Graduate Admission Requirements

Graduate students will be considered for admission to the University of St. Francis after completing the following admission requirements. If you are an INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENT, click here for specific requirements.

Documents can be sent to:
University of St. Francis
Attn:  Admissions Processing
500 Wilcox Street
Joliet, IL 60435

Official transcripts can be sent to:
admtranscripts@stfrancis.edu

Email:
supportingdocs@stfrancis.edu 

Doctoral Degrees

Post-graduate students will be considered for admission to the university after completing the program application and additional admission requirements noted. All admission requirements are subject to final approval by the dean of the college.

  • Official transcript documenting the appropriate graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of a graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Letter of Application
  • Letter of Recommendation
    Superintendent applicants, submit one from current superintendent. Leadership, Learning & Stewardship applicants, submit one from current supervisor.
  • Resume
  • Evidence of ISBE General Administrative or Principal endorsement or equivalent from another state Superintendent concentration only.
  • Interview

Applicants may request that transfer credit from an accredited doctoral program approved by the Illinois State Board of Education be accepted.

Learn more about the Doctor of Education – Educational Leadership program!

Post-graduate students will be considered for admission to the university after completing the program application and additional admission requirements noted. All admission requirements are subject to final approval by the dean of the college.

Master's Degrees:

Learn more about the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program!

  • Application submitted through CASPA (Central Application System for Physician Assistants)
  • All required documents should be submitted through CASPA
  • Official transcript documenting an undergraduate degree and prerequisite courses from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Verification of the GRE (Graduate Records Exam)
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • 500 hours of clinical experience
  • Interview

Learn more about Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program!

Learn more about the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program!

Learn more about the Master of Science in Health Administration!

Learn more about the Master of Science in Management program!

Learn more about the Master of Science in Training and Development program!

  • Official transcripts documenting the appropriate undergraduate degree and prerequisites from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • No more than nine credit hours of general education or content area course deficiencies
  • Essay
  • 2 letters of recommendation

Learn more about the Master of Education with Elementary Professional Educator License program!

  • Official transcripts documenting the appropriate undergraduate degree and prerequisites from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • No more than nine credit hours of general education or content area course deficiencies
  • Essay
  • 2 letters of recommendation

Learn more about the Master of Education with Middle Grades Professional Educator License program!

  • Official transcripts documenting the appropriate undergraduate degree and prerequisites from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • Verification of passing score on ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education) content test
  • No more than nine credit hours of general education or content area course deficiencies
  • Essay
  • 2 letters of recommendation

Learn more about the Master of Education with Secondary Professional Educator License program!

  • Official transcripts documenting the appropriate undergraduate degree and prerequisites from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • No more than nine credit hours of general education or content area course deficiencies
  • Essay
  • 2 letters of recommendation

Learn more about the Master of Education with Special Education Professional Educator License (K-12) program!

  • Official transcripts documenting the appropriate undergraduate degree and prerequisites from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • No more than nine credit hours of general education or content area course deficiencies
  • Essay
  • 2 letters of recommendation

Learn more about the Master of Education with Visual Arts Professional Educator License (K-12) program!

  • Official transcripts documenting the appropriate undergraduate degree and prerequisites from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Illinois Professional Educator License
  • Three years of full-time teaching or school support personnel experience
  • Essay
  • 2 letters of recommendation; one from current principal and the other from superintendent 
  • Resume

Learn more about the Master of Science in Educational Leadership (P-12 Principal Endorsement) program!

  • Official transcripts documenting the appropriate undergraduate degree and prerequisites from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Illinois Professional Educator License
  • Two years of full-time teaching experience
  • Essay
  • 2 letters of recommendation; one from current principal and another administrator
  • Resume

Learn more about the Master of Science in Educational Leadership (Teacher Leader Endorsement) program!

  • Official transcripts documenting the appropriate undergraduate degree and prerequisites from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • Illinois Professional Educator License
  • Essay
  • Letter of recommendation from supervisor
  • Resume

Learn more about the Master of Science – Reading Specialist program!

  • Official transcripts documenting the appropriate undergraduate degree and prerequisites from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • Illinois Professional Educator License
  • Essay
  • Letter of recommendation from supervisor
  • Resume

Learn more about the Master of Science – Teaching & Learning program!

  • Official transcripts documenting an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • Essay
  • 2 letters of recommendation

Learn more about the Master of Social Work program!

Additional Admission Requirements

GRADUATE CERTIFICATES

Accounting
Cyber Security
Data Analytics
Data Science in Health Care
Finance
Human Resource Management
Instructional Design in Online Learning
Logistics
Management of Long-Term Care
Management of Training & Development
Performance Improvement
Population Health
Quality Improvement in Health Care


Training Specialist

  • Official transcripts documenting an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale

Gerontology

Instructional Coaching and TESOL

Teaching in Nursing

POST-MASTER’S CERTIFICATES

Forensic Social Work

  • Official transcripts documenting both an undergraduate and graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Verification of an undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • Personal Essay
  • Two letters of recommendation

FNP and PMHNP

School Social Work

International graduate students will be considered for admission to the University of St. Francis after completing the previously indicated requirements in addition to those listed below. All admission requirements are subject to final approval by the dean of the appropriate college.

  • Copy of passport or VISA papers
  • Resume that indicates two years of applicable work experience or GMAT score
  • Official scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examination. Satisfactory TOEFL scores are a minimum 550 for the paper based exam, 213 for the computer based exam or 79-80 for the internet based exam for applicants whom English is a second language (a score of 85 on the internet based exam is required for the PA program). The institution code for the University of St. Francis is 1130
  • Official scores of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are accepted in place of TOEFL scores. A minimum overall ban score of 6.5 is needed for consideration. Official scores need to be sent to the University of St. Francis directly from the testing center which administered the test
  • Official (sealed) transcripts of all academic work from all colleges or universities beyond the secondary level (US SCHOOLS ONLY)
  • A copy of transcripts of all academic work from all colleges or universities beyond the secondary level (INTERNATIONAL ONLY)
  • Evaluation from an approved agency of all previous foreign course work (WES or ECE preferred). OFFICIAL COPY NEEDED OUTLINING COURSE BY COURSE
  • Evidence (affidavit of financial support) of adequate financial resources applicable towards total college costs of completing the master’s degree at the University for one year. (Includes tuition, fees, books, minimal additional costs, excludes living expenses if taking classes in the United States.) (Applicable for onsite students only and includes those that are being sponsored)
  • School Transfer and Release Application completed by the last institution attended in the United States for international students with immigrant status in the United States and who have attended a college/university in the United States. (Applicable for onsite students only. The previous I-20 will list last school attended)
  • International student applicants are considered for admission as soon as their application process has been completed. An I-20 will be issued once the above requirements have been satisfied (not applicable for online)
  • Tuition Deposit – Upon acceptance as an international graduate student, a non-refundable tuition deposit is required and will be credited to the applicant’s bill.

Graduate students seeking to earn a second Master’s degree (i.e. a second Master of Science degree) in a discipline closely related to that of their first USF Master’s degree will be allowed to apply some of the credit earned in the first program toward the requirements in the second program. The University has an obligation to ensure that each of its degrees reflect a significant immersion of the individual in a relevant, concentration course of study. To this end, a student may not apply more than 12 credits from the first degree to the credit required for the second degree. Decisions related to the number of hours allowed are determined upon individual program requirements. Interested individuals must formally apply and be accepted for admission to the second graduate program.

Additionally, any specific requirements beyond coursework in the second program (e.g., comprehensive exams, field experience, internships, or a thesis) must be completed to earn the second degree.