2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
    
    Dec 13, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Admissions Requirements



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Undergraduate Student Admission

Clark University welcomes applicants for undergraduate admission regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, handicap, national origin or financial condition. Selection is competitive and based primarily on academic promise as indicated by secondary-school performance, recommendations, writing ability and extracurricular involvement. Standardized test (SAT, ACT) scores are considered when an applicant chooses to provide them, but are not required for US Citizens and Permanent Residents. Admissions decisions may also reflect consideration of the individual experience and particular circumstances unique to each candidate.

Entrance Requirements 

A diploma from an accredited secondary school or G.E.D. equivalency is required for admission to Clark. The suggested academic preparation for successful candidates includes four years of English; three years of mathematics; three years of science; three years of social science; and two years of a foreign language (or American Sign Language); and other credit electives recognized in the secondary-school curriculum.

First-Year Admission

First-year applicants must submit their applications through the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Official transcripts for all secondary and post-secondary coursework must be submitted by the student’s high school or college. First-year applicants are also required to submit two letters of recommendation, one from an academic teacher and one from a school counselor.

International Admission

International students applying to Clark must submit their applications through the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Official transcripts covering the student’s prior three (full) years of education must be submitted by the student’s school. Two letters of recommendation are required, one from an academic teacher and one from a school counselor.

All applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit evidence of English proficiency either through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Duolingo, regardless of the length of time they have spent in the United States. The Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) necessary to obtain a student visa will be granted only after full admission and receipt of complete financial documentation (in the form of an official bank statement reflecting the student’s family’s financial resources).

Early Decision

First-year applicants who are certain that Clark is their first-choice institution are strongly encouraged to apply Early Decision (ED).  Students who submit their complete applications by the November 15th (ED I) or January 15th (ED II) deadline will receive early notification of their admission decision in mid-December (ED I)/Mid-February (ED II).  Because Early Decision is a binding agreement, any student admitted in the ED round must commit to enrolling at Clark by submitting a nonrefundable deposit and withdrawing any remaining applications to other schools by January 15 (ED I)/March 15 (ED II).

Early Action

First-year applicants who are ready to start their college applications at the beginning of senior year are encouraged to apply Early Action (EA). Students who submit their complete applications by the November 15 deadline will receive early notification of their admission decision in mid-December.  Early Action is a nonbinding agreement, allowing admitted EA students to submit their enrollment deposits no later than May 1.

Regular Admission

First-year students who wish to apply for fall semester enrollment under our regular decision deadline must submit their applications and supporting credentials by January 15. (November1 for January admission.)

Transfer Admission

Clark welcomes applications for admission with advanced standing from students attending two-and four-year institutions. Transfer applicants must submit their applications through the Clark website. Applicants for fall-semester enrollment should submit their applications by May 1; spring-semester enrollment by November 1. All transfer candidates are required to submit evidence of good standing, complete transcripts of all previous academic work (secondary and post-secondary), a recommendation from a faculty member, and any other information requested by the Admissions Committee (e.g., course descriptions).
Normally, credit is given for academic courses in the liberal arts previously taken at regionally accredited colleges and universities and by advanced standing procedures, described above. No credit is given for grades lower than C. Evaluation of credits for college courses is made at the time of admission or upon receipt of final transcripts and is used in planning a program of study at the University. Up to 50 percent of Clark’s degree and major requirements may be awarded on this basis, and a minimum of two academic years at Clark is necessary for completion of degree requirements.
Clark University participates in transfer articulation agreements with Mount Wachusett Community College and Quinsigamond Community College. These agreements facilitate a seamless transfer process for Associate Degree graduates and those with the appropriate academic records in their two-year programs.

Standardized Test Scores

All US Citizens and Permanent Residents applying for first-year or transfer admission have the option of submitting standardized admissions test scores to be included in their admissions applications, but these results are not required. Students who choose to submit test scores may send either SAT or American College Test (ACT) scores for consideration.
All applicants whose first language is not English (regardless of citizenship or amount of time spent in the United States) are required to submit evidence of English proficiency, either through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Doulingo.

