-secondary school in Minnesota to be properly immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, whooping cough, and rubella. There are allowances for disease, medical, and conscientious exemptions. An electronic form is provided for students to complete within 45 days after the start of the semester.  If the form has not been completed at that point, a registration hold is placed on the student’s account. The form is then made available for review by the Minnesota Department of Health and the local community health board. This form confirming proper immunization must be submitted within 45 days of attending class. Absent submission of the form, students may not remain enrolled.

The university expects all students and employees to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccination.  Individuals may file medical or non-medical exemptions to that expectation.  Students and employees must utilize the Health Services portal to upload proof of vaccination or access and upload forms certifying an exemption.

Medical Clearances/ Background Checks for Students in Healthcare Programs

Students in healthcare programs who are involved in patient care are required to submit further proof of immunity to certain communicable diseases. A physician’s statement stating that the student is physically able to function as a student in the field of study may also be required. Students in programs who are involved in caring for vulnerable persons are required to submit to state criminal background checks.

Please see program student handbooks for specific information.

Minimum Technical Hardware Requirements

Saint Mary’s students are required to use a computer in their studies.  There are minimum hardware required specifications and, in some cases, program specific technical requirements.  Computers are necessary to connect with the online learning environment, enhance the interaction with instructors and classmates, and gain access to educational resources such as library databases and other resources. Students majoring in select academic programs may have additional hardware or software requirements.

Important note:  Smartphones and tablets do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at Saint Mary’s.  Coursework requires a full keyboard and a minimum screen size of 13 inches. Smartphones and tablets can aid and support coursework, but alone they are not sufficient.

Admission Status

At the time of admission, students are assigned an admission status.

Regular Admission

Regular admission status is assigned to all students who have completed the application process and meet all standards required by the individual program.

Conditional Admission Requirements

Students may be admitted conditionally if they do not meet all the academic requirements of their academic program. Students who are conditionally admitted must meet all requirements for regular admission within the first semester of their conditional admission.

Students required to complete prerequisite coursework prior to matriculation into a face-to-face program may request to take the necessary prerequisite coursework via online courses. 

See program pages for specific requirements.

Students may be admitted conditionally without an official transcript.  Students may only register for 6 credits in their first semester. Students must provide an official transcript within the first semester of their conditional admission. 

Students missing prerequisites may have additional time to complete the requirements, upon approval of the program director. Financial aid is available for students admitted conditionally.

Undergraduate Conditional status students must:

1. English Composition course or CLEP exam must be taken within the first semester of study at Saint Mary’s University and/or.        
2. Earn a GPA of 2.0 cumulative after attempting and completing 6 undergraduate credits following admission and/or
3. Provide an official transcript to the admission office.

Graduate Conditional status students must:

1. Earn a GPA of 3.0 cumulative after attempting and completing 6 graduate credits following admission and/or
2. Complete requirements as specified by the program director and/or
3. Provide an official transcript with degree posted and/or 
4. Participate in specially designed communications and/or skill-building activities.

Students may reapply for the same program or another program at any time after being administratively withdrawn. Students may be re-admitted conditionally upon program director approval. Readmission may include additional academic requirements.

Special Admission

Students who are non-degree seeking, but wish to enroll for academic credit in courses within a degree program, are admitted as special status students. Special status students are admitted to courses on a space-available basis and must meet all course prerequisites.

Not all programs accept special status students.

An applicant will be considered for admission as a special status student when these materials are received (some programs may have additional requirements):

• Completed application form.
• Nonrefundable application fee.
• An official transcript of undergraduate or last degree earned. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution.)

An applicant will not be admitted as a special status student prior to the receipt of an official transcript.

If a non-degree seeking student is seeking regular admission status into the program, he or she should submit a written request for regular admission and submit the additional materials needed for regular admission to that program. Credits earned and grades received as a special status student may apply toward the degree with approval of the program director.

