Holistic Health Studies (Master's or Certificate) Admissions

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements.

• Degree: A completed bachelor's or graduate degree from an institution that is accredited by one of the regional accrediting organizations (e.g. Higher Learning Commission). The degree may be in any discipline. No prerequisite courses are required.

• Grade Point Average: A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) or higher on a 4.0 scale. If the applicant's GPA is less than 3.0, an explanatory statement should be submitted that addresses any factors that influenced previous academic performance, and how the applicant plans to ensure future academic success. If you are unsure of your cumulative GPA, please use these instructions as a guide to help you determine if an explanatory statement is necessary.

Application form

Please read the application instructions below before completing the online application at the bottom of this page. If you are interested in our MSW/MAHS dual degree, please use these application instructions.

Admission essay

Prepare an admission essay that demonstrates written communication skills and clarifying your purpose in pursuing a graduate program in holistic health studies. All applicants whose cumulative GPA is below 3.0 must also include an explanatory statement. Please submit one document addressing the following and provide a separately titled section in the same document if submitting an Explanatory Statement. Do not exceed one typed, double spaced page for each topic.

1. Interest in the field of holistic health studies
2. Background in related fields
3. Personal and professional goals for graduate study

If you have already submitted the MAHS application form, you may upload your admission essay via your Application Status page (instructions for accessing the status page were provided at the time you submitted the application). Please include your full name at the top of the essay.

If you wish to submit the admission essay prior to the MAHS application, or if you are unable to upload the document to your Application Status page, you may send the essay as an attachment via email to graduateadmission@stkate.edu with “MAHS Admission Essay” in the subject line.

Explanatory statement

If you are an applicant who does not meet the minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA requirement, please include an explanation of factors that affected previous academic performance, as well as your plan to ensure academic success in a graduate program. This statement should be limited to 400 words and is in addition to the personal statement described above.

Innovation in Holistic Health Scholarship

This is an optional topic — it is not required as part of the application process for admission into the graduate program. PLEASE NOTE: current undergraduate students applying for the dual degree are not eligible. Only entry level applicants who wish to be considered for this scholarship should address the topic below (one page, titled “Innovation Statement”, as a separate section, in the admission essay). Please note that this essay MUST accompany your application for admission and will be a part of your full review. Post decision submissions will not be eligible for consideration.

The purpose of this scholarship is to support new students who demonstrate the capacity to transform health and well-being through the application of holistic health practices. Describe your aspirations for how you will apply learning from the Holistic Health Studies program to transform you personally, professionally, intellectually or spiritually. Tell us about your background, your journey and your intended destination. How will your learning enable you to become a creative problem solver? What are your goals for becoming a change maker in the environments around you, and how will learning in the Holistic Health Studies program enable you to meet these goals?

Résumé

Submit a current résumé highlighting professional and volunteer experiences.

If you have already submitted the MAHS application form, you may upload your résumé via your Application Status page (instructions for accessing the status page were provided at the time you submitted the application).

If you wish to submit the résumé prior to the MAHS application, or if you are unable to upload the document to your Application Status page, you may send the résumé as an attachment via email to graduateadmission@stkate.edu with “MAHS Résumé” in the subject line.

Recommendations

Two recommendations are required for Holistic Health Studies applicants.

MAHS recommendation forms must be completed by individuals who can attest to the intellectual ability, professional competence and leadership ability of the applicant. Only professional or academic references will be considered; personal references are not acceptable.

A link to the recommendation form will be sent when the Recommendations section of the MAHS application form has been completed. Please alert your references in advance to expect an email from St. Catherine University. These are confidential recommendations submitted directly from the references to the Office of Graduate Admission; applicants who wish to view the recommendations are responsible for making the appropriate arrangements with their references.

Transcripts

To review your admission file, we'll need transcripts from the college or university from which you earned your bachelor's degree and, if applicable, graduate degree. St. Kate's will review your admission file and make offers of acceptance using unofficial transcripts uploaded by you to your St. Kate's admission portal. However, official transcripts sent directly from your bachelor's and graduate (if applicable) degree-granting institutions are required, and must be received before registration for courses is allowed.

Need assistance finding out how to order your official transcripts?  Contact your admission counselor for help!  See contact information at the bottom of this page.

NOTE: Joint Services (formerly SMART) military transcripts are accepted, but not required.

All documents must be up-to-date and include your name, institution name, all courses taken with grades and degrees received (if applicable). Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded using your applicant status page (a link is sent once you’ve started an application) or sent as an attachment to graduateadmission@stkate.edu.  

To be considered official, electronic transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing college or university to St. Kate's (at graduateadmission@stkate.edu). Paper transcripts must be mailed in a sealed envelope directly from the registrar of each institution to the Office of Graduate Admission at St. Catherine University (see address below).

TOEFL / IELTS Scores

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or 80 on the IBT, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.5. This requirement is waived for applicants who have completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree in the United States.

Credential Evaluation

Applicants with a college or university degree completed outside of the United States must submit an official course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (WES) or SpanTran. Original transcripts and official translations of all documents not in English must also be included. All costs related to document translation and evaluation are the applicant’s responsibility.

Submitting Materials

Please review all application instructions. Once you’ve submitted the online application, you will have access to your Application Status page to upload any supporting documents (instructions for accessing the status page were emailed at the time you submitted the application). If you are unable to upload electronic documents to your Application Status page, you may send items as an attachment via email to graduateadmission@stkate.edu. Paper documents may be mailed to:

St. Catherine University
Graduate Admission #4027
2004 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their application is completed by the deadline. The Admission Committee will not review your application until we have received all required documents. Fulfillment of the admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. No credentials will be returned to the applicant.

PLEASE NOTE: Our MAHS and Certificate programs are fully online. Therefore, we are not able to issue a student visa or federal financial aid to applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. International applicants who are able to fully fund their education with outside funds and do not need a student visa are welcome to apply.

Please review the information below regarding other application materials that may be required for international applicants. 

Deadlines

Earlier deadlines may apply for international applicants to ensure that all requirements can be met in time for you to enroll in the desired term. Contact your admission counselor with questions.

International Student Forms

International applicants for graduate study must complete the International Information section of the application form.

Additional Documentation

Some international applicants may be required to submit additional documentation, such as a credential evaluation, language test scores, etc. Please review the application instructions for your graduate program for more information.