HNU Graduate Application

At HNU, you will be learning at one of the most diverse university campuses in the country and engaging in different thoughts, ideas and concepts. Achieve your personal and professional goals while gaining valuable knowledge, skills, and perspective along the way.

Please thoroughly read the application instructions below before beginning your application.

Online applications are free! Graduate paper applications are $65

To download a PDF application select below:

Graduate Degree Application

Academic recommendations are a part of the application process. To access a PDF of the appropriate recommendation form, please select one of the links below.

Education Programs Recommendation (except Music Education and Educational Therapy)
Graduate Programs Recommendation

Considering a graduate program and want to learn more? Come to our next Info Night.

If you'd like to contact the Admissions Department, please locate your counselor information here.

Graduate Application Instructions

Departmental Requirements

Refer to the graduate program list below for all admission requirements specific to that program.

Education – Master, Certificate, Credential, Authorization

Official transcripts of ALL college/university coursework completed previously, including date of bachelor's degree completion (must be in sealed envelope from registrar of college/university)
Credential students are required to submit two official copies of each transcript
Two recommendations from previous professors or current or previous work supervisors using form obtained from your enrollment counselor or at www.hnu.edu
1-3 page personal statement
Interview with Education Department faculty (contact your enrollment counselor for more information)
Credential students are preferred to have taken the CBEST and CSET exams, however you may be admitted prior to completion of those exams provided you complete them within the first 15 units of your program

Master of Business Administration

Official transcripts of ALL college/university coursework completed previously, including date of bachelor's degree completion (must be in sealed envelope from registrar of college/university)
1-3 page personal statement
Resume
Two recommendations (letter or form) from previous professors or current or previous work supervisors. Please use this recommendation form. Completed forms may be submitted to Leo Gonzalez at gonzalez@hnu.edu, or by mail:

Leo Gonzalez
Holy Names University
Admissions Office
3500 Mountain Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619

Master of Music (Music Education, Piano Pedagogy, Vocal Pedagogy) and Kodály Specialist Certificate

Completed Application (Free online and $65 paper) which includes statement of purpose
Official Transcripts of ALL college/university coursework completed previously, including date of bachelor degree completion (must be in sealed envelope from Registrar of college/university)
Two letters of recommendation (letter or form) from previous professors or current or previous work supervisors
Audition with the Music Faculty (contact your Enrollment Counselor for more Information)

Kodály Summer Certificate - Level 3 and Vocal Pedagogy Certificate

Completed Application (Free online and $65 paper) which includes statement of purpose
Official Transcripts of ALL college/university coursework completed previously, including date of bachelor degree completion (must be in sealed envelope from Registrar of college/university)
Two letters of recommendation (letter or form) from previous professors or current or previous work supervisors
No audition required

Kodály Summer Levels 1 and 2

Registration is handled by the Kodály Center for Music Education (except for international students). Formal application to the university is not required.

Counseling and Forensic Psychology– Master, Certificate

Official transcripts of ALL college/university coursework completed previously, including date of bachelor's degree completion (must be in sealed envelope from registrar of college/university)
Holy Names University and the faculty of the Counseling Psychology Programs are committed to students’ development of ethical practice, awareness of clinical competence, and assessment of personal fitness for the profession. In a three to five page document, discuss the following topics (see a.-e. below) and how they might relate to your future career. We look forward to learning more about you through this exploration:
a) Discuss how your personal life/work/school experiences may have influenced your current educational path. How did those experiences prepare you to think critically and consider perspectives? How did your life/work/school experiences prepare you to be ready emotionally for a counseling program at the graduate level?

b) Define and discuss the difference between sympathy and empathy. Discuss how your life/work/school experiences contributed to development of the capacity for empathy. Why that might be important for a counselor.

c) Therapeutic success hinges on being able to build a good rapport between clinician and client. Discuss your capacity to form meaningful interpersonal relationships with a wide range of different kinds of people, both individually and in small groups.

d) We belong to and participate in a diverse society.

e )We recognize that we all have individual, well developed perspectives and they can be biased. Being aware of all forms of diversity and your own possible biases is necessary when working in community mental health. Please reflect about forms of diversity in our geographical area, your own possible/known biases and how you might cope with these biases should they arise in a well-established therapeutic relationship. Discuss how this particular program can help you meet your career goals.
Interview with the program director (contact your enrollment counselor for more information)
Two recommendations from previous professors or current or previous work supervisors. Please use this recommendation form (this recommendation form). Completed forms may be submitted to Lori Knight-Baker at knight-baker@hnu.edu, or by mail:

Lori Knight-Baker, Ph.D.
Admissions Office
3500 Mountain Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619

Nursing – Master, Certificate

1. Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and a current RN license (if you have a bachelor’s degree in another field, you are eligible for the Pathway program)
2. Two recommendations (letter or form) from previous professors or current or previous work supervisors (you may obtain a Graduate Academic Recommendation Form from your enrollment counselor or at www.hnu.edu)
3. Official transcripts of ALL college/university coursework completed previously, including date of bachelor's degree completion (must be in sealed envelope from registrar of college/university)
4. Written Personal Statement
5. Applicants must write a personal statement for the FNP degree and certificate program including answering the following three questions:
  a) Please explain your perception of the role of an FNP
  
  b) Why do you want to become an FNP?
  
  c) What changes will you make in your existing schedule to make the time needed to successfully complete the work of this program?

Note: The FNP National Certification exam needs to be completed upon graduation from the FNP graduate degree and certificate program.
Two recommendations from previous professors or current or previous work supervisors. Please use this recommendation form (this recommendation form). Completed forms may be submitted to the Admission Office at gonzalez@hnu.edu, or by mail:

Holy Names University
Admissions Office
3500 Mountain Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619

Master of Science in Nursing and business Administration Joint Degree

Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and a current RN license (if you have a bachelor’s degree in another field, you are eligible for the Pathway program)
Courses in statistics and research at the undergraduate level
Resume
Two recommendations (letter or form) from previous professors or current or previous work supervisors (you may obtain a Graduate Academic Recommendation Form from your enrollment counselor or at www.hnu.edu)
Official transcripts of ALL college/university coursework completed previously, including date of bachelor's degree completion (must be in sealed envelope from registrar of college/university)
Written personal statement

International Students

The following are supplemental materials required of international students:

You will need to request 2 copies of each transcript from each institution you attended. One copy of each transcript must be mailed in a sealed envelope directly from the institution to Holy Names University, Admissions Department. International student transcripts are evaluated by World Education Services (WES), a professional evaluation service. Visit WES online to create an account and sign up for WES ICAP, Course by Course Evaluation for $195. After all required documents and payment have been submitted to WES, HNU will receive the completed evaluation in 7 days. (Do not send International Transcripts to HNU.)

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test) or 79 (internet-based test) or higher if English is a second language

Please note: Candidates for admission cannot be evaluated until all required documents have been received. Financial aid applications cannot be processed until a candidate has been fully accepted.

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HNU Graduate Application