Pre-Admit Admission

Applicants who wish to be admitted prior to completion of their degree may be admitted with pre-admit status. An in-progress transcript must be submitted upon application. Once completed, a transcript posting a degree must be submitted for the pre-admit status to be changed. Students with pre-admit status are not eligible to register for classes. Students currently enrolled and within one semester of completing a Saint Mary’s degree are eligible to register for classes.

International Student Services

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs welcomes the diversity international students add to the university community.

I-20 Forms

Upon admission, the student must notify the international student adviser located in Student Central of their intent to request a Form I-20.

The university will issue a Form I-20 to an international student only after the following conditions have been met:

1. Formally admitted to the university in an eligible program and,
2. Completed application for Form I-20 along with a photocopy of his or her passport and,
3. Proof of financial responsibility and other supporting documents as requested by the university. (Financial responsibility will be proven by the student’s submission of official documentation of cash resources in an amount equal to or greater than the cost of tuition, fees and books for one academic year and the cost of living for one academic year as determined by the Designated School Official. The documentation from the student must demonstrate the student has sufficient financial resources to live in the United States and attend the university without the benefit of additional funds.) and,
4. A non-refundable tuition deposit of $300.00 is required before the release of a student’s Form I-20 however, if the student is denied a visa, the tuition deposit may be refunded upon receipt of visa denial notice.

Students admitted with conditional admission status are not eligible for an issuance of the Form I-20.

The university will mail the Form I-20 via regular mail unless the student covers the cost of an express delivery system, so students who reside outside the U.S. must complete the Form I-20 issuance process no later than two months prior to the semester in which they plan to attend the university. Upon receipt of the Form I-20, the student must submit the Form I-20 to a U.S. Embassy or consulate to apply for an F-1 Student Visa.

All international students must maintain adequate health insurance while attending Saint Mary’s.

Transfer

To affect a transfer of schools, the F-1 student must complete the steps after admission:

1. Inform the school theyis currently attending of their intent to transfer. Request the release of the Form I-20 record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and return a completed transfer recommendation form to the international student’s adviser.
2. Submit a completed application for Form I-20 along with a photocopy of their passport and,
3. Submit proof of financial responsibility and other supporting documents as requested by the university. (Financial responsibility will be proven by the student’s submission of official documentation of cash resources in an amount equal to or greater than the cost of tuition, fees and books for one academic year and the cost of living for one academic year as determined by the Designated Schools official. The documentation from the student must demonstrate the student has sufficient financial resources to live in the United States and attend the university without the benefit of additional funds.) and,
4. Submit a non-refundable required, tuition deposit of $300 (when the university receives the tuition deposit, student’s Form I-20 is released).

International Student Housing

Twin Cities Campus

The Twin Cities Campus is a nonresidential campus. There is no on-campus housing available to students. The Twin Cities Campus has limited on-campus employment available.

Winona Campus

Saint Mary’s University does offer limited housing and a variety of meal plan options for graduate students enrolled on the Winona Campus. Residence halls offer single rooms only. The university does not have family housing available. Space is limited and rooms are assigned on a first come basis.

Transfer Credits

UNDERGRADUATE TRANSFER POLICY

When students enter any academic program at any Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota campus, the Office of the Registrar evaluates all previously completed coursework with a C- grade or equivalent from regionally accredited postsecondary institutions. Transferred courses may be used to satisfy general education requirements, Integratus general education requirements at the residential college, Integratus minor requirements at the residential college, elective requirements, and major course requirements.

Transfer students are strongly encouraged to take the Saint Mary’s Transfer Edge (SMTE) pathway, which satisfies the majority general education requirements in all Saint Mary’s University programs. Parameters for transfer students meeting the SMTE pathway are defined below under respective sections covering transfer policy specific to the residential college and SGPP. Additionally, Saint Mary’s will accept the 40-credit Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) or an Associate of Arts degree from regionally-accredited two-year institutions in the upper Midwest to meet all general education requirements at all Saint Mary’s University campuses. All prospective transfer students are advised to contact the admissions office at their desired Saint Mary’s University campus to determine how their transfer coursework will meet general education requirements for their destined major degree programs.

