Admission Procedures and Criteria

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Andrews University’s EdS in School Psychology seeks to recruit applicants that will enter the program with strong academic backgrounds, and a desire to learn both assessment skills and participate in scientific research. Applicants must also demonstrate an emotional maturity consistent with the role of a specialist-level student entering a rigorous program requiring commitment not only to coursework, but also clinical training and participating in research.

The Application Process

Students begin the admission process by applying online at www.andrews.edu/apply. Once an application is complete, the file is forwarded to the School Psychology Core Faculty for review. If the faculty members believe an applicant would make a strong candidate in the program, they are contacted for interviews.

During the interview, applicants will typically meet with two members of the School Psychology Core Faculty. They are then evaluated with respect to professional behavior, oral communication, understanding of and commitment to the profession, recognition of the challenges in working with culturally and linguistically diverse children, and understanding of the whole child. Two separate committees vote on each applicant, with the graduate file, as well as the interview used to make a decision as to an applicant’s fit in the program based on their overall profile.

Minimum admission requirements are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Official transcripts: From institutions where all post-secondary coursework was taken.
• Recommendations: Three recommendations are required from professionals—such as advisors, major professors, and employers—excluding relatives. At least two recommendations should be academic.
• Resume or professional history:Information about employment, research, or special projects.
• GRE score: The exam must be less than 5 years old at time of admission.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on undergraduate or master’s level degrees. 
• Statement of Purpose: A 500-word essay explaining objectives in seeking a graduate degree at Andrews University. Include a description of personal, professional, and academic goals; philosophical perspective; and what applicant hopes to accomplish professionally in ten years following the completion of degree.

Transfer Credit Policy

Andrews University may grant credit for courses completed at a university that is either regionally accredited or a recognized candidate for accreditation according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). In addition, credits from a foreign post-secondary institution that is recognized and approved by the local Ministry of Education as a degree-granting institution may be accepted. 

Transfer courses will be accepted for up to 20% of the program-required credits, only after evaluation by the Registrar, the Department of Graduate Psychology and Counseling, and the School of Graduate Studies. Courses considered for transfer are subject to the following conditions: 1) Evaluation of proposed transfer credits is completed on a course-by-course basis; 2) Transfer credits are evaluated only from an official transcript and official course syllabus from the semester the course was taken. The award of transfer credits for international students may require the submission of the course syllabus and/or course-by-course evaluation by an approved international credential evaluation service; 3) Transfer credit can only be awarded for courses with final grades posted on an official transcript; 4) All information on the official transcript must match the Transfer Credit Petition Form; 5) Any course considered for transfer must have a grade of ‘B’ or above (3.0 on a 4.0 scale); 6) Courses listed with a ‘P’ or “Pass” grade are not eligible for transfer, 7) Practicum and internship credits are not eligible for transfer.  All fieldwork (practicum and internship) must be completed at Andrews University; 8) The course grade for a transferred course is not calculated into a student’s Andrews University Grade Point Average; and, 9) There must be an 80% overlap in course content between the proposed transfer course and the Andrews course.

Students must follow the procedure outlined below. Once accepted into the School Psychology Program, students may begin the process of submitting documentation for review.  It is recommended that the student meet with their academic advisor and do a preliminary review of any prior graduate level coursework.  If it is determined that prior coursework should be reviewed for equivalency, the student should ask the department for a School of Education Transfer of Credits Petition Form.  The petition form must be submitted with the official course syllabus of the course the student wishes to transfer.  The Andrews’ professor who teaches the course will review the syllabus.  The professor considers whether the transfer course aligns with their course syllabus relative to course content. There must be at least 80% course content overlap between the proposed transfer course and the Andrews’ course.
In order for the Registrar's Office to be able to conduct a thorough evaluation of transfer credits, information about institutional accreditation, level of course work, grading scales, and the institution's credit system (quarter, ECTS, semester) must be available. Generally, this information is included on the transcript key of an official transcript. However, in the event that some or all of this information is not printed on the transcript, students may be contacted for additional clarification or documentation. 

Andrews University Graduate Admissions
269-471-6321
graduate@andrews.edu

Department of Graduate Psychology & Counseling
4195 Administration Drive – Bell Hall 167
Berrien Springs, MI 49104
Phone: 269-471-3473
E-mail: gpc@andrews.edu