Admissions Requirements
Regional Accreditation
While Messiah University requires graduate students to hold an undergraduate degree, applications for admission from students who have earned an undergraduate degree from a college or university in the United States that is not regionally accredited will be evaluated for admission on a case by case basis. Details can be found here.
Application Materials
Application materials can be uploaded through the Application Status page.
Transcripts can be emailed to, GradPrograms@messiah.edu or mailed to:
Graduate Enrollment Office
Messiah University
One University Ave
Mechanicsburg PA 17055
To find more information on application dates, please go to Preferred Application Dates.
Admissions Requirements for Business & Leadership
- Official transcripts indicating a Bachelor's or Master's degree earned
- Completed application
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (< 3.0 will be reviewed on a case by case basis)
- Personal Statement of Purpose: Your 300-500 word statement should describe your preparations for graduate work, your reasons for applying for this particular graduate program at Messiah University and how this graduate program will help you meet your professional and educational goals
- One recommendation (addressing your professional experience and/or academic performance, excluding relatives)
- Resume
Admissions Requirements for Counseling
- Official transcripts indicating a Bachelor's or Master's degree earned
- Completed application
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (< 3.0 will be reviewed on a case by case basis)
- Personal Statement of Purpose: Your 300-500 word statement should describe your preparations for graduate work, your reasons for applying for this particular graduate program at Messiah University and how this graduate program will help you meet your professional and educational goals
- Counseling Admissions Program Questions*
- Successful completion of nine (9) credits of behavior science courses (e.g. psychology, human development & family science, sociology, anthropology, early childhood studies, social work) *
- Two letters of recommendation (addressing your professional experience and/or academic performance, excluding relatives)*
- Resume*
- An interview (in person or online)*
* Not required for the CAGS w/out Field Experience
Admissions Requirements for Education
- Official transcripts indicating a Bachelor's or Master's degree earned
- Completed application
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (< 3.0 will be reviewed on a case by case basis)
- Personal Statement of Purpose: Your 300-500 word statement should describe your preparations for graduate work, your reasons for applying for this particular graduate program at Messiah University and how this graduate program will help you meet your professional and educational goals
- One recommendation (addressing your professional experience and/or academic performance, excluding relatives)
- Resume
Admissions Requirements for Higher Education Leadership
- Official transcripts indicating a Bachelor's or Master's degree earned
- Completed application
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (< 3.0 will be reviewed on a case by case basis)
- Personal Statement of Purpose: Your 500-1000 word statement should describe your reasons for applying for the Graduate Program in Higher Education Leadership at Messiah University, how this graduate program will help you meet your professional and educational goals, and identify an issue in higher education that you will be better equipped to address as a result of your participation in this program.
- One recommendation (must be someone currently working in Higher Education who is able to address your professional experience and/or academic performance)
- Resume
Admissions Requirements for Music
- Official transcripts indicating a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Music earned
- Completed application
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (< 3.0 will be reviewed on a case by case basis)
- Personal Statement of Purpose: Your 300-500 word statement should describe your preparations for graduate work, your reasons for applying for this particular graduate program at Messiah University and how this graduate program will help you meet your professional and educational goals
- A 15-20 minute recording of the applicant conducting a live performance/rehearsal of a self-prepared ensemble **
- Applicant needs to conduct with camera facing the conductor showing common meters.
- Applicant must submit video exhibiting two, contrasting styles
- Recorded example of applicant playing in the keys of G major, F major, Eb major, and their relative
natural minors * **- Scales: two octaves, hands together, ascending and descending
- Chord Progression: I – IV6/4 – I – V6/5 – I; i – iv6/4 – i – v6/5 – i
- Two letters of recommendations (addressing your professional experience and/or academic performance, excluding relatives)*
- Resume*
- A list of performed or rehearsed repertoire in the major conducting area * **
- Access to a performing ensemble in the applied area for use in the capstone requirement * **
* Not required for the CAGS
** Not required for the MME
Doctoral & Master's Degree
Non-Degree
Messiah will offer two pathways to complete an MSW, a traditional standing track and an advanced standing track. Students applying to the tradtional standing track can apply for fall 2024. Applicants who have completed a BSW and qualify for the advanced standing track can apply for fall 2025.
Before completing an application for any of Messiah University’s graduate and certificate programs, please review all requirements to ensure that you are eligible for enrollment. Please create an account to start a new application or continue completing your application.
Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Graduate Admissions.
Traditonal standing admissions requirements:
- An official transcript indicating a baccalaureate degree earned from a college or university accredited by a regionally accredited organization. Include a transcript for any graduate-level credits or degree earned.
- A completed application.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (< 3.0 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis).
- Personal statement of purpose: A 300-to-500-word statement that describes your reasons for applying for the MSW program at Messiah University, how this program will help you meet your professional and educational goals, and one area of social work practice about which you are passionate.
