GRADUATE PROGRAMS
University of Valley Forge offers master’s programs for those desiring to engage in the academic pursuits of higher education from a distinctively Pentecostal perspective. Three master’s programs are based in the Ministry Leadership and Theology Department: Christian Leadership, and Theology. There is a master’s program in Digital Media. The Education Department offers four masters degrees: PreK-4 Teacher Certification, PreK-4 Teacher Certification with Special Education PreK-12 Certification, Curriculum and Instruction, and English as a Second Language. Two master’s programs are based in the Music Department: Music Technology and Worship Studies. Two master’s programs that are based in the Business Administration Department: Business Administration, and Organizational Leadership.
There is a vital need to broaden the spectrum of scholarship and research for writing, communicating and impacting a needy world. The graduate programs offer a unique opportunity and delivery method to help students reach life goals. The programs are designed to consider the flexibility required for those actively involved in various academic, professional and ministerial settings. The programs are completed through online courses and on-campus intensive courses.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS OF STUDY
GENERAL INFORMATION
University of Valley Forge is committed to serving all qualified persons who choose to pursue an education described in the University’s mission statement. At UVF, admission of all graduate students is coordinated through Online and the Department Chairs.
GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
1. Submit an application online through the UVF website at apply.valleyforge.edu
2. Request that official transcripts be forwarded to UVF by the accredited, degree-granting college/ university attended. All applicants must possess an earned bachelor’s degree.
3. Meet the minimum GPA requirement of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for bachelor’s degree. For those applicants with a 2.0-2.74 bachelor’s degree GPA, there will be additional requirements prior to entry into the program.
4. Additional admission requirements for specific programs are below:
CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP & THEOLOGY
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Applicants must submit one letter of recommendation.
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DEAF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
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- Applicants must be fluent in ASL
DIGITAL MEDIA
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Provide a portfolio (digital) of your work in digital media. Media files in common format should be viewable online.
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Interview with Digital Media Faculty.
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EDUCATION
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Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation describing how applicant’s professional experience and academic performance qualifies applicant for entrance into the Master of Education program.
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Applicants must submit current resume or CV.
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Applicants must submit personal statement of purpose: approximately 500 words describing applicant’s professional goals and reasons for applying to this particular program. The statement of purpose will serve as a writing sample. The education department will review the personal statement of purpose before acceptance to the program is granted.
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In order to meet PA academic competencies for Master of Education with a PreK-4 Teaching Certification, applicants must have the following undergraduate prerequisites:*
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Six credits of college level math
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Three credits of English Comp . and three credits of literature
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Three credits in an area of Fine Arts
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Three credits in U.S. History or the equivalent
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Six credits in college level science
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Evidence of previous work with children
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Up-to-date PA clearances (PA Child Abuse History Clearance, PATCH, FBI/PA State Criminal History Record with fingerprints)
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*Students may submit evidence of meeting the competencies through teaching, non-traditional coursework, or other life experience
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MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
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Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in music or a related degree with significant demonstrated experience in music and music technology.
The Program Director will review transcripts.
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Applicants must audition with a designated member of the Music Technology program.
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Applicants must take a music technology entrance exam.
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Applicants must submit personal statement of purpose: approximately 500 words describing applicant’s professional goals and reasons for applying to this particular program. The statement of purpose will serve as a writing sample. The music department will review the personal statement of purpose before acceptance to the program is granted.
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Applicants must submit one letter of recommendation.
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ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP & MBA
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- Applicant will submit a letter of recommendation endorsing their participation from their current organization, or recent professor.
WORSHIP STUDIES
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Applicants must submit a statement describing their theology and philosophy of worship.
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Applicants must submit one letter of recommendation.
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FULL ACCEPTANCE
Students who are fully accepted into the university have met all the general and additional admission requirements stated above.
PROVISIONAL ACCEPTANCE
Students may be conditionally accepted, with approval of the Department Chair, into graduate programs when the following criteria apply:
1) application materials are not complete, and/or
2) a specified cumulative GPA has not been achieved.
Those who are conditionally accepted cannot take more than 6 credit hours in their first semester and must obtain a 3.0 in their first semester.
READMISSION
Students, who have a period of non-attendance for more than a calendar year, must reapply to the university in order to be considered as a candidate for readmission. To initiate this process, individuals must complete a new UVF admissions application and enter “readmit” as their student type. The admissions counselor will generate the internal readmission form and forward to the appropriate departments. The decision to readmit rests solely with these persons.
