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. Masters'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 PLU Alumni Grant provides a 10% discount on tuition for PLU baccalaureate graduates who enroll in a PLU master's program. The discount applies to all graduate programs and begins immediately upon admission. University employees eligible for tuition remission benefits are not eligible for this discount.
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-orientated 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 thee-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 cocurse 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 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.