Students may be admitted to a graduate or a professional degree program under the alternative admission policy. There are two options within the alternative graduate student admission policy to admit students who may not meet as defined in the general admission requirements.

Option 1

For students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement

Students who do not meet the minimum 3.0 GPA graduate or professional program requirement may be admitted as determined by the university program or department. Programs can determine their own agreed upon method of assessment for alternate standard admissions, but the student must meet at a minimum one of the following requirements:

1. Submit satisfactory scores on the GRE, GMAT, or other approved test.
2. Write an analytical essay demonstrating critical thinking skills.
3. Write a statement of intent demonstrating a level of knowledge and intellectual maturity appropriate to the proposed field of graduate study.¹
4. Present evidence of professional success in a field relevant to the proposed area of study.
5. Complete an admissions interview either in-person or virtually.
6. Successful completion of a provisional period of enrollment based on conditional admissions.

¹

An analytical essay typically is focused on a student’s academic pursuits and interest, while a statement of intent includes information about a student’s personal journey.

Option 2

For students who do not have a bachelor’s degree¹ 

Students with increasingly responsible professional experience in the field for which they are applying may be admitted to graduate or professional programs at Seattle Pacific University. The student must have significant professional experience² and meet at a minimum two of the following requirements:

1. Submit a transcript showing university-level coursework with the achievement of a 3.0 grade point average for at least 90 quarter hours or 60 semester hours.
2. Submit satisfactory scores on the GRE, GMAT, or other approved test.
3. Write an analytical essay demonstrating critical thinking skills.
4. Write a statement of intent demonstrating a level of knowledge and intellectual maturity appropriate to the proposed field of graduate study.
5. Complete an admissions interview either in person or virtually.
6. Successful completion of a provisional period of enrollment based on conditional admissions.

Programs must develop a review and documentation process outlining their internal requirements including approval by the program chair/director and the dean/dean’s team.

¹

From a nationally recognized postsecondary institution with institutional accreditation or an equivalent from international institutions as defined in the general admission requirements, but who have significant professional experience.

²

“Significant professional experience” is defined by each program.