Admissions

Admission

Palm Beach Atlantic University is committed to serving the learning needs of graduate students by offering the opportunity to earn graduate degrees by attending classes on the West Palm Beach campus, Wellington campus or Orlando campus.

PBA strives to maintain a student body which represents a broad variety of abilities, backgrounds, and career goals. All qualified men and women are welcome to apply without regard to race, color, age, sex, handicap, religion, or national or ethnic origin. The Evening and Graduate Admission Office is located in the Enrollment Services Center. The Evening and Graduate Admission staff is available to meet with prospective students and help determine which program would fit their needs based on their educational goals, previous college coursework and work experience. Prospective students are welcome anytime, although appointments are advisable to ensure the best service possible. Schedule an appointment by calling 561.803.2122 for the West Palm Beach and Wellington Campuses and 407.226.5955 for the Orlando Campus.

New students may begin classes in the fall or spring semester. Students can be admitted unconditionally, conditionally and provisionally. For details, contact the Evening and Graduate Admission Office.

Palm Beach Atlantic University offers the following graduate degree programs:

• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Science in Leadership
• Master of Science in Counseling Psychology
• Doctor of Pharmacy
• Pharm.D./M.B.A. Joint Degree Plan

Graduate Admission Requirements

The various degree programs at Palm Beach Atlantic University have specific admission requirements. Each degree program and its admission requirements are as follows:

Master of Business Administration

Admission Requirements:

1. Earn a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
2. Achieve an undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
3. Submit:
   
   • Online application & application fee
   • Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities
   • Two confidential MBA recommendation forms
   • Current resume with complete work history and dates
   • Enrollment essays (prompts provided)
4. Interview with the MBA Admission Counselor
   

Note: All candidate applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee.For details, please contact the Office of Evening and Graduate Admission at 561.803.2122.

Master of Science in Counseling Psychology

Admission Requirements:

1. Earn a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
2. Achieve undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
3. Submit:
   
   • Online application and application fee
   • Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities
   • Three confidential Counseling Psychology recommendation forms
   • Enrollment essays (written on-site)
   • MMPI-2 (see admission counselor for details, $35 fee)
   • Official GRE or MAT test score*
4. Faculty Interview

*Test Score Waiver:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Millers Analogy Test (MAT)
• GRE/MAT may be waived for students that have earned a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.5 cumulative grade point average or higher.
• Prior academic experience may be reviewed in lieu of presenting graduate scores from the GRE if an applicant has completed 15 or more graduate credits with transferable grades from a regionally accredited institution. Students with previously earned Master’s degrees are exempted from taking the GRE.

Note: All applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee.

Additional Requirements:

1. At least 15 credits in psychology or related disciplines
2. All students must complete a valid standard psychological inventory (presently the MMPI-2)

Note: Currently the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) is administered as part of the process of application for admission to the Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degree program at Palm Beach Atlantic University. It is administered by a qualified person in accordance with the American Psychological Society Association’s ethical principles and the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. Within this context, the MMPI-2 is administered solely to assist the Graduate Admission Committee in making selection decisions and may not be used for any clinical purposes, either by Palm Beach Atlantic University or the applicant. Accordingly, the results of the MMPI-2 administered in this context become the sole and exclusive property of Palm Beach Atlantic University, and such results, along with any and all supporting documentation, handwritten notes, or other materials preserved in any medium (or copies thereof) may neither be examined nor procured by applicants or their representatives.

Provisional Admission Requirements:

A student admitted on a provisional basis may take a maximum of 9 credit hours of graduate work if all other requirements are met. Upon completion of 9 credit hours, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0, the applicant may be granted regular admission status.

Students may be admitted on a provisional basis if approved by the admissions committee for the graduate program to which they are applying. Missing documentation must be submitted no later than the middle of the first semester of enrollment or the student will not be permitted to register for classes for the following semester.

Master of Science in Leadership

Admission Requirements:

1. Earn a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
2. Achieve an undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
3. Submit:
   • Online application and application fee
   • Transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities
   • Two recommendation forms
   • Enrollment essays (Written on site or submitted electronically)
4. Interview with Chair of the Graduate Committee

Special Graduate Admission (All Graduate Programs)

Auditing

Students may not audit graduate classes.

International Student Admission

International student applicants must meet the following requirements, in addition to those specified for admission to the graduate program:

1. Official transcripts in English from all prior colleges and universities attended are required. Official transcripts must be original documents bearing all necessary authoritative seals, stamps, and other evidence that prove their authenticity to the satisfaction of the specific Graduate Admission Committee. Transcripts from institutions outside the United States and its territories/possessions must be evaluated by Joseph Silny & Associates unless accredited by a U.S. regional accrediting body.
2. Proof of ability to meet the financial requirements while in attendance at PBA is required. Applicants needing a student visa are required to show financial capability for their full-degree program and may be required to have an amount equal to the estimated cost of the first academic year on deposit at PBA before a certificate of eligibility and an acceptance letter will be issued. Continuation of the visa after the first calendar year may require further proof and certification of the applicant’s financial ability.
3. An acceptable score must be attained on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if the student’s native language is not English or if the bachelor’s degree was not earned at a regionally accredited institution where all instruction was in English. The TOEFL Bulletin of Information and registration form can be obtained in a number of cities outside the United States. They are often available at American embassies and consulates, or at offices of the United States Information Service (USIS).
4. International students who hold a student visa are required to carry a full course of study during every semester except the summer term. A minimum full-time graduate load at PBA is nine credit hours.

Non-degree-Seeking Status

An individual may be granted non-degree-seeking status to take 5000-level courses for graduate credit, provided that room is available in the class and the admission is approved by the appropriate Graduate Admissions Committee. To qualify for such status, one must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. For the graduate counseling psychology program, students may take an additional two courses at the 5000-level (or a total of 12 credit hours) if they hold a master’s degree and room is available in the class. Non Degree Seeking Status does not apply to the MacArthur School.

Non-regionally Accredited Baccalaureate Degrees

There are some institutions that by nature of philosophy or by deliberate choice do not seek regional accreditation, or that possess specialized accreditation of accreditation groups other than a regional group (e.g., The American Association of Bible Colleges or the Association of Theological Schools). In such cases Palm Beach Atlantic University may make exceptions to the requirements of graduation from a “regionally accredited institution.” In these cases a comprehensive review of the program of study and courses will be conducted by the program Admissions Committee. Also, in some cases, PBA may have already conducted research on the success of undergraduate transfer students to PBA undergraduate programs from certain non-regionally accredited undergraduate college and found that graduates from these colleges have experienced success at PBA comparable to students transferring from regionally accredited colleges or those who were enrolled at PBA during their entire educational experience. Research has been completed on two such colleges - Hobe Sound Bible College and Pensacola Christian Bible College. Therefore applicants from these two colleges will be considered for admission to PBA graduate programs as if they graduated from a regionally accredited institution.

Provisional Admission

A student admitted on a provisional basis may take a maximum of 9 credit hours of graduate work if all other requirements are met. Upon completion of 9 credit hours, with a minimum grade-point-average of 3.0, the applicant may be granted regular admission status.

Special Student Status (Non-baccalaureate)

An individual may be granted special student status to take a maximum of two 5000-level courses for graduate credit. To qualify for such status one must be an undergraduate student who is within nine hours of graduating with a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. The Graduate Admission Committee of the appropriate Graduate Program will make final determination for admission.