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, Orlando campus, or Online 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 Counseling Psychology
- Master of Science in Leadership (On-ground and Online)
- AA to Master of Science in Leadership
- Master of Divinity
- Doctor of Pharmacy
- Doctor of Pharmacy / Masters of Business Administration Joint Degree Program
Graduate Admission Requirements
The various degree programs at Palm Beach Atlantic University have specific admission requirements. Each degree program’s admission requirements are as follows:
Master of Business Administration
Admission Requirements:
- Earn a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Achieve an undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale with exceptions, on a case-by-case basis
- Submit:
- Online application & application fee
- Official transcript from college/university where bachelor’s degree was conferred and from college/university where prerequisite courses were taken
- Two confidential MBA recommendation forms
- Current resume with complete work history and dates
- Enrollment essays (prompts provided)
- 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:
- Earn a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Achieve undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale with exceptions, on a case-by-case basis
- Submit:
- Online application and application fee
- Official transcript from college/university where bachelor’s degree was conferred and from college/university where prerequisite courses were taken
- Three confidential Counseling Psychology recommendation forms
- Enrollment essay (prompt provided)
- Official GRE or MAT test score*
- Faculty Interview
* 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.
Additional Requirements: At least 15 prerequisite credits in psychology or related disciplines.
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.
Note: All applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee.
Master of Science in Leadership
Admission Requirements:
- Earn a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Achieve an undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale with exceptions, on a case-by-case basis
- Submit:
- Online application and application fee
- Official transcript from college/university where bachelor’s degree was conferred
- Two confidential Leadership recommendation forms
- Enrollment essays (Written on site or submitted electronically)
- Interview with Chair of the Graduate Committee
*Students applying for the AA to MS in Leadership must first be accepted to the Organizational Management undergraduate program. Admission requirements for the undergraduate program include submitting an online undergraduate application and application fee, submitting official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, and completing writing assessment through Admissions office. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher from AA degree and maintain a 3.0 GPA at PBA to be considered for the AA to MS in Leadership program. Students must also complete a Supplemental Application obtained in the MacArthur School of Leadership.
Note: All applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee.
Master of Divinity
Admission Requirements:
- Earn a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Achieve an undergraduate minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, with exceptions on a case-by-case basis, and completed bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry/Biblical Studies (Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a non-ministry major are required to complete 27 hours of specific prerequisite coursework on the undergraduate or graduate level)
- Submit:
- Online application and application fee
- Official transcript from college/university where bachelor’s degree was conferred and from college/university where prerequisite courses were taken
- Two confidential M.Div. recommendation forms (Academic and Ministerial)
- Two writing samples (requirements provided by admissions counselor)
- Informed Consent form (provided at Admissions interview)
- Admissions and Faculty Interview
*Students applying for Early Graduate Admission should apply at the beginning of their Junior year. In addition to the above requirements, students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA, a 3.0 GPA in the following classes: Evangelism and Apologetics, Spiritual Formation, Interpreting the Bible, Exploring the Old Testament and Exploring the new Testament, and must complete their major’s General Education requirements and all major-specific courses as indicated in the Undergraduate Day Catalog.
Note: All applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions 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:
- 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 (or another evaluation company recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) unless accredited by a U.S. regional accrediting body.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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 Student Status
An individual may be granted non-degree status to take 5000-level courses for graduate credit in the Counseling Psychology program for licensure purposes, 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 graduate degree in Counseling Psychology (or a similar degree) from a regionally accredited institution. Students may take up to 12 credit hours as a non-degree student in the Counseling Psychology program.
Non-Degree students may register for up to 12 total hours of Master of Divinity courses when the following conditions are met: 1) the student has earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution; 2) the credit hours are approved elective or language hours. Non-degree students may not register for courses offered as part of the block schedule. Enrollment as a non-degree student does not guarantee acceptance into the M.Div. program, and students are required to complete the full admission process to be considered degree-seeking.
Non-Degree Student Status does not apply to the Master of Science in Leadership or Master of Business Administration.
Non-Regionally Accredited Baccalaureate Degrees
Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university to be considered for admission to any of PBA’s graduate programs. Hobe Sound Bible College and Pensacola Christian Bible College are the only two exceptions to this rule. 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
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.
Transfer Credit
Students in the Master of Divinity program may count up to 12 approved transfer or transient hours to satisfy elective requirements, provided the credit hours have not been used toward the completion of another degree. In addition, students may count up to 4 approved hours of transfer or transient graduate-level Greek or Hebrew toward the M.Div. language requirements. No student may apply more than a total of 16 hours of transfer or transient credit toward the M.Div. degree.
Students in the Counseling Psychology program may transfer up to fifteen credits toward the Counseling Psychology degree. The Counseling Psychology department will review a student’s transfer courses and make the final determination.
Transfer credit does not apply to the Master of Business Administration or Master of Science in Leadership.
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. |