Academic Catalog

Admission Policies

Standards for Admission

Minimum admission requirements for graduate programs at Lewis University include a completed Lewis University graduate application and official transcripts from previous college-level academic coursework. An earned baccalaureate degree, with a minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale is required for full admission. Applicants who have previously completed graduate coursework must possess a minimum 3.0 graduate GPA for full admission. A maximum of 12 credits (grade of B or higher) may be considered for transfer from previously completed graduate coursework that meets degree requirements as determined by the program administrator.

In addition, each graduate program has its own program-specific standards for admission. Refer to the specific graduate program section for these standards.

Graduate application forms can be found on the University Website at www.lewisu.edu/apply or obtained by e-mailing grad@lewisu.edu or by calling (815) 836-5610.

Entering International Students

After entering international students have completed the online application, students will need to submit the following documents to the Office of International Admission.  No admission decision can be made until all documents have been received.

Travel Document Copies

  • Passport copy which includes full name and picture
  • If student is currently in the United States, please send a copy of visa and I-20 form

Transcript Evaluation

Student must submit a Transcript Evaluation for any school attended outside of the United States.  For secondary school (high school) transcripts, students should request a general evaluation report.  For post-secondary (college or university) transcripts, students must request a detailed course-by-course evaluation report.

Do not send transcripts to Lewis University.  All transcripts must come directly from the evaluation companies.  Please allow 2 – 3 weeks for the evaluation to be completed. Students may request a report from any of the following evaluation companies or any credential evaluation service that is a member of NACES.

  • One Earth Evaluations
  • Educational Perspectives
  • ECE
  • WES

Exemption / Waiver of evaluation requirement - A transcript evaluation may not be required if the previous school was located in the United States.  If the student graduated from an American high school or attended an American college/university, then send official transcripts directly to Lewis University.  Additional exemptions are if the foreign school has International Baccalaureate curriculum, or accreditation from a regional or national US accrediting institution.

English Proficiency, Minimum Requirement:

Only one score is required:

English Proficiency Score
TOEFL-iBT 79; with a writing subscore minimum 20
IELTS Acad. 6.0; with a writing subscore minimum 6.0
PTE-A 52; with a writing subscore minimum 50
Duolingo 105; with a writing subscore minimum 100
GTEC 1200
ELS Level 112

IELTS scores can be submitted by email.  TOEFL scores must be submitted directly from the student's ETS account (Lewis University code 1404).  ELS 112 Certificates must be emailed from the student's ELS Center.

Exemption / Waiver of English requirement – If the student attended school in a country where English is the official spoken language, then the English requirement may not be required. List of countries exempt from the English requirement can be provided through the Admissions Office.

Additional Note: Lewis University reserves the rights to test the English writing skills of all incoming undergraduate/graduate students and to place students in courses which will help them improve in specific areas.

Graduate Applicants Only: Additional Requirements

  • Statement of Purpose – A personal statement about your goals and reasons for choosing this program at Lewis University.  Should be double spaced, and 2-3 pages in length.
  • Letter of Recommendation – two letters from previous professors or professional colleagues.  Must include the recommender’s original signature, full name, title, and contact information.
  • Resume or C.V – updated with your most recent educational and professional credentials.

Specific Programs Only: Additional Requirements

SAT or ACT scores – only required if the student plans to participate in intercollegiate athletics (NCAA Division I & II, playing for Lewis University teams).

Dual Degree 

A dual degree is when two Lewis University graduate degree programs may be completed simultaneously.  Dual degree programs are designated in the catalog and may be designed with overlapping requirements to reduce overall course requirements compared to completing each program individually while still meeting the learning outcomes of both degree programs. 

All students graduating as a dual degree student must meet the following university minimum requirements: 

  • Students must fulfill admission requirements and be accepted into both programs. 

  • Students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in each individual degree program. 

  • At minimum 50% of the courses in each degree of the dual degree program must be unique courses.  Under no circumstances can a student go below the minimum credits required in the catalog for the dual degree even if additional course counting exceptions are approved. 

  • Dual degree students are subject to all university residency requirements and transfer restrictions.  Each program may enforce additional residency and transfer restrictions to ensure the individual accreditation or licensure standards are being satisfactorily adhered to. 

  • Dual degree students may not have each dual degree program conferred separately.   

  • Students may opt out of a dual degree program after they have started a dual degree program. For students opting out of a dual degree program, they must adhere to all standalone degree requirements at the time of initial admission.  The program at their discretion may require the student to follow a subsequent catalog’s standalone program degree requirements if a student opts to leave the dual degree program.    

  • Students may apply to the dual degree program after starting a standalone degree program. The student must first be inactivated in the standalone degree and go through the admissions process for the dual degree program.   

  • All dual degree requirements must be completed within seven years from the time of initial admission. Any exception to this policy must be approved by both Dean’s Offices. 

  • Catalog year for dual degrees is based on initial admission to graduate dual program.   

Course substitutions for a specific course can only be made by the program director for that specific subject area.  In the event the required course satisfies requirements for both programs the substitution and waiver must be approved by both departments and may be denied at the discretion of either. 

Second Lewis Master’s Degree Policy

Candidates who have earned a master’s degree at Lewis University are invited to consider pursuing a second graduate degree.  Those who return to Lewis for a second graduate degree are permitted to apply:  

  • No more than 50% of the credit hours from their first master’s degree to their second.  

  • A minimum of 50% or more credits for the second master’s degree must be specific to the second master’s degree and not shared with the first degree.  

 

In order to apply credits to a second master’s degree, candidates must meet the following criteria:  

  • Formally apply, meet all admission requirements, and be accepted for admission to the second graduate program.  

  • Obtain approval from the second master’s degree program for any courses/credits applied to the degree program.   

  • Students will follow the catalog requirements in effect at the year of admission to the 2nd degree program. 

  • 2nd degree students must meet all residency requirements.  However, courses from the first degree that are counted towards the 2nd degree will apply towards all residency requirements. 

  • Successfully complete the courses/credits with a grade of B or higher (3.0/4.0 scale).  

  • All courses while enrolled in the 2nd degree program must have a minimum of 3.0 combined GPA. 

  • All courses must be completed within 7 years of graduation under the 2nd degree program per the university time limit policy.  The academic department of the 2nd Degree program may impose more stringent time limits at their discretion.  

Should a candidate pursue a third credential at Lewis University, no course may be triple-counted.