Although students may wish to take courses without being formally enrolled in a degree program, most students do seek a degree through COPACE. Students are admitted into degree programs throughout the year. It is important to apply early and meet with the associate dean for undergraduate programs. This will assure that course selections fulfill degree requirements and are in concert with a student's long term goals. Financial assistance is available to matriculated students only.

To complete a degree program, a student must earn 32 units (128 semester hours) of credit. With few exceptions, each COPACE course is worth one unit of credit. To matriculate, a student must complete the application for undergraduate admission, available from the COPACE office. Proof of high school graduation or its equivalent is required for all degree candidates. Before an application can be processed, official transcripts of all previous higher education experience must be received by the director of admissions. A $35 fee is required with the completed application. Matriculation decisions are based on a combination of prior academics, personal interview and review of official transcripts.

Students must meet with the associate dean for undergraduate programs to evaluate any credits considered for transfer from another college or university. Applicants are informed of their matriculation decision within eight to twelve weeks after receipt of their completed applications and all official transcripts. The acceptance letter will indicate any transfer credit that has been awarded.

Transfer students are required to take a minimum of one-half (16 units) of their course work at Clark University. No more than one-half of the courses counting toward the major may be transfer courses. Upper-level major requirements must be fulfilled at Clark University. The acceptance letter will outline the approved transfer courses and indicate remaining degree requirements.

Once matriculated, a student must file a petition for special action should he/she wish to take a course at another accredited institution and transfer the credit toward a degree. No request will be considered if the student has already transferred the maximum units toward the degree.

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 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.

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:

• Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and/or graduate education

• A completed application for admission and the appropriate fee

• Three letters of recommendation (at least two from academic sources)

• A one-page statement of experience or accomplishments, long-term career goals and the steps envisioned in achieving these goals.

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 integrated degree students should have this interview during the pre-application phase of admission (see below).

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 two 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 MALA or graduate certificate programs.
Non-native Speakers of English Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)Students whose native language is not English must provide evidence of facility in English. Exam scores of 233 or higher on the TOEFL 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 in branch campuses outside the U.S. will be able to take courses instructed in their native language prior to meeting the English language requirement.

Students who have strong academic achievement, but less than required TOEFL score or its equivalent, will be reviewed for continuation of their studies by the Director of Graduate Programs.

Please contact Graduate Programs staff for details.

Students whose academic records do not fulfill admission criteria, but whose professional record and admissions interview suggest potential for successful completion of the program, may be admitted on a provisional basis. Formal admission will be considered after completion of at least two graduate courses. To be admitted, the student must achieve a grade of at least a B in both courses. Provisional students receiving a grade of B- or below in either course will not be recommended for admission.

At the discretion of the Director of Graduate Programs, applicants to COPACE graduate degree programs may file a petition to transfer selected previous course work toward fulfillment of program requirements. Professional training may be submitted for consideration for course equivalency. However, this will be approved only with proper documentation that must include a curriculum, a certification of completion and an evaluation or grade of the work by the training organization.
Courses and course equivalents that have been taken toward the completion of another graduate degree can be transferred into the Clark/COPACE masters' degree programs at the discretion of the director of graduate programs.

[NOTE: all COPACE graduate courses are credited for 1 unit, which equals four semester hours. Transfers approved for courses of less than four hours will be transferred as partial units.]

Waivers may be granted for foundation courses if competency in the academic area can be demonstrated by prior academic work. Also, mastery of skill areas through extensive professional experience can be used to waive some foundation course requirements. If a waiver is granted, an elective may replace the foundation requirement. The waiver does not reduce the total number of courses required for graduation.

The M.S.I.T. degree program only offers an exemption for one of the foundation courses (MSIT3080 Management Information Systems and Technology). MSIT3080 can be granted an exemption based on experience and/or the completion of the same or similar course at the undergraduate or graduate level. An exemption reduces the total number of courses needed for graduation. Exemptions cannot be offered for other courses in the curriculum. Exemptions are not available in the other degree programs.

Accelerated Bachelor's/M.S.P.C or M.P.A. Degree Programs Clark University full-time day undergraduates may combine their bachelor's degree with either the M.S.P.C. or M.P.A. degree at an accelerated pace by beginning the graduate degree program during their senior year and finishing it within a fifth year of study. Those who qualify may do this tuition-free.

By no later than April 1 of their Junior year, students must complete a pre-application form and have it signed by the Dean of Graduate School and the COPACE graduate program staff. Applicants will also be asked to arrange an interview with the Graduate Program staff and to submit with the pre-application form the one-page essay required for admission which clearly delineates career objectives and how the selected degree program will help achieve those objectives.

Applicants for the accelerated degree program (in addition to the regular program requirements), will also be required to register for the Internship and the Internship Seminar during one of their beginning semesters. Details are to be worked out with the Graduate Programs staff.
Up to four courses for both graduate and undergraduate credit may be taken during the senior year. Students expecting the fifth year to be tuition-free must pay careful attention to University restrictions. After graduation, students may take no more than ten courses tuition-free. Therefore, it is advisable to take at least two courses during the senior year in order to complete the graduate degree tuition-free.

International students who want to join the intensive ESL program must plan to enter the United States on a Student Visa (F1). They must:

• have completed high school or its equivalent
• complete and submit an ALCI application form, application fee, and a non-refundable deposit ($300 if on-campus housing is   wanted, $200 if it is not)
• submit proof of high school completion (translated into English)
• submit a certified letter of financial guarantee (for the student, parents, or a sponsor) on bank or other official letterhead   that shows a specific amount of money available to pay for program costs and living expenses while in the United States   and
• enroll in ALCI as a full-time student

• November 1 for the Spring Semester (January - April)
• April 15 for Summer Session 1 (May-July)
• May 15 for Summer Session 2 (July-August)
• June 1 for Fall Semester (August-December)