School of Education and Human Services

Admission

Applicants for admission to graduate work in SEHS may be accepted as matriculants (master’s degree/advanced certificate candidates) in a particular program, or as non-matriculants. Except in unusual cases, non-matriculants may take no more than 9 credit hours before matriculation is required.

Admission Procedures

All applicants for admission to a graduate program must submit:

• One copy of official undergraduate transcripts indicating the receipt of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning
• Letters of recommendation

Graduate Application

Counseling, Kinesiology, and Non Teacher Education Applicants

Admission will require a 2.70 cumulative undergraduate GPA. Applicants who have an undergraduate GPA below a 2.70 may be required to meet additional requirements in order to provide evidence of their ability to be successful in graduate studies (i.e., personal interview, additional coursework). 

Physician Assistant Studies Applicants

Please refer to the Physician Assistant Studies website for specific information regarding the CASPA application process and admissions. 

Teacher Education Applicants

A 3.00 cumulative undergraduate GPA is preferred. Applicants who have an undergraduate GPA below a 3.00 may be required to meet additional requirements in order to provide evidence of their ability to be successful in graduate studies (i.e., personal interview, additional coursework). 

Transfer Credits

No more than six credits of graduate coursework will be accepted in transfer from other institutions. The grades must have been at least “C” and must have been earned within the five-year time limit for completion of degree requirements. All transfer credits must coordinate with the candidate’s program of study at Canisius University, as approved by the program director. Any exceptions to the above may only be made with the approval of both the program director and the associate dean.

Credit by Examination

Individuals who are applying for admission or who are presently in attendance may obtain credit for previously completed examinations sponsored by the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) or by the New York State College Proficiency Examination Program (CPE). The minimum acceptable grades for these exams are “Pass” for exams graded Pass/Fail and “C” for exams with letter grades. On exams graded on a standard score scale of 20 to 80, the passing score varies from 40 to 50 depending on the subject area. Candidates must consult with the associate dean for permission to use any credit by examination toward their graduate degree or certification requirements.

Master's degrees

Advanced Certificates

4+1 PROGRAMS

• BA/BS programs in English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and History combine with a MSEd in Teaching Students with Disabilities Adolescent Generalist 7-12 to provide both general and special education certifications in a 4+1 bachelor's and master's degree program.

Accreditation

Counseling

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accreditor in the field of counseling, accredits the two counseling programs leading towards a Master of Science degree. 

Physician Assistant Studies

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Canisius University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Canisius University. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.  Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class, scheduled to begin in January 2021. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.

Teacher Education

Full accreditation of all educator preparation programs in the School of Education and Human Services was obtained through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) in 2017.

Canisius is currently pursuing accreditation of its educator preparation programs by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Pursuant to §52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, the educator preparation programs offered by Canisius University are considered to be continuously accredited for purposes of meeting the New York State requirement that all such programs maintain continuous accreditation.