Criteria for Admission
All graduate programs at Coppin State University require submission of an official transcript indicating a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education. Students apply to the School of Graduate Studies through the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Applicants must submit a completed, signed admissions application; official transcripts from the undergraduate degree-granting institution and all other post-baccalaureate institutions attended; three (3) current letters of recommendation from current employer, instructors, or other persons who can
attest to their character, integrity, and academic potential; resume; and statement of purpose. An interview, on-site testing, and writing sample may be required.
Applicants pursuing degrees in the Master of Science in Nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice must provide evidence of current nursing licensure.
All students are required to submit a résumé and Statement of Purpose. (After initial review by the Graduate Admissions Committee, these documents will remain with the Program Coordinator to assist in interviewing and determining an appropriate plan of study for the applicant.)
The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, in consultation with graduate Program Coordinators and Directors, make admission decisions. These persons constitute the Graduate Admissions Committee.
Degree Program Admission
The minimum standard for admission to the School of Graduate Studies is a cumulative grade point average (cGPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in a program of study resulting in the award of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or an equivalent degree from a comparable foreign institution. The last sixty (60) credit hours may be used to determine the cGPA. Program requirements for admission vary by department. (See program of interest for details.)
Students with less than a 3.0 cGPA may be considered for admission.
Admission with Conditions
Graduate programs may admit students not meeting the minimum acceptable cGPA or are deficient in prerequisite requirements as established by a program. The graduate Program Coordinator or Director may take into consideration successful work experience, appropriate evidence of merit in the discipline and other related information in determining a minimum acceptable cGPA below 3.0 to be used for admission with conditions. Students admitted under the Admission with Conditions status must correct any deficiencies as determined by the respective graduate Program Coordinator or Director. The requirements for continuation in the program are listed in the letter of admission sent to the graduate student from the Graduate Dean. Completion of all conditional stipulations leads to granting of full degree-seeking status. During the period of conditional admit, students must maintain at least a 3.0 cGPA.
Note: Students may be required to register for undergraduate courses needed to meet prerequisites for advanced study in a program area.
Military Service Members and Veterans Admissions
Current or former military service member
A current service member is part of any of the six official branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and has served at least 12 months of active duty, with no college or university attendance since service discharge. A former military service member is a veteran of any of the six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, who has at least 12 months of service, and is no longer serving in active duty.
Documentation with my Coppin Admissions application
Military services members and veterans must also provide a copy of your DD Form 214 to the Office of Admissions. We use this form to verify your military service. For information on accessing your VA education benefits or federal tuition assistance, please visit our Veteran and Military Student page at https://www.coppin.edu/vabenefits.
We are all IN for supporting our veterans and dependents with reaching their educational goals, personal and professional growth! Your School Certifying Official (SCO) will be your liaison all throughout your academic journey. This person is responsible for reporting your tuition and fee information and enrollment changes to the Veterans Administration each semester. They are also responsible for monitoring your academic progress, conduct, and assuring that the courses being certified are required for your program. Our School Certifying Official is housed in the Office of Records and Registration, located in the Miles Connor Administration Building, Suite 138.
Application Process
Students must file an application for admission regardless of the admission status sought. To apply for admission to the School of Graduate Studies, the procedures are:
- Complete the application on line or request a hard copy of the application from the School of Graduate Studies (Grace Hill Jacobs, Room 438), (410) 951-3090, or via email: GraduateStudies@coppin.edu.
- Complete the application for admission and return it with a résumé, statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and the non-refundable application fee to the Office of Graduate Admissions, Coppin State University, 2500 West North Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21216-3698.
- Arrange to have official transcripts from the degree-granting institution and all other post-baccalaureate institutions attended, official test scores (GRE, Praxis, etc. as required by the program) and three (3) letters of recommendation sent to the Graduate Admissions Committee, Office of Graduate Admissions, Coppin State University, 2500 West North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21216-3698. (Transcripts must be official and submitted in sealed, signed envelopes. Transcripts sent by the student are not acceptable.) Letters of recommendation must be on official letterhead and submitted in sealed, signed envelopes.
