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GRADUATE PROGRAMS
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Admission Requirements
Degree Requirements
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Graduate School Admissions
Graduate School Application
Graduate School Catalog
Two Year Course Schedule
Information for International Students (IES)

+ EDCI Grad. Assistantship    Application Form

ADMISSION TO GRADUATE STUDY IN THE DEPARTMENT
Department recommendations for admission must be approved by the Graduate Studies Office of the College, and by the Graduate School. Inquiries about admission should be directed to the Graduate Admissions Office, 301/405-4198.

Admission Criteria
Standardized Test Requirements
TOEFL
Deadlines
Materials Needed for Application
Degree Seeking Applicants
Non-degree Seeking Applicant
Advanced Graduate Student
Visiting Graduate Student
Procedures used in processing an application

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Admission Criteria
Both quantitative and qualitative factors are used in making admissions decisions. To be admitted for full status in doctoral and master's programs, a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 is required. A minimum graduate grade point average of 3.5 is required for doctoral programs. Provisional status may be granted to program applicants with marginal grade point averages if other compelling evidence of academic potential is presented. Some EDCI program areas require acceptable GRE or Praxis Exam Scores. Please see “Standardized Test Requirements” below for information.

In addition, qualitative information is reviewed in making admission decisions. For most, compatibility of the applicant's statement of academic and professional career objectives with an EDCI program area is reviewed. The quality and compatibility of prior experience is also relevant. For doctoral applicants, a writing sample is judged for evidence of the applicant's ability to consider and write about complex ideas. Finally, letters that attest to the applicant's academic, scholarly, and professional potential are examined.

Applicants to the TESOL M.Ed. with certification program must pass Praxis I prior to beginning the program. Praxis II is required prior to Student Teaching. TESOL M.Ed. with certification students who have not passed Praxis II -- English to speakers of other languages will not be permitted to student teach.

Applicants to the Master's Certification Program must pass the Praxis I and the Praxis II (content knowledge) Exams PRIOR to beginning the program. It is preferred that applicants pass these tests prior to application. If not, and you are admitted, you will be given provisional admission to meet this requirement prior to the start of the program. The Praxis II pedagogy exam will be required PRIOR to student teaching. Students who have not passed Praxis II pedagogy, will not be cleared for graduation.

Applicants to the CITE Programs must pass the Praxis I Exams PRIOR to beginning the program. Praxis II (both sections) will be required PRIOR to the your final semester. Students who have not passed Praxis II will not be cleared for graduation.

Praxis Test Codes for the State of Maryland can be found in the Praxis Exam Registration booklet, the praxis website (http://www.ets.org/praxis/index.html) or the EDCI website (http://education.umd.edu/Depts/EDCI/info/mc-praxis.html). Please note that some areas have two parts (i.e. Biology and the Foreign Languages)


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Standardized Test Requirements for EDCI:
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for the following programs within EDCI:

• All Ph.D. and Ed.D. Programs (minimum score 40th percentile*)
• All M.A. Programs (minimum score 40th percentile*

*GRE scores are not required for applicants to M.Ed. programs in EDCI.

Praxis Exam (required certification-track programs) Requirements are as follows:

1. Maryland Graduate Certification Program (MCert):
Entrance Requirement:

Praxis I (Reading, Writing and Mathematics)
Praxis II -- content knowledge portion (note: some areas have two parts such as Biology and Foreign Language)
Exit Requirement: (Required before Student Teaching semester)
Praxis II Pedagogy (This is called “Content Area Exercises” for Elementary Education)

2. Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE):
Entrance Requirement:
Praxis I (Reading, Writing and Mathematics)
Exit Requirement:
Paxis II -- content knowledge portion (note: some areas have two parts such as Biology and Foreign Language)
Praxis II Pedagogy (This is called “Content Area Exercises” for Elementary Education)

3. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) with Certification:
Entrance Requirement:
Praxis I (Reading, Writing and Mathematics)
Exit Requirement:--must be completed PRIOR to Student Teaching:
Praxis II Pedagogy: English to Speakers of Other Languages

TOEFL Exam
All students at the University of Maryland are expected to read, write and speak English fluently. International students must demonstrate a proficiency in the English language by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Advanced Placement International English Language Exam (APIEL).

A score of 575 on the paper based test or 233 on the Computer based test (CBT) and above (with no sectional score below 50) may qualify an applicant for full admission. Applicants who score between 475 and 574 on the paper based test or 153-232 on the CBT may be considered for provisional admission, and will be required to take an English language proficiency examination upon arrival at the University of Maryland. Note: The TESOL program requires a minimum score of 600 on the paper based test or 233 on the computer based test for TOEFL. Provisional status may be granted to prospective students with lower test scores if there are other indications of academic potential. For more information visit http://www.intprog.umd.edu/ies/Adm_International/englangprof.html

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Deadlines

In general, it is to the student's advantage to apply well before the published deadline, particularly if the applicant intends to be considered for a fellowship, assistantship, or other form of financial aid (most of which require that a student be admitted as a condition of eligibility).

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Materials needed for an application:
The University of Maryland strongly encourages all eligible applicants to apply on-line at http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/gss/admission.htm. However, if for some reason you cannot complete the Online Application, you may also download an Adobe PDF document version of the application booklet.

