Admissions Requirements

For undergraduate admissions requirements, please see a campus catalog. 

Graduate

To be considered for admission into any JWU graduate degree program, the following documents must be submitted:

  1. A completed graduate application for admission
  2. Official or certified transcripts/mark sheets from all institutions attended, including proof of bachelor’s degree and master's degree (if applicable) conferral. Transcripts issued to a student are not considered official unless in an unopened university envelope. When a graduate program application is submitted prior to completing requirements for the bachelor's degree, Graduate Admissions will consider the application and, if admissible, will offer an acceptance pending submission of final transcript verifying bachelor degree conferral. Without such verification, students may not be allowed to register for the current semester or continue enrollment, and will be in jeopardy of losing their academic status with the university.
  3. Statement of Purpose: an essay explaining your motivation, aptitude and goals related to graduate-level study
  4. Letters of recommendation. Most graduate programs at JWU require two letters of recommendation. Recommendations should be from individuals qualified to attest to the applicant’s potential for success at the graduate level of study.
  5. Current résumé or CV
  6. Additional admissions requirements, if applicable. Please refer to the program table below for specific additional requirements by program.

Note: All programs listed in the table below are available to qualifying students at JWU's Providence Campus. The ABSN Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing is also offered at the Charlotte campus. The minimum grade point average (GPA) and additional requirements for each program are also noted in the table.

Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements of any graduate program as indicated below may be given consideration for admittance to the program desired if acceptable GMAT/GRE scores are also submitted.

Conditional Acceptance

Conditional acceptance to certain graduate programs may be extended to domestic students who are at least 24 years of age, have a 2.41–2.84 cumulative undergraduate grade point average, and demonstrate significant evidence of professional success. Students granted conditional acceptance may take a maximum of three JWU graduate courses (students may not enroll in two 8-week courses at the same time). If an overall GPA of 3.0 is earned in the first conditional semester, the student will be granted full admission to that program. Students who do not earn an overall GPA of 3.0 will be dismissed from the program and will not be accepted to any JWU graduate program. 

Please note that the programs marked with an (*) asterisk below will accept students under conditional acceptance.

Program Selection Min GPA Required Degree Additional Requirements
MBA PROGRAMS All MBA programs require Foundations courses. These courses are waived if the applicant has a bachelor’s business degree from a program with a Business Accrediting agency (such as IACBE, AACSB. ACBSP) . Those without such a degree will be required to take the two foundations courses or opt to take a qualifying exam at their own expense. Depending on the exam score, applicants may be exempt from one or both of the foundation courses.
MBA — One-Year Program 2.85 Business (B.S.) or a business-related program (e.g., Hospitality)
General MBA* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
MBA with Accounting concentration* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major; Accounting major preferred
MBA with Data Analytics concentration 3.0 Bachelor's degree in IT related field preferred
MBA with Event Leadership concentration*# 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
MBA with Finance concentration*+ 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
MBA with Hospitality concentration* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
MBA with Human Resource Management concentration* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
MBA with Marketing concentration* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
MBA with Operations and Supply Chain Management concentration*# 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
MBA with Organizational Leadership concentration*+ 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
MBA with Organizational Psychology concentration*+ 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
MBA with Sport Leadership concentration*# 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM
Public Health (M.P.H.) 3.0 Bachelor's in any major; health-related major preferred. OR a 2.6 gpa with at least 5 years of related work experience will also be considered
MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAMS
Addiction Counseling (M.S.) 2.85 Any B.S. or B.A. degree 2 letters of recommendation; Statement of Purpose; interview required. Completion of these undergraduate courses with a grade of C or better: General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Statistics or Research Methods (JWU courses: PSYC1001, PSYC2002, and MATH2001 or RSCH2050)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S.) 2.85 Any B.S. or B.A. degree 2 letters of recommendation; M.S. Counseling Statement of Purpose; interview required. Completion of these undergraduate courses with a grade of C or better: General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Statistics or Research Methods (JWU courses: PSYC1001, PSYC2002, and MATH2001 or RSCH2050)
Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics (MSCND) 3.0 Bachelor’s degree in any major; Nutrition major preferred All applicants must apply through DICAS (Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System)
Cybersecurity (M.S.)+ 3.0 Bachelor's degree in any major; IT-related major preferred
Data Analytics (M.S.) 3.0 B.S. degree in any major; IT-related major preferred
Food, Innovation and Technology (M.S.) 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major Completion of LAW2001 or equivalent with a grade of C or better.
Global Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development (M.S.)* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
Physician Assistant Studies (M.S.P.A.S.) (June start only) 3.0 B.S. or B.A. degree All applicants must apply through CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) before the December 1st deadline.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS (FALL START ONLY)
M.A.T. — Master of Arts in Teaching, with Business Education/Secondary Education concentration 2.75 Bachelor's degree in any major Evidence of content knowledge in specific teaching field; 2 disposition reference forms; interview required; criminal background check required
M.A.T. — Master of Arts in Teaching, with Culinary Arts Education concentration 2.75 Bachelor's degree in any major Evidence of content knowledge in specific teaching field; 2 disposition reference forms; interview required; criminal background check required
M.A.T. — Master of Arts in Teaching, with Elementary Education/Elementary Special Education concentration 2.75 Bachelor's degree in any major Evidence of content knowledge in specific teaching field; 2 disposition reference forms; interview required; criminal background check required
M.Ed. — Teaching and Learning Master of Education 2.75 Bachelor's degree in any major 2 letters of recommendation; documentation of current employment in a pre-K–16 teaching situation; interview required
Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) 3.25 Master's degree in an appropriate field from an accredited institution 3 letters of recommendation; current résumé; interview required
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DOCTORATE (JUNE START ONLY)
Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) 3.0 B.S. or B.A. degree in any major All applicants must apply through OT-CAS (Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service) before May 1