Admission Notification and Deposits

All notifications of admissions decisions are released electronically. Upon receipt of his or her application, the applicant will be given access to an online account for this purpose. First-year, fall-semester applicants who applied under the Early Action or Early Decision deadline will be notified of their decisions in December or early January; first-year applicants who applied under the Early Decision II deadlines will be notified in February; all other first-year, fall-semester applicants will be notified in March. All first-year, fall-semester admitted students who wish to enroll must submit a nonrefundable deposit to be paid no later than May 1, with the exception of Early Decision admitted students, who must deposit earlier. The deposit is credited toward first-semester charges. First-year, spring-semester applicants can expect to receive their admission decisions in late November with the deposit due within two weeks of notification. Transfer applicants are notified of their admission decisions on a rolling basis following submission of their applications, and will be notified of their deposit deadline when they receive their admission decisions.

Deferred Enrollment

An admitted student who wishes to postpone his or her enrollment for up to a year must submit a request in writing by May 1. A nonrefundable deposit (credited toward first-semester charges) is required. A student who enrolls in a degree-seeking program in the interim may not defer enrollment but must reactivate his or her application and submit official transcripts for review.

Advanced Standing

An enrolling student may earn up to one semester of advanced standing credit by submitting scores of 4 or 5 on Advanced Placement (AP) tests administered by the College Entrance Examination Board or by transferring credit from college-level coursework. A student who earns a diploma through the International Baccalaureate program may be eligible for a full year of advanced standing credit. More information about these requirements can be found here. Please contact the admissions office if you have any questions about specific program in which you are participating.

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Graduate Admission

The first step in starting an application to a Clark graduate program is to review the program requirements for the degree the student plans to pursue.

Every program requires the submission of an online application and several supporting credentials (recommendations, resumes, writing samples, etc.). All applicants are required to hold a bachelor’s degree. We encourage all applicants to familiarize themselves with the requirements of the program they plan to pursue prior to starting their online application. Applicants should visit the Graduate Admission webpage to find the online graduate application, as well as information regarding additional departmental requirements.

All application materials should be submitted through the online application portal. Unofficial transcripts can be provided for application review. Official final bachelor’s degree transcripts, including confirmation of earned degree, are required prior to enrollment. If an applicant is admitted while still a candidate for a degree from another institution, an updated official transcript noting the conferring of that degree is required prior to enrollment.

Some programs require submission of additional materials, including tests such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), or Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).

In addition to an application and fee, international applicants should provide a certified English translation of official transcripts if they are not already in English. English language proficiency tests are required of all international applicants. Clark University accepts the following English language tests: TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS Academic, Duolingo English Test, or the Pearson Academic Test. Students may receive a waiver of the English proficiency exam requirement if they are citizens of or have graduated from an accredited degree program at a university within a country designated by Graduate Admission. This information is stored and updated on the Graduate Admission webpage.

For International Graduate Applicants

Please note that the I-20 process is necessary for international applicants to complete in order to receive a visa. Applicants must accept their offer of admission and pay the non-refundable enrollment deposit to begin the I-20 process. The International Students and Scholars Office manages the I-20 issuance process. All required documents are collected by their team through a secure upload portal. I-20s are typically issued within two weeks of document submission.

For more information regarding the I-20 process and how to obtain a visa, please see the International Applicant Information.

Graduate Application Process

Once an applicant is ready to begin their application to a graduate program at Clark they must:

  1. Create an account on our online application portal
  2. Follow instructions within the portal to complete the application form for a specific program, including uploading additional credentials as required
  3. Pay the application fee
  4. Monitor the status of their application via the online application portal to ensure all credentials have been received and to view the final decision.