Courses previously taken during the 2020-21 academic year will be granted credit if graded on the Pass/Satisfactory (P/S) grade scale from the transferring institution. Programs with a competitive secondary admission process will not accept courses with a Pass/Satisfactory grade from the same period. Transferred courses with a P/S grade may not meet a course’s prerequisite requirements. Students may be required to demonstrate competency from a course’s academic department to gain entrance to courses with prerequisites.

While all students are subject to meeting institutional and programmatic academic requirements, SMUMN will accept an unlimited number of credits for all undergraduate programs at all campuses up to the number of credits needed for degree attainment. All transfer credit designated as such may not directly meet a specific academic requirement. However, any transfer course that does not directly meet institutional or programmatic requirements may be applied as general elective credit. Transfer credit will be officially applied to the student’s academic record at Saint Mary’s and will appear as such on an official transcript.

Individual academic departments make the determination as to how transferred courses will meet specific academic requirements. Transfer students looking to have a course not reviewed for equivalency by SMUMN may request a review of the course by providing a course syllabus or outline. Credits are granted for courses taken at other regionally accredited post-secondary institutions through a thorough review of course content and outcomes in accordance with the transfer policies of SMUMN. Transfer credit will not be granted for coursework completed at another institution during any period when a student was suspended from Saint Mary’s for academic misconduct (e.g. plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration on assignments, and cheating on exams).

A student’s grade point average does not transfer into the university from any two- or four-year college or university. Grade point average is based only on grades earned at SMUMN. Some programs may use grades from other schools in instances involving specific secondary admission criteria; however, these grades will not appear on a student’s official academic record at Saint Mary’s.

Students may not receive a letter grade in a course at SMUMN and retake it at another institution to replace the grade.

Applying students will have transcripts reviewed as they are received by the Office of Admissions. A student’s application will not be considered complete until all transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended are received. The residential college in Winona offers baccalaureate degrees while Saint Mary’s Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs offers Bachelor of Science completion degrees and certificate programs. Despite offering different degree types and serving populations at different points of their educational journey, these campuses have a shared endeavor and purpose rooted in the Lasallian Catholic tradition.

Transfer applicants should ensure that they are applying to their desired program at the correct campus and that all transcripts and other correspondence associated with the college application are being sent to the proper office. Transfer applicants looking to attend an SMUMN program should have all transcripts sent to the appropriate admissions office prior to starting an academic program:

Residential College
Office of Admissions
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights #2
Winona, MN 55987-1399

Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (for Bachelor Completion/Certificate)
Office of Admissions
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota SGPP
2500 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404

Students seeking review of any course taken outside of Saint Mary’s after starting an academic program should have official transcripts sent to the appropriate Saint Mary’s Registrar:

Residential College
Office of the Registrar
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights, #37
Winona, Minnesota 55987

Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs - for Bachelor Completion Programs
Office of the Registrar
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota SGPP
2500 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404

All transfer policies presented in this catalog apply to transfer students only. Students are designated only as “transfer” if they are degree seeking at Saint Mary’s after completing 30 credits at a different post-secondary institution after receiving a high school diploma. These policies do not apply to students who took college-level courses while in high school such as dual-enrollment programs (PSEO & PACC), AP, CLEP, IB, or other college-level courses for credit. Students who start SMUMN as First Time in Any College (FTIAC) students are eligible to transfer credit after matriculation into a degree program with the approval of their academic adviser.

Transfer for students from regionally accredited two-year colleges and four-year universities

Saint Mary’s baccalaureate programs are designed to accommodate students from two- and four-year institutions as much as possible. Saint Mary’s has prepared course equivalency guides for various two-year colleges throughout the region. Saint Mary’s has published equivalency from a number of colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and its territories.

Transfer courses deemed equivalent to any Saint Mary’s course upon review of learning outcomes and content will be numerically leveled to the Saint Mary’s course. For example, if a student is transferring in a 200(0)-level course that equates to a SMUMN 300-level course, the course will receive a 300-level designation.

