Admissions

Applicants seeking graduate admission must have a bachelor’s degree with an acceptable grade point average from an accredited college or university. The degree may be in any discipline.

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Contact us

Have any questions about applying or the admissions process? Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 678.547.6417 or copa.admissions@mercer.edu.

Application checklist

Submit all of the following items to complete your application to the program:

• $35 Non-refundable Application Fee ($100 for International Applicants)
  Submit the required application fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to Mercer University. Do not send cash. The application fee is nonrefundable and cannot apply toward tuition. Former or current students of Mercer University need not submit another application fee.
• MAT or GRE Test Score*
  All applicants must take the Millers Analogy Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and achieve a qualifying score. Scores must be no more than five years old at the time of application. Testing information can be provided through the official MAT or GRE Website. The target score for the MAT is 397, and the target score for the GRE is 151 verbal and 143 quantitative. This is but one tool used in the decision making process.
  *MAT/GRE not required for applicants who meet one of the following exceptions: 
  (a) Students who belong to the Tau Upsilon Alpha Honor Society or have passed the Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) exam
  OR
  (b) Achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher in all undergraduate coursework.College of Professional Advancement applicants may be admitted without submitting test scores through Fall 2021 if they meet other admissions criteria. Applicants will be able to indicate on the application for admission if they are applying as Test Optional.
• Unofficial MAT or GRE Test Score
  If you have already taken the MAT or GRE and have the score results, we request that you include this information with the application. For example, you may submit a copy of the unofficial score report given at the time the test was taken (sometimes referred to as the “walk-out score report”) or a copy of your examinees score report received through the mail. This will allow the admissions department to begin the file evaluation process. This does not replace the requirement of an official score report for those applicants who are offered admission.
• Official Transcripts from All Previously Attended Institutions
  Submit an official transcript from each college and university previously attended. Transcripts are required for both undergraduate (including summer school and studies abroad) and graduate course work, regardless of length of stay or if the grades are listed on another school’s transcript. Official electronic transcripts should be submitted to copa.admissions@mercer.edu. Former and current Mercer University students need not request a Mercer University transcript.
• Letter of Recommendation
  The letter of recommendation/support can be from a person in current or past leadership structure, a professor, or those that have firsthand knowledge of the applicant’s professional accomplishments.
• Résumé
  Applicants must submit a current résumé.
• Interview

Submit all application supporting materials to:

Accelerated Special Consideration Program

Students have the unique opportunity to combine their B.S. in Human Services with the M.S. in Human Services Administration at Mercer. Interested students may apply with their faculty advisor for  Accelerated Special Consideration Program (ASCP) Status.

To qualify for the accelerated program students must meet the following requirements:

• Completed a minimum of 90 credit hours with at least 30 of those credit hours earned from Mercer
• Completed the following undergraduate human services courses: HSRV 202, HSRV 230, HSRV 256, HSRV 370, PSYC 227, and SOCI 200
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, have withdrawn from no more than two courses, have completed LBST 175 and LBST 180 or equivalent, and be in good standing with the University

Upon acceptance into the accelerated program, students will be permitted to complete the following two graduate courses in lieu of the bachelor level course equivalents:

• HSRV 604: Grantmaking for HSRV 380: Grant Proposal Development
• HSRV 608: Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods for HSRV 306: Applied Research Methods for Social Science Students

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25, remain in good standing with the College, and pass all graduate level courses with a grade of C or better. A bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for any additional graduate level courses.

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

A. Evaluation of Foreign Credentials: Applicants who completed all or part of their education abroad must have an independent evaluation service evaluate their foreign educational credentials. A course-by-course and grade point average equivalent evaluation are admission requirements. For information about evaluation services, contact the Office of Admissions. You must submit an official sealed evaluation report with your application once complete.
B. Official Translations: Documents submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by official translations.
C. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): The TOEFL or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test is required for international applicants whose primary language is not English. The scores must not be more than two years old. Send official score reports directly to the Office of Admissions by the Educational Testing Service. The Educational Testing Service institution code for submission of official score reports is 5025. Unofficial copies of the score report may be included with the application for initial review and evaluation. This does not replace the requirement of an official score report for those applicants who are offered admission.
Exception: International applicants who have attended another U.S. institution and completed freshman English Composition I and II with grades of “C” or higher do not need to completed the TOEFL.
D. Financial Guarantee: International applicants who wish to obtain an I-20 for F-1 visa must include financial documentation showing ability to finance tuition and living expenses for one year. Financial documents must have a current date and indicate available funds of US$25,000.
E. Visa Status: International applicants who are currently in the United States must choose from one of the following categories of documents to prove their current visa status:

• Copy of I-20 and I-94 if on an F-1 visa
• Copy of visa stamp and I-94 if on another type of visa
• Copy of Resident Alien card (front and back) if classified as a Resident Alien

Learn more about our Human Services Administration program

• M.S. in Human Services Administration
• Program Requirements
• Course Descriptions
• Tuition and Aid
• Meet the Faculty

Ready to take the next step?

Schedule your personalized admissions counseling appointment, or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 678.547.6417 or copa.admissions@mercer.edu for more information.