- Successful completion of the following prerequisite courses:
- Human science (e.g., human biology, anatomy and physiology, nutrition)
- Psychology (e.g., general psychology, human development, human behavior, family science)
- Sociology (e.g., general sociology, anthropology, economics, social psychology)
- Academic credit or certificates of completion would be considered to meet the prerequisites.
- Two letters of recommendation (addressing your professional experience and/or academic performance, excluding relatives).
- Resume (please include any volunteer or internship experiences).
- An interview (virtual)
Advanced standing admissions requirements (fall 2025 and beyond):
- An official transcript indicating an earned CSWE-accredited baccalaureate social work degree, or a CASWE-accredited baccalaureate social work degree (from the Canadian social work accreditor, recognized through an MOU with CSWE and CASWE), or an internationally earned ISWDRES-evaluated degree comparable to a baccalaureate degree in social work.
- A completed application.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (< 3.0 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis) and social work courses with a grade of B or better.
- Personal Statement of Purpose: A 300-to-500-word statement that describes your reasons for applying for the MSW program at Messiah University, how this program will help you meet your professional and educational goals, and one area of social work practice about which you are passionate.
- A copy of your final field practicum evaluation. If this is not available, please submit a letter of support from a current employer who can attest to your readiness for an advanced field placement.
- One letter of recommendation (addressing your professional experience and/or academic performance, excluding relatives).
- Resume (please include any volunteer or internship experiences).
- An interview (virtual).
Transfer student admission requirements:
- An official transcript indicating a baccalaureate degree earned from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting organization; an official transcript for the graduate-level credits already earned from a CSWE-accredited master’s social work program. This also includes international degrees recognized through the ISWDRES process and when CSWE has MOUs with other countries (currently solely Canada, CASWE).
- A completed application.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (< 3.0 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis).
- Personal Statement of Purpose: A 300-to-500-word statement that describes your reasons for applying for the MSW program at Messiah University, how this program will help you meet your professional and educational goals, and one area of social work practice about which you are passionate.
- Successful completion of the following prerequisite courses: human biology (or related), psychology, and sociology.
- Copies of any field practicum evaluations.
- Two letters of recommendation (addressing your professional experience and/or academic performance, excluding relatives)
- Resume (please include any volunteer or internship experiences)
- An interview (virtual)
International student requirements:
- A course-by-course evaluation of international transcripts including a conversion of the GPA to the US grade point average system. While there are several companies that complete these evaluations, Messiah University highly recommends that all international transcripts be evaluated by either World Education Services, Inc. or SpanTran: The Evaluation Company.
- All international applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. International students can demonstrate proficiency by submitting official test scores from TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or the Duolingo Test. Messiah's official minimum score for the TOEFL is an 80 ibt or 550 pbt. The official minimum score for the IELTS is a 6.5. The official minimum score for the Duolingo Test is 105 minimum.
- A completed application.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (< 3.0 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis).
- Personal Statement of Purpose: A 300-to-500-word statement that describes your reasons for applying for the MSW program at Messiah University, how this program will help you meet your professional and educational goals, and one area of social work practice about which you are passionate.
- Successful completion of the following prerequisite courses:
- Human science (e.g., human biology, anatomy and physiology, nutrition)
- Psychology (e.g., general psychology, human development, human behavior, family science)
- Sociology (e.g., general sociology, anthropology, economics, social psychology)
Academic credit or certificates of completion would be considered to meet the prerequisites.
- Two letters of recommendation (addressing your professional experience and/or academic performance, excluding relatives).
- Resume (please include any volunteer or internship experiences).
- An interview (virtual).
Types of admissions decisions
Admitted
An applicant who has fulfilled all admissions requirements and is offered admission is considered to be an admitted student and is granted full graduate status as described in the official letter of acceptance.
Provisionally Admitted
An applicant who has submitted all graduate program application materials except official transcripts or letter(s) of reference (things out of their control) may be provisionally admitted to Messiah University, pending the MSW program director’s approval. If the official conferred transcripts have not arrived, the applicant must submit an unofficial transcript indicating that they have completed all undergraduate courses prior to beginning graduate courses. If an applicant is provisionally admitted, they will have one semester to submit any outstanding required admissions materials. The applicant will not be eligible to register for a second semester until they have submitted the missing materials. Any request for an exception to this registration block must be submitted to the director of the MSW program.
Conditionally Admitted
An applicant that does not meet our admissions criteria but the faculty of the MSW graduate program believes the applicant demonstrates the capability to successfully complete graduate courses may be admitted to Messiah University on a conditional admittance status. Applicants who are conditionally admitted must satisfy the conditions of their admittance in order to continue in the program. The specific conditions and length of time permitted to meet the stated conditions will be detailed in a letter from the program director.
Advanced standing is awarded by waiving the generalist curriculum requirements and beginning the specialized curriculum immediately upon admission/enrollment. There is no conditional acceptance for Advanced Standing.
Denied
An applicant may also be denied if the candidate does not meet admissions criteria and the program faculty has concerns about the candidate’s ability to be successful in the program.