Teacher Education (MEd, Graduate Certificate, Post-Master’s Certificate, Teacher Licensure) — Admissions Requirements

Please see the general statement of admission requirements for all graduate studies programs in the “Admissions” section of this publication and the “Special Instructions for Applicants to Individual Programs” section at the back of this publication.

Please see also the description of admission requirements listed under “Professional Preparation Programs for Education” in the “Regulations, Procedures, and Degree Requirements” section of this publication.

The MEd Program will recommend admission for those applicants who present evidence of their ability to do graduate work with distinction. Such evidence will normally include:

A distinguished undergraduate transcript, with a minimum overall GPA of 3.00;

Evidence of satisfactory grades in the major discipline (for middle/secondary education applicants, at least 3.00 in the discipline[s] to be taught);

Three positive and informed letters of recommendation submitted by persons who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s potential success both as a graduate student and as a teacher. One such letter must be from someone who has been the applicant’s instructor in a college course. In the case of applicants to the MEd Track without Licensure and to the MEd Track or Post-Master’s Certificate with Professional Licensure, another of the three letters should be from a person who serves, or has served, in a supervisory capacity to the candidate;

For the MEd Track without Licensure: submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. An applicant who already holds an advanced degree is exempt from this requirement. For all licensure tracks, submission of MTEL scores, as detailed in the “Regulations, Procedures, and Degree Requirements” section of this publication.

The completion of a written statement demonstrating writing proficiency and including the following information:

a. the applicant’s specific professional goals;

b. for initial licensure tracks: the applicant’s reasons for wanting to become a teacher at the specific level and/or in the specific field for which licensure is being sought;

c. a statement showing the fit between the applicant and the Graduate College of Education’s basic goal of preparing thoughtful and responsive educators committed to change for social justice. Describe experiences or values that have prepared you to become such an educator.

the applicant’s philosophy of education and thoughts about contemporary schools and current movements in education.

In addition to the above, applicants to the MEd Track or Post-Master’s Certificate with Professional Licensure: Middle/Secondary Education are expected to present:

An undergraduate major (or its equivalent) in the discipline for which licensure is sought

Initial licensure in the discipline to be taught

For the post-master’s certificate: a distinguished master’s transcript (GPA of 3.0 or better)

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the middle/secondary professional licensure programs, the Department of Curriculum and Instruction of the Graduate College of Education and the disciplinary department whose courses are most directly relevant to the field of licensure share responsibility for the admissions review of candidates. GCE will assume primary responsibility for the admission of candidates to professional licensure programs, while the Graduate Program Director of the relevant department will assess their preparation in the field-of-knowledge area.