All MBA programs will require that the student take a minimum of 3 courses online.

The MBA with an Accounting Concentration requires a greater number of foundation courses (unless the applicant has an undergraduate degree in accounting).

Official transcripts should be mailed to:

Graduate Admissions
Johnson & Wales University
8 Abbott Park Place
Providence, RI 02903

Transcripts and test scores must be originals, official, or certified true copies by a university official. Official transcripts must be from an accredited institution and submitted electronically from that/those institution(s) to JWU or delivered in a sealed envelope with the appropriate university seal or signature. Transcripts issued to students are not considered official.

Letters of recommendation, resume and Statement of Purpose should be uploaded through the applicant portal.

International students, please review International Admissions Requirements for masters and doctoral programs.

Non-degree/Extension Graduate Admission

In some cases students may wish to take a few graduate-level classes without matriculating into a JWU degree program. To be considered for Non-degree Admission, the following documents must be submitted:

  1. A completed graduate application for admission with the non-degree/extension program selected.
  2. An official transcript from the college or university showing the applicant's bachelor's degree conferral.

Please note the following policies regarding non-degree enrollment at JWU:

Extension students (also called "non-degree" or "non-matriculating") are those who are not enrolled in a degree-earning program. These students register for courses on a space available basis.

If space is available, undergraduate students may register for a maximum of 18 credits and graduate students may register for a maximum of three graduate courses, excluding doctoral courses, without applying for degree status in an eligible program. Non-degree students attempting to satisfy prerequisite/certification requirements may be permitted to register additional credits/courses. Undergraduate students not meeting prerequisite requirements for a course should contact their assigned academic advisor to discuss waiving the prerequisite. Graduate students must obtain permission from the dean to enroll in a course that requires a prerequisite that the student has not completed. 

Extension students are not eligible to receive federal, state or institutional financial aid and are subject to the Tuition and Fees policy. Students taking an undergraduate-level course will be charged the same rate as an undergraduate online course in the College of Professional Studies. Graduate-level courses will be charged graduate rates.

Students subsequently wishing to enroll in a degree program must apply through  Admissions and will be subject to the university’s current admissions requirements. If accepted into a degree program, the student will follow the curriculum specified in the catalog at the time they are accepted and are responsible for all courses prescribed in that program, regardless of previously waived prerequisites. 

Postbaccalaureate Pre-Medical &
Pre-Health Professions Program

The Postbaccalaureate Pre-Medical & Pre-Health Professions Program offers students who already have undergraduate degrees with the opportunity to take prerequisite courses for medical, nursing, dental, veterinary, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other graduate programs.

This program is designed for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree but require all or some of the prerequisite courses for health-related schools and graduate programs. The duration of the program depends on a student’s individual goals. In order to obtain a certificate of program completion, students complete a minimum of 22 credits in health-related courses, with up to four transfer credits accepted from work completed at another institution. Additional credits may be required for application to specific target programs. Students who meet the eligibility requirements (including certificate completion as well as the minimum GPA and all course prerequisites of their target graduate program) receive a holistic transcript evaluation and letter, based on graduate program readiness evaluations completed by faculty members. Additional letters of recommendation may also be provided at the discretion of a student’s instructors. All students enrolled in the program are provided the same one-on-one advising, tutoring, academic support, and professional mentoring that comes with a Johnson & Wales University education.

Applicants who intend to take the entire certificate program should apply through PostbacCAS system.

Applicants who intend to take a few classes but not the entire certificate should apply to JWU as a non-degree student.

Education Programs

M.A.T. – This program is a “career changer” degree designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in another field who want to become certified to teach.

M.Ed. – This program is a degree designed for currently practicing teachers who wish to improve their teaching skills and/or advance their career in education.

