Admissions Information

In accordance with its mission, Springfield College’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies seeks applicants who are motivated to achieve social and economic justice and who embody a commitment to the principles of Humanics, community partnership, and academic excellence.

The School’s students are a diverse group; they come from all backgrounds, range in age from the mid-20s to the late 60s and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom. The curriculum relies on this breadth of diversity and experience. Applicants should be prepared to participate fully and contribute to the educational environment.

The following pages include information about these topics:

Undergraduate applicants must demonstrate a commitment to human services, have a high school diploma (or its equivalent), a minimum of two years experience in the field of human services, and, because the program is intended to be completed in 16 to 24 months of full-time enrollment, applicants should be able to either transfer in at least 30 credits from other regionally accredited colleges or achieve these credits through the School’s experiential learning process (see Experiential Learning section).

All applicants should note that some professions within the field of human services require background checks for criminal history that may prevent a student from being employed in the profession in which s/he wishes to be trained. If concerned, an applicant should discuss his/her history with a faculty advisor available on each campus regarding possible limitations for employability following graduation.

1. Fill out the application form and submit it with the $10 application fee (check or money order only).
2. Attach an up-to-date copy of your résumé to the application.
3. Submit official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges attended. Transcripts from unaccredited colleges may also be submitted and will be considered as possible sources for experiential learning credit (see Experiential Learning section).
4. Submit proof of high school graduation or attainment of GED. A copy of your high school diploma or a copy of your final high school transcript with graduation date may be submitted as proof of high school graduation. For students who have attended other colleges, many college transcripts will list high school graduation dates.
5. Schedule an interview session with the local Admissions Office. Interviews are designed to give applicants an opportunity to explain their professional and academic history and to discuss their future goals. For the interview to be most helpful, the applicant should bring a copy of his/her resume, official transcripts, and all certificates of training.
6. Schedule a writing assessment session with the local Admissions Office. Because the program is writing-intensive, all applicants are required to take a writing assessment as part of the application process. The writing sample is used by the advisor to plan a course of study and is one of the factors considered in the admissions decision.

In addition to completing the process above, applicants must provide the following:

1. Submit proof of an education equivalent to a United States high school diploma. 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.
2. Contact the admissions coordinator at the campus you would like to attend to arrange an interview.
3. Submit evidence of proficiency in reading, writing and speaking the English language. The TOEFL test may be submitted to fulfill this requirement.
4. 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 us to receive a guarantee of your financial support for the period of time you will be here 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.

Listed below are the deadlines for submission of applications. The School’s deadlines for submission of complete applications are:

• September Term: August 15th
• January Term: December 15th
• May Term: April 15th

Please note: applicants for financial aid should understand that applying after the deadline may mean reduced financial aid awards for that academic year.

Once the applicant has completed the application process by submitting all required documents, the campus’s Admissions Committee reviews the file. The committee carefully reads all application materials to find evidence of the applicant’s commitment to human services, ability to succeed in the program, and ability to complete the program in four to six terms. Because the committee reviews files as they are completed, it is advantageous for candidates to complete their application files as soon as possible.

Applicants who meet admissions requirements will be accepted for admissions; applicants who do not will be deferred and advised to wait to acquire needed requirements and apply at a later time. All decisions will be communicated via mail. Denied applicants may reapply for admissions and should contact the campus Admissions Office to discuss their reapplication files.

An applicant may appeal an admissions decision by submitting a written appeal to the Dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies. An appeal should include all pertinent information the applicant believes should be taken into account in reviewing the admissions decision. Upon receipt of the written appeal and supporting documentation, the Dean reviews the appeal and renders a decision. Applicants are notified in writing of the Deans decision, which is final. Note: Applicants may not register for or attend classes while the appeal is being reviewed.

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. If applying for financial aid, the applicant should also notify the financial aid coordinator at that campus, as deferring may impact financial aid. Applicants may defer their enrollment for up to sixteen months, after which point they have to reapply.

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.

Individuals who have not been admitted to the School of Professional and Continuing Studies but who wish to take undergraduate courses may do so as nonmatriculated students, that is, nondegree seeking students. Nonmatriculated status is an appropriate option for individuals seeking personal enrichment, career advancement, strengthening of academic skills, completion of core requirements for a concentration, or exploration of possible admission into a degree program.

Individuals interested in this option must submit a Nonmatriculated Application Form, which may be obtained from the Admissions Office of the instructional campus. Applications should be submitted as early as possible to ensure enrollment and must be received no later than the first class session of the course. Students must have already completed any prerequisites listed for courses for which they intend to register. A maximum of fifteen credit hours (equivalent to core requirements for all concentrations) taken as a nondegree seeking student may be applied to a student’s bachelor’s degree program in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies. Registration for additional courses beyond the fifteen credit hours as a nondegree seeking student will require approval from the Dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies. Nondegree seeking students are subject to all regulations of the College.

Financial aid is only awarded to students who have been accepted into a degree program. Nonmatriculated students are not eligible to receive financial aid.

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.