The DI program is only open to students who have completed the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) foundation knowledge and skills in previous undergraduate work. The DI allows for the mastery of practitioner competencies set forth by ACEND for entry level dietitians through approximately 1230 hours of supervised practice experience in cooperating facilities as described previously for the CMD program. Upon successful completion of the dietetic internship students are eligible to write the Registration Examination for Dietitians.

Admission
The applicant must satisfy the following criteria:

• hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution;
• completed the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics approved minimum academic requirements, as evidenced through a Verification Statement from a Didactic Program in Dietetics;
• have a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA)

Other criteria used in the decision to accept a student include grades in undergraduate science and nutrition courses and good verbal and communication skills. The number of eligible students accepted is limited by the number of opportunities for placement in supervised practice facilities. All applicants must participate in the national online application process and national computer matching system for dietetic internships. Students must also complete required immunizations and successfully complete a Background Information Disclosure form and a criminal history check that is in compliance with the Wisconsin Caregiver Law. Those whose criminal history check identifies bars to clinical placement or places restrictions on client contact may not be allowed to progress in the program.

Admissions

Admission Requirements for all Graduate Programs in Education (degree, license, endorsement, or certificate) include the following, but may include additional program-specific admission requirements:

• A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA for 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution in order to be admitted in good standing
• Earned teaching or administrative license
• One academic reference contact required for Wisconsin and Iowa Educational Leadership programs

All requirements for any graduate program in education must be completed within seven years from the date of application to the graduate program. Coursework must have been taken within the last seven years from the date of application to be applied to program requirements, with the exception of Iowa Educational Leadership programs which is limited to five years.

A student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to complete any graduate program in education and a grade of C or higher earned in all Viterbo University coursework.

Proseminar

In order to attend EDUC 604 Proseminar and engage in commencement ceremonies, students must have completed all required courses in their program of study. Proseminar is the culminating course in the MAE program; it is offered on campus each summer only. Proseminar provides students with the opportunity to present their research and to participate in commencement ceremonies. Degrees are conferred in August after successful completion of all required coursework including EDUC 604 Proseminar.

Registration

Students must apply online and be accepted into the program of their choice before registering for courses. Students will be assisted by their advisor/program specialist when registering for the first semester. In all subsequent semesters, the student will register online in VitNet/Student Planning.

Transfer Credit
Master of Arts in Education and Educational Leadership
Upon acceptance, student may transfer up to six credit hours of graduate credit taken within seven years of application date to be applied to the MAE degree program.  Up to six credit hours taken within seven years of application may be considered for the Wisconsin Educational Leadership program for equivalent graduate courses. Up to six semester credit hours taken within five years of application may be considered for the Iowa Educational Leadership program for equivalent graduate courses.

Grades

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for all coursework, with no individual course grade lower than C.

 Attendance

All graduate students are expected to attend all class meetings. If a student is unable to attend a class, the student must contact the instructor and take responsibility to meet the class objectives. This makeup will ordinarily require additional written work. It is the duty of the student to make arrangements for missed work. If more than one class meeting is missed within a course, the student shall contact the instructor and the CES director in advance to discuss whether the student should enroll in the course at another time.

Transfer Credit

Transfer Credits upon Admission

Individual consideration will be granted in the awarding of transfer credits. Up to 15 credits may be transferred to Viterbo University from another doctoral program. These credits must meet equivalency requirements of the Doctoral Degree in Counselor Education and Supervision program at Viterbo University. Students may transfer up to nine credits of graduate level coursework completed at a CACREP, or equivalent, program. In order to be considered for transfer, a grade of ‘B’ or better must have been earned. Transfer credits must be graduate credits taken from an accredited institution of higher education and completed within the last five years. Coursework older than five years may be credited based on an individual review of this coursework. Students who wish to transfer credits must schedule a meeting with the director or coordinator of the Doctoral Degree in Counselor Education and Supervision program. Occasionally transfer credits may be accepted after admission; all such requests need to be approved by the program director. Students will receive written notification about whether or not transfer credits are accepted.

Transfer Credits after Admission

The faculty of the Viterbo University Doctorate of Education in Counselor Education and Supervision program has carefully planned and developed a curriculum to meet the needs of the students and their selected career paths.

Requirements

All students are required to complete 60 credits and maintain a 3.0 grade point average to be awarded the doctoral in counseling, education, and supervision degree. The core courses will include practicum experiences and research activities. Initial contact with one’s academic advisor will focus on developing an academic plan.

