Graduate Application Procedures
Prospective students wishing to apply to graduate degree programs in the School of Accelerated Degree Programs should visit the Office of Evening and Graduate Admissions at the Welcome Center on the Lindenwood-St. Charles campus, the Office of Evening and Graduate Admissions in the Alan J. Dixon Center on the Lindenwood-Belleville campus, one of our regional extension locations, or online at www.lindenwood.edu/admissions (select Evening and Graduate Admissions). When the application and application fee are received, an admissions counselor will contact the applicant to answer any questions and assist in the admissions process. Once all documents are obtained, the counselor will submit them for review by the program director who will contact the student to schedule an interview.
Admission to all graduate degree programs in the School of Accelerated Degree Programs is granted to students who have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale). Students who earned a 3.0 or better GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in a previously earned a graduate degree are also granted admission to the school for a second master's degree. Students who do not meet that grade point or other admissions standards will be given individual consideration and, possibly, be conditionally admitted. Conditional degree candidacy may be granted to students who have grade point averages between 2.5 and 2.99 or whose program overviews have not yet been approved. Once accepted for full degree candidacy, graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. Students who do not maintain a 3.0 grade point average may face academic probation and/or suspension from the university.
Degree programs typically consist of five core clusters, and either a capstone course or directed thesis. Students are assigned a faculty advisor to guide them through their specific degree program. Each degree program is designed to meet both student needs and accreditation requirements. Consequently, students may not deviate from any cluster requirements.
Graduate U.S. Citizen Application
To be considered for admission to the university, an applicant’s file must include each of the following documents. Please note, individual programs may have additional application procedures. Please review your program of interest in detail.
To be considered for admission to the university, an applicant’s file must include the following documents:
1. Electronic application, along with a non-refundable $30 application fee.
2. Official transcript with a conferred bachelor’s degree.
3. Current résumé.
4. Submit a personal statement describing the applicant’s professional experience or philosophy and a description of the applicant’s decision to attend a graduate program that includes his/her personal or professional goals upon completion of the program. The MFA in Writing program also requires approval of a creative writing sample and a statement of purpose submitted to the MFA program director.
5. Provide three professional references who will need to respond to a recommendation survey if the applicant’s undergraduate or graduate GPA is below 3.0.
Note: Applicants with an undergraduate degree or a previously earned graduate degree who earned a 3.0 or better GPA (on a 4.0 scale) are not subject to this requirement.
1. Interview with the program director.
2. Additional requirements, such as a portfolio, or a writing sample, as required by various programs.
Once the application is submitted, an admissions counselor will contact the applicant to answer any questions and assist in the admissions process. The program director will contact the applicant to schedule an interview. If the applicant is accepted in the program, the program director will enroll him/her in the upcoming quarter.
The application and application materials should be mailed to
Lindenwood University Office of Evening and Graduate Admissions
209 South Kingshighway
St. Charles, MO 63301 USA
Applications may also be submitted by email to eveningadmissions@lindenwood.edu.
Please call (636) 949-4933 with any questions.
Note: Applicants to the online MFA in Writing program who do not already possess a Lindenwood transcript must submit a color photo and either a color copy of a photo ID or an official GRE score. For score reporting, the Lindenwood University code is 6367. Applicants should also submit a color photo for a student ID.
Applicants to the graduate degree programs in business, communications, criminal justice, gerontology, healthcare administration, human resource management, information technology, and writing, who do not meet the required 3.0 GPA for admission may be granted conditional acceptance. In this case, the submission of a GRE or GMAT score may be considered in support of an application for admission. Applicants should also provide three letters of recommendation, except if applying for the writing program. Conditionally admitted students may remain in conditional status for no more than 18 credit hours. Before advancing to degree candidacy, conditionally accepted candidates’ academic performances will be reviewed twice—once upon completion of the first nine credit hours and again upon completion of 18 credit hours. Failure to meet the required 3.0 cumulative GPA upon the completion of 18 credit hours will result in dismissal from the degree program. In addition, any conditionally accepted student receiving one course grade of “F” or two course grades of “C” during the first nine credit hours will be academically suspended.
International citizens wishing to apply to the graduate programs in the School of Accelerate Degree Programs should visit the university website and select International Admissions. Visit the Admissions Process, Required Documents, and Admissions links. (Note: Applicants should complete the International Application.)
To be considered for admission to the university, an international applicant's file must include the following documents:
- International student application submitted along with a non-refundable $100 application fee.
- A current résumé.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- An affidavit of support in the form of an official document or statement from a bank verifying the amount of personal/family funds, in U.S. dollars, available for tuition (personal cost) and educational expenses (books, insurance). All documents must be in English.
- Official transcripts presented in their original language and accompanied by a certified English translation. These documents will not be returned to the student. They will become part of the student’s official file at Lindenwood University. The cost for the evaluation of the transcript will be incurred by the applicant. However, once the applicant obtains a visa and arrives at Lindenwood University, the cost of the evaluation will be refunded, provided that the applicant brings the receipt for the evaluation service. Provisional admission to the university may be granted by the Director of International Admission on the basis of facsimile copies of diploma equivalents and/or other university transcripts.
- An official TOEFL or IELTS score. Required minimum TOEFL scores: 577 (paper-based exam), 233 (computer based exam), 91 (Internet-based exam). Required minimum IELTS score: 6.5. For score reporting, the Lindenwood code is 6367.
- If transfer credit is requested from an international institution, students should submit, along with all documentation required for admission, a certified translation of course descriptions of foreign credits earned from their previous institution. Note: Students must request a course-by-course evaluation (not a document-by-document evaluation) in order to transfer credit to Lindenwood for particular coursework.
- If an international student applicant is transferring from another university within the United States, the student must forward the SEVIS transfer eligibility form (found on the university website on the international homepage) along with the letter of acceptance from Lindenwood University to the appropriate official at the school previously attended, where it will be processed and returned to the Lindenwood University Office of International Students and Scholars. The SEVIS transfer eligibility form should be sent to the Office of International Students and Scholars' direct email account, international@lindenwood.edu.
- Housing application submitted along with a $200 housing deposit made payable to Lindenwood University. Campus housing will be assigned upon receipt of the housing application and deposit. Students should include an email address on their housing form.
- Personal statement describing the applicant’s professional experience or philosophy and a description of the applicant’s decision to attend a graduate program that includes his/her personal or professional goals upon completion of the program. The MFA in Writing program also requires approval of a creative writing sample and a statement of purpose submitted to the MFA Program Director.
- A clear, readable copy of the identification page of the applicant's passport.
- Interview with the program director.
- Additional requirements, such as a portfolio or a writing sample, as required by various programs.
The International Student Application and all required application materials may be mailed to
Lindenwood University
Office of International Students and Scholars
209 South Kingshighway
St. Charles, MO 63301 USA
Admission documents will also be accepted via email and can be sent to international@lindenwood.edu.
For questions or inquiries, call (636) 949- 4982.