• Seton Hall University
• College of Human Development, Culture, and Media

Who Should Apply?

Graduate Studies within the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media offers an array of degree types and programs designed for aspiring scholars and professionals. Each program provides students with dynamic learning experiences involving theoretical frameworks and practical components that permit students to recognize, test and translate course material into academic, professional and workplace settings required of a complicated and highly interactive world.

Candidates for admission to the College’s programs should possess a strong academic record, demonstrated potential for academic success at the graduate-level, and be current or aspiring leaders in the field.

Application Deadlines

Deadlines for applications vary by program.  Please carefully review our menu of programs for specific requirements.

In the absence of specific deadlines, programs operate on a rolling basis and generally align with the following schedule:

• Fall semester - July 1 (Priority deadline - May 1)
• Spring semester - December 1 (Priority deadline - November 1) 

Some programs accept new students during the Summer semester.  In this case, details will be listed on the program’s webpage.

Regardless of deadline, applicants are encouraged to apply early to be considered for available Graduate Scholarships, applicants should submit complete applications and all supporting materials by the priority deadlines. Please note, the fall semester begins in late-August and the Spring semester begins in early-January.

Application Requirements

To be considered for admission to any of the College’s graduate degree programs, applicants are minimally required to submit the following materials:

• Electronic application and application fee
• Resume/Curriculum vitae
• Official transcript(s) from all institutions attended - including pre- and post-baccalaureate coursework 

Important: Most programs require additional materials, such as a personal statement, letter(s) of recommendation, or official test scores. Please carefully review each program’s webpage for any additional requirements. 

Criteria for Admissions Materials 

• Transcripts, transcript evaluations, and test score reports, if required, must be received directly from the appropriate agency.  Unofficial documents will not be considered as part of the review process.
• If required, GRE score must be from within the last five years.  Qualified applicants may request a waiver of the testing requirement.
• Letters of recommendation are strongly preferred from academic and/or professional sources.  Letters of recommendation submitted from non-academic or non-verifiable sources (e.g. Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, and similar email exchanges) are not accepted. 

Application Review 

Completed applications are reviewed by academic program directors and administrators.  Under no circumstances are incomplete applications reviewed.  All prospective students are encouraged to apply, but preference is given to students who meet the following criteria- 

• Bachelor's degree with overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
• For international applicants, TOEFL score above 80 or IELTS score above 7
• If required, GRE score in the 50th percentile or higher (combined scores) 

International Applicants 

In addition to the above application materials, international applicants must satisfy the following admissions requirements- 

• Course-by-course transcript evaluation from an accredited transcript evaluation agency;
• TOEFL or IELTS exam*; and
• Video conference, upon request. 

* The TOEFL or IELTS exam requirement can be waived for international applicants whose native language is English or who previously studied at an institution where English was the language of instruction. 

A selection of approved transcript evaluation agencies include: 

• World Education Services
• Educational Credential Evaluators 
• Global Credential Evaluators, Inc. 
• Evaluation Service, Inc.
• Center for Applied Research, Evaluation and Education, Inc. 

If English is not an applicant's first language, please arrange to have official TOEFL or IELTS scores sent directly to Seton Hall University.  The institution code for Seton Hall University is 2811. 

Note: International applicants who require a student visa are not eligible for offers of conditional admission and all required documents for admission consideration must be received for an applicant's file to undergo review. 

International Student Visa Requirements

For international applicants who require a student visa, the Office of International Programs (OIP) will evaluate an applicant's materials to determine if they are sufficient to issue an I-20.  An I-20 is used to apply for an F-1 student visa. 

The documentation necessary for an I-20 includes- 

• Declaration and Certification of Finances with attached proof of ability to pay for the cost of education;
• Request for Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) form; and
• International students currently residing in the United States must also complete a Visa Sponsorship Transfer form indicating the SEVIS release date.