Dissertation

All students will complete a dissertation prior to graduation from the EdDCES program. During the program students are prepared with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully accomplish a dissertation. Each student will select a faculty mentor and a committee to help with this process. Students are required to select topics that focus on areas relevant to counseling practice, counselor education, and/or supervision. Additional information can be found in the Ed.D. Dissertation Overview. A final copy of the dissertation will be submitted to the program director and archived in the Viterbo University Todd Wehr Memorial Library.

Grades 

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for all MSMHC coursework, with no individual course grade lower than C.

Attendance

All graduate students are expected to attend all class meetings. If a student is unable to attend a class, the student must contact the instructor and take responsibility to meet the class objectives. This makeup will ordinarily require additional written work. It is the duty of the student to make arrangements for missed work. If more than one class meeting is missed within a course, the student shall contact the instructor and the MSMHC director in advance to discuss whether the student should enroll in the course at another time.

Transfer Credit

Individual consideration will be granted in the awarding of transfer credits in order to ensure the student meets the licensure requirements as a professional counselor. Up to 15 credits may be transferred from another CACREP-accredited program.

Requirements

All students are required to complete 60 credits and maintain a 3.0 grade point average to be awarded the Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling degree. Those credits include core courses to be completed by all students, as well as electives to fulfill requirements of one of the program’s optional concentrations. The core courses will include practicum experiences and research activities. Initial contact with one’s academic advisor will focus on developing an academic plan.

Research Project Requirements

All students will complete an action research project prior to graduation. This advocacy and research project will be completed in conjunction with their internship experiences. This research project will address an issue, need, or problem relevant to the counseling profession. The student will develop a research proposal, as well as methodology for the identification, collection, and analysis/synthesis of project data. A final research paper will be submitted to the program director, archived in the Viterbo University Todd Wehr Memorial Library, and presented at the annual graduate research symposium, which will be opened to the professional public.

Transfer Credit
Participants may transfer up to nine credits of prior graduate coursework into the MASL program. Credit will only be granted for coursework completed within the last 10 years at a regionally accredited university. Requests to transfer credits must be made in the student’s first semester and accompanied by an official transcript from the institution at which prior credits were earned. To be considered for credit, students must: 1) demonstrate the relevance of the prior coursework to existing MASL program learning outcomes and 2) have earned a B or better in the prior coursework.

Portfolio
MASL students often bring a level of experience and knowledge to academic programs that has been acquired through work, training, or life experiences. For more information on how students may earn graduate credits for prior learning, see the Credit for Prior Learning policy under the Academic Policies and Regulations (Alternative Credit) section of the catalog.

Course Cancellation Policy
In the event that a weekend class must be cancelled due to an event beyond the control of Viterbo University and/or the Master of Arts in Servant Leadership program (e.g., weather, faculty illness, etc.), every effort will be made to reschedule the class. The professor will issue a revised syllabus and make-up coursework.

Academic Standing - Satisfactory Progress
Graduate nursing students are expected to earn a B or better in all of their courses AND maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.0 or better.

Required Background Check
Federal and state statutes require that criminal background checks be completed for all persons who provide nursing care for others or who have access to people who receive care. Clinical agencies prohibit placement of students with criminal histories of specific crimes and offenses that have been identified by the state of Wisconsin or others as bars to employment or licensure (such as abuse, assault, or neglect). The School of Nursing requires that all students complete a background information disclosure statement and a criminal history search. Individuals whose background check identifies bars to the provision of care in contracted agencies or places restrictions on client contact will not be allowed to progress in the program.

Transfer Credits Upon Admission 
Individual consideration will be granted in the awarding of transfer credits. Up to 18 credits may be transferred from another program and utilized to meet the post-baccalaureate to DNP program requirements of Viterbo University if equivalent. Up to nine credits may be transferred to the post-MSN to DNP program, if equivalent. In order to be considered for transfer, the grade earned must be at least a B. Transfer credits must be graduate credit taken from an accredited institution of higher education completed within the last five years and equivalent to the course it is replacing in the requirements at Viterbo. Courses older than five years may be given credit based on individual review. Students who wish to transfer credits must have an official transcript sent to the director of graduate nursing program. Courses will be evaluated for equivalency and written notification of acceptance of transcript credit will be provided to the student by the director.

