Graduate Studies Viewbook
You’re
About to Surprise Yourself
Graduate studies at Valparaiso University are where you discover capabilities you didn’t know you had. A professor challenges an assumption you’ve held for years, and your entire research direction shifts. You defend an idea you weren’t sure of three months ago. You become the expert you once looked up to. Our faculty see something in you before you see it in yourself, and they won’t let you settle for less. They push you to ask more complex questions, think beyond obvious answers, and trust your own insights. Office doors stay open. Conversations continue long after class ends. Your success becomes their mission.
You’re joining a community where collaboration is genuine. Classmates become thought partners, then colleagues, then friends who celebrate every breakthrough and steady you through every challenge. This is where you find your people: the ones who understand what this journey means and why it matters. The ones who’ll champion your work today and your career for years to come. Your most valuable connections will form right here. In seminars that run long because the conversation’s too good to stop. In research partnerships that turn into publications. In relationships with mentors who stay invested long after you graduate.
This is where you become who you’re meant to be. And we’ll be with you every step of the way.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR IMPACT
Valpo’s graduate programs are built around a simple idea: you learn best when theory meets practice. Every program combines rigorous academics with hands-on experience, so you’re not just studying your field, you’re already working in it. You’ll graduate with more than a degree. You’ll have the skills, the confidence, and the network to step into leadership roles that actually matter to you.
• B usiness Administration (MBA) – This AACSBaccredited program gives you options: choose your focus, learn through real cases, and build connections with faculty who know the industries you want to enter.
• I nternational Economics and Finance (M.S.) –Global markets don’t wait for anyone. You’ll learn econometrics, forecasting, and how to read what’s happening across borders in real time.
• S ports Administration (M.S.) – If you want to work in athletics, you need more than passion for the game. You need business skills, marketing know-how, and the ability to lead teams and organizations.
• Social Work (MSW) – Social workers meet people at their most vulnerable. This program emphasizes the well-being of people and social justice, training you to create change that actually lasts.
• I nformation Technology (MSIT) – Technology moves fast. This program keeps pace, building your expertise in systems, security, and data while giving you real projects that employers actually care about.
• C linical Mental Health Counseling (M.A.) – You’ll work with real clients under the guidance of licensed counselors who’ve been where you are. This CACREPaccredited program trains you to show up for people during their hardest moments.
• Healthcare Administration (MHA) – Hospitals need leaders who understand both spreadsheets and people. This online program teaches you to manage the business of healthcare without losing sight of why it matters.
• Public Health (MPH) – Public health happens where policy meets people. This online program teaches you epidemiology, health promotion, and how to tackle challenges that affect entire communities.
• Nursing Practice (DNP) – Ready to lead? This program takes you from bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) to to doctorate, preparing you for clinical leadership roles where you’ll shape how healthcare actually works.
• Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) –You’ve already got your master’s degree. Now take it further with advanced training in clinical practice, systems thinking, and the kind of leadership that changes organizations.
• Occupational Therapy (Entry-Level OTD) –Occupational therapists help people reclaim their independence after injury, illness, or trauma. Through our accredited program, you’ll be diagnosing patients and developing treatment plans in just two years.
• Post-ProfessionalOccupationalTherapyDoctorate (OTD) – Already practicing? This online doctorate helps experienced OTs move into research, teaching, and leadership roles that shape the future of the profession.
• Physician Assistant (MSPA) – Through our accredited program, you’ll be diagnosing patients and developing treatment plans in just two years. State-ofthe-art facilities and strong clinical partnerships make sure you’re ready. Program begins at the undergraduate level.
CERTIFICATES
Graduate certificates are built for right now. Pick up the exact skills you need, whether you’re changing fields entirely or claiming new ground in your current career. Study them alongside a degree or earn them on their own. Either way, you walk away with credentials that matter and knowledge you can actually use.
• Applied Econometrics and Data Science Foundations Using SAS – Learn to turn raw data into decisions. This certificate teaches you to model outcomes and back up your recommendations with evidence using SAS.
• App lied Economics – Markets don’t explain themselves. Build the skills to analyze policy, evaluate real-world economic problems, and apply economic reasoning where it counts.
• Bu siness Economics – Economics isn’t just theory. This certificate gives you the foundation to think strategically about management, finance, and organizational decisions.
• In formation Assurance – Protecting information goes beyond firewalls. Learn the policies, practices, and decision-making frameworks that keep digital assets secure.
• In formation Security – Systems fail when security is an afterthought. Build skills in threat management, risk assessment, and maintaining environments people can trust.
• In formation Technology Fundamentals – New to IT? This certificate establishes your foundation in core concepts, preparing you for technical roles or further graduate study.
• Cy ber Security Specialization – Digital threats evolve daily. Learn to spot vulnerabilities, assess risk, and build defenses that actually hold.
