School of Human Services- Graduate Program

In accord with the mission of Springfield College, the School of Human Services provides broadley accessible higher education in human services for adult learners that embodies the principles of Humanics, community partnership, and academic excellence to achieve social and economic justice.

The School offers the Master of Science degree in Human Services, a degree that prepares adults to creatively and incisively lead their communities forward; to be human service practitioners with clear vision, caring hearts, and the competency to act; to acknowledge the problems of the past, work in the present, and maintain faith in the future. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to promote social analysis, critical and creative thinking, clear communications and leadership development. Building on what students already know and have experienced, the curriculum links classroom learning to workplace and community issues, offering a powerful educational experience of integrating theory and practice. While teaching about the importance of respect for others and valuing the diversity within and among us all, the School reflects these values by acknowledging the wisdom adults bring to education and building a community of leaders.

For further information on School of Human Services programs and course descriptions, call 800-727-0004.

The following admissions and registration information pertains only to the graduate program offered by the School of Human Services.

Admissions Information

Requirements

Successful applicants to the graduate program must have an undergraduate degree and five years employment in human services and show the ability to succeed academically.

Application Procedure

1. Fill out the application form and submit it with the $40 application fee.
2. Submit official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges attended, including a final transcript from the institution from which the bachelors degree was awarded. (Student copies of transcripts will not be accepted.) Applicants who have completed courses at Springfield College are not required to submit official transcripts.
3. Submit an up-to-date copy of a personal résumé.
4. Submit a typed, two or three page personal statement in response to questions specified on the application form. Both the content of the essay and the quality of the writing will be evaluated.
5. Submit at least one letter of reference from a person who can speak to the content of your personal statement and who can address the following qualities: interpersonal skills, ability to analyze and think critically, imagination and creativity, clarity and precision in oral expression, clarity and precision in written expression, and effectiveness in chosen profession. References from family members will not be accepted.
6. Schedule an interview with a faculty or staff member
7. Demonstrate commitment to human services as evidenced through significant experience in human service work, usually 5 years employment in the field.

International Student Application Procedure

1. Fill out the application form and submit it with the $40 application fee.
2. Submit proof of an education equivalent to a United States baccalaureate degree. To assist with the determination of educational equivalency, all foreign credentials must be evaluated by an international transcript evaluation service. The completed evaluation should be submitted with the application materials.
3. Submit an up-to-date copy of a personal résumé.
4. Submit a personal statement on one of the three topics listed above. Both the content of the essay and the quality of the writing will be evaluated. Graduate-level writing ability is required for acceptance.
5. Submit at least one letter of reference from a person who can speak to the content of your personal statement. Letters of reference from family members will not be accepted.
6. Schedule an interview with the local admissions office.
7. Submit evidence of proficiency in reading, writing and speaking the English language. The TOEFL test may be submitted to fulfill this requirement.
8. Submit a financial guarantee statement, which may be obtained from the campus. A strictly enforced regulation of the United States Immigration Service makes it necessary for the School to receive a guarantee of the applicants financial support for the period of time he/she will be enrolled for study.

An accepted international student must deposit $1,000, which will be credited toward tuition charges, before the College will issue the U.S. governments Immigration Form I-20.

Admissions Decisions

Probationary Acceptance

No student is admitted to full graduate standing with less than a 2.5 undergraduate index. Applicants with less than a 2.5 index, but not less than 2.0, will be considered for probationary admission if their application materials offer convincing evidence that, if given an opportunity, they will meet the academic standards at Springfield College.

Graduate students who are admitted on probation will have their records reviewed following the semester in which they complete nine semester hours of graduate credit at Springfield College. If their academic index is 3.0 or better, they will be removed from probation. If the index is between 2.5 and 3.0, they will remain on probation through the semester in which they complete 18 semester hours of graduate credit. At that time, the index must be at least 3.0 or they will be dismissed from degree candidacy.

Contingency Acceptance

Admission to the graduate program requires possession of a bachelors degree. Applicants who are within a semester of receipt of their bachelor’s degree may be accepted provided they have met all degree requirements and submit a final undergraduate transcript by the Drop-Add Deadline of the term in which they wish to enroll.

Deferred Admission

Due to unforeseen circumstances, applicants accepted into the term to which they have applied may need to defer enrollment. Notification of intent to defer should be made in writing to the admissions office of the campus to which the applicant is accepted.

Nonmatriculated Students

Students who have not been admitted to a graduate program but who wish to take graduate courses are required to submit a nonmatriculated application (which may be obtained from the admissions office of the appropriate campus) and official transcripts demonstrating receipt of the bachelors degree. Nonmatriculated students may only take up to 12 credits and are ineligible for financial aid.

No more than 12 semester hours taken as a nonmatriculated student prior to admission to graduate study may be applied toward the masters degree. Nonmatriculated students may be admitted to those courses for which they have the prerequisites, with the approval of the faculty members who teach the courses and with authorization of the Office of the Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Audit

Students may register for one course for audit designation per semester. An audit carries no credit, has no grade point equivalent, and is recorded as an X on the transcript. Although the course is entered onto a transcript, it does not affect a students full- or part-time status. Audited courses are not eligible for credit earned through proficiency examinations, nor can the audited course be repeated for credit in subsequent semesters.

Time Limits and Period of Candidacy

The length of time needed to complete requirements for the master’s degree depends on several factors: the nature of the undergraduate preparation, the quality of achievement in graduate courses, the professional purposes of the student and the amount of fieldwork or part-time employment carried.

Work for the degree must be completed within five years from the time of initial registration for graduate courses. In exceptional cases, the time limit may be extended by the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs following a petition by the graduate student and with the recommendation of the campus director, prior to the end of the five-year period. In such instances, the students original program is subject to reexamination, and additional requirements may be imposed.

Readmittance

Students whose enrollment has lapsed for more than one year are required to seek readmittance through the admissions office at the local campus. Students must settle all accounts prior to reenrollment.

Changes in Admission

The College reserves the right to make whatever changes in admission requirements, fees, charges, tuition, instructors, regulations and academic programs at its sole discretion prior to the start of any class or term. The College also reserves the right to divide, cancel or reschedule classes or programs if enrollment or other factors so require.