Graduate Admissions Essays
See program specific requirements below. If your program is not listed, please include a brief statement of your goals and how they align with your program. If you have questions about the essay requirements for your program, contact the Graduate Admissions Office.
Art Therapy Applicants are required to submit an essay of 350-words minimum addressing the three points outlined below:
1. Describe your personal involvement in art
2. Describe your understanding of art therapy
3. Why have you chosen to pursue art therapy graduate education?
Biotechnology Applicants are required to submit an essay (1-2 pages) describing their career objectives and how the M.S. Biotechnology degree will assist with such goals.
Communication Arts Applicants are required to submit a statement of intent and how they hope to achieve their personal and professional goals.
Criminal Justice Applicants are required to submit an essay discussing their career objectives and the way in which the CJ Masters program will contribute to these objectives (350-words minimum).
Ed. S. School Psychology Applicants are required to submit a personal statement citing reasons for entering the profession of school psychology and giving an estimate of potential for success in the field; included should be a resume of the applicant’s professional experience.
Kinesiology Applicants are required to submit a personal statement identifying career goals congruent with the purposes of the program.
Music Therapy Applicants are required to submit an essay which includes a brief biography, personal and professional goals, area of special interests, and intent regarding full time or part time student status.
Nursing Administration Applicants are required to submit an essay (250- words minimum) describing your career goals and how these goals relate to the objective of the graduate Nursing Administration program.
Public Administration/Health Services Administration/Gerontology Applicants - The M.P.A. Program Admissions committee gives preference to individuals with two or more years of professional work experience and who can clearly articulate Public Service career objective. Consequently, an admission essay of 350- word minimum is required addressing the four points outlined below:
1. Describe your professional work background.
2. What attracted you to a M.P.A. / M.H.S.A.?
3. What do you expect to receive in management training?
4. How do you expect to use the management training and the M.P.A. / M.H.S.A. degree as a credential in pursuing your career objectives?
Social Work Applicants are required to submit an informal statement of about 800 words (3 pages). This statement should include information about the following: the development of your interest in social work, including educational work and personal experiences as relevant; your strengths in relation to social work practice; gaps or limitations in your experience or attributes that would need attention in preparing for social work practice; your preference for your future in social work.
Speech-Language Pathology Applicants must submit an admissions essay (no more than 500 words, double-spaced in 12 pt. font) addressing the five points below:
1. What excites you about learning?
2. Describe how you perceive your responsibility to the learning process. Discuss the strategies/methods you use to prepare for class. How much time do you spend preparing for each class?
3. Describe a learning experience/learning opportunity between you and a professor/instructor that you perceived as positive and one you perceived as negative. Explain why the experience was positive/negative.
4. Reflect on Marywood's mission statement and core values. Discuss how this foundation has shaped your readiness to begin graduate studies. If you were not a Marywood undergraduate student, please discuss how our mission statement and core values can shape your readiness to begin graduate studies at Marywood.
5. What inspired you to become a speech-language pathologist? What personal qualities do you think are needed to become an effective clinician and why?