• Pu blic Safety Social Work – Crisis work requires specialized training. Learn how to support individuals and communities through coordinated efforts between social work and public safety systems.
• Tr auma-Informed Care – Trauma affects how people show up in the world. This 15-credit online certificate teaches you to recognize it, respond with sensitivity, and provide support that actually helps.
• Early Childhood Initial Teaching Licensure –Transition to Teaching – Working with young kids requires specific skills. This certificate prepares you to step into classrooms with confidence through coursework in child development and classroom practice.
• Elementary Education Initial Teaching Licensure –Transition to Teaching – This program gives you the instructional methods, child development knowledge, and classroom experience you need to start strong.
• Secondary Education Initial Teaching Licensure –Transition to Teaching – This program strengthens both your subject expertise and your ability to manage a classroom and reach students effectively.
• Epidemiology – Public health runs on data. Study disease patterns, track health trends, and learn to design programs that actually improve community health.
• Health Administration – Healthcare organizations need people who understand operations and leadership. This certificate prepares you for administrative roles where you’ll keep systems running smoothly.
• Public Health – Designed for working professionals who want to build essential public health knowledge while keeping a pathway open to a full master of public health (MPH) degree at Valpo.
NON-DEGREE TRACK
Want to be a graduate student without the full commitment? Valpo’s non-degree option lets you take courses, build targeted skills, and explore new fields, no degree program required. Whether you’re adding special education credentials to your teaching license or auditing courses through SAGE at 60+, it’s learning on your terms.
Real Stories. Real Growth. Real Impact.
Graduate students come to Valpo because they’re serious about what comes next. They work closely with faculty who actually know their names, get real experience that matters, and leave with more than a credential. They leave ready.
“When speaking about higher education with friends, family, or professional colleagues, I always make it a point to mention my exceptional experience in Valparaiso University’s College of Business. The quality of Valpo’s education is truly one-of-a-kind. Valpo’s commitment to excellence, advanced curriculum, esteemed faculty, and dynamic community provided me with the necessary skills to be an effective leader in the business world.”
—SAMUEL MIHALICH ’20 , ’25 MBA
“ What stands out most about Valpo’s master of public health (MPH) program is that it’s not limited to textbook learning; it truly connects theory with real-world application. The faculty members are incredibly supportive and genuinely invested in students’ growth. They challenge you sometimes, but always with the intent to bring out your best. I deeply appreciate how they encourage you to think critically, communicate effectively, and grow into a confident professional. The professors don’t just provide answers, they inspire you to think critically and find solutions. That introspective and creative approach has had a lasting impact on how I approach my work and problem-solving today. Overall, my journey in the public health program was incredibly smooth, empowering, and fulfilling, largely thanks to the dedicated and encouraging faculty.”
—PRERANA THAPA ’24 MPH
FACULTY WHO INSPIRE
Valpo faculty don’t just teach. They invest. They know your strengths before you do, challenge you in ways that actually matter, and open doors you didn’t know existed. They’ve built careers across industries and continents, and they bring all of that into your education. This isn’t distant expertise. It’s the kind of mentorship that changes trajectories.
Valpo faculty are the reason students stay. They’re researchers, practitioners, and leaders who could be anywhere, but they’re here because teaching matters to them. They remember what you said three weeks ago. They introduce you to colleagues who become employers. They push you past what you thought possible and celebrate when you get there. This level of investment is rare. At Valpo, it’s the standard.
PROFESSOR SARA STORY, ED.D., OTD, OTR/L, BCG, CAPS, doesn’t just teach occupational therapy (OT), she practices it. While leading Valpo’s OT program, she maintains her clinical work because she believes students deserve instructors who understand what’s happening in the field right now, not just what’s in the textbook. Her expertise spans gerontology, mental health, and helping older adults age in place with dignity and independence. She’s board-certified, presents at national conferences, and brings decades of realworld experience into every class she teaches.
“At Valpo, I draw on my current clinical practice every time I step into the classroom, bringing real-world cases, community partnerships, and industry-informed perspectives directly into their learning. Supporting student success means not only sharing expertise but modeling how to engage with the world — thoughtfully, ethically, and collaboratively — so they graduate ready to make a meaningful impact.”
PROFESSOR ELIZABETH GINGERICH, J.D., spent nearly three decades as a practicing attorney before stepping into the classroom, most recently as a law partner specializing in intellectual property and corporate law. Now, as the Morgal-Vaughan Chair in Christian Business Ethics and editor-inchief of the Journal of Values-Based Leadership, she brings that hard-won legal expertise to graduate and undergraduate students. She’s lectured internationally, published widely, and still maintains a limited corporate law practice, because the best teachers never stop being practitioners.
Professor Gingerich brings the same rigor to teaching. For her, the most rewarding moments come “when a student actually gets it and displays a wealth of knowledge.” She takes pride in watching students grow into confident readers, analysts, and writers. “We must take the time to not only convey our subject material, but to ensure that the student is equipped to learn properly,” she says. That commitment shapes every class she teaches, building a foundation of critical thinking and ethical reasoning that prepares students to lead and make a difference.
