The Admission Decision


An admission file for all students meeting the minimum requirements for acceptance into the College of Graduate Studies is forwarded to the appropriate academic department. The final decision to admit a student to a graduate degree program (i.e., regular or conditional admission) at Kutztown University is based upon an analysis of objective and subjective criteria by the program faculty.

Objective criteria used in the admission decisions of the Graduate College are the undergraduate QPA, an official transcript of the baccalaureate degree, and GRE test scores (or GMAT scores for admission to the M.B.A.).

Subjective criteria are used also in admission decisions. Such materials may include letters of recommendation from former professors and immediate supervisors, a statement of personal and career goals and objectives (required for the M.B.A. program), and a brief autobiography (required for certain programs such as counseling psychology). While not required, a resume outlining the applicant's background and experience may be submitted with the application. Subjective data and information are encouraged especially for those applicants who regard themselves as anon-traditional students" for various reasons.

Graduate Registration


The Office of the Registrar is responsible for all course registration procedures for graduates and matriculated undergraduates. Graduate students should contact the graduate coordinator in the Office of the Registrar concerning all matters relating to initial registration, course or section changes, withdrawal, and academic transcript maintenance.

Registration Schedules

In most cases graduate registration may be accomplished using the “Online Student Services” link located at http://www.kutztown.edu/registrar Registration may also be accomplished by mail or fax.  The schedule of graduate courses is available from the Office of the Registrar each semester and can also be viewed on the web at the Registrar’s Office home page.

All newly-admitted graduate students of any of the four admission categories are eligible for registration two weeks following the incumbent graduate student registration start date.  After the first semester of enrollment, students of regular and conditional admission status become eligible for incumbent graduate registration, (i.e., first access to course selection.)

Registration is scheduled as:

For the Fall Semester: early April

For the Spring Semester: early November



Categories of Admissions

There are four categories of admission to the College of Graduate Studies:
a. Regular Admission
b. Conditional Admission
c. Professional Credit admission

Any student accepted to take graduate course work at the University falls into one of these classifications.

Regular Admission --Students admitted in this category have met all admissions criteria and are accepted as degree-seeking graduate students by the Graduate College and the appropriate academic program or department. Regularly-admitted students take appropriate graduate courses for their fields of study,and may also enroll in undergraduate courses as recommended by their advisors. Such undergraduate courses do appear on the graduate transcript of the student, but ARE NOT used in computation of the graduate QPA. Students in master's degree programs are subject to the time limitation of six (6) years in which to complete the degree, except for certain specialized degrees in counseling, which have a limit of eight years.

Conditional Admission--Applicants who fail to meet one or more of the minimum admissions criteria MAY be accepted as conditionally admitted into the Graduate College. Such students may later earn full admission into the appropriate academic department provided they successfully complete the stated conditions cited in their individual conditional admission letters from the Graduate Dean. Special considerations, prerequisites, and/or academic courses associated with conditional admission do not normally exceed nine (9) semester hours of academic course work. Examples of conditional statements are: "the student must earn grades of B or better on his/her first nine semester hours of graduate credit" or "the student must complete the following three courses (as listed) with a grade of B or better." Qualified applicants who present an undergraduate transcript but are unable to complete certain other requirements (e.g. the GRE or GMAT tests) may be eligible for "Conditional Admission."  Applicants who are offered this type of conditional admissions are required to submit all remaining admissions materials within the first semester of enrollment.

Professional Credits Admission--Individuals who are interested in taking graduate courses but not enrolling in a master's degree program may apply for Professional Credits Admission.  An unlimited number of courses may be taken by a student in the Professional Credits category.  These courses appear on a transcript.  If, after taking courses for professional credits, a student decides to apply to a master's degree program, up to twelve credits of professional credit courses may be applied to the student's degree at the discretion of the department. An exception is that the Department of Counseling & Human Services will accept only six credits of professional credits toward the M.A. or the M.Ed.

Simultaneous Enrollment in Two Graduate Programs--Some graduate students desire to enroll simultaneously for two different (but usually related) graduate degrees . In cases of related degree programs, it may be possible for students to arrange for the "sharing" of up to six (6) semester hours of credit. This means that if approval for simultaneous enrollment is granted, a student enrolled in two 30-hour programs would be required to complete a total of only 54 hours.
The following policies and procedures have been adopted by the Graduate Council of Kutztown University (as amended March 10, 1991) for students seeking dual degree enrollment:

Application Procedure

The Graduate Dean, Assistant Dean and staff coordinate the admission process for all applicants to graduate programs of the University. The Graduate Office is located in Old Main, Room 110. All communications regarding the application process should be addressed to:

Dr. Linda Matthews, Interim Dean
College of Graduate Studies
110 Old Main
(ATTENTION: Graduate Admissions)
Kutztown University
Kutztown, PA 19530
TELEPHONE: (610) 683-4201

An application file is developed in one of the four admissions categories for all applicants. Only completed applications meeting all admissions requirements by the appropriate deadlines are forwarded to the academic departments for full admission consideration. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ascertain that all admissions criteria are met in a timely fashion. Exceptions cannot be made for those who fail to comply with the published deadlines of the University and of the College of Graduate Studies.
The final decision regarding full or conditional acceptance of an applicant rests with the graduate faculty of the department. The department chairperson notifies the Graduate Office of the admissions decision, and the applicant is then notified by the Graduate Dean.