Decision Notification
Once the application is complete, Graduate Admission will forward the application to the appropriate admissions committee. The time it takes to receive a decision will vary depending on the program applied to and when a completed application is submitted. Master’s and certificate applicants will typically receive an admission decision within 2-4 weeks. Ph.D. applicants receive admission decisions during February and March of each year. Once a decision has been reached, applicants will be notified via email, with their decision letter, which will include awarded scholarship if applicable. All documents, letters, and information are available in the application portal.

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Undergraduate SPS Student Admission

General Admissions and Transfer

The School of Professional Studies (SPS) takes pride in its mission to provide access to a Clark University education.  Our approach focuses on practical education, integrating hands-on experiences with coursework taught by faculty practitioners who are leaders in their respective fields. Students come to SPS to gain the skills they need to get ahead. When they graduate, they leave with tools needed to create positive, meaningful change in their jobs, companies, and communities.

Our Bachelor of Science programs are intended for degree completers, e.g., applicants who have previous college experience, earned military credits, pursuing a second credential, or who have participated in one of Clark University’s Pathway programs.  No SATs are required.

Visit SPS UG admissions for more information.

When to Apply

The School of Professional Studies Undergraduate Programs admissions process operates on a rolling basis. To ensure a timely start of your studies including a full review of your transfer credits, it is recommended that all required documents are received:

  • Six weeks prior to your desired start term for domestic students
  • International students should apply at least two months before the semester start date to allow time to process immigration paperwork
Application Information

Application Requirements

Admissions requirements include the following:

  • Personal essay
  • Official high school transcript or equivalent (unless high school completion is noted on an official college transcript)
    • In lieu of a high school transcript, transfer students can submit an official copy of their domestic college transcript in combination with our Attestation Form.  This will waive the need for a high school transcript submission.)
  • Proof of English proficiency required for international applicants whose primary language is not English. 

     You must submit:

  • Official associate degree transcript
  • Official TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo scores
  • Proof of successful completion of Clark University’s Pathway program or English Academic Success program, if applicable

For Transfer Credit Evaluation:

  • Official transcript from previously attended college/university
  • Foreign transcripts-official transcripts and English translation; we recommend you submit a course-by-course evaluation of your diploma(s) and transcript(s) 
  • College-level examinations-official examination
  • Military evaluation

Applicants should refer to the following information to submit application documents:

Email, Mail or Drop Off

Mail or drop off supporting documents to the following address:

Clark University
Office of Graduate Admissions
Carriage House
123 Woodland Street
Worcester, MA 01610

Email: spsugadmissions@clarku.edu

Transcripts

Official transcripts must be sent directly to Clark University School of Professional Studies from the originating institution by mail or email-through Parchment Exchange, National Student Clearinghouse, Docufide, etc.

Important Codes

  • TOEFL (ETS) code: 5969
  • FAFSA code: 002139

Admissions Contact

Please feel free to reach out to the School of Professional Studies Office of Admissions:

Application Withdrawal Due to Inactivity

An application can be incomplete for up to one year before it is automatically withdrawn due to inactivity. An applicant who would like to reactivate their application has one year to do so from the time of their application withdrawal.

If an applicant has any questions or would like to reactivate their application, call 508-793-7373 or email spsugadmissions@clarku.edu.

Request to Withdraw an Application

An applicant can request to withdraw their application for admission at any time. An applicant who would like to reactivate their application has one year to do so from the time of their application withdrawal.

To request to withdraw your application, call 508-793-7373 or email spsugadmissions@clarku.edu.

Admissions Acceptance Deferral

A student who is not able to start their studies during the academic term for which they gained acceptance must contact the School of Professional Studies Office of Admissions to request a deferral of admission. A student may request a deferral for up to one year, unless otherwise noted for specific programs. Call 508-793-7373 or email spsugadmissions@clarku.edu for more information.