To expedite the review process, applicants are encouraged to submit all documents in a single packet. Instructions for the Statement of Purpose are on the last page of the application.
Application Deadlines
Master’s and Post-Master’s Certification
The deadlines for the submission of all credentials are April 15 for the fall semester and October 15 for the spring semester.
Doctor in Nursing Practice
The deadline for submission of applications to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program is July 15. Applications received after the official deadline will be given consideration at the discretion of the Dean and the Graduate Admissions Committee.
Admission Decisions
No decision is made on an application until all required credentials have been submitted. The Graduate Admissions Committee will make decisions regarding admission to all graduate programs.
Classification of Students
Students are admitted to the School of Graduate Studies under one of three categories:
- Degree Seeking (Full Admit): The student is fully admitted to the School of Graduate Studies in a specified program of study.
- Admit With Conditions: This status is usually granted when the applicant has not met all requirements for Full Admit status. The student is allowed to enroll for a maximum of six (6) credit hours in the School of Graduate Studies during which any outstanding requirements must be met as specified in the letter of admission. Failure to meet requirements may result in suspension from the program.
- Non-Degree Seeking: Students who pursue graduate study with no intention of obtaining a degree and include students pursuing courses for certification, licensure or professional development. Students seeking non-degree status must submit an application for admission and submit an official transcript indicating completion of a baccalaureate degree. Non-degree seeking students may later apply for admission to a degree program. Acceptance will be based upon meeting all admission requirements. No more than twelve (12) credits may be earned prior to application for admission to graduate degree status. In order to be applied towards the degree, credits earned as a non-degree student must meet the requirements of the program in which the student plans to pursue a degree. Additionally, students pursuing a Post-Master’s certificate must submit a resume, statement of purpose, three (3) letters of recommendation and evidence of licensure or certification as appropriate to the program.
Admission Prior to Receiving the Baccalaureate Degree
A Coppin State University student may be granted permission to take a maximum of six (6) graduate credits during the last semester of undergraduate study. This permission is based on an evaluation of all undergraduate work through the first semester of the senior year. The student must have earned a cGPA of 2.7 or better and a cGPA of 3.0 in the major. Additional graduate credits must not be completed until graduate-degree status is awarded.
An application for early graduate admission may be submitted prior to completing the last semester of the senior year. However, students moving from senior to graduate status should not register for graduate courses prior to receiving the graduate certification of admission.
Continuous Enrollment
Graduate students will be admitted to graduate-degree status only after completion of the undergraduate degree. A student admitted to degree status in the graduate school will continue in active degree status for the entire period of graduate study. If an admitted graduate-degree student fails to enroll in a course after a period of two (2) years, the student must reapply for admission as a degree-seeking student and meet program and school requirements as indicated in the most recent graduate catalog.
Transfer Credits
All transfer credits must be processed at the time of admission. Twelve (12) credits appropriate to the program from any institution in the University System of Maryland may be accepted toward the fulfillment of course requirements for the master’s degree. Six (6) credits from other accredited institutions may be accepted. However, a maximum of twelve credits only may be transferred and used towards fulfilling degree requirements.
Transfer credits must be appropriate to the program of study and approved by the department, school dean, and dean of Graduate Studies.
Double Counting
The concept of “double counting” credits to two different master’s degrees is not encouraged. However, an academic department may recommend that a maximum of nine (9) credits earned in one master’s degree program at Coppin State University be transferred to a second master’s degree program at the University. The student must still meet credit and other requirements for the new degree.
International Students
International students who speak English as a second language must demonstrate their competence in English by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Arrangements for taking the TOEFL are made through the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 952, Princeton, New Jersey 08541, or P.O. Box 2306, Oakland, California 94614. The results of this test must be forwarded to the Coppin State University Office of Admissions at the time of application for admission to the Graduate School. In addition to meeting admission requirements, the student must submit official copies of transcripts showing all college and university work. Transcripts from international institutions must be translated and evaluated prior to submission by an appropriate agency such as World Education Services (WES), Inc., P.O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY 10011 U.S.A.
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