Admission Requirements

The program is open to persons with the following qualifications and who submit the appropriate documentation:

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or the equivalent from an internationally recognized institution, with a cumulative grade average of B or higher (an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher on a four-point scale). Official transcripts of all previous college or university studies must be submitted.
• Submission of a completed application form with a $30.00 non-refundable fee. The fee is waived for Barry University alumni.
• Submission of one of the following tests: Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). A combined score of at least 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE, a minimum score of 300 on the MAT, or a minimum 400 on the GMAT are preferred. The entrance exam (GMAT, GRE, or MAT) may be waived if the applicant has accumulated a minimum of five years of full-time professional work experience in administration, executive decision making, training and development, leadership, or comparable fields. The applicant must provide original and verifiable evidence of work experience supplemented by a resume or vitae and professional references (see below – Professional Work Experience). Upon review of the documented evidence, the applicant will be notified if the entrance exam requirement will be waived.
• Two original and verifiable letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic sources.
• An essay of at least 750 words, which explains why the applicant wishes to pursue the degree and how it will help to fulfill their personal and professional goals. Applicants should also describe in detail their accomplishments, experiences, values, potential for professional excellence, and commitment to completing the degree program. Moreover, applicants should include information about how they work, think, and interact with people, as well as on any other potentially relevant topics.
• International applicants whose previous college or university studies were not in English must earn a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 213 on the computer-based or 80 on the internet-based versions of this test. Applicants must also satisfy all of criteria which are outlined in the section of the University Graduate Catalog on International Applicants.

In order to receive full admission, all of the above items should be submitted before applicants register for their first courses. If any item is missing or incomplete, applicants may be granted provisional acceptance and may be allowed to register for a limited number of credit hours while stipulated admission or academic requirements are being satisfied. In this situation, full admission to the degree program is neither implied nor guaranteed.

On the other hand, applicants who do not meet all of the above admission requirements, but who would otherwise be excellent candidates for their chosen program, may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Professional Work Experience

Applicants seeking to have the entrance exam waived must provide original and verifiable documentation of five years of full-time professional work experience on letterhead stationary written by their supervisors. They must also include the names of references from the organization(s) where they have worked. An applicant’s resume or vitae must include the following items:

• Complete employment history in reverse chronological order, with name of organization, titles, dates, and whether worked part-time or full-time.
• Educational history in reverse chronological order, indicating dates of attendance and degree(s) earned.
• A complete list of all training or workshop activities attended or participated in.
• A complete list of all publications and presentations authored or co-authored.
• A complete list of projects actively participated in, including responsibilities; positions held; and dates of the project duration, including contact names(s) and contact information for each project.
• A complete list of academic and/or professional awards received, including the basis for selection and the date(s) of the honor(s).
• A list of hobbies, interests, and activities, including any significant accomplishments related to them.

Click here to download a sample Professional Profile form.

NOTE: Falsification of any information in this documentation will be considered a violation of the University’s Academic Dishonesty Policy and appropriate measures will be taken. Measures may include rejection of an application or dismissal from the degree program, if the applicant has begun course work. Refer to the University Graduate Catalog and the ACE Student Bulletin for more details on these policies and measures.