General Information

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• Office of Graduate Studies
• From the Director’s Desk
• Graduation Degree and Certificate Programs
• Graduate Admission at IPFW

Welcome to graduate studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. You have chosen to attend the premier center for academic excellence in northeast Indiana. IPFW offers more academic and extracurricular opportunities than any other higher education institution in the region. A joint campus of two internationally recognized Big Ten schools, IPFW grants both Indiana University and Purdue University degrees.

IPFW offers several challenging and exciting graduate programs for those seeking to further their education. The IU and Purdue commitments to excellence in teaching, research, and service are reflected in all of our graduate programs. The university takes advantage of the latest technologies in order to enhance information exchange, classroom instruction, research, and communications. Indiana University and Purdue University carry traditions of distinction in the humanities, fine arts, health sciences, social sciences, business, education, engineering, technology, and computer science.

IPFW provides access to an excellent education through academic diversity, flexibility, and affordability. IPFW students have access to superior research, academic, and extracurricular pursuits. IPFW is committed to the continued educational, economic, and cultural development of its 11-county service area.

More than 13,000 students are enrolled in more than 200 academic programs. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as certificate options. Some 19,000 additional students pursue noncredit continuing education courses. While the diverse student body continues to grow, the average class size remains 22.

IPFW’s graduate programs and courses are delivered through five colleges, or schools:

The university is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Various colleges, schools, divisions, and programs have earned additional accreditation through professional societies.

IPFW is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools and the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools.

  Office of Graduate Studies

Mission. The mission of the IPFW Office of Graduate Studies is to facilitate offering a range of distinctive graduate programs, especially targeted professional master’s degree programs, important to the social, economic, cultural, and intellectual life of northeast Indiana.

Vision. IPFW will fulfill its roles as a comprehensive, public university and the largest provider of higher education in northeast Indiana through strategic visioning and accountability for graduate education services. Through collaborations with other campuses and organizations, including civic and corporate, IPFW will assess and respond to the graduate education needs of vital social, economic, cultural, and intellectual institutions and communities throughout the region.

Its programs will be of demonstrated quality and recognized nationally for the marriage of practical and liberal education, especially education that develops professional expertise based upon the cultivation of the skills of discovery and synthesis that support problem solving and innovation. To achieve this status, graduate programs at IPFW will be known for challenging, active-learning curricula that are based in research and field experience; a community of creative, motivated students and faculty; student and faculty involvement in research supported by grants and contracts; and rigorous program evaluation that includes professional placement and success of graduates.

Graduates will be prepared to fulfill individual and collective responsibilities and goals and will model advancements in production, services, and professional practice in the industrial, corporate, social service, civic, education, and other sectors of society.

Contact:
Carol S. Sternberger
Director of Graduate Studies
Kettler Hall, Room 174
260-481-5798
Fax: 260-481-5773
Web: ipfw.edu/gradstudies
E-mail: graduate@ipfw.edu 

 From the Director’s Desk

The Office of Graduate Studies at IPFW provides an ever-growing array of programs ideally suited to serve the educational needs of northeast Indiana. Graduate education serves three vital functions for our community. First, graduate education is an important component of workforce development, providing the high-level skills and abilities required in the marketplace. Secondly, graduate education supports the development of the education infrastructure, providing teachers, professors, and administrators with the knowledge and skills they require to shape the future of education in the region and the country. And finally, graduate education offers the opportunity for discovery and re-discovery, creating new knowledge to help us understand our rapidly changing world.

Through the Office of Graduate Studies, IPFW addresses all of these vital functions. The MBA provides the advanced study required in the corporate community, while our programs in education serve teachers, administrators, and professional staff in K-12 schools across the region. The public affairs and public management programs and the nursing programs prepare graduates to work in the public and health sectors, while professional communication graduates work as communication specialists in both public and private organizations. Advanced scientific and technical education is available in biology, computer science, engineering, technology, and mathematical sciences.

A professionally oriented program is also available in English in which they acquire skills in critical and analytical thinking. The program in Organizational Leadership and Supervision offers specialties in leadership and human resources. Advanced certificate programs are available in a number of areas including statistics, public management, teaching English as a second language, nursing, and organizational leadership and supervision. Additional programs are always under development to meet the ever-growing and ever-changing needs of the community.

The IPFW Office of Graduate Studies is here to serve its students and its community. Please let us know how we can help.

Best wishes,

Carol S. Sternberger
Director of Graduate Studies 

 Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs

Graduate degree and certificate programs you can complete at IPFW appear below and are fully described in Programs . Additional programs are under development. Contact the Office of Graduate Studies for the most recent information.

* In cooperation with Purdue University Calumet

Accreditation. IPFW is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Information about North Central accreditation is available from the vice chancellor for academic affairs (KT 170, 260- 481-6116). You may also contact the North Central Association directly by writing to 230 South LaSalle St. Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1411; or by phone at 800-621-7440. Professional accreditation by specific programs is shown in Part 2.