Transfer for students from non-regionally accredited institutions

If otherwise qualified prospective students from non-regionally accredited institutions meet the SMUMN admissions requirements, they will be admitted to their desired degree. Up to 24 credits from prior non-regionally accredited colleges and universities will be accepted according to the following policy:

Saint Mary’s may accept transfer credits for which a C- grade was earned from institutions with candidacy status from a regional accreditation agency or from other accredited institutions provided that: (1) The institution grants a baccalaureate or associate’s degree; (2) the institution is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education (CHEA) or Department of Education (DOE); (3) the courses presented for transfer are shown to have equivalency or are determined to be of “traditional academic nature” and are acceptable to an institutional academic department; and (4) the institution’s courses are taught by faculty with a master’s degree or above.

Transfer practices for veterans and current military personnel

Enlisted service members or former enlisted service members transferring into any SMUMN undergraduate degree will be automatically granted three (3) credit hours upon entry to the university.

Saint Mary’s may accept transfer coursework completed in the Armed Forces of the United States and in programs of the United States Armed Forces Institution (USAFI). Credit acceptance and allocation is subject to the following conditions: (1) the content of courses must be comparable to those for which Saint Mary’s normally grants transfer credit; (2) granting of credit for particular courses must be recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE); and (3) the credits are acceptable to the appropriate academic department at Saint Mary’s.

Credits may be used as general electives or to meet major requirements if deemed equivalent by the major academic department. Students seeking an evaluation of courses taken through the Army, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard must request that the official transcript be mailed to the proper Saint Mary’s University Registrar Office.

Credits for courses taken through the Air Force will be evaluated by the Office of the Registrar on a case-by-case basis. To receive an evaluation of courses taken through the Air Force, students must request a transcript from the Community College of the Air Force be sent to the proper Saint Mary’s University Registrar Office.

Transfer Policy for coursework completed outside the U.S. and its territories

Students whose prior academic experience includes coursework completed outside of the United States and its territories must also provide an evaluation of coursework from an international credentialing evaluation service. Select Canadian institutions are exempt from requiring international credentialing. Students entering the Saint Mary’s residential college with questions regarding international credit should contact the Office of the Registrar. Students entering SGPP with questions regarding international credit should contact the SGPP Office of the Registrar.

Credit by Standardized Examination

Transfer credit is accepted from college-level examinations offered by the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Advanced Placement (AP). Students entering any Saint Mary’s program must submit official transcripts from the testing agencies for transfer credit consideration. Scores from any college-level examinations may not replace the grades for the same course taken at the post-secondary level.

Conversion of Credits

All transfer credit awards are made in semester credits. Transcripts for evaluation that use a system other than semester credit are converted to semester credits and rounded to the nearest hundredth.

Transferring Duplicate Courses

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota generally does not allow for duplicate courses to count as transfer credit. Some exceptions to this may include, but are not limited to:

• Practical music courses
• Special topics courses
• Practical and other experiential courses such as residencies, internships, or service learning.

Substitutions and Waivers

Transferred coursework may be used as course substitution, as approved by the academic department through which the course substituted is offered. Course substitution is initiated by the student through the completion and submission of a course substitution form. All approved courses substituted will fully count toward a student’s overall credits and will meet programmatic requirements, unless otherwise specified.

Course and program prerequisites and program requirements may be waived if a transfer course meets the standards for waiver. A waiver of a prerequisite or an academic requirement does not result in the award of academic credit. Students who receive waivers for any course must make sure they are meeting credit totals for graduation requirements.

All course substitutions and waivers are approved by the academic department — associate dean or program director — and sent to the Office of the Registrar for application to the student’s academic record.

Preparatory/Developmental/Remedial Transfer Credit

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota does not award transfer credit for courses taken at the preparatory, developmental, or remedial level. 

