Undergraduate Catalog 2014-15
Undergraduate students are admitted to Marymount University as freshmen, transfer, certificate-seeking, and nondegree or visiting students. Qualified freshman and transfer students also may apply to the Honors Program. Through Marymount’s Educational Partnerships program, individuals may be enrolled off-site as degree- or certificate-seeking students. The university offers post-baccalaureate certificate programs for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree, and such students are also considered undergraduates. Application procedures for students in each category follow.
Marymount wishes to attract students whose educational interests and intellectual abilities are consistent with the goals and character of the university. The university’s undergraduate curriculum provides a balance between liberal arts education and career preparation. The curriculum also prepares students to become educated citizens in a complex society and equips them with the skills and knowledge necessary for entry or advancement in their chosen career fields.
In reviewing applications for admission, Marymount University places primary emphasis on the strength of an applicant’s academic record — the high school record for an entering freshman or the prior college studies of a transfer student. The university also takes into consideration national test scores, breadth of academic preparation, positive recommendations, and personal character in making its decisions. All submitted documents become university property and cannot be returned.
At Marymount, a freshman student is defined as a first-time college student. Most freshmen enroll at the university directly out of high school.
Freshman Student Admission Requirements
Applicants to the freshman class may be considered for admission if their high school grade point average (GPA) is 2.6 or better on a 4.0 scale; their combined SAT scores are within 100 points of the national average; and their academic preparation, recommendations, and character indicate that they are qualified to undertake Marymount University programs.
The following minimum high school courses are recommended:
English |
4 units |
Foreign Language |
3 units |
Mathematics |
3 units |
Science |
2 units* |
Social Sciences |
3 units |
*It is strongly recommended that applicants to the Malek School of Health Professions programs have completed high school biology and chemistry.
Applicants who do not meet these regular admission standards are referred to a committee that evaluates each student’s academic potential to admit those who have the best prospect for success.
All applicants must submit the following items to be considered for admission:
Students entering Marymount with college-level coursework or work experience may be eligible for credit. See Credit Acquisition Opportunities for further information.
A transfer student is a student who has completed at least one semester of college coursework at another accredited college or university, as well as any student who holds an associate or bachelor’s degree.
Transfer Student Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, transfer applicants with 30 or more college credits must present a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale from previous postsecondary institutions. Transfer applicants with fewer than 30 credits must also meet freshman admission requirements. Please refer to individual school sections for additional requirements for specific programs. All applicants to nursing's traditional B.S.N. program should note additional requirements; applicants to the accelerated second-degree nursing program should review additional requirements.
Applicants who have been enrolled in a college or university prior to applying to Marymount must submit the following:
Students who have been admitted for transfer to Marymount University will receive a formal transfer credit evaluation by the university registrar. It is the responsibility of the student applicant to provide the transcripts necessary for this evaluation. Marymount only accepts coursework for transfer credit from an institution accredited as degree-granting by a regional accrediting body for higher education at the time the coursework was completed. See transfer policies for more information. Transfer students may also receive credit for Advanced Placement coursework or similar programs, as well as for work experience. See Credit Acquisition Opportunities for further information.
Articulation Agreements
To facilitate the entrance of transfer students from Northern Virginia Community College and Montgomery College in Maryland into baccalaureate programs, the university has articulation agreements with these institutions. These agreements inform students of course equivalencies between institutions. Information about these equivalencies is available from counselors at Northern Virginia Community College and Montgomery College, from Marymount University’s Office of Admissions, Marymount’s Center for Teaching and Learning, and online at www.marymount.edu/articulation.
An international student is defined as an individual wishing to enroll who is neither a U.S. citizen nor a permanent U.S. resident.
Visitors in B-1/B-2 status are not eligible to register. These individuals must change their status to an F-1 student visa in order to study at Marymount. Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office or International Student Services Office for more information regarding this immigration regulation and other immigration-related questions.
International Student Admission Requirements
All applicants must submit the following to be considered:
International Freshmen Applicants
An international freshman applicant is defined as a first-time university student with fewer than 12 completed university credit hours. The following items must be submitted in addition to the aforementioned items:
International Transfer Applicants
An international transfer applicant is defined as a student with 12 or more completed university credit hours. The following items must be submitted in addition to the aforementioned items:
Minimum Score Requirements for Nonnative Speakers of English
SAT |
450 Critical Reading, |
ACT |
18 English section, 19 composite |
TOEFL |
550 paper-based, 79 Internet-based |
IELTS |
6.0 overall |
PTE |
54 overall |
Conditional Admission
Conditional admission is an option for international undergraduate applicants who meet all admission requirements except demonstrated English proficiency. Students seeking conditional admission must enroll in ELS Educational Service’s English for Academic Purposes program to develop their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills to a level appropriate for university study. Students who successfully complete ELS Level 112 will be fully admitted and may enroll in a degree program without presenting a TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score. Completion of an intensive English program other than the ELS English for Academic Purposes does not meet the conditional admission requirement. More information about ELS’ English for Academic Purposes can be found at www.els.edu.
Transfer nursing applicants and accelerated second-degree B.S.N. applicants are not eligible for conditional admission.