If a student does not request or get approved for an acceptance deferral and does not begin their studies in their academic terms of acceptance they forfeit their acceptance and must reapply to the program for a future term. It is important for the student to inform the School of Professional Studies Office of Admissions about deferral requests as this may impact the student’s time limit on program completion and financial aid.

Graduate SPS Student Admission

General Admissions and Transfer

The School of Professional Studies Graduate Programs review applications on a rolling basis. You can enroll as a degree-seeking student in these programs for the fall or spring semesters. To ensure a timely start of your studies, it is recommended that all required documents are received four weeks prior to the desired start term for domestic students.  International students should apply at least two months before the semester start date to allow time to process immigration paperwork. Please consult the Graduate Admission’s web site for complete admissions processes and deadlines.

Application Information

Application Requirements

Admissions requirements include the following:

  • Online application
  • Personal statement
  • Official undergraduate transcript
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Resume
  • Proof of English-language proficiency required for international applicants whose primary language is not English. You may submit:
    • Official bachelor’s degree transcript from an accredited college in the U.S., stating degree conferral date
    • Official TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo scores
    • Successful completion of Clark University’s Pathway program or English for Academic Success program
  • Non-refundable application fee

For Transfer Credit Evaluation:

  • Official transcript from previously attended college/university for which the student seeks transfer credit evaluation.
    • Graduate students may transfer up to two units toward their intended master’s degree.
  • Foreign transcripts-official transcripts and English translation; it is recommended that applicants a course-by-course evaluation of your diploma(s) and transcript(s).

Applicants should refer to the following information to submit application documents:

Email, Mail or Drop Off

Mail or drop off supporting documents to the following address:

Clark University
Office of Graduate Admissions
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610

Email: gradadmissions@clarku.edu

Transcripts

Official transcripts must be sent from the originating institution directly to Clark University School of Professional Studies by mail or email through Parchment Exchange, National Student Clearinghouse, Docufide, etc.

Important Codes

Note the following codes:

  • TOEFL (ETS) code: 5969
  • FAFSA code: 002139

Admissions Contact

Please feel free to reach out to the School of Professional Studies Office of Graduate Admissions:

Application Withdrawal Due to Inactivity

An application can be incomplete for up to one year before it is automatically withdrawn due to inactivity. An applicant who would like to reactivate their application has one year to do so from the time of their application withdrawal.

If an applicant has any questions or would like to reactivate their application, call 508-793-7373 or email gradadmissions@clarku.edu

Request to Withdraw an Application  

An applicant can request to withdraw their application for admission at any time. An applicant who would like to reactivate their application has one year to do so from the time of their application withdrawal.

To request to withdraw your application, call 508-793-7373 or email gradadmissions@clarku.edu.

Admissions Acceptance Deferral

A student who is not able to start their studies during the academic term for which they gained acceptance must contact the Office of Graduate Admissions to request a deferral of admission. A student may request a deferral for up to one year, unless otherwise noted for specific programs. Check with the Office of Graduate Admissions for more information. gradadmissions@clarku.edu

If a student does not request or get approved for an acceptance deferral and does not begin their studies in their academic terms of acceptance they forfeit their acceptance and must reapply to the program for a future term. It is important for the student to inform the Office of Graduate Admissions about deferral requests as this may impact the student’s time limit on program completion and financial aid.

Program Requirements

Admitted students are required to follow the program requirements that are in effect the term for which they have been admitted or, in the case of a formal deferral, the future term to which they have deferred. Students are encouraged to review the curricular requirements at the beginning of their start term to ensure they have the most up-to-date information.

Non-Matriculated Students

Students who are interested in taking graduate level courses without pursuing a degree may do so by submitting the following information:

Non matriculated students can take up to two courses.

Students in non-matriculated status who would like to matriculate (i.e., pursue a Master degree), may do so by applying to the program.  Up to two credits can be earned while on non-matriculated status and may be applied to the intended degree program with approval from the program.

Non-matriculated students are not eligible for financial aid or scholarships.

