Understanding the Online Application

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Tips for Filling Out Our Online Applications

Thank you for your interest in applying to Salem State! All applicants seeking a bachelor's degree, graduate degree or certificate will need to submit our online application.

  1. Create your online application account and login, if you have not already done so
  2. Read the instructions on filling out the first page of the application correctly
  3. Review our tips for specific majors and programs

Filling Out the First Page of the Online Application Correctly

1. Select Your Studies (Undergraduate vs. Graduate)

In most cases determined by the degree sought and your academic background.

Select undergraduate if* Select graduate if*
  • The degree you're seeking is a bachelor's degree.
  • Your highest level of education is or is going to be a high school diploma or associate's degree.
  • The degree or certificate you're seeking is at the graduate level.
  • Your highest level of education is going to be or is a bachelor's degree or higher.

*Also review tips for specific majors.

2. Select Your Applicant Type

Undergraduate Graduate
  • Freshman (First Year) - for those with no college credits or college credits were earned entirely through a dual enrollment program
  • Second undergraduate degree - for those who are about to have or already have a bachelor's degree, and we do not offer your major at the graduate level
  • Transfer - for those with any college credit post-high school graduation
 Will always default to graduate

 

3. Select How You Plan to Enroll

Undergraduate Graduate

Tell us if you want to take day classes OR take evening classes/start in the summer.

The lists for day programs and evening/summer start programs will be different, as we offer different majors in the day and evening.

Tell us if you seek a master's degree, educator license only, or graduate certificate.

Master's degree programs are eligible for federal financial aid; educator license only and graduate certificate programs are not eligible for federal financial aid.

 

4. Select the Correct Undergraduate Major or Graduate Program

Answering this question correctly is important, as it tells us your intended academic major or program. Don't see your major or program listed?

  • Go back and review the questions above to be sure you've made all of the right selections in the prior sections.
  • Review undergraduate deadlines and graduate deadlines.
  • Review the last section for tips for specific majors and programs.

5. Select Your Citizenship

Options are United States citizen, not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or have a Green Card (permanent resident).

6. Select Term

Tells us when you’d ideally like to begin a program at Salem State. Some majors/programs begin several times per year, while some begin once per year. The term available will be determined by the major or program you choose.

Tips for Specific Majors and Programs

Business

Undergraduate Graduate
Our bachelor's degree in business administration is for those who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree. Our master's programs in business are for those who are about to earn or already earned a bachelor's degree. In particular, our MBA and Graduate Certificate in Business can accept non-business majors, as those programs have coursework designed for academic backgrounds outside of business. 

 

Education

Undergraduate Graduate
Select your major based on the type of teacher you would like to be, such as early childhood, elementary, or community education. If you would like to teach a specific subject in a middle or high school, select the academic major + the teacher track. For example, those who want to be a high school English teacher should select English Teacher Track.  If you have a bachelor's degree, you can apply to a graduate program, even if your undergraduate degree was not education. Review our program-specific requirements to see which programs have course or content prerequisites and which do not specify a major. Select your program based on educator role or license sought (ie, elementary teacher, middle or high school teacher, school counselor, etc.)

Nursing

Undergraduate Graduate

No nursing license of any kind (RN, LPN)

Apply to one of our undergraduate nursing programs (freshman nursing, transfer nursing, or Accelerated BSN for those with a bachelor's degree and no RN license). The Accelerated BSN is offered through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies and only enrolls for the summer term.

Have an LPN or RN license and no bachelor's degree

Apply to our LPN-BSN or RN-BSN program. Both are available on our transfer application through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

 

Applicants must have both a bachelor's degree and RN license from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

If you have a bachelor's degree, but no RN license, you should apply to our undergraduate Accelerated BSN program, which is offered through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

If you have a bachelor's degree, and a nursing license from another state or country, please visit the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing for Mass. license information.

 

Occupational Therapy

Undergraduate Graduate

Have a COTA license and associate's degree in OT

Apply to our Occupational Health Studies program, available on our transfer application through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. If you have a COTA license and both an associate's and bachelor's degree, apply to the Occupational Health Studies program, as a direct entry program may be repetitive for you.

No COTA license and no bachelor's degree

Apply to any major, and you will have to apply to a direct entry OT program after graduation. All accredited OT programs will require prerequisites, some of which you can do during your undergraduate degree and some you can do outside of your bachelor's degree. Please note Healthcare Studies is not Occupational Therapy.

No OT license and about to have or have a  bachelor's degree

Apply to the Direct Entry OT program. Review application requirements for prerequisite and deadline information.

 

Social Work

Undergraduate Graduate
Our BSW is for those who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree. Social Work is available on both our day and evening applications.

Our MSW is for those who are about to have or have a bachelor's degree.

If your degree is social work (BSW), apply to our advanced standing program.

If your degree is not social work, apply to our Saturday program (starts spring term) or MSW program (starts in the fall).

View our MSW application details.
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