Graduate Admissions Requirements

Information on this page pertains to the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Master of Science in Human Resources Management, Master of Science in Management and most graduate certificates offered by Thomas Edison State College. Graduate programs in Educational Leadership and Nursing have separate application requirements.

>> Graduate Educational Leadership requirements
>> Graduate Nursing requirements

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Admission to online graduate degree programs at Thomas Edison State College is competitive. Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and must be ready to participate in an online environment. Admission is based on:

• A qualitative evaluation of the applicant's undergraduate educational work from a regionally accredited college or university. An undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 is recommended to be successful in the program.
• A qualitative assessment of the applicant's personal statements, essays and two letters of reference.
• Relevance of work experience and career objectives to the program objectives.
• Three-to-five years of professional, managerial or related experience is required for all graduate degree programs.
• Applicants to the Master of Science in Human Resources Management program should have at least three years of exempt-level experience. Applicants to the Master of Science in Management program are expected to have managerial or supervisory experience. Applicants to the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program are expected to have some professional, managerial or significant volunteer experience.

General Admission Requirements:
Applicants to graduate degree programs must provide a current resume and two letters of reference. Applications will be reviewed to select students who best demonstrate the following criteria:

• All applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• Applicants to degree programs must provide a current resume with their completed application
• Applicants to degree programs must provide two letters of recommendation with their completed application
• All appropriate essay questions must be completed and submitted with a completed application; all essays are evaluated critically and used to assess a student's ability to succeed in and benefit from a graduate program.
• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) www.ets.org/toefl is required of all applicants whose primary language is not English. A score of 550 on the written; 213 on the computer version; or 79 on the Internet version is required.

Prerequisites:

• Basic knowledge of workplace or community issues.
• Competency in written expression and presentation skills.
• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who have not received their undergraduate degree from a U.S. college or university must demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English as indicated by a Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 on the written version; 213 on the computer version; or 79 on the Internet based version.
• Access to and the ability to use e-mail and the Internet.
• GMAT or GRE scores are NOT required for admission. Students may submit test scores if they have taken the examinations.

Sending Transcripts & Other Documents:

Official transcripts and documentation of all an applicant’s past college credits, professional and/or military training and other experiences, should be sent to: 
 
The Office of the Registrar
Thomas Edison State College
101 W. State St. Trenton, N.J. 
08608-1176  

Regarding transcripts, please note:

• Transcripts should be sent directly to Thomas Edison State College from the institution(s) an applicant has attended.
• Transcripts sent to Thomas Edison State College that have been sent first to an applicant from the institution(s) they attended must arrive at Thomas Edison State College in the unopened, sealed envelope from the institution (or institutions) they attended. Applicants may not open their transcripts. Transcripts that arrive at Thomas Edison State College in opened envelopes are not valid and must be resubmitted.
• International transcripts:  The College will accept credit recommendations from a required course-by-course evaluation completed by any of the following agencies

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
International Education Services
One DuPont Circle, NW
Suite 520
Washington, D.C. 20036-1135
(202) 296-3359

Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
(414) 289-3400

World Educational Services, Inc. (WES)
P.O. Box 5087
Bowling Green Station
New York, NY 10274-5087
(212) 966-6311

Educational Perspectives, nfp. (EP)
P.O. Box 618056
Chicago, IL 60661-8056
(312) 421-9300

All costs associated with the international credit evaluation are the responsibility of the student. The College reserves the right to make its own determination on the amount and type of credit to be awarded based on the evaluations provide by these agencies. An enrolled student may transfer a maximum of 90 credits from international institutions. Foreign students in the United States on student (F-1) visas can use all methods available to U.S. students for completing their degree requirements. Course-by-course credit recommendations will be reviewed by Thomas Edison State College based upon existing transfer and degree policies in place at the time of application.