Admissions

Admission to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown is competitive. Pitt-Johnstown seeks applicants of good character who have demonstrated scholastic achievement and the capacity for further growth. The Pitt-Johnstown Admissions Committee carefully reviews each applicant’s secondary school record, performance on college entrance examinations, personal qualifications, and other related factors.

In making admission decisions, the Admissions Committee recognizes that the college is best served by a diverse student body. The committee considers, in addition to statistical measures of academic accomplishment, evidence of leadership ability, motivation, extracurricular interests, and talents, as well as the overall potential for success at Pitt-Johnstown. Applications are reviewed on a personal basis in committee format, and all candidates for admission are notified as soon as action is taken on their applications.
 

Admission Procedures

High school graduates and transfer students applying for admission to full-time or part-time study must file an application provided by the Office of Admissions. Official copies of all appropriate transcripts should be supplied. The application and credentials submitted in its support become the property of the college and are not returned to the student. All correspondence concerning full-time or part-time admission, including the application and supporting credentials, should be addressed to:

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Admissions Welcome Center
157 Blackington Hall
450 Schoolhouse Road
Johnstown, PA 15904

Admitted students who wish to accept the offer of admission must submit a nonrefundable $100 tuition deposit. This will be applied to the first-term tuition.

Once admitted, students are eligible to continue as long as they maintain satisfactory academic standing or until a degree has been earned. Admitted students may request that their admission be deferred until a later term, provided they do not attend another educational institution in the interim. Students may only defer admission up to one year. After that point, they must submit a new application.

Admission Requirements

All applicants for full-time study at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown must have completed, or be in the process of completing, at least 15 units of work in an accredited or approved secondary school. Specific requirements as to how the 15 units must be distributed have been established in the following sections for applicants seeking admission to programs in arts and sciences, upper-division programs, nursing, and engineering. Admission to one program of study at Pitt-Johnstown does not guarantee admission to other programs. To be reconsidered for admission to another program, a student must submit a request in writing to the Admissions Welcome Center.

Admission to Programs in Arts and Sciences

For admission to programs in Arts and Sciences, applicants must submit the following:

• Scores from either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Entrance Examination Board
• An official academic record of all work completed at the secondary level

The student’s secondary school record is an important criterion for admission into programs in arts and sciences. Typically, applicants to arts and sciences are expected to have successfully completed, or show current enrollment in, a college preparatory curriculum that includes:

Exceptions to these requirements may be determined on an individual basis by the Admissions Committee.

Admission to Programs in the Division of Engineering and Computer Science

For admission to programs in the Division of Engineering and Computer Science, applicants must submit the following:

• scores from either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Entrance Examination Board
• an official academic record of all work completed at the secondary level

The student’s secondary school record is an important criterion for admission into programs in the Division of Engineering. Applicants to the Division of Engineering are expected to have successfully completed, or show current enrollment in, a college preparatory curriculum that includes:

Note: In addition to these academic requirements, along with a competitive QPA, admission into Engineering requires a minimum standarized test score of 1100 SAT (combined Reading & Math, at least a 550 score in Math) or ACT composite score of 22. 

Exceptions to these requirements may be determined on an individual basis by the Admissions Committee.

Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing

For admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, applicants must submit the following:

• scores from either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Entrance Examination Board
• an official academic record of all work completed at the secondary level

The student’s secondary school record is an important criterion for admission into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Applicants are expected to have successfully completed, or show current enrollment in, a college preparatory curriculum that includes:

Note - In addition to these academic requirements, along with a competitive QPA, admission into Nursing requires a minimum standardized test score of: SAT 1130 (combined Reading and Math sections) or ACT 23 Composite.

Admission to Upper-Division Programs

Students intending to pursue upper-division programs such as education, pharmacy, health and rehabilitation sciences, library and information science, and social work are admitted initially to arts and sciences and are expected to meet the same admission requirements as other arts and sciences students. The appropriate preparatory curricula will be selected with the assistance of academic advisors.

Admission of Transfer Students

Students who have earned credits at another institution before applying to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown must apply to the Admissions Welcome Center for admission with advanced standing. An official transcript of all courses taken at other schools must be submitted at the time of application, whether or not the student wishes those courses to be counted toward a degree at Pitt-Johnstown. Transfer applicants must complete all other admission requirements as stated above. Students who previously attended Pitt-Johnstown and wish to re-enroll on a part-time or full-time basis should contact the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Advanced Placement

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown accepts for consideration, exemption, or advanced placement the results of Advanced Placement Tests administered by the College Entrance Examination Board.

