Admissions Information
St. John Fisher University seeks to admit students whose academic records indicate their willingness and ability to profit from instruction at the University. St. John Fisher University admits students of any gender, age, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, or disability. For detailed information regarding admissions to St. John Fisher University, visit the Admissions and Aid website.
Admissions Requirements
While the requirements for admission to various programs may differ slightly, these general requirements and procedures apply to all applicants.
With the exception of the Pharm.D. program, applicants for graduate study must hold a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree (for doctoral programs) from a regionally accredited college or university and demonstrate the motivation, ability, and preparation to successfully pursue graduate study. While personal interviews with graduate admission counselors are not required for most programs as part of the admission procedure, they are encouraged as an opportunity for the applicant to become better acquainted with the program and application process. Applicants may request an interview with the program chair as well.
The admissions committee of each program, the graduate program chair, and the Assistant VP of Admissions will make an admission decision based upon records of undergraduate achievement, prior graduate work (if appropriate), recommendations, and other supporting documentation where required.
Admission requirements for the doctoral programs (executive leadership, nursing practice, and pharmacy) differ from the other graduate programs. Please refer to each program for specific information.
Application Process
Prospective students must complete an online application. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis. Admissions decisions are typically sent to applicants within four weeks after the application is complete. For more information, refer to the University’s Graduate Application Process page.
International Student Admissions
All international students studying at St. John Fisher University with student visas must enroll full-time (9 credits) each semester to comply with the regulations of the U.S. Immigration Service. Information and documentation required for accepted international students can be found on the International Student Services site.
Transfer Credits
To request transfer credit, students should submit the Graduate Transfer Credit Request Form. A maximum of nine credits of appropriate graduate work completed at other institutions in accredited graduate programs may be considered for transfer into a master’s degree program. The credits must have been completed with a grade of “B” or higher, be appropriate to the program of study at Fisher and have been earned no more than 6 years prior to starting the Fisher graduate program.
Matriculated students should contact the program chair for transfer credit approval before completing the first semester of coursework.
Determination of appropriateness for transfer credit will be made at the discretion of the program chair and the Provost of the University. Grades earned in courses transferred from other institutions do not affect the Fisher grade point average. For coursework taken as quarter-hours, students receive credit for two-thirds of the total hours earned.
Enrollment
Once admitted to St. John Fisher University, students can expect to continue in attendance at the institution as long as they maintain satisfactory academic standing, meet their financial obligation to the University, and do not seriously or persistently violate existing University regulations (see the Student Conduct website). St. John Fisher University expects all students to conduct themselves professionally, as befits those pursuing an advanced degree. Any student who engages in disruptive behavior may be subject to disciplinary action. Academic dismissal from the University occurs only after appropriate review and according to established institutional procedures.
Students are considered full-time if they are enrolled in nine or more graduate credits in a semester. Students are considered part-time if they are enrolled in fewer than nine graduate credits in a semester.
Note: For financial aid purposes, twelve credits is considered full-time and nine credits is considered three-quarter-time.
Student Designations
Graduate students are admitted with a certain status, depending upon the specific application decision and the student’s individual circumstances. The admissions committee seeks to select candidates who are not only academically strong but who can benefit from the program and who will also contribute significantly to the learning experience of their peers. The admission decision will be based on an evaluation of all criteria rather than upon academic record alone.
Matriculated
Applicants who meet the program admission requirements qualify for matriculated status.
Conditionally Matriculated
Applicants who marginally meet the admission standards but appear to have potential for success in the program based on other evaluation criteria may be matriculated with conditional status. Conditional students can take courses for a maximum of two semesters and should meet with the program chair at the end of each semester to discuss their plan and progress. At the conclusion of the second semester, the program chair may remove the conditional status for students with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher. All conditional students with a cumulative GPA below 3.00 will be referred to the Program Chair for consideration. The Chair would determine if a conditional student should be placed on academic probation or dismissed from the program.
Conditionally Matriculated – MBA program only
To support program success, based on an incoming student’s background in foundational business subjects, the self-study “MBA Math Toolkit” may be recommended or required
to refresh or improve foundational business knowledge. The MBA Math Toolkit addresses the following areas: Microsoft Excel; Economics; Accounting; Finance and Statistics. If required, the applicants are conditionally accepted. The conditions of admission require you to:
Successfully complete the MBA Math Business Toolkit before the end of your first semester.
Provisionally Matriculated
Students are admitted on a provisional basis if supporting documentation is not complete at the time of admission. If all admission components are not in place by the date specified in the letter of acceptance, these students may not be allowed to register for any subsequent courses until their application requirements are satisfied. Official degree-bearing transcripts must be submitted and received within 30 days of the first day of class of the semester a student matriculates. If you do not submit complete transcripts by this time, you may be withdrawn from Fisher and not allowed to re-enroll until these transcripts have been received by the Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions. Full graduate standing is granted when the documents are received in the Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions by the date specified in the letter of acceptance.
Non-Matriculated
Students with baccalaureate degrees from accredited undergraduate colleges or universities may register for graduate coursework on a space available basis. These individuals must submit a transcript from the undergraduate institution indicating completion of a bachelor’s degree and must complete a Non-Matriculated Form. Non-matriculated status does not indicate acceptance into a graduate program at Fisher. Students may be non-matriculated for only one semester and enroll in no more than six credits, after which they must submit an application for admission. Financial aid is not available to non-matriculated students.
Continuous Matriculation
Maintenance of matriculation requires the successful completion of at least one graduate-level course at Fisher during the calendar year. Pre-approved transfer credit may be used to meet this requirement for continuous matriculation. Degree requirements existing at the time of admission will remain in force if the student maintains continuous matriculation. A student who discontinues enrollment for more than two semesters must apply for readmission. The student must meet any new requirements for admission, as well as any new requirements for the degree.
Deferral of Admissions and Readmission
Deferral of Admissions
Admitted students who wish to delay their entrance may do so for one semester. Students may request a deferral by contacting the Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions. Students who do not request a deferral must reapply with the Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions when they are ready to begin their studies.
Readmission
Readmission is required for any previously matriculated graduate student who has not completed a course at Fisher for more than two semesters or have been dismissed from Fisher for academic reasons and would like to be reconsidered for admission.
Please Note: Program chairs consider every readmission request on its merits and retain the right to grant or deny admission for a future term.
The process for readmission is:
- Application: Complete and submit the online Application for Graduate Readmission the semester you intend to return.
- Transcripts: Submit official transcripts from each college and/or university that you attended since you last attended St. John Fisher University.
- Meeting: Readmission applicants may be required to meet with the program chair to discuss educational goals, their decision to return to St. John Fisher University, and to map out a long range academic plan.
Once the readmission application is complete, it will be forwarded to the program chair for review.
Policy for Admissions Review Involving Prior Convictions, Pending Criminal Charges, and Prior Suspensions/Dismissals
Applicants for admission to the University (undergraduate or graduate) are required to disclose any prior criminal convictions or pending criminal charges (felony or misdemeanor, with the exception of any proceedings involving “youthful offender adjudication” as defined in NYS Criminal procedure Law Section 720.35 or any conviction sealed pursuant to NYS Criminal procedure Law Sections 160.55 or 160.58) as well as any past disciplinary suspensions or dismissals from higher educational institutions.
For the full policy, refer to Policy for Admissions Review Involving Prior Convictions, Pending Criminal Charges, and Prior Suspensions/Dismissals on the University’s website.