International Student Application Deadlines
Admission applications and all supporting documents must be received no later than the date indicated for the corresponding semester:
For fall semester (late August to mid-December): July 1
For spring semester (mid-January to early May): November 1
For summer semester (late May to early August — freshmen may not begin in the summer semester): March 15
Obtaining an I-20
An I-20 is a certificate of eligibility for F-1 visa status. Marymount University issues the I-20 for admitted students who submit the following items:
Students currently enrolled in a U.S. high school or university must submit the following additional items:
For the most current and accurate information about immigration and visa requirements, please visit www.travel.state.gov/visa.
Marymount is dedicated to fostering the intellectual development of each individual student. To this end, the university offers educational opportunities to students of various qualifications, and the Honors Program is the most prestigious opportunity for academically gifted students. All academic schools are represented within the program, and students from all majors are encouraged to apply. Established in 2003, Marymount’s Honors Program has been founded on a traditional understanding of the liberal arts and works toward two main goals: building a supportive intellectual community and maintaining academic rigor in its distinctive curriculum.
The Honors Program at Marymount University reflects the principles of the original liberal arts (artes liberales), literally "the subjects of study proper to free persons," as developed at the Universities of Paris, Oxford, and Cambridge in the Middle Ages. At Marymount, these principles of the traditional liberal arts are inculcated both at home and abroad. Both a specially designed, academically stimulating curriculum and a commitment to encourage "the life of the mind" through evening lectures create an environment where honors students will continuously seek intellectual challenge. See The Honors Program curriculum.
Honors students at Marymount receive substantial scholarship support; priority registration; formal recognition during graduation ceremonies; exclusive lounge facilities; travel funds for academic conferences; and opportunities to participate in trips and programs — most chosen by the students — in the Washington area as well as Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Honors students choose officers to represent them in the Honors Student Organization and nominate faculty for the annual Honors Fellow.
Incoming freshmen and sophomores, as well as students transferring from other honors programs, may apply to the Marymount Honors Program, but admission is competitive and limited to 20 new participants each year. The following criteria are recommended for those seeking program admission:
Those seeking admission to the program must submit an Honors Program application, including an essay and faculty recommendations, in addition to the general university admission application. Additionally, applicants must participate in an interview with the Honors Program director or an Honors Committee member.
Honors applicants entering Marymount with college-level coursework may be eligible for credit. See Credit Acquisition Opportunities for further information.
Additional criteria and application requirements can be found on the Honors Program’s website. Visit www.marymount.edu, and search for "Honors Program".
Marymount offers undergraduate certificate programs for individuals seeking specialized knowledge and skill. Individuals who wish to enter Marymount solely to earn a certificate, not in combination with a degree, must submit the following:
F-1 international students are not eligible to enroll solely in undergraduate certificate programs.
Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and wish to enroll in a post-baccalaureate certificate program should see admission information.
A nondegree undergraduate applicant is an individual who intends to enroll in a limited number of courses to increase vocational fitness, learn about recent developments in a field of interest, or transfer credits to a home institution. Nondegree applicants must submit the following items:
An F-1 visa student who is not concurrently enrolled at another U.S. college or university is not eligible to apply as a nondegree student.
Nondegree Enrollment
An undergraduate nondegree student can attempt no more than 15 credit hours under nondegree status. Nondegree students are not eligible for financial aid, may not live on campus, and may be unable to enroll in courses in some highly selective undergraduate programs.
All nondegree students, including visiting nondegree students from institutions outside the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, receive academic advising through the Center for Teaching and Learning.
Students enrolled in off-site programs through Marymount's Educational Partnerships program are required to submit official transcripts and, depending upon their academic objective, follow admission requirements consistent with degree- or certificate-seeking students.
Students who complete certificate programs and wish to be admitted as degree-seeking students must apply for admission to the degree program. Completion of a certificate offering does not guarantee admission to a degree program.
Students who already have a bachelor’s degree and wish to complete further study may apply to a post-baccalaureate certificate program. Applicants seeking a post-baccalaureate certificate must submit the following items to be considered for acceptance:
Applicants should also read the school section offering the desired certificate program to learn of possible additional admission requirements.
F-1 visa students are not eligible to enroll in post-baccalaureate programs.
Post-baccalaureate students are not required to submit a medical record form.
Unless otherwise noted, post-baccalaureate students follow the same academic policies as undergraduate students.
Courses needed to complete post-baccalaureate certificate requirements do not fulfill any graduate program course requirements.
A confidential medical examination record that includes a complete record of immunizations is required for all undergraduate students. This record must be completed before the student may register for classes. The form is available from the Admissions Office or the Student Health Center.
Some students are also required to have accident and/or health insurance. For details, please see Insurance.
Marymount University has a rolling admissions policy, unless otherwise noted in this catalog or on the Admissions web pages at www.marymount.edu/admissions. The university notifies applicants as to whether they have met the criteria for admission after the application procedure is completed and the Admissions Committee has acted on the application.
All acceptances to Marymount University are tentative until the applicant’s final high school or college grades are received and conditions of the acceptance, if any, are met.
For certain programs, offers of admission may be deferred for one year. A request for a deferral of enrollment must be in writing. Updated transcripts must be provided prior to enrollment.
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