At the time of readmission, students are bound by the current academic calendar year edition of the University of Valley Forge Catalog. Requests for exceptions are made to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The student’s academic standing upon readmission will match the academic standing held prior to leaving the university.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
GRADUATE TUITION AND FEES
TUITION:
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Master of Arts: $545* per credit hr
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Master of Education: $545* per credit hr
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PK-4 Teacher Certification Student Teaching Fee: $600*
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Master of Music: $435* per credit hr
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Capstone Project or Thesis Extension Fee: $880* per semester
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Digital Media Capstone Project Fee: $855*
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Graduation Fee: $118*
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Applied Music Fee: $395 per credit hr*
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* Charges and fees are due and payable prior to the beginning of classes for each semester.
BOOKS
The student assumes the responsibility for all book fees incurred. However, access to databases and journal articles are included in the tuition for the course.
HOUSING
The program is designed to be completed online, through campus intensives and through international trips; as such the need for room and board does not apply in the program.
CROSS CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
The MA degrees in Christian Leadership and Theology each include a cross cultural experience (domestic or international) that serve as unique features of the degrees and are selected in consultation with the faculty. The student will be required to pay the cost of these experiences.
SEMESTER SCHEDULE
Courses will be offered on a 15 week or 7 week cycle (dependent on the program of study) in the fall, spring and summer. Students can register for one or more courses per semester up to 12 credits per semester.
COURSE PAYMENT
Course payment must be made in advance in order to complete academic registration. Withdrawal from college will result in a prorated refund as per college policy found under the Refund Policy section of this catalog.
PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS
Payments can be made to University of Valley Forge in the form of cash, check, money order, debit card, or credit card. To make a credit card payment over the phone, call our toll free number 1-800-432-8322.
Students who qualify for Federal Direct Student Loans may use confirmed loans as payment.
FINANCIAL AID
The Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan is available to assist in covering the cost of the graduate program . To apply for this loan the student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at FAFSA.gov, complete the Federal Direct Master Promissory Note (MPN), and complete entrance loan counseling available at studentaid.go.
FEDERAL DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN
$20,500 – Maximum per year
This is a low-interest loan available to qualified students. Repayment is deferred until six months after the student graduates or withdraws. Interest accrues while the student is enrolled. For information about interest rates and repayment terms, see studentaid.gov.
WITHDRAWAL FROM UVF
To withdraw officially from University of Valley Forge, a student MUST completely fill out a University Withdrawal form provided by the Online Operations Office.
To officially withdraw from an individual course, a student must complete a Course Withdrawal form provided by the Registrar’s Office.
WITHDRAWAL/TERMINATION REFUND
Please see the charts in the Withdrawal/ Termination Refund Policy in the undergraduate section of the Catalog. The same rates and details apply to graduate students.
ACADEMIC POLICIES
USE OF CAMPUS
Those enrolled in graduate studies at University of Valley Forge have access to the campus, library, dining facilities, athletic facilities, technology and events. Charges may be incurred at times.
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
As part of the extensive online nature of the program, graduate students will have access to the network and databases to conduct work for graduate studies through UVF.
If you are in need of IT assistance for technical problems you encounter, please email support@valleyforge.edu, making sure to include a summary of the problem. The request will enter the UVF support queue where a technician will respond to your request. You can also call the Help Desk at 610-917-2000 during normal business hours.
COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM
Graduate courses carry a course numbering designation of 500 to 600 level.
ACADEMIC STANDING
The expectation is that a student will work at a GPA level of 3 .0 or above to remain in the program. Should the student drop below this level a one semester probationary period will be granted. A student will be eligible for Federal Stafford Loans during their probationary period. If at the end of the probationary period the student has not regained satisfactory academic progress, the student will be terminated from the program. The student may appeal this termination based on extenuating circumstances. The appeal will be reviewed by the Graduate Studies Academic Standing Committee and the decision of the committee will be final. If the student was terminated, the student will be eligible for Federal Stafford Loans if their appeal is approved.
