Low GPA Remedies

Counselor Education Programs

If an applicant's undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0, they will need to either submit GRE scores or complete a low GPA remedy. There is one exception to this rule: if candidate holds a Master’s degree, no further action required.

Low GPA Remedy

If undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0 and applicant does not submit GRE scores, they will need to complete any two (2) of the following courses at BSU and earn a grade of B or above, to be considered for admission.
Please note: completion of courses as a low GPA remedy, does not guarantee admission to a graduate program

• CNGC 500 - Research and Evaluation
• CNGC 528 - Counseling Theories and Techniques
• CNGC 529 - Multicultural Counseling
• CNGC 539 - Introduction to Career Counseling

Minimum GRE Scores

• If undergraduate GPA is 2.80-2.99, a combined GRE of 291 is required
• If undergraduate GPA is 2.50-2.79, a combined GRE of 292 is required.

Secondary Education (APB Program)

The following Low GPA Remedy Plan is available to potential candidates seeking acceptance into the Accelerated Post Baccalaureate (APB) program with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) lower than 2.8. 

Interested candidates should complete an additional six credits beyond their bachelor’s degree.  Candidates must take courses that are applicable to the area in which they are seeking their initial license to teach; courses cannot be courses that they have already taken in their prior academic history.  Those who attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in these credits will be eligible to apply to the program.  Please note that the required GPA is non-negotiable and is one of several admission standards that must be satisfied in order for an applicant to be considered eligible for review.  For a complete list of admission requirements please visit the APPLY section of our graduate website. The GPA acquired in these six credits will not be combined with the candidate’s undergraduate GPA.

As part of the admissions process, APB candidate files are reviewed for appropriate content area coursework.  This review may result in a requirement for candidates to complete content area coursework in addition to the APB curriculum.  If a Low GPA candidate is required to take additional coursework, these courses can also count for the Low GPA Remedy Plan.

Students should contact the Graduate Program Coordinator if they have questions or concerns about appropriate coursework.  Bridgewater offers a variety of courses during the spring, summer and fall sessions.  For a complete listing of courses by semester, CLICK HERE.

Upon the completion of the six credits, it is the students’ responsibility to submit the Low GPA Remedy Completion form (PDF) and forward official transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admissions demonstrating that they have satisfied the GPA requirement.  Files will not be reviewed for admission until evidence of completion of the Low GPA Remedy Plan has been submitted.

Special Education

The low GPA remedy for candidates wishing to be admitted to the Special Education graduate program for Initial Licensure but have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of less than the required 2.8 can be viewed below:

• Candidates must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.3 by successfully completing two courses (six credits) in Special Education (students must earn a B+ or higher in both courses) and earn a passing score on all of the program required Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTELs)
• Upon completion of the six credits and testing requirement, a recommendation for admission will be considered.
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify the College of Graduate Studies of completion of the Low GPA Recommendation.
• Courses may count towards degree program.

Candidates should contact the Graduate Coordinator for information regarding what courses should be taken to remedy a low GPA. 

Upon completion, it is the students’ responsibility to submit the Low GPA Remedy Completion form and forward any required documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions demonstrating that they have satisfied the GPA requirement.  Files will not be reviewed for admission until evidence of completion of the Low GPA Remedy Plan has been submitted.

Elementary & Early Childhood

The low GPA remedy for candidates wishing to be admitted to any Elementary or Early Childhood Education initial licensure program who have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) less than the required 2.8 can be viewed below:

Candidates must attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a total of nine credits beyond the bachelor’s degree in order to be considered for admission. The GPA in these nine credits will not be combined with the candidate’s undergraduate GPA. The nine credits must consist of the following course selections:

One three - credit “introduction to education” course:

• Candidates for Elementary Education (Initial Licensure/Non-Licensure), MEd should take:
  ELED 510 - Fundamentals of Elementary Education*
• Candidates for Early Childhood (Initial Licensure/Non-Licensure) programs should take:
  ECED 230 -  Basics of Early Childhood Education
• Candidates for Elementary Education (Initial Licensure), Postbaccalaureate should take:
  ELED 510 - Fundamentals of Elementary Education
  or
  ELED 220 -  Principles of Teaching (May be taken with Graduate Coordinator permission under extenuating circumstances)

Six Additional Credits (2 courses) from the listed courses or categories below:

• ELED 120 - Child Study*
• ELED 222 - Digital Literacy and Technology Integration in the Prek-6 classroom*
• ELED 240 - General Curriculum: The Content of the Curriculum (1-6) – (MTEL prep)
• ELED 250 - Foundations of Reading – (MTEL prep)

OR Upper-level (300 or 400) content courses in the following subject areas:

• English Literature
• History/Political Science/Geography
• Mathematics (100, 200, 300 or 400 level)
• Biology/Chemistry/Earth Science/Physics (100, 200, 300 or 400 level)

*NOTE: ELED 510, ELED 120 and ELED 222 can also satisfy existing program requirements for licensure

Please consider the following additional restrictions:

• Candidates may not retake a course that they have taken in their past academic history to reestablish their GPA.
• Candidates must achieve a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA through the above nine credits in order to request consideration based on GPA.

Once a candidate has reestablished a GPA based on the above recommendations, he/she must submit the applicable official transcripts to the College of Graduate Studies.  Please note: Students may not enroll in education courses beyond the introductory level without being matriculated into a postbaccalaureate/graduate teacher preparation program through the College of Graduate Studies and the College of Education and Health Sciences.

Upon completion, it is the students’ responsibility to submit the Low GPA Remedy Completion form PDF and forward any required documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions demonstrating that they have satisfied the GPA requirement.  Files will not be reviewed for admission until evidence of completion of the Low GPA Remedy Plan has been submitted.

Health & Physical Education

The low GPA remedy for candidates wishing to be admitted to a Health or Physical Education Initial Licensure program who have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of less than the required 2.8 can be viewed below:

Candidates must attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a total of nine credits beyond the bachelor’s degree in order to be considered for admission. The GPA in these nine credits will not be combined with the candidate’s undergraduate GPA. The nine credits must consist of the following course selections:

Introduction to Education:
PHED 205 - Introduction to Teaching in the Public Schools (2 credits)

Seven additional credits that may include 200 level PE licnesure courses and 300 and 400 level PHED or HEAL courses including but not limited to:
PHED 324
PHED 318
PHED 380/381
PHED 385
PHED 401
PHED 210
PHED 212 (if applying for licensure in grades 5-12)
PHED 225 (if applying for licensure in grades PreK-8)
HEAL 385
HEAL 401
HEAL 407
HEAL 471

Please note the following additional restrictions:

• Candidates should make their course choices in consultation with the Graduate Chair from the Department of Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies.
• Candidates may not retake a course that they have taken in their past academic history to reestablish their GPA.
• Candidates must achieve a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA through the above nine credits in order to request consideration based on GPA.
• Candidates may not apply more than three credits of education coursework when requesting GPA reconsideration.

Once a candidate has reestablished a GPA based on the above recommendations, he/she must submit the applicable transcripts to the College of Graduate Studies.  Please note: Students may not enroll in education courses beyond the introductory level without being matriculated into a post - baccalaureate/graduate teacher preparation program through the College of Graduate Studies and the College of Education and Health Sciences.

Upon completion, it is the students’ responsibility to submit the Low GPA Remedy Completion form and forward any required documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions demonstrating that they have satisfied the GPA requirement.  Files will not be reviewed for admission until evidence of completion of the Low GPA Remedy Plan has been submitted.