This section contains information about Pacific Lutheran University graduate programs. Course descriptions for graduate courses are included in the undergraduate section of the catalog within the specific department or school.
Pacific Lutheran University's graduate programs offer excellence in advanced professional education within a long-standing liberal arts tradition in which the most fundamental challenges for society and individual values are examined. Master's degree candidates in business, education, marriage and family therapy, and nursing choose to study at PLU to increase their understanding and competence in theory, research, and practice. They go on to become thoughtful and effective leaders in their communities. Many are attracted to PLU by the opportunity to study in unusually close and supportive working relationships with accomplished full-time PhD faculty and exceptional professional practitioners. The Office of Graduate Studies, as part of the Office of the Provost, coordinates the work of the schools that provide graduate-level instruction.
The Master of Business Administration program enhances the managerial effectiveness of leaders in business, government, and non-profit organizations. Individuals of all educational and working backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The program is accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is an innovative process-oriented program in the fields of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction intended for independent adults who wish to develop and pursue careers as writers. The program offers a substantial range of on- and off-campus experiences, including the mentorship of nationally known writers and editors. The three-year course of study is collaboratively structured to fit the student's own needs and experience. It is designed to be well suited to a lifestyle of professional and/or family responsibility. Participants will attend four intensive 10-day Summer Residencies consisting of workshops, lectures, and mini-courses and will design a personal course of study with a chosen mentor for the following academic year. The program includes three years of one-on-one work with mentors in chosen genres. The emphasis will be on the creative process in all its phases, as well as on critical understanding. By the time of graduation, students will be expected to have produced a collection of work in one or more genres of a quality worthy of publication.
The Master of Arts in Education meets the needs of educators by offering two concentrations:
The School of Education is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
The Master of Arts (Marriage and Family Therapy) is designed to develop professional skills and clinical competence via a systems approach to family therapy with a rigorous practicum component. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
The Master of Science in Nursing offers an integrated approach to knowledge and clinical competencies essential to advanced nursing practice, by offering two concentrations:
For information on Entry-level MSN program, refer to MSN sequence for non-nursing BA/BS graduates. For information on the RN to MSN program, refer to the MSN Sequence for Licensed Registered Nurses in the Nursing section of this catalog.