Adult and Online Undergraduate Programs

Admission to the Adult and Online Undergraduate Programs

In addition to its residential campus programs, SWU offers undergraduate degrees through evening courses at its regional sites or through online courses. Admission to these programs is open to transfer students with a minimum 2.0 cumulative combined GPA for all accredited colleges attended or first-time college students who rank in the upper half of their high school graduating class or who earn a General Education (GED) Passing Score (at least 150 on each of the four test subjects).SWU accepts students with below 50% class rank if they have 2.0 or higher GPA. Additional admission requirements vary by degree program.

Associate and Bachelor Degree Programs:

• Submission of a completed Online and Graduate Programs application.
• $25 application fee.
• An official high-school transcript if transferring fewer than 15 credit hours from accredited colleges or universities. Minimum high school cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
• Home school students must provide evidence of membership in an approved home school association and provide an official transcript with a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale; otherwise, applicant must submit GED scores.
• Transfer students who have attended other colleges or universities must provide official transcripts¹ from each school attended. Students must have earned a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA for all college work attempted ¹ .
• Submission of all military transcripts, if applicable.
• Applicants for whom English is a second language must meet the official TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test), or demonstrate equivalent evidence of proficiency in English, such as an overall band score of 6.0 or higher on the IELTS test.
• Satisfactory interview with a designated committee or academic division, if required.

¹International transcripts must be evaluated by an approved agency. American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers can do this evaluation, and National Association of Credential Evaluation Services provides a list of approved agencies. From the NACES list, Southern Wesleyan recommends using World Education Services or Josef Silny.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit is generally accepted from regionally accredited colleges and universities and from postsecondary higher education institutions that are recognized by the US Department of Education, provided such transfer courses meet the degree requirements at Southern Wesleyan University as well as transfer-quality accreditation standards.  Courses that are identified by the institution as intended for transfer must demonstrate comparable course content, comparable learning outcomes, and the nature, content, and level of the course learning experience and its appropriateness must be applicable to the programs offered by SWU.  Southern Wesleyan University reserves the right to deny credit from institutions that are not regionally accredited.

Grades lower than C- will not be accepted in transfer.

Except with special permission, transfer credits may not be among the last thirty-two hours of the degree. (Cooperative program hours count as Southern Wesleyan University hours.)

Substitutes for required courses must be approved by the division chair or the school dean.

Conditional Admittance

First-time students who do not rank in the upper half of their high school graduating class or have a 2.0 or higher GPA and transfer students who do not have a minimum 2.0 cumulative combined GPA for all accredited colleges may apply for conditional admittance on appeal to the Undergraduate Admissions Committee. Students must appeal in writing, explaining their past circumstances and their plan for success. An interview (in-person, video, or phone) may be required. High school transcripts may also be requested by the Undergraduate Admissions Committee. The appeals process occurs only at the student’s request and is not automatically implemented. Students whose appeals are granted may be limited in their course registration or have mandatory requirements for tutoring. The decision of the Undergraduate Admissions Committee is final.

If accepted, these students must maintain a 2.0 GPA over the next two courses of enrollment.

Students Seeking Re-Admission

Students who have been dismissed or suspended, have left on academic warning or probation, have left during the semester without officially withdrawing, or have withdrawn with a GPA less than 2.0 may appeal for re-admittance to the Undergraduate Admissions Committee. Students must appeal in writing, explaining their past circumstances and their plan for success. An interview may be required. The appeals process occurs only at the student’s request and is not automatically implemented. Students whose appeals are granted may be limited in their course registration or have mandatory requirements for tutoring. The student’s status may be determined to be probation, academic warning, or good standing, as determined by the Undergraduate Admissions Committee. The decision of the Undergraduate Admissions Committee is final.

Traditional Student Enrollment in Evening and Online Courses

Students who are enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours on SWU’s residential campus program may take up to two courses/semester in the Online and Graduate Programs, as space is available. Online and Graduate Programs summer enrollment is not limited for traditional students but is offered on a space-available basis.

Additional Information

Requests for general information about the SWU adult evening programs or questions about the application should be directed to the Online and Graduate Programs admissions office in your area:

Or inquire at www.swu.edu.