Transfer Credits After Admission 
The faculty of the Viterbo University graduate nursing program has carefully planned and developed a curriculum to meet the needs of the potential graduates of the chosen tracks. The content for the curriculum was designed for the curricular and graduate outcomes unique to this program and the specific role preparation. In view of the connection of the curriculum to the desired outcomes and the quality of the graduate, once a student has begun classes as a degree-seeking student in the Viterbo University graduate nursing program, all classes (excluding electives) must be taken at Viterbo University. Note: This policy is not applicable to post-MSN to DNP students wishing AGNP or FNP role preparation whose plan of study will be determined on an individual basis or to agreements established with collaborating institutions.

Time for Completion of Graduate Nursing Degrees
Six credits per semester is considered full-time study; however some semesters contain substantially more credits in the full time plan of study.

• The post BSN to DNP program can be completed in three years. It is expected that students will complete the program within seven years or less.
• The post MSN to DNP program can be completed in two years. It is expected that students will complete the program in four years or less.
• The post MSN to DNP program including NP role preparation can be completed in three years. It is expected that students will complete the program in seven years or less.
• Time spent as a non-degree student does not count toward the completion period, but students will be subject to the catalog/curriculum requirements in effect at the time they become degree seeking.
• All full-time and part-time degree-seeking students who have not been granted a leave of absence must register each semester until all degree requirements are completed.

Practicum/Clinical Experience

• A student receiving a C or less for clinical practicum may be dismissed from the program. If dismissal does not occur, the student will be placed on a clinical remediation contract for the subsequent practicum, must repeat the course with a B or better grade, and must achieve B or better in all remaining practicum courses to remain in the program.
• Prescribed numbers of clinical hours have been incorporated into the various plans of study available within the graduate nursing program. Students must have an RN license for the state in which the clinical site is located. The number of clinical hours varies depending on the track chosen. A ratio of four clock hours to one didactic hour per week is used; therefore one credit of practicum credit is 60 hours of clinical for the APRN and NP tracks. The student will receive a grade for clinical practicum experiences, a BC or better is required for progression. Receiving C or below may contribute to a decision to dismiss a student from the program or specific remediation procedures.

Didactic Classes (includes theory, seminar, and culminating project credits)

• A student in the graduate nursing program who earns a C in any course, OR goes below a semester GPA of 3.0, will be placed on probationary status and must achieve a grade of B or better in all subsequent courses AND maintain a semester GPA of 3.0 or better to remain in the program.
• A student who earns less than a C will be required to repeat the course and earn B or better in this and all subsequent classes and maintain a semester GPA of 3.0 or better to remain in the program.

DNP Project
Students will conduct a scholarly project over two or more semesters. This project is an opportunity for students to engage in independent research/evidence-based inquiry/scholarly work in a defined area of significance to the advanced nursing role. Students will work with faculty advisors for assistance, critique, and expertise. The student will receive a grade at the end of each semester of DNP project registration, and B or better indicates satisfactory progress. Students are required to disseminate their work in a prescribed way.

Certification
http://www.viterbo.edu/graduate-program-nursing

Admission

Admission requirements for all graduate programs in education (degree, license, endorsement, or certificate) include the following, but may include additional program-specific admission requirements:

• A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA for 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution in order to be admitted in good standing
• Earned teaching or administrative license
• One academic reference contact required for Wisconsin and Iowa Educational Leadership programs

All requirements for any graduate program in education must be completed within seven years from the date of application to the graduate program. Coursework must have been taken within the last seven years from the date of application to be applied to program requirements, with the exception of Iowa Educational Leadership programs which is limited to five years.

Proseminar

In order to attend EDUC 604 Proseminar and engage in commencement ceremonies, students must have completed all required courses in their program of study. Proseminar is the culminating course in the MAE program; it is offered on campus each summer only. Proseminar provides students with the opportunity to present their research and to participate in commencement ceremonies. Degrees are conferred in August after successful completion of all required coursework including EDUC 604 Proseminar.

Registration

Students must apply online and be accepted into the program of their choice before registering for courses. Students will be assisted by their advisor/program specialist when registering for the first semester. In all subsequent semesters, the student will register online in VitNet/Student Planning.

Transfer Credit
Master of Arts in Education and Educational Leadership

Upon acceptance, student may transfer up to six credit hours of graduate credit taken within seven years of application date to be applied to the MAE degree program. Up to six credit hours taken within seven years of application may be considered for the Wisconsin Educational Leadership program for equivalent graduate courses. Up to six semester credit hours taken within five years of application may be considered for the Iowa Educational Leadership program for equivalent graduate courses.