2012–2013 Graduate Catalog

Admission 

Viterbo University welcomes applications for admission from all students who have prepared for a competitive collegiate program. Admission to Viterbo University is offered to those for whom academic and personal success seems likely. Each candidate is evaluated individually. Evidence of ability to do graduate-level work is essential. All qualified students, regardless of sex, race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin will be extended an offer of admission on a first come, first served basis as long as space remains available. Students will be evaluated for admission in accordance with the general admission criteria stated below.
 

Admission Requirements 

All programs require:

• A completed application (online).
• An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average as indicated by the specific program requirements.
• Official transcripts, sent directly from the institution, from all post-secondary schools attended.
• An essay or professional statement as specified by the program indicating why the applicant wishes to attain a graduate degree at Viterbo University.
• Letter(s) of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s aptitude and attitude, values and ethics as specified by the program of study.
• Evidence of strong ability to do graduate level work successfully.
   

Admission timelines will be defined by the specific program. Enrollment limits apply in some programs and part-time students are admitted on a space available basis. Applicants and/or students needing assistance with, or a determination of fulfillment of the prerequisites, should contact the director of the specific program.
 

Admission Process 

Information submitted to Viterbo University must be true, complete, and accurate. Withholding any pertinent information may result in denial of admission or dismissal.
 

Viterbo University reserves the right to deny or place conditions on the admission, re-enrollment, or continued enrollment of any applicant, former student, or current student, who in the judgment of the university officials has failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress, would be disruptive of the orderly process of the college’s programs, would interfere with the rights and privileges of other students or employees, is not prepared to benefit from the course of study offered, participated in academic dishonestly, or places a risk to the safety or well-being of the campus community. The university may consider criminal, juvenile, and disciplinary history in admission and enrollment decisions.
 

Categories of Admission 

There are three categories of admission to graduate programs. Each one requires the completion of the above admission process.

• Fully accepted to a program: the student is admitted directly into the program and begins core classes with the next cohort or next term.
• Provisionally admitted to a program: the student is provisionally admitted because of some deficiency in meeting the admission criteria; this status will be reviewed after two semesters or the completion of 12 credits in the program. After two semesters of achieving a B or better in all courses the provisional status will be reviewed, and the student will either be fully admitted or asked to leave the program.
• Conditionally admitted to preliminary coursework: this category of admission applies to students needing to satisfy some or all the prerequisite competencies or some other condition placed upon the student by the program director. Once the student satisfies all the conditions he/she is fully accepted into the program.
   

Students are required to disclose in writing to the vice president for student development criminal convictions occurring since completing the application for admission. This policy applies to all Viterbo University incoming and current students.
 

Transfer Students and Transfer Credit Policy 

Viterbo’s graduate programs welcome applications from students attending, or having attended, other regionally accredited graduate programs. Transfer students will be considered for admission as long as they have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0/4.0, are free to return to their previous college or university, and are considered to be in good academic standing both at their previous school and at Viterbo University. Transfer applicants shall follow admission requirements set forth above.
 

Individual consideration will be granted in the awarding of transfer credits by the specific program. Transfer credits must be graduate credit taken from a regionally accredited institution of higher education completed within the timeline specified by the specific. In order to be considered for transfer, the grade earned must be at least a B and fulfill program requirements. Only letter-graded coursework is accepted in transfer. Students who wish to transfer credits must seek permission in writing from the program director prior to enrolling. In addition, the student must have an official transcript sent to the program director after the completion of the graduate course. Courses will be evaluated for equivalency and the director will provide written notification of acceptance of transfer credit to the student. Students enrolled in a graduate program at Viterbo University who wish to take a course at another institution must obtain prior approval from the program director to ensure the course will be transferred into the program.
 

Reentry and Readmission 

Former Viterbo University students who wish to reenter the university should contact the Office of the Registrar for a reentry application form, or obtain the form on the office’s Web page. Students need not resubmit copies of records already on file. However, a reentering student who has attended one or more schools since leaving Viterbo University must have official transcripts sent directly to the Office of the Registrar before a readmission decision can be made.
 