Graduate Becker School of Design and Technology Student

General Admissions and Transfer

The admissions process for the Becker School of Design and Technology Graduate Programs at Clark University operates on a rolling basis and accepts applications for fall. To ensure a timely start of your studies, it is recommended that all required documents are received four weeks prior to the student’s desired start term.  More information can be found at: https://www.clarku.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/how-to-apply/

Application Information

Application Requirements

To apply to a graduate program at the Becker School of Design and Technology at Clark University (BSDT), eligible applicants are required to submit the following:

  • Completed online application
  • Official Transcript confirming earned bachelor’s degree. 
  • English language requirement for international students only:
    • TOEFL (ETS code 5969): 85 overall, recommended sub-score minimum of 18, or
    • TOEFL: ITP Plus Scores, or
    • IELTS: 6.5 overall, recommended sub-score minimum of 6, or
    • PTE: 53 overall, or
    • Duolingo: 110
    • Completion of ELS 112, or 
    • Completion of EC English B2+ Pre-Advanced Level
  • Personal Statement
    • Outline your career goals and why you wish to join the MFA program (500-800 words).
  • Portfolio Materials

For Transfer Credit Evaluation:

  • Official transcript from previously attended college/university from which the student seeks to transfer credit evaluation.
  • Foreign transcripts-official transcripts and English translation; it is recommended that applicants a course-by-course evaluation of your diploma(s) and transcript(s).

Applicants should refer to the following information to submit application documents:

Mail or Drop Off

Mail or drop off supporting documents to the following address:

Clark University
Becker School of Design and Technology
Office of Graduate Admissions
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610

Transcripts

Official transcripts must be sent from the originating institution directly to Clark University:

Clark University
Graduate Admissions Office
950 Main Street
Worcester MA 01610

gradadmissions@clarku.edu

Important Codes

Note the following codes:

  • TOEFL (ETS) code: 5969
  • FAFSA code: 002139

Admissions Contact

Please feel free to reach out to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

Application Withdrawal Due to Inactivity

An application can be incomplete for up to one year before it is automatically withdrawn due to inactivity. An applicant who would like to reactivate their application has one year to do so from the time of their application withdrawal.

If an applicant has any questions or would like to reactivate their application, call 508-793-7373 or email gradadmissions@clarku.edu.

Request to Withdraw an Application 

An applicant can request to withdraw their application for admission at any time. An applicant who would like to reactivate their application has one year to do so from the time of their application withdrawal.

To request to withdraw your application, call 508-793-7373 or email gradadmissions@clarku.edu.

Admissions Acceptance Deferral

A student who is not able to start their studies during the academic term for which they gained acceptance must contact the Office of Graduate Admissions to request a deferral of admission. A student may request a deferral for up to one year, unless otherwise noted for specific programs. Check with the Office of Graduate Admissions for more information: gradadmissions@clarku.edu.

If a student does not get approved for an acceptance deferral and does not begin their studies within two academic terms of acceptance into a program, that student forfeits their acceptance and must reapply to the program for a future term. It is important for the student to inform the Office of Graduate Admissions about deferral requests as this may impact the student’s time limit on program completion and financial aid.

Program Requirements

Admitted students are required to follow the program requirements that are in effect the term for which they are admitted or, in the case of a formal deferral, the future term to which they deferred. Students are encouraged to review the curricular requirements and connect with their academic advisor at the beginning of their start term to ensure they have the most up-to-date information.

Non-Matriculated Students

Students who are interested in taking graduate level courses without pursuing a degree may do so by submitting the following information:

  • Completed online form
  • Submission of undergraduate transcript

Non-matriculated students can take up to 2 courses.

Students in non-matriculated status who would like to matriculate (i.e., pursue a degree or certificate), may do so by applying to the program.  Up to 2 courses can be earned while on non-matriculation status and be applied to the intended degree or certificate program.

Non-matriculated students are not eligible for financial aid or scholarships.