BIOLOGY (BY)

CHEMISTRY (CH)

CLASSICS (see Foreign Language)

COMPUTER SCIENCE (CSA or CSAB)

ECONOMICS MICRO (EMI)

ECONOMICS MACRO (EMA)

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (ENVS)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION (ENGC)

ENGLISH LITERATURE & COMPOSITION (ELC)

ART (HISTORY) (ARH)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

GEOGRAPHY

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

HISTORY

MATHEMATICS (MAB)

MATHEMATICS (MBC)

MUSIC

PHYSICS (PY1 & PY2)

PHYSICS C - Mechanics (Part 1) (PHCM)

PHYSICS C - Mechanics & ELECTRICITY - magt parts 1 & 2) (PHCE/PHCM)

PSYCHOLOGY (PY)

STATISTICS (STAT)

NE= No Equivalent 

Campus Visit and Conference

Interviews are not required; however, applicants or prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the campus. The purpose of the campus visit is to permit candidates to gain firsthand knowledge of the college’s programs, facilities, and admission policies. A personal conference allows candidates, parents, and campus personnel the opportunity to exchange information in a more personal setting. In addition, tours are offered Monday through Friday with a student tour guide. Arrangements for an admissions counselor conference and tour may be made by calling 1-800-LIKE-UPJ or visiting our website at upj.pitt.edu/admissions.

Admissions Scholarship Programs

Admissions Scholarship Programs

The Admissions Welcome Center offers several types of scholarships to outstanding incoming freshmen. Applications for admission are reviewed by the Scholarship Committee to identify possible scholarship candidates.

President Scholars are selected from incoming freshmen on the basis of exceptional test scores, outstanding high school academic performance, and extracurricular activities in high school. Each student chosen to be a president’s scholar receives merit-based scholarship assistance for four years if a 3.0 grade point average is maintained.

Other aspects of the program, which continue throughout the scholar’s enrollment at Pitt-Johnstown, include priority registration for classes; special academic advising targeting a career area, exploring personal interests and academic options such as studying abroad, and allowing for independent work and research; periodic social gatherings; and occasional special seminars.

Accelerated High School Students

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown admits a limited number of outstanding high school students who have completed the junior year of the college preparatory curriculum of their high schools. This program permits talented students, with the agreement and support of secondary school officials, to accelerate their education by attending Pitt-Johnstown in lieu of their senior year or for a set number of classes. Individuals who wish to participate in either option of this program should contact the Admissions Welcome Center for further information.

The Early Admission Program is designed for students entering their senior year in high school who have fulfilled all of their high school requirements and wish to attend Pitt- Johnstown full time in lieu of their senior year. High school students interested in early admission must fill out an application and have an interview with the Admissions Welcome Center. The applicant’s high school must provide written documentation that supports the application and the student’s desire for early admission.

The Mountain Cat Dual Enrollment Experience is designed for students who are still attending high school, but wish to take courses at Pitt-Johnstown. The student must fill out a special application and obtain a letter of recommendation from secondary school officials.

Admission to Adult Education

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown provides opportunities for continued learning, through part-time and full-time study, for qualified adults. Courses may be taken for credit toward fulfilling degree requirements or on a non-degree basis. Admission is open to high school graduates or those who hold equivalency certificates and are 25 years of age or older. Adult applicants with incomplete high school preparation may qualify for admissions by taking examinations administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and earning a High School Equivalency Certificate.

Qualified adult students may gain admission to any of the degree programs offered by Pitt-Johnstown. For detailed descriptions of individual program requirements, adult students should refer to our website. In addition, adult students should review their academic goals and plans with the Director of Advanced and Continuing Education when they apply for admission.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The basic purpose of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is to provide those individuals who have acquired college-level knowledge through life and work experiences with a way to assess their achievements and then use these test results in planning and seeking college credit or advanced placement.

Advanced and Continuing Education, aware of the diverse background of its adult student population, uses the general examinations of CLEP as a means of evaluating adult candidates for advanced placement. There are general examinations in five areas: College Composition, College Mathematics, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. A maximum of 6 credits can be earned in each area, and a maximum of 30 credits may be awarded through CLEP.

Persons who have earned more than 15 college credits are ineligible for CLEP at Pitt-Johnstown. Those who have earned one to 15 credits are eligible (as are those who are just beginning to seek college credits), and they should consult the Director of Advanced and Continuing Education regarding the areas in which CLEP scores would apply to their program. Certain deductions may be necessary in order to ensure that there is no duplication of credit. Credit granted through this program might not transfer to all schools within the University, but it will apply to the degrees earned in Arts and Sciences.

Pitt Online Self-Paced Courses

Advanced and Continuing Education students at Pitt-Johnstown may receive credit for classes administered through the Pitt Online program. These are classes designed for self-motivated students who can work independently using specifically prepared study materials. Classes usually meet only three times (three Saturdays each term) in Pittsburgh. Pitt-Johnstown students interested in the Pitt Online courses should consult the Director of Advanced and Continuing Education for course descriptions and registration information.

Registration Status/Reinstatement

Students who have not registered for at least one credit in a 12-month period must request reinstatement with the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs in order to register for classes again.

Students who do not attend for two or more consecutive terms, or who resign during any term, must be reinstated before resuming a program provided they did not attend another educational institution in the interim. To be reinstated a student must contact the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Relocation (within the University)

Pitt-Johnstown students who wish to attend another Pitt campus must complete the relocation request forms and submit the forms to the Registrar’s Office.  Forms are available online at UPJ-Registrar or in the Registrar’s Office.  Students must meet the requirements set by the campus they wish to attend.

Students who wish to relocate to Pitt-Johnstown from another campus of the University of Pittsburgh must request relocation from the academic dean of the Pitt campus they are currently attending.

Any questions regarding relocating to another Pitt campus should be directed to the Registrar’s Office.