Graduation and persistence rates. Graduation and persistence rate information for IPFW is available in Admissions and the registrar’s office.

Affiliation with Indiana University or Purdue University. IPFW is a campus of both Indiana University and Purdue University. If you are enrolled at IPFW as an Indiana University student and transfer to another campus of Indiana University, all credits and grades you have earned will be retained on your academic record. The same is true if you are enrolled at IPFW as a Purdue University student and transfer to another campus of Purdue University. However, if you change your university affiliation when transferring from IPFW to another campus, courses completed at IPFW will be treated as transfer credit. Similarly, if you have taken courses at another Indiana University or Purdue University campus, those prior credits will be included on your record if you enroll in the same university’s program at IPFW. Your unit will decide how prior credits will apply to your program.  

 Graduate Admission at IPFW

You must be formally accepted as a graduate student at IPFW before you are eligible to register for graduate classes. For admission to programs offered through Purdue University, you should apply online at https://gradapply.purdue.edu/apply. Indiana University admission applications may be obtained from the IPFW Office of Graduate Studies, Graduate Admissions Coordinator, KT 258, 260-418-6145, or from the IPFW college, school, division, or department that offers the program you wish to enter.

Classification of applicants.  We have only two classifications:

• Regular which includes degree seeking and re-entry
• Non-degree seeking which includes non-degree seeking, temporary and visiting applicants

Regular admission. You are classified as an applicant for regular admission if you are seeking admission into an IPFW graduate degree program.

Successful candidates for regular graduate admission include promising applicants who: 1) have earned baccalaureate degrees from colleges or universities of recognized standing; 2) have completed studies equivalent to those required of Indiana University or Purdue University baccalaureate recipients; and 3) have earned a B or better average in their undergraduate major. Regular admission, with specific conditions, may be available if you do not meet the above criteria. Some graduate programs at IPFW may impose higher or more specific criteria and may require you to provide additional evidence of previous academic performance (Colleges ).

After you furnish all required information and related documents, your application will be considered by the academic unit that offers the program you seek. For some graduate programs at IPFW, your application will also be considered by the Purdue University Graduate School, the Indiana University Graduate School, or another office responsible for admission to the program you have selected.

Completed applications for regular admission and all required supporting materials have deadlines that vary. Contact your program office for deadline information.

You must reapply for admission if you do not enroll within two years of your admission semester/session.

Graduate Record Examination. As a degree-seeking applicant, you should take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) if you: (1) are seeking admission to a program that requires it (Colleges ); (2) wish to be considered for certain fellowship opportunities; (3) believe your previous academic record does not adequately reflect your abilities; (4) received a baccalaureate degree from a non-accredited institution; or (5) elect to use the GRE Aptitude Test as a means to document proficiency in English.

English language proficiency.  The language of instruction at IPFW is English. Therefore, proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English is vital to your academic success. If your native language is not English, you must provide evidence of your English language ability at the time you apply for admission. Normally this is done by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and submitting the results as part of your admission application. Additional requirements for demonstrating English language proficiency after you are admitted are stated in Regulations  of this Graduate Bulletin (“Academic Regulations for Graduate Students”).

Non-degree admission. You are considered an applicant for non-degree (temporary) admission if you: 1) have earned a baccalaureate or advanced degree; 2) do not intend to pursue another  degree; and 3) are seeking only personal or professional enrichment. You must be prepared to demonstrate that you have the necessary preparation for any course(s) in which you wish to enroll and may be required to obtain approval from the course instructors.

You may later seek regular admission and request that courses you completed while in non-degree admission status be considered for application toward a degree. The applicability of these courses will be determined by the college, school, division, or department that offers the program you are seeking, and typically no more than 12 credits will be considered.

Visiting students. If you are a graduate student in good standing at another accredited graduate school, you may apply for one semester’s admission as a visiting non-degree student. Graduate students from institutional members of the CIC consortium may be visiting students for up to one year. Under the above circumstances, the IPFW Graduate Admissions office will assist with your application.

Re-entry. You are considered an applicant for re-entry if: 1) you previously were regularly admitted to an IPFW graduate program, have not registered for classes at IPFW for more than one year (or at any other Indiana University or Purdue University campus for more than one semester), and wish to resume your studies in the program in which you were last enrolled; or 2) you previously were admitted to an IPFW graduate program in a non-degree classification, have not attended IPFW for more than one year, still meet the criteria for non-degree graduate admission status, and wish to resume your studies under this classification.

You must file a re-entry application at the IPFW Graduate Admissions office. Since your re-entry application will be subject to approval under applicable admission and academic policies of the IPFW graduate program in which you were last enrolled, you must allow ample time for processing.