Ed.D. Program — This program is a doctorate degree designed for current teachers and administrators who want the skills necessary to become educational leaders.  Students may pursue one of two tracks:  Elementary/Secondary or Higher Education. To be considered for acceptance into the Ed.D. program, applicants must possess a master’s degree along with the minimum GPA and additional requirements stated in the table above; recommendation letters are also required.

Program Requirements

To satisfy program requirements and receive the Ed.D. degree, each student must successfully

  1. Complete 60 credit hours (48 hours of coursework and 12 hours of dissertation work, which forms the basis for the dissertation).
  2. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25.
  3. Maintain continuous enrollment, even during dissertation work.
  4. Successfully complete the comprehensive assessment.
  5. Submit a dissertation proposal within 18 months of completion of coursework.
  6. Complete all program requirements within six academic years from the initial date of matriculation.

Note: For a valid reason, the Educational Leadership program director may extend deadlines.

In addition, students must have a computer that connects through a high-speed internet connection. A hybrid method of teaching utilizes asynchronous instruction. All communication to students from the university will be conducted through the university email system, and students are required to use and check this account on a regular basis.

A student becomes an official candidate for the degree upon successfully completing all courses, passing the Comprehensive Assessment, and receiving formal approval of the dissertation proposal.

Pre-Master's Program

The Pre-Master's Program at Johnson & Wales University is designed for outstanding international students who have completed a three-year bachelor’s degree in countries where the three-year bachelor’s degree is considered the dominant degree in specific areas of study, and where such degree does not equate to a four-year U.S. degree.

The program provides qualified three-year degree holders the opportunity, through a Pre-Master's schedule of undergraduate courses, to equate their education to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree while fulfilling master's program prerequisites.

Students who successfully complete the Pre-Master's program with a GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 will enroll directly into their selected MBA or M.S. program.

Eligibility

The Pre-Master's Program is offered only at the Providence Campus.

Applicants to the Pre-Master's Program must hold a three-year bachelor's degree from a recognized institution.

Candidates must successfully complete the English as a Second Language program prior to matriculation into the Pre-Master's Program if they do not submit a passing score on the language proficiency test as stated under the English Proficiency Requirements.

Application Procedure

Please refer to the International Graduate Admissions Requirements. Please note: Students accepted to the Pre-Master's Program cannot transfer to the MBA or M.S. program without first completing all Pre-Master's Program requirements.

Course Requirements

This program requires that a minimum of 10 undergraduate courses be taken by the student at Johnson & Wales University. The courses generally take place on the Downcity Campus, through the John Hazen White College of Arts & Sciences and College of Business.

Course substitutions of higher-level subjects and electives in a comparable discipline may be approved based on previous study, but no exemptions will be made which result in a reduced number of required courses. Course registration for Pre-Master's students will be done through Student Academic Services.

Overview

Applications for online undergraduate programs are accepted from new students and JWU alumni. Graduation from high school or equivalent education is required for admission to online undergraduate programs. In addition, undergraduate applicants must have two years of full-time work experience beyond the date of high school completion. Several of the online bachelor's programs also require attainment of an associate degree from an accredited institution.

Applications for online graduate programs are accepted from new students and JWU alumni who hold bachelor's degrees.

Additional admissions requirements for each degree program are detailed in the undergraduate and graduate sections.

Undergraduate

Baking & Pastry Arts and Food Service Management (B.S.) and Culinary Arts and Food Service Management (B.S.)

All Baking & Pastry Arts and Food Service Management and Culinary Arts and Food Service Management online bachelor's degree program students must meet the following requirements:

  • All associate degree general study requirements must be met.
  • Applicants must present a national certification recognized by the Conference for Food Protection with a test examination date within five years to fulfill graduation requirements. Students who do not have this certification will be required to obtain it to meet graduation requirements.
  • Applicants who earned associate degrees more than 10 years ago must also submit a cover letter and résumé that demonstrates how they have kept their baking and pastry or culinary (as applicable) skills and knowledge current during that time. Applications will be reviewed for applicability of current skills and knowledge to the degree program.
Applicants with Baking & Pastry Arts Associate Degrees from Institutions Other than JWU

Applicants who have earned associate degrees from an institution other than JWU must have completed a minimum of 180 hours of baking in their associate degree program with courses covering the following: classic pastries, pies and tarts, cookies, cakes, plated desserts, bread baking, cake decorating, cost control and menu planning.

Applicants with Culinary Arts Associate Degrees from Institutions Other than JWU

Applicants who have earned associate degrees from an institution other than JWU must have completed a minimum of 180 hours of cooking in their associate degree program with courses covering the 12 cooking techniques: boiling, simmering, steaming, poaching, braising, sautéing, grilling, broiling, deep-frying, shallow-frying, roasting and baking, and a cost-control and menu-planning course.