GRADING
UVF Graduate Studies utilizes a grading system based on a grade point value according to letter grades. The letter grades are calculated on a 100 point scale and assigned point values as follows:
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A+ |
100-97 |
4.0 points |
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A |
96-93 |
4.0 points |
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A- |
92-90 |
3.67 points |
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B+ |
89-87 |
3.33 points |
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B |
86-83 |
3.0 points |
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B- |
82-80 |
2.67 points |
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C+ |
79-77 |
2.33 points |
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C |
76-73 |
2.0 points |
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C- |
72-70 |
1.67 points |
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D+ |
69-67 |
1.33 points |
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D |
66-63 |
1.0 points |
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D- |
62-60 |
0.67 points |
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F |
59-0 |
0.0 points |
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I |
Incomplete |
W Withdrawal from course Requests for incompletes must be approved by the professor. Course work for incompletes must be completed within the timeframe approved by the course professor but may not exceed 6 weeks from the last date of the semester. If work is not completed within the agreed upon timeframe, the incomplete (“I”) will convert to an “F”. Only the Academic Affairs Committee is authorized to make a grade change later than 6 weeks after the class was taken.
A designation of “W” can only occur if the student withdraws by the “Withdraw” date found in the college calendar for that particular semester.
RESEARCH PROJECT
All Master of Arts degrees and the MBA require a three to six credit thesis project in the final semester for degree completion. If additional semesters are required, they must be taken consecutively. A continuing enrollment charge of $855 per semester applies each semester.
The Master of Music graduate degree requires a three-credit research project in the final semester for degree completion.
Extensions must be requested in writing and be based on extenuating circumstances. If additional semesters are required, they must be taken consecutively. A continuing enrollment charge of $815 per semester applies each semester.
TIME LIMIT
Students are encouraged to complete their program in 6 or fewer years.
GRADUATE STUDY LOAD
15-WEEK SEMESTER STUDENTS
Full-time Course load of 9 credits or more
Half-time Course load of 3 credits to 8.5 credits
Less than Course load less than
Half-time 3 credits
Non-matriculated: Non-degree seeking
7-WEEK SESSION STUDENTS
Full-time Course load of 4 credits or more
Three Quarter Course load of 3 credits Time
Half-time Course load of 2 credits
Less than Course load of 1 credit Half-time
Non-matriculated: Non-degree seeking
TRANSFER OF CREDIT
University of Valley Forge will allow up to six credit hours to be transferred into the program from a regionally accredited graduate program providing that the courses transferred in are comparable. Courses transferred in must have a grade of “B” or above.
LIFE EXPERIENCE
Educators recognize that professional learning may take place by experience outside the traditional college classroom. UVF has a procedure for evaluating this learning and awarding academic credit known as life experience credit . In rare occasions, life experience credit could possibly count towards a graduate program. The maximum number of transfer credit and/or life experience credits is six credit hours. Inquiries about life experience credit should be addressed to the Office of Academic Affairs.
NON-MATRICULATING STUDENTS
Non-matriculating students may take the first two courses in the Graduate program without making full application to the program. However, non-matriculating students do not qualify for Federal Financial Aid.
The non-matriculating student must meet the general graduate admissions requirements.
After the first two courses, the student wishing to move on in the program must make full application. The student who achieves an A or B in the first two courses may substitute this for the portfolio requirement. The other admissions documents will be required as stated above.
LIFESTYLE EXPECTATIONS
Students entering into the program agree to abide by the stated expectations of conduct, becoming to a Christian, as found in the Graduate Student Life Handbook of the university.
DIRECTORY OF PERSONNEL
GRADUATE STUDIES ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Todd Guevin
Vice President of Academic Affairs
TGGuevin@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-1493
GRADUATE STUDIES STAFF
Chris Addicks
Registrar
CJAddicks@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-1424
Melanie Oestreich
Librarian
MROestreich@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-2003
Library Staff
Research@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-2001
Help Desk / IT Support
Support@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-2000
Financial Services
FinancialServices@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-1475
PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Melanie Weaver
Arts & Sciences Department Chair
MSWeaver@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-1448
Leone Bilotta
Digital Media Department Chair
L_Bilotta@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-1483
Dr. Troy Gearhart
Business Administration Department Chair
TEGearhart@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-1477
Dr. William DeSanto
Music Department and Music Technology Chair
WFDeSanto@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-1438
Dr. David Dippold
Ministry Leadership and Theology Department Chair
DMDippold@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-1446
Dr. Alan Totire
Intercultural Studies Department Chair
AGTotire@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-1499
Dr. Marianne Modica
Education Department Chair
M_Modica@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-1495
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS
Elizabeth Collins
Administrative Assistant
Digital Media & Music Departments
EDCollins@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-3954
Cassandra Taylor
Administrative Assistant
Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, & Behavioral Sciences Departments
C_Taylor@valleyforge.edu | 610-917-1420