The College of Education requires applicants to submit an additional application called the Application Supplemental Form (ASF). Applicants will be contacted via email after submitting the University's Online Application. A system-assigned login and password will be provided at that time. In most cases, students will be contacted within 2-4 business days of submitting their Online Application.

To access the on-line application and for a listing of materials required to complete your application packet, please visit the Graduate School’s admission web site at http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/gss/admission.htm

Please note that for ALL EDCI programs:

• The Major/Program is Curriculum and Instruction
• The four-letter code is EDCI
• The Area of specialization is where you will indicate your specific area or program within EDCI
• TESOL masters applicants should indicted if they are applying to the M.Ed with or Without certification (for more information visit http://www.education.umd.edu/EDCI/SecondLangEd/)
• TESOL APPLICANTS must also submit the K-12 Cert/Non-Cert Questionnaire Form
  

Send to the Enrollment Services Operations (ESO)…

• A completed on-line application
• A non-refundable application fee of $60
• One complete set of official transcripts reflecting all undergraduate and graduate work completed or in progress. Each transcript must bear the signature of the registrar and the seal of the granting institution and should include the years of attendance, courses taken, grades received, class standing and the degree, certificate or diploma received. If the applicant attended the University of Maryland, College Park, the Graduate School will obtain your records of courses completed on the College Park campus. To facilitate the processing and review of an application, unofficial copies of transcripts from institutions other than the University of Maryland, College Park may be used for review processes. Official copies of those transcripts, however, are required before full admission can be granted.
• Three letters of recommendation preferably from former professors who can assess the applicant’s academic potential and from employers who are familiar with the applicant's work experience.
• Praxis Scores (when applicable, see page 14 for details)
• Statement of Goals, Experiences, and Research Interests
• TESOL applicants must also note if you plan to pursue an M.Ed. with or without certification
  NOTE: An interview may be required for some programs. Applicant will be contacted by program if needed.
• A Maryland In-State Status Form if you wish to apply for Maryland resident status. Students who apply online do NOT have to submit this form in hardcopy as well.
• Standardized Test Scores
  

Send to the College of Education (COE)
A sample of the applicant's (doctoral applicants only) professional writing which provides evidence of ability to consider and write about complex ideas relevant to education.

International Applicants must also submit the following to ESO:

• TOEFL scores. Applicants are expected to read, speak, and write English fluently. Detailed information about the TOEFL requirement can be viewed at http://www.intprog.umd.edu/ies/Adm_International/englangprof.html
  Note: The TOEFL score requirement for TESOL applicants is higher than that of the university. Applicants to the TESOL program are required to have a minimum score of 600 on the TOEFL.
• A statement regarding the applicant's financial support in order to assure that the applicant has sufficient financial resources to meet educational and living expenses.
  q International Applicants already in the US must provide copies of the I20, I94, and passport visa stamp.

MAILING ADDRESSES:

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Degree-Seeking Admission
The departmental program review committees recommend one of three actions: admission for full graduate status, admission for provisional graduate status, or rejection. The Graduate School and the College of Education communicate recommendations of the committee to the applicants. Students may appeal decisions of the departmental program committee by stating the basis for the appeal in writing to the Department Chair.

To be recommended to full graduate status, an applicant must meet all minimal quantitative criteria and provide satisfactory qualitative assessments. The intent of provisional graduate status is to admit students who meet the qualitative assessments and not the minimal quantitative criteria, but nonetheless show academic promise.

Courses taken by a student on provisional graduate status may be counted toward degree requirements. A student on provisional status who fails to meet the conditions established will not be continued in the program unless circumstances warranting an exception can be clearly demonstrated. A student may appeal a dismissal decision to the Department Chair.

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Non-Degree Admission
Students not seeking a degree may be allowed to take course work in the Department. The Graduate School offers two categories of non-degree status: Advanced Special Student and Visiting Graduate Student. The Graduate School establishes the criteria required for admission as a non-degree seeking student (see Graduate School website for details )

Advanced Special Student
The Advanced Special Student status is designed to provide an opportunity for post-baccalaureate, post-masters, and post-doctoral students to take graduate level coursework in line with their interests and abilities. Coursework, however, does not guarantee later admission to a degree program.

Important Graduate School or Department policies concerning Advanced Special Students are:

• admission in this status can continue for a period of up to five years.
• admission is terminated if there is no registration in two consecutive semesters (Fall and Spring).
• students in this status are not eligible to hold appointments as Graduate Teaching or Research Assistants or Fellows, nor can they qualify for student financial aid.
• only twelve credit hours earned as an Advanced Special Student can be applied to a master's degree program—with program approval. (See Transfer of Credit for Master's Students, pg 16).

Advanced Special Students are eligible for all other services provided to other graduate students (e.g., parking and library privileges).

Visiting Graduate Student
The Visiting Graduate School status is designed to provide an opportunity for students matriculated in another university to take course work in the Department. Ordinarily, admission in this category is offered for one year only.

For further information about Non-degree and Special Graduate Admission Options visit: http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/gss/non_degree_admission.htm.


Procedures Used in Processing Applications
Responsibility for processing applications for admission is a joint effort between the Graduate School, College of Education’s Graduate Studies Office, and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Initially, application materials are collected by the College of Education’s Graduate Studies Office and forwarded to the Department upon their completion. The appropriate departmental program review committee then reviews the application files and a recommendation is made. Each recommendation is subject to approval by the Director of Graduate Studies, the Department Chair and ultimately by the Graduate School.

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