Business Studies (B.S.) 

Applicants to the Business Studies online bachelor's degree program must have earned an associate degree from an accredited institution prior to applying for admission to the bachelor's degree program.

Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship (B.S.)

Applicants to the Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship online bachelor's degree program must have earned an associate degree in Culinary Arts or Baking & Pastry Arts from an accredited institution prior to applying for admission to the bachelor's degree program.

All Other Bachelor's Degrees

Applicants to any online bachelor's degree program not listed above must have successfully completed high school or equivalent education prior to applying for admission to the program. In addition, applicants must have completed two years of full-time work experience beyond the date of high school completion.

Graduate

Prior to being considered for admission into an online JWU graduate program, the following must be submitted:

  1. A completed application for admission
  2. Official or certified transcripts from all institutions attended, including bachelor's and master's degree conferral (if applicable). When a graduate program application is submitted prior to completing requirements for the bachelor's degree, Online Admissions will consider the application and, if admissible, will offer an acceptance pending submission of final transcript verifying bachelor's degree conferral. Without such verification, students will not be allowed to register for the current semester or continue enrollment, and will be in jeopardy of losing their academic status with the university.
  3. Statement of Purpose: An essay explaining your motivation, aptitude and goals related to graduate-level academic study
  4. Two letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to attest to the applicant's potential for success at the graduate level of study. A Personal Reference Form may be substituted for the letters of recommendation.
  5. A current résumé or CV (required for applicants for conditional acceptance; optional for other applicants)

The letters of recommendation and Statement of Purpose may be emailed or faxed to 401-598-4553.

Note: All programs listed in the table below are available to qualifying students through JWU's College of Professional Studies. The minimum grade point average and additional requirements for each program are also noted.

Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements of any online graduate program (excluding Accelerated Master's) as indicated below may be given consideration for admittance to the program desired if acceptable GMAT/GRE scores are also submitted.

Conditional Acceptance

Conditional acceptance to certain graduate business programs may be extended to domestic students who are at least 24 years of age, have a 2.41–2.84 cumulative undergraduate grade point average, and demonstrate significant evidence of professional success. Students granted conditional acceptance may take a maximum of three JWU graduate courses (students may not enroll in two 8-week courses at the same time). If an overall GPA of 3.0 is earned in the first conditional semester, the student will be granted full admission to that program. Students who do not earn an overall GPA of 3.0 will be dismissed from the program and will not be accepted to any JWU graduate program. 

Please note that the programs marked with an (*) asterisk below will accept students under conditional acceptance.

Program Selection Min GPA Required Degree Additional Requirements
MBA PROGRAMS
All MBA Programs/Concentrations* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major All MBA programs require Foundations courses. These courses are waived if the applicant has a bachelor’s business degree from a program with a Business Accrediting agency (such as IACBE, AACSB, ACBSP) . Those without such a degree will be required to take the two foundations courses or opt to take a qualifying exam at their own expense. Depending on the exam score, applicants may be exempt from one or both of the foundation courses.
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS
M.P.A. General* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
M.P.A. with Criminal Justice Concentration* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or business field
M.P.A. with Homeland Security Concentration 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
M.P.A. with Human Resource Management Concentration 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
M.P.A. with Nonprofit Management Concentration* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAMS
Criminal Justice (M.S.)* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or business
Data Analytics (M.S.)* 3.00 Bachelor's degree in any major
Engineering Management (M.S.)* 2.85 B.S. degree in science, technology, engineering, math or business
Finance (M.S.)* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
Food Safety (M.S.)* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
Hospitality Management (M.S.)* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
Human Resource Management (M.S.)* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
Nonprofit Management (M.S.)* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major
Nutrition (M.S.)* 2.85 B.S. degree in nutrition or related field Related fields are defined as: Exercise Physiology, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Health Sciences, Kinesiology, Microbiology, Physician's Assistant. Students without the appropriate background must take NUTR5010 and NUTR5020.
Organizational Psychology (M.S.)* 2.85 Bachelor's degree in any major If B.S./B.A. degree is not in psychology, students must complete the following courses before being accepted into the program: PSYC1001 – Introductory Psychology, Either UG research methods or statistics (RSCH2050 Workshop in Acquiring Social Research Skills, RSCH3830 Undergrad Research Experience, MATH2001 Statistics l, MATH2010 Intro to Biostatistics)
DOCTORAL PROGRAMS
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) 3.00 Master's degree with a concentration in business or a business-related field 5 years of management or industry leadership experience, or equivalent as a business educator; a résumé or CV tailored to DBA application specifications; participation in a video-conference interview. If an applicant's master's level program is not in a business-related field, an additional 3 years of management experience is required.
*

These programs will accept students under conditional acceptance.