The Procedure

In order to expedite the processing of all applications, the applicant is required to submit the following items in *one envelope* addresses to:

Dr. Linda Matthews, Interim Dean
College of Graduate Studies
110 Old Main
Kutztown University
Kutztown, PA 19530

*Note: Only GRE or GMAT test scores may be sent separately. The Educational Testing Service should send these scores directly to the Graduate Office.

Required Enclosures for an Admissions Envelope
For Transient and Professional Admission Only

1. Application: A signed and completed application for graduate admission is required.
2. Sealed Transcript: An official transcript from the applicant's undergraduate institution(s) is required. This transcript must bear the official seal of the university and the signature from the appropriate person at the issuing institution. All official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution. Please Note:  Students who have obtained their undergraduate degrees from Kutztown University DO NOT need to submit a sealed transcript.  All other guidelines still apply.

Required Enclosures For An Admissions Envelope
For Regular Admissions

1) Application: A signed and completed Application for Graduate Admission is required.
2) Sealed Transcript: An official transcript from the applicant's undergraduate institution (s) is required. This transcript must bear the official seal of the university and the signature from the appropriate person at the issuing institution. All official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope at the issuing institution. Please Note: Students who have obtained their undergraduate degrees from Kutztown University DO NOT need to submit a sealed transcript.  All other guidelines still apply.
3) Processing Fee Card: A completed Processing Fee Card is required of all applicants seeking regular admission.
4) Processing Fee Check: A personal check or money order in the amount of $35.00 must be included. Cash may not be accepted. The check should be made payable to "Kutztown University."
5) Letters of Recommendation: Applicants for regular admission must submit a minimum of three letters of recommendation from persons who have taught or supervised them. Recommendation forms are supplied by the University to all applicants. The use of these forms is optional, as some references may elect to write a formal letter. All letters of recommendation must be sealed and bear the signature of the author. All applicants for admission into all programs offered by the Department of Counseling and Human Services are required to submit at least one reference from a former professor attesting to the applicant's academic ability.

6) Autobiographical Statement: Applicants for Counseling programs will need to submit an autobiographical statement addressing the following:

     1) Your activities (e.g. job status, family situation)

     2) The process you used in deciding to pursue a degree in Counseling Psychology,

         including influential life experiences and other factors.     

     3) Your ultimate life goals and ambitions.

     4) Strengths you possess which will contribute to goals and ambitions.

     5) Areas in which you may need improvement in order to reach your goals and

        ambitions.

     6) Your assessment of why people behave as they do. 

Other Enclosures for an Admissions Envelope
1) Resume: All applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of their professional resume. All applicants for the Master of Business Administration program are required to submit a resume.
2) Statement of Goals: A statement of goals is required for all applicants to the Master of Business Administration program.
3) Teachers Certificate: Applicants for graduate degrees in Elementary Education (including Extension of certification), Reading Specialist, and Secondary Education are required to submit a copy of their Professional Teaching Certificate.
Transcript Procedures --The applicant should contact his/her alma mater and request information regarding procedures and costs associated with obtaining a copy of their undergraduate transcript. The issuing institution normally requires the completion of a form and the payment of a small fee. The applicant's signed and sealed transcript is then mailed back to the applicant's home address for inclusion in his/her Kutztown University Graduate Application Envelope. Contrary to past practice the applicant's transcript is not mailed directly to Kutztown University.
Letters of Recommendation Procedures--The applicant should give his/her reference a self-addressed stamped envelope. This envelope is addressed to the applicant (not Kutztown University). Upon receipt of a minimum of three letters of recommendation, the applicant includes the unopened, sealed envelopes in his/her Kutztown University Graduate Application Envelope.
Graduate Record Examination Procedures--The only item for a graduate admissions application that is not included as a part of the applicant's Kutztown University Graduate Application Envelope is the official transcripts of his/her test scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for students applying to Master of Business Administration degree. Transcripts of these scores are mailed directly to the University by the Educational Testing Service provided the applicant requested that said scores be sent to Kutztown University.
Language Tests Procedures --International students are required to submit transcripts for TOEFL test scores. Transcripts of these scores are mailed directly to the University by the Educational Testing Service provided the applicant requested that said scores be sent to Kutztown University.