Accreditation Status

While accreditation status may signify a standard of excellence in course design and delivery, no single accreditation body is identified as the only source of this quality assessment. Credit may be accepted from institutions that hold specialty or national accreditation if they are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the United States Department of Education (DOE). Saint Mary’s University may accept courses that do not meet the CHEA and DOE recognition if the program offering the transfer course has been approved by a Saint Mary’s University internal review process. Individual degree levels and programs review the type of accrediting bodies most applicable to their academic outcomes.

Duplicate Credit

Since credit for specific learning is awarded only once, courses that duplicate learning in content and level will receive credit only once. The program director will review the similarity of learning in the courses that are approved by the registrar.

Bachelor of Science Completion Programs

Transfer credit is accepted from traditional, course-based sources and from non-traditional learning mechanisms. The Bachelor of Science degree requires a minimum of 62 credits to be earned from course-based learning, including the Saint Mary’s University coursework required for the degree major. These credits must be from regionally-accredited and specialty-accredited institutions according to the following credit restrictions. The remaining 60 credits may be based on alternative modes documenting learning including training, examinations, or documentation of life experience.

Credit for Prior Learning (PLA)

Saint Mary’s University recognizes that many students come to the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP) with college-level learning that has occurred outside of the traditional college classroom.  Students may obtain college credit for this learning by participating in the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process. 

Students seeking credit through the PLA process must first obtain approval from their program director.  Once approved, students take COM325 – Prior Learning Exploration during which they create a portfolio that documents evidence of their learning.  PLA assessors then review the portfolio for college credit.  Students may be granted up to 35 credits for their PLA portfolios. 

Students cannot duplicate credits transferred as part of the PLA process.

Transfer for students in bachelor completion at SGPP

Applicants seeking to enter a Bachelor of Science completion program must have completed a minimum of 30 transferable credits at a post-secondary institution prior to admission at SGPP. These credits may be from regionally-accredited two- and four-year institutions. Applicants may enter a bachelor completion program at SGPP with 24 total credits from a non-regionally-accredited institution as long as the non-accredited institution meets the conditions outlined in SMUMN’s general transfer policy and if they are able to transfer in at least six credits from a fully regionally accredited institution or from prior military experience. 

Students applying for a Bachelor of Science completion program at SGPP will have all previously completed coursework reviewed at the time of official transcripts being received by SGPP. This coursework does not have to be completed at one singular institution or through one singular means.

At SGPP transfer credit is accepted from traditional, course-based courses and from non-traditional learning mechanisms. The Bachelor of Science degree requires a minimum of 62 credits to be earned from course-based learning, including the Saint Mary’s University coursework required for the degree major. The remaining 58 credits may be based on alternative modes documenting learning including training, examinations, or documentation of life experience.

The Purpose of General Education in the Bachelor Completion at SGPP

Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota School of Graduate and Professional Programs have demonstrated success in the programmatic major and general education courses. The general education program at SGPP is rooted in Saint Mary’s mission of delivering an educational experience that “awakens, nurtures, and empowers learners to ethical lives of service and leadership.”

In meeting that mission, degree attainment at SGPP requires 30 credits of general education coursework distributed across the following themes: Creativity and Human Expression, Global Human Perspectives, Ethics and Civic Responsibility, The Natural World, and Engaging the Future. Students can specifically meet 27 of the 30 general education credits through the Saint Mary’s Transfer Edge.

The bachelor completion prepares students for professional and personal success through the study of demonstrable knowledge associated with their chosen careers or disciplines. In conjunction with majors at Saint Mary’s, General Education programs deliver the diverse learning experiences necessary to develop the breadth of knowledge and essential skill attainment valued by employers and vital to our students’ success as leaders in their local, global, professional, and spiritual communities.

