Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs

Objectives

Graduate programs offer advanced, in-depth education to individuals seeking specialized knowledge and skills in a particular field. Graduate work encourages students to fully develop professional competencies and to enhance high-level thinking abilities, including practical application and synthesis. Graduate education at Seattle University cultivates the critical examination of ethical and values-laden issues in various professions.
Graduate program instructors strive to stimulate participants’ curiosity and nurture the investigative skills needed to seek answers to challenging questions. Graduates develop personal and professional qualifications that contribute to their field and to the betterment of those they serve.

Meeting the Changing Needs of Students

A dynamic component of Seattle University graduate studies was first offered in 1948, with a master’s degree in a division of the College of Arts and Sciences. Additional graduate degree programs have been introduced over the years, primarily to meet the needs of working professionals. Today, more than 3,200 graduate and professional students are enrolled in full- and part-time programs. While teaching is the heart of the enterprise, Seattle University’s graduate programs strive to meet the changing academic and service-level needs of our diverse student body while retaining a high value on personal interactions.

Degree Programs

The academic deans are responsible for administration and supervision of all programs leading to a degree. The colleges or schools with associated departments provide courses of instruction for graduate students, direct their studies and conduct examinations, as well as maintain requirements and make recommendations for degree programs.

Graduate admission is granted through the director of graduate admission in consultation following the recommendation by program faculty. The university’s registrar supervises academic transactions involving registration and awarding degrees.