Duquesne University is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) participating
institution and Pennsylvania is a SARA member state. SARA establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering
of postsecondary distance education programs and courses amongst member states.
Duquesne University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. SARA is intended to make it easier for students to participate in online programs offered by authorized postsecondary institutions that are located outside of a student's home state.
Please note, SARA does not deal with professional licensing board approval for programs leading to state licensure. See the information below to learn more.
Professional Licensure
Duquesne University is approved to offer programs that may lead to licensure or certification in Pennsylvania. However, licensure requirements vary from state to state. If you are planning on seeking licensure or certification outside of Pennsylvania, it is highly recommended you contact the appropriate licensing board where you plan to be licensed prior to starting the academic program.
Professional Licensure and Certification Disclosures
For state-by state information concerning how Duquesne's programs relate to professional licensure and certification, see the links below:
- Education
- Health Sciences
- Law
- Liberal Arts
- Medicine
- Music Education
- Music Therapy
- *Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Science & Engineering
*Per State Boards of Nursing Regulations, the School of Nursing is unable to accept
applications for admission to online programs and courses from students residing in:
Alabama
Arizona (can accept applicants for PhD in Nursing and the PhD in Nursing Ethics programs only)
Louisiana
New York (can accept applicants for PhD in Nursing and the PhD in Nursing Ethics programs only)
Tennessee
Washington
- Nursing applicants should also visit School of Nursing website and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to learn more about state licensure requirements.
- Search the CareerOneStop License Finder database (sponsored by The U.S. Department of Labor) for more information concerning licensure requirements by occupation by state.
Supervised Field Experiences
Students seeking to complete any field experience or out-of-state learning placement should contact the appropriate program coordinator before initializing any contact with a business or agency outside of Pennsylvania. This applies to students enrolled in any academic program, either online or on-campus.
Distance Learning from Outside of The United States
If you are located outside of the United States and are interested in enrolling in an online program at Duquesne University, please be aware that the country where you are located may regulate distance education and charge additional taxes, withholdings or fees to students enrolled in online distance education programs provided to students in its jurisdiction. If you are located outside of the United States, before you apply to an online program at Duquesne University, you are first advised to learn the rules, regulations and requirements related to online distance education programs in the country where you are located.
In addition, some countries may not formally recognize foreign online degrees and certificates. International students are advised to learn of any such restrictions prior to enrollment. If you’re considering enrolling in an online program that leads to a professional license or professional certification, contact the appropriate professional licensing board in your country of residence or the country where you intend to work in order to determine whether an online degree or certificate from Duquesne University will be recognized.
Contact%20the%20Office%20of%20Distance%20Education or a representative from the academic program to which you are applying to address any questions before enrolling in a Duquesne University online program.
Online Learning Restrictions for International Students
International students on student visas are not permitted per U.S. federal law to attend full-time online programs while located in the United States. Students are able to take online courses while in the United States on a very limited basis and must be approved by the academic program and Center%20for%20Global%20Engagement.
Complaint Resolution
Duquesne University adheres to the SARA student complaints process. These guidelines require all students to first seek resolution of a complaint through Duquesne University's internal complaint procedure. (Note: complaints about grades or student conduct violations can only be handled internally at the institutional level).
For complaints that cannot be resolved through Duquesne University's internal complaint process, contact the appropriate agency for your home state as listed in the Student Complaint Information by State and Agency document. Note: California Students can file a complaint via the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs website.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) will review all written and signed student complaints against colleges, universities and seminaries certified to operate in Pennsylvania.