Prospective transfer students are strongly encouraged to contact the Saint Mary’s SGPP Admissions Office about how their courses can meet general education requirements at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

The Saint Mary’s Transfer Advantage at SGPP

Students entering a Bachelor of Science completion program at Saint Mary’s University SGPP may meet all lower-tier general education requirement for graduation by transferring in a minimum of 27 semester credits across the following disciplinary distribution areas:

Written Communication (Academic Writing, Professional Writing) - 3 credits

Oral Communication (Public Speaking, Professional Communication, Group Dynamics, Organizational Communication, etc.) - 3 credits

Humanities and Fine Arts (Design, Drawing, Sculpture, Cinema, Art History, Literature, etc.) - 6 credits

Global Human Perspectives (Global Human Systems, World History, Issues in Global Health, World Cinema, World Political Systems, Religion, Global Macroeconomics, Cultural Anthropology, etc.) - 3 credits

Ethical Civic Responsibility (Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Ethics, Health Care Ethics, Ethics of Science and Engineering, etc.) - 3 credits

Social Science (Behavioral/Non-Behavioral - U.S. History, World, History, Microeconomics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Geography, etc.) - 3 credits

Natural Science (Biology, Chemistry, Astronomy, Environmental Science, Physics, etc.) - 3 credits

Mathematics (College Algebra or above) - 3 credits

Completion of the 27 credits in these discipline-specific distribution areas covers all general education themes except the upper-tier Engaging the Future theme. Students will meet this requirement through their bachelor’s completion capstone course.

Graduate Degree Programs

General Transfer
Credits earned prior to matriculation into any graduate-level program at SGPP may be accepted as transfer credit upon the approval of the respective school. Students initiate the request for transfer credit by completing the Transfer of Graduate Credit Form. Credits transferred may fulfill program requirements or elective coursework. Transfer credit may only be applied to a student’s record if the courses were not used as part of a conferred degree at any level (i.e. bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral) unless they were applied as part of a conferred Saint Mary’s degree. Independent study courses or dissertation credits are not eligible for transfer.

Students may transfer a maximum of:

• Six (6) credits for master’s degrees
• 6 credits for Graduate Certificates in Educational Administration (no other Graduate Certificate qualifies)
• Twelve (12) credits for doctoral degrees

Students must seek transfer credit by the end of the first semester of graduate study. To be considered for transfer, credits must meet the following criteria in addition to any program-specific requirements as listed in the program handbooks:

1. Must be listed on an official transcript
2. Must have been earned at a regionally accredited institution or evaluated according to domestic credentialing for international transcripts
3. Must be at the graduate level
4. Must be earned with B grades or higher or with a Pass grade
5. Must be similar in content to the coursework in the student’s graduate program
6. Must have been earned within 10 years preceding matriculation 

Students may be required to provide syllabi showing a course’s outline and learning outcomes as part of transfer credit review.

Specialist Degree Programs

A maximum of six post-master semester credits earned prior to matriculation at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota may be accepted in transfer upon the recommendation of the program director and approved by the registrar as fulfilling program requirements or as electives.  Students initiate the request for transfer credit by completing the Transfer of Graduate Credit form for the registrar.

Independent study courses are not eligible for transfer into the program.

Doctoral Degree Programs

A maximum of 12 graduate level semester credits earned prior to matriculation at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota may be accepted in transfer upon the recommendation of the program director and approved by the registrar as fulfilling program requirements or as electives. Students initiate the request for transfer credit by completing the Transfer of Graduate Credit form for the registrar.  Independent study courses are not eligible for transfer into the doctoral program. No transfer credit will be allowed for dissertation credits.

Transfer of Credit from Lasallian Academy

Credits earned from the Lasallian Academy at Universidad de Lasalle transcripted on an international transcript may be accepted into transfer without an evaluation by a third-party source provided that:

• the coursework and syllabi was approved by a U.S. regionally accredited institution of learning
• that same institution has qualified the faculty teaching the course
• the credits must meet the criteria listed in the graduate transfer credit policy in addition to program -specific requirements as listed in program handbooks or documents

These credits may be accepted in transfer upon the recommendation of the program director and approved by the registrar. These transfer credits may fulfill program requirements or elective coursework.

Transfer Credit Appeal

Students can appeal transfer credit equivalencies to the office of the registrar within 60 calendar days from date of evaluation.  Students must appeal in writing and provide a course description and syllabi to support the nature of the appeal.  The office of the registrar will respond with a decision within 15 calendar days