Admission to the University
Walla Walla University welcomes to its school family students who wish to obtain a quality education in a Christian environment (Walla Walla University is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church). Students, faculty, and staff share in the mutual obligation to uphold the Christian philosophy and policies of the University.
It is the policy of Walla Walla University to provide equal educational opportunity without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, or other protected classes as required by local, state, and federal laws that apply to the University. In addition, the University provides equal employment opportunity without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, or other protected classes as required by local, state, and federal laws that apply to the University.
Admission Requirements and Procedures
To qualify for regular admission, an applicant to a graduate program will meet the following criteria:
- Graduate from a regionally accredited four-year college or university by the time of enrollment as evidenced by an official transcript showing the completion of a baccalaureate degree. Applicants must also submit official transcripts for all graduate-level coursework.
- Complete an appropriate undergraduate major or prerequisite credit hours as specified by the department.
- Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 for either the total hours or for the last 96 quarter hours of the baccalaureate degree.
- Complete a graduate application.
- Obtain professional and academic references from three individuals knowing the applicant's professional abilities and personal qualities (i.e. a recent volunteer supervisor, employer, professor or advisor).
- Submit an admission essay of professional goals and objectives as directed by the department concerned.
- Achieve a score of 550 on the written TOEFL or a score of 213 on the computer TOEFL or a score of 79 on the internet test, if English is spoken as a Second Language.
- Meet additional admission requirements as specified by the department concerned.
When all application materials have been received, they will be sent to the respective graduate department for evaluation and a recommendation about acceptance. Admission is by official action of the Graduate Council.
Certified Background Checks. Applicants who have been convicted of a misdemeanor and/or felony will be required to complete a certified background check before admission to Walla Walla University. Graduate programs who require placements serving vulnerable populations may also require all applicants to obtain a certified background check. The results of background checks will be reviewed by the graduate program admissions committee who will make the recommendation to the Office of Graduate Studies to either accept or deny admission to the university. Nondisclosure of criminal activity will act to invalidate application/enrollment.
Classification of Students
Graduate Students are defined as those who have been accepted into one of the graduate programs.
Postgraduate Students are those who have completed a baccalaureate degree and are registered for coursework which applies toward an advanced degree.
Admission and Enrollment Categories
Regular. Regular admission status is granted to students who meet all requirements of graduate programs at Walla Walla University and specific requirements of the department or school in which study is proposed.
Provisional. Provisional status is given to students who have graduated from an accredited college or university and do not meet one or more of the other requirements for regular admission, but who in the judgment of the department and Graduate Council have shown evidence of their ability to pursue a graduate degree. Such evidence may include one or more of the following: superior performance on the Graduate Record Examination, strong professional recommendations, superior grades in postgraduate work at a recognized institution, and/or positive work experience in areas related to the desired graduate specialization. At the time of provisional acceptance, a plan and deadline for a change to regular standing must be submitted by the respective graduate program. Students who do not meet these specifications will be dropped from the program.
Non-matriculated. Non-matriculated status is designed for individuals who wish to take courses for personal or professional benefit, but are not seeking a graduate degree.
Prerequisites for this experience are the completion of a baccalaureate degree with a minimum of a 2.75 cumulative GPA and permission of the home department. A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken in non-matriculated status. By special petition to Graduate Council, those 12 credit hours may be applied to a graduate program retrospectively.