Admissions

Palm Beach Atlantic University is committed to serving the learning needs of adult and non-traditional students by offering the opportunity to earn a Bachelor’s degree by attending classes on campus in the evening and online. Some of the characteristics that define adulthood are age, employment, military service, or personal independence.

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 Admissions Office is located in the Enrollment Services Center. The Admissions 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 Campus or the Wellington Campus and 407.226.5955 for the Orlando Campus.

New students may begin evening classes on campus or online classes in the fall, spring, or summer. Students can be admitted unconditionally, conditionally and provisionally. For details, contact the Admissions Office.

Palm Beach Atlantic University offers the following evening undergraduate degree programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management
• Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management Online
• Bachelor of Arts in Ministry
• Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Online
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• Accelerated Dual Degree Program - B.S. in ORM/M.S. in Leadership
• Associate of Arts to Master of Science in Leadership (AA to MS)

Admission Requirements*

1. Completed online application and non-refundable $35 application fee
2. Official transcripts from all colleges previously attended
3. Official high school transcript or GED Test Score Report for applicants with fewer than 12 transferable college credits
4. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a scale of 4.0.
5. Interview with an Admissions counselor
6. Writing Skills Assessment with an acceptable score*

* If test scores indicate a need for extra skill development, a student may be required to complete both Academic English I and II, even for a student who has already completed the two required writing courses (Composition I and II) at another university. These courses must be taken at the beginning of the student’s academic program at PBA. These two courses will apply to the student’s elective credit for the degree and a minimum grade of “C-” must be earned.

7. International applicants must also provide:
   • TOEFL score (in addition to Writing Skills Assessment)
   • Official course-by-course evaluation for transferable college work; and Document by Document evaluation for high school graduates by Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. All evaluations should include translation and GPA.

Regular admission will be offered to a student with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all attempted hours. Probationary admission may be offered to a student with a GPA of less than 2.0. An academic hold will be placed on the academic record of a student entering PBA with a GPA less than 2.0. A student on probationary status must earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 during their first semester of enrollment at PBA. A student who fails in their first semester of enrollment to achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 will be placed on academic suspension for one semester.

* Please review the Programs of Study chapter for additional program-specific admission requirements.

Applying to PBA

Applications for the evening programs are accepted throughout the year. Upon acceptance, a student should confirm his or her intention to enroll with a $100.00 tuition deposit (to be deducted from the cost of tuition). Admission deposits for evening programs are nonrefundable.

Articulation Agreement:

Evening Program Undergraduate Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Ministry: Any student completing an Associate of Arts degree from Florida’s Community College System conferred after November, 1992, or any regionally accredited community or state college is guaranteed (1) junior standing with the application of a minimum of 60 credit hours toward the baccalaureate degree and (2) recognition of completion of the general education requirements, excluding MIN 2003 - Foundations for Christian Ministry , GBUS 2813 - American Free Enterprise , GCIS 1103 - Introduction to Technology I , GREL 1013 - Exploring the Bible , and GREL 4003 - Christian Values & Biblical Faith .

Evening Program Undergraduate Students in the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management: Any student completing an Associate of Arts degree from Florida’s Community College System conferred after November, 1992, or any regionally accredited community or state college is guaranteed (1) junior standing with the application of a minimum of 60 credit hours toward the baccalaureate degree and (2) recognition of completion of the general education requirements, excluding ORM 1003 - Leadership for Academic Success , GBUS 2813 - American Free Enterprise , GCIS 1103 - Introduction to Technology I , GREL 1013 - Exploring the Bible , and GREL 4003 - Christian Values & Biblical Faith .

International Students

A prospective student who is not a citizen of the United States and is applying to Palm Beach Atlantic University should make application at least four to six months in advance of the desired date of entrance, submitting all required materials two to three months prior to registration.

In addition, the following documents are required by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to be submitted in order that an I-20 may be issued for the student to enter the country:

Online students are exempt from items 1 through 3.

