College of Professional and Continuing Education

Applying to Graduate Programs

If you are interested in applying to a Clark University College of Professional and Continuing Education (COPACE) graduate degree program, the first step should be a meeting with the appropriate Graduate Programs staff for an informational session. This meeting is also important for those who have been taking courses but are now ready to apply for admission. Please call COPACE Graduate Programs at (508) 793-7212 for an appointment.

Completed applications should be sent to the appropriate department

  • There is a non-refundable application fee of $40 (money order made payable to Clark University). Admission to the Graduate School may be granted only by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
  • Formal notification is by official letter from the graduate dean.

Application Materials

To be considered for acceptance to a graduate degree or certificate program, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. All degree candidates must submit the following to the COPACE office:

Examinations

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and GMAT  (School code is 3279)

Applicants for most COPACE graduate degrees are required to submit either GRE or GMAT scores. However, upon successful completion (i.e., minimum grade of B) of three courses, one of which being a foundation course, the GRE/GMAT requirement will be waived. Students who have already taken the GRE and any subject examinations should submit scores with their applications. GRE/GMAT scores are not required for graduate certificate programs.

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Students whose native language is not English must provide evidence of facility in English.

Full Admission to COPACE Graduate Programs: Exam scores of 577+ (iBT90+, CBT 233+, IELTS 6.5+) on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam or its equivalent are required for admission. This requirement can be satisfied in a number of ways:

  • The International TOEFL Examination (either computer-based or written).
  • A Clark University Institutional TOEFL exam administered every semester by the American Language and Culture Institute.
  • Students whose first degree was from a U.S. university or any other English-speaking country need not submit an examination score.
  • We also accept the equivalent score from either of the two prominent European tests of English: Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
  • The TOEFL Equivalent examination developed for our branch campus in Israel and administered in Israel, Poland and the U.S.

    • Students who take courses at branch campuses outside the U.S. will be able to take courses in their native language prior to meeting the English language requirement.

Provisional Admission to COPACE Graduate Programs: Students who score 550-577 on the TOEFL examination (iBT 79-89, CBT 213-230, or IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6) or its equivalent, will be admitted to COPACE as a "Provisional" student. "Provisional" status requires the student to enroll in two graduate classes and two American Language and Culture Institute courses. Students will have one year to bring their TOEFL score to 577. After obtaining the required TOEFL score, the status will be changed to "Full Admission" graduate student.

Conditional Admission to COPACE Graduate Programs: Students who score 530-547 on the TOEFL examination (iBT71-78; CBT 197-210, IELTS 6 (no band below 5.5)) or its equivalent, will be admitted to COPACE as a "Conditional" student. "Conditional" status students enroll only in courses in the American Language and Culture Institute courses program until they achieve a TOEFL score of 550 or above. After obtaining the required TOEFL score or its equivalent, the status will be changed to either "Provisional" or "Full Admission" depending on the TOEFL or equivalent score.

Interview

Prior to acceptance into a graduate degree program, applicants must have an admissions interview with the Program Director or his designee. Applicants are accepted throughout the year. Students may enroll in programs at the start of any semester. Fifth-year accelerated degree students should have this interview during the pre-application phase of admission.

Advising

All new students must consult an academic advisor at the time they matriculate or begin their first course. Graduate Programs staff is available to provide academic advising. Students should meet with an advisor at least once each year.

Registering for Courses Prior to Admission

Students are allowed to take two or three courses either before or while making formal application to the program. Before a student may register for courses, proof of college graduation must be provided to the Director of Enrollment Management. Once application is made, students are required to have an admission interview with a staff person from Graduate Programs. A committee consisting of the Director of Graduate Programs, the Dean of COPACE, and one faculty member will review each application.