Some programs have additional entry requirements and/or students may need the approval of the school dean or program director prior to re-admittance. A student follows the catalog in effect at the time of reentry, and the curriculum requirements contained therein remain in effect as long as the student attends Viterbo University on an uninterrupted basis and completes a degree within a period as per program. The application deadline for the fall semester is August 1, April 1 for the summer session, and December 15 for the spring semester.
 

International Student Admission 

Applications from international students are welcome and actively sought. Scholastic achievement, use of the English language, and financial resources are given particular attention in reviewing applications to a graduate program from international students.
 

Students who are not U.S. citizens who wish to apply should request an International Student Application form from the Office of Global Education and return it along with a copy of their official transcripts. International students are also required to attain a minimum score of 525 for paper-based, 69 for computer-based, and 193 for Internet-based TOEFL exam prior to being admitted. Each international student will be required to take an English as a Second Language placement test. The results will be used to ensure academic success and to determine if ESL courses are needed. A Declaration of Finances form indicating the financial resources available for financing the costs of the education at Viterbo University is required and must be on file in the Office of Global Education before the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 form) is issued. International students are also required to complete the immunization record document from the health services office. Viterbo University is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students. Foreign students must have all admission materials submitted to Viterbo University 90 days in advance of the term in which they wish to enroll.
 

Non-degree Student Admission 

Students desiring to audit or take selected courses for credit, but who do not expect to earn a degree or complete a program at Viterbo University, may be enrolled, at the discretion of the graduate program, for such courses as a non-degree-seeking student. Complete transcripts of college records need not be submitted, but an earned bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent is required. Students may be admitted as a degree-seeking student at a later date although admission is not guaranteed. Students interested should complete the non-degree student application available online. A minimum number of credits taken as a non-degree student may be applied to degree requirements as appropriate. See specific program for maximum credits. A grade of B or better must be earned in coursework.
 

For Applicants with Acts, Crimes, or Offenses That May Prohibit or Restrict Admission 

Applicants for admission or re-admission with criminal or disciplinary records must disclose information about their prior records. Failure of the applicant to accurately and completely provide information and records may result in denial of admission, revocation of admission, or discipline, up to and including permanent dismissal from the university. Information to be disclosed includes: (1) criminal offenses, pending criminal charges, and diversion agreements (felonies and misdemeanors), (2) adjudicated delinquencies, (3) information on any behavior resulting in a suspension or expulsion from any high school or post-secondary institution, (4) information about less than honorable discharges from the military, (5) other pertinent offenses and/or violations. (Minor traffic violations should not be included.)
 

Fully qualified applicants for some academic programs are required to complete a disclosure form prior to admission and may be subject to a criminal background check conducted by an outsourced agency.
 

Certain affiliates associated with Viterbo require that students placed in their facility for clinical/internship/field placement experiences clear a criminal background check prior to placement. Students whose background check reveals criminal history may be prevented access to the clinical site, and as a result, the student will not have sufficient clinical experience to successfully complete the program. Additionally, licensing boards for certain professions including health care occupations may deny the individual the opportunity to sit for an examination if an applicant has a criminal history.
 

Procedure
A review committee will evaluate the application, the disciplinary and criminal history disclosure form and all explanatory materials, of any student who indicates any of the aforementioned convictions, charges, records, etc. Prior to making a decision on admission or re-enrollment, the review committee may request additional materials from the applicant, conduct a phone interview with the applicant and/or request that the applicant appear before the review board to discuss his/her application, etc.
 

The review committee will recommend admission or denial of admission in one of three ways: (1) admit or re-enroll the applicant without conditions, (2) admit or re-enroll the applicant with condition (i.e., restrictions on location or place, denial of option to live in university housing facilities, etc.), or (3) deny admission or re-enrollment of the applicant. Recommendations on admission or re-enrollment will be forwarded from the review committee to the appropriate university administrator who will formally admit or deny admission to the applicant based on the recommendation from the committee. The recommendation of the review committee is final and not subject to appeal. The review committee is typically comprised of the vice president for student development, the vice president for academic affairs, human resource director, or the vice president of finance and administration, the dean of admission and the director of campus safety, or their respective designees.
 

Criminal Convictions Occurring After University Admission
Students are required to disclose in writing to the vice president for student development criminal convictions occuring since completing the application for admission. This policy applies to all Viterbo University incoming and current students.