Degrees Awarded
The University offers the following graduate degrees:
Doctor of Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Master of Arts
Master of Business Administration
Master of Science in Nursing
Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Master of Speech-Language Pathology
Masters in Physician Assistant Studies
Comprehensive Exam and/or Integrative Project
A comprehensive examination and/or integrative project is required in each graduate degree program. These are described in the respective graduate program sections of this catalog.Residency Requirements
A minimum of 75 percent of the credits required for a graduate degree must be earned from Mount St. Joseph University. A program of study is developed during the student’s first semester to ensure that the residency requirement, as well as other degree requirements, are satisfied.Time Limit on Degree
Degree programs are designed to serve both full-time and part-time students. Students admitted to a degree program are expected to work with continuity in their program until all requirements are completed. Consequently, a student who does not register for graduate course work during two consecutive years is considered to have withdrawn and is required to reapply for admission. All degree requirements must be completed within five years of enrollment in the graduate program. An exception may be made at the discretion of the department chairperson and the Provost.Degree Applications/Graduation Commencement Ceremonies
A degree-seeking student who has completed the general requirements and the specific program requirements with a cumulative 3.0 GPA is eligible to be awarded a graduate degree.
Application deadline dates for graduate graduation candidates completing their degree requirements are within one month of the posted deadline dates of: December - April 15, May - September 15, and August - November 15 prior to the graduation session each year.
Graduation candidates will be eligible to participate in the ceremony corresponding to their application deadline and degree requirements completion (i.e., December graduation application participates in December ceremony, May graduation application participates in May). An August candidate with 12 or fewer credit hours to complete their degree will be given a one-time choice to participate in the May ceremony prior to the summer session in which they complete their requirements or the December ceremony after they have completed their requirements.
Applying for Graduation
Graduation candidates are required to complete a graduation application which is submitted for approval to their advisor and program director and/or department chair. The approved application for graduation is submitted to the Registrar's Office. The certificate or degree graduation application must be on file in the Registrar's Office by the posted deadline dates.
If graduation requirements are not completed by the date (month/year) specified on the student’s graduation application, the application will be moved to the next graduation cycle. If the requirements are not completed by the next official graduation date, i.e. December, May or August, the application will be canceled. If a student completes his/her graduation requirements after being notified his/her application has been canceled, the student will be required to submit a Petition to Review of completed graduation requirements for certification on the next official graduation date.
A one-time $75.00 non-refundable graduation application fee is assessed to all graduation candidates for each degree and/or certificate application. Students who apply after posted application deadlines are at risk for not receiving important communications regarding participation in commencement and graduation-related activities, may not have their name listed in the commencement program, and may not be eligible to participate in commencement.
If a student applies for one degree during one academic year and another degree during a future academic year, the graduation application fee is charged twice. A student applying for an undergraduate and a graduate degree during the same academic year will be charged the full graduation application fee twice. A student earning a certificate will be charged the full graduation application fee. A certificate seeking student is invited to participate in graduation.
December, May and August degrees are conferred by Mount St. Joseph University at the annual commencement ceremonies. The commencement ceremonies are held before final semester grades are submitted by instructors. Therefore, official diplomas for all graduates are mailed within four weeks after grades have been submitted, degree certifications are completed based on the final semester’s grades and all financial obligations to the University have been met.