1. Financial statement assuming responsibility for annual costs.
2. Bank statement verifying adequate resources.
3. Completed VISA clearance form (if transferring from U.S. institution).
4. International transcripts must be evaluated by a company, which is a member of either the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers www.aacrao.org or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. www.naces.org and an official report must be sent to PBA in order that foreign credit can be evaluated for transfer.
5. All Online students are required to take the TOEFL as a means of assessing level of placement in English course.

Non-degree Students

Students may be admitted to PBA on a non-degree basis. An application for admission must be completed online. A student is usually limited to nine hours of study. Should additional study be desired, full documentation must be received and all entrance requirements must be satisfied.

Post-Baccalaureate Degree, Non-degree Students

Students holding a baccalaureate degree may be admitted to PBA on a non-degree basis. An application for admission must be completed online. A student is usually limited to nine hours of study. Should additional study be desired, full documentation must be received and all entrance requirements must be satisfied.

Readmission Requirements for Evening and Online programs

A student who wishes to return to PBA and continue in the evening or online program for which they were last enrolled must fill out an online Application for Readmission in the following cases:

• After non enrollment for two semesters
• After probation or suspension

Evening undergraduate students who do not enroll for a single semester will still be considered active students, will remain with their current advisor, and will stay under the catalog they entered under.

Students who do not enroll for two consecutive semesters will be required to apply for readmission online: http://www.pba.edu/admissions-forms. Readmitted students will be reassigned to a new advisor and will be accountable to the catalog in effect at the time of their readmission. If the student has attended college(s) since the last enrollment at PBA, an official transcript(s) must accompany the application for readmission. All college transcripts must be received and evaluated by the University before a student will be considered for a financial aid award. The student is notified in writing of approval or disapproval for readmission. A student who has a delinquent account with the University will not be approved for readmission until the Business Office has cleared the account. Further, readmission does not automatically restore financial aid. A student must re-apply for aid and confer with a financial aid counselor regarding his or her status. For students currently on Academic Suspension, please see Readmission process .

Standards for Academic Progress

A student will be placed on a one-semester Academic Suspension at the end of a term if, after being placed on Academic Probation, he/she still does not meet the cumulative 2.0 GPA. * After the period of suspension, the student may apply for readmission online. It is within the discretion of University officials to approve or deny readmission after suspension. If readmission is approved, the student is permitted one semester to raise the GPA to the satisfactory level. If after the semester of return to PBA, or after any subsequent semester, the student’s cumulative GPA is below 2.0, the student will be suspended and may not apply for readmission.

Transfer Students

The Undergraduate Evening Programs are designed to apply previous accredited college coursework towards your degree at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Transfer coursework accepted for credit toward the degree must be completed at an institution accredited as degree-granting by a post-secondary regional accrediting commission at the time the coursework was completed. Full credit will normally be given for courses transferred from such an institution if the student has earned a grade of “C-” or better.

A student presenting transfer credit from an institution that was not accredited as degree granting by a post-secondary regional accrediting commission at the time the course work was completed may seek credit validation upon the successful completion of 30 credit hours at PBA, maintaining a 2.0 PBA cumulative GPA or higher. For planning purposes, an unofficial evaluation of credit will be provided at the time of enrollment. Only courses that approximately parallel those of PBA, and for which a grade of “C-” or better has been earned, will be considered. Upon the completion of the residency requirement and satisfaction of the academic progress requirement, the unofficial evaluation will be validated and the courses will transfer as noted on the official evaluation. The student must submit written notification to the Office of the Registrar upon successful completion of the residency requirement. Non-accredited coursework will not transfer to PBA.

For transfer of international credits PBA accepts evaluations from Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. A student may also request an evaluation from any of the evaluators located through the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) on the following website, http://www.aacrao.org/international/foreignEdCred.cfm.

Note: Telefaxed documents, both academic and financial, may be used during the admission process; however, they are not a substitute for official transcripts.