School of Education & Social Policy

Admissions

Admissions decisions are based on a holistic evaluation of an applicant's academic and leadership achievements, motivation, professional performance and potential as an educator.

The Master of Science in Education Program has rolling admissions, and students may begin taking courses in any quarter However, full-time students who want to complete the master's degree in one year must begin in the summer or fall quarter. Applicants who apply by the early admission deadline have the best chance of being awarded scholarships and graduate assistant positions.

Application Deadlines

Early Admission Deadline
Desired Entrance Quarter All Application Materials Due Classes Begin
Summer or Fall 2012
 January 9, 2012 June 18, 2012 or September 27, 2012
Regular Admission Deadlines
Desired Entrance Quarter All Application Materials Due Classes Begin
Fall 2012 August 20, 2012 September 27, 2012
Winter 2012 November 28, 2011 January 3, 2012
Spring 2012 February 20, 2012 March 26, 2012
Summer 2012 May 14, 2012 June 18, 2012
In order to ensure fall practicum placements for full-time Elementary or Secondary Teaching students entering fall quarter, we recommend that you submit a complete application by May 14.

Matriculated and Non-Matriculated Options

You may choose to apply to the program as a matriculated or non-matriculated student. Matriculated students are candidates for the master's degree. Non-matriculated students are not yet candidates for the master's degree but may take up to four courses before they must apply to matriculate. The following are the primary reasons why some students choose to apply as non-matriculated students:
  • The student does not wish to earn a master's degree but does want to take some courses in the program.
  • The student does not have anyone who can serve as an academic reference (this often happens with students who have been out of school for a while and have lost contact with their previous instructors).
  • The student has not yet taken the GRE but wants to begin taking courses.
  • The student is unsure whether the program is a good fit and wants to try it out.
See more information about the materials required for the matriculated option and non-matriculated option.

The Average Successful Applicant

The GRE and GPA are important indicators of an applicant's academic capabilities. The average successful matriculated applicant has the following profile:
  • Undergraduate GPA: 3.4 on a 4-point scale
  • GRE Verbal: 600 old test; 160 new test (86th percentile)
  • GRE Quantitative: 690 old test; 155 new test (69th percentile)
  • GRE Analytical Writing: 4.5 or 5.0

Please note that these are average, not minimum scores. Each applicant will be evaluated holistically.

If applicants take the GRE exam multiple times we will use the highest score from each section.