A Graduate Education with Clear Value
2026–2027 GRADUATE
TUITION COSTS PER CREDIT HOUR
$650
Graduate Certificate
$715
• Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Post-Professional DrOT)
• Master of Healthcare Administration (MHCA)
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
• Occupational Therapy Doctorate (Entry-Level OTD)
$763 for all other graduate programs
$2,500 flat rate per course
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
$18,500 per semester
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA)
Graduate studies are an investment, and we’re committed to making them accessible. Tuition is charged per credit hour and varies by program, which puts you in control. Financial aid, scholarships, and flexible payment plans are available. Our financial aid team is here to guide you through your options and help you determine what works best for you.
Invest in Your Future. See the Return.
THAT’S WHY WE PROVIDE FLEXIBLE FUNDING OPTIONS
• Graduate Assistantships
• Research Assistantships
• Merit-Based Scholarships
• Fellowships
• Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) (for eligible students)
• Federal Work-Study Opportunities (for eligible students)
• Employer Tuition Reimbursement or Assistance
• Employer Professional Development Funds
Your graduate degree is more than tuition and time. It’s a calculated bet on your future that Valpo is determined to help you win. We believe transformative education should be within reach, whether you’re returning to school after building a career or moving straight from undergraduate studies into advanced work.
As a graduate student, you’re considered independent for federal aid, which often unlocks additional support. Many students combine multiple funding sources, creating a personalized financial strategy that makes their degree achievable without compromise.
But the investment doesn’t end at graduation. You’ll join a global network of Valpo alumni with lifetime access to career coaching, networking events, and professional development resources. Our graduates consistently report strong job placement, expanded leadership roles, and meaningful salary growth within months of completing their programs.
Your degree becomes more valuable every year. The expertise you build, the network you join, the career you advance. Valpo helps you afford your education today and amplifies its value throughout your career.
Your Home Base for What’s Next
The City of Valparaiso gives you something rare: a city that feels like home while connecting you to everywhere that matters. Downtown pulses with locally owned restaurants, live music spilling onto sidewalks, and Central Park Plaza transforming through the seasons – summer concerts, winter markets, year-round gathering. This is a place where your coffee shop barista learns your order, where “community” isn’t just a buzzword.
But you’re not isolated. Chicago’s skyline lies an hour west, with South Bend, Indiana, and Indianapolis offering open doors to the east and south. Major career networks, cultural institutions, and industry leaders are all within reach for internships, research partnerships, and your next opportunity.
When you need to reset, Indiana Dunes National Park, 15 minutes from campus, offers miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and beaches, forest trails, and dunes that feel like another world.
This is where you’ll build your graduate work: supported, connected, and free to focus on what brought you here.
Career Access: Chicago, South Bend, Indiana, and Indianapolis networks
Nature: Indiana Dunes National Park beaches and trails, historic state and local park access
A) Chicago: 1 hour
B) Indianapolis: 3 hours
C) Milwaukee: 2.5 hours
D) Detroit: 4 hours
E) Cincinnati: 4 hours
F) Cleveland: 5.5 hours
G) St. Louis: 5 hours
H) Minneapolis/St. Paul: 7 hours
I) Kansas City: 8.5 hours
Daily Life:
Walkable downtown, independent restaurants, robust arts and music scene
Foundation: Safe streets, affordable living, genuinely welcoming
Community:
Central Park Plaza events, farmers’ markets, festivals
Take the Next Step. Your Future Starts Here.
Submit your online application at valpo.edu/apply.
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Upload transcripts and any required test scores.
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Add your materials, like letters of recommendation, resume, or personal statement.
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Track your application. After you apply, you’ll receive your Valpo login so you can check your status anytime. 5
Count on our support. The graduate admission team is available to help you move confidently through the enrollment process.
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International students: Upload English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo).
At Valpo, you won’t navigate this alone. You’ll find faculty who treat your ideas as worthy of investment. Cohorts who challenge and champion you in equal measure. Resources that exist specifically to amplify your work. This is a community that doesn’t just accept your ambition, it expects it.
You’re standing at the threshold where preparation meets possibility, where years of curiosity sharpen into expertise, where questions become research, where potential becomes practice. Graduate studies aren’t just advanced coursework. It’s the declaration that you’re ready to contribute something meaningful to your field. That you’re done observing from the sidelines. That the work you envision — the research, the impact, the career you’ve been building toward — starts now.
The distance between who you are today and who you’re becoming? It’s smaller than you think. One decision. One application. One commitment to the transformation you’re already pursuing.
Ready to begin? Your application isn’t just paperwork. It’s the first action of your next chapter. Start when you’re ready. We’re here to walk with you from this moment forward.
