Graduate Studies in The Department of Curriculum and Instruction
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
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.
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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). Applicants must have passed 2 out of 3 of the Praxis I sections before their file will be reviewed for admission.An applicant must pass all three sections (Reading 177, Writing 173, Math 177) to be offered admission to MCERT. We will not have conditional or provisional admissions based on Praxis I.Praxis II content area must be passed prior to the beginning of the program in June. Any student who has not passed Praxis II prior to the start of the program must ask for an exception to policy.
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:
Praxis 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)
An applicant must pass all three sections (Reading 177, Writing 173, Math 177) to be offered admission to TESOL with certification.
Exit Requirement:-- 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.
NOTE: Praxis Test Codes for the State of Maryland can be found in the Praxis Exam Registration booklet or the praxis website. Please note that some areas may have two content knowledge portions such as Foreign Languages.
| Doctoral Applicants: (for best consideration for support) |
|
FALL: Priority Deadline – January 20th Final Deadline – March 15th. |
SPRING: Final - October 1st |
| Masters Applicants: | |
FALL: Final Deadline – May 1st |
SPRING: Final - October 1st |
| *For International Applicants Seeking F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas: | |
FALL: |
SPRING: |
| Master’s Certification Program: | |
SUMMER ONLY: |
|
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).
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/)
Send to the Enrollment Services Operations (ESO)…
- A completed on-line application Common Web Application (CWA)
- A non-refundable application fee of $60
- Application Supplemental Form (ASF)
- 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. On your Application Supplemental Form (ASF), you will be able to enter the names and email addresses of your recommenders. Each recommender will then be sent an email with instructions on how to complete an online recommendation for you.
- Statement of Goals, Experiences, and Research Interests (this document can be uploaded using the ASF)
- 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.
- Standardized Test Scores (GRE or Praxis when applicable)
Note: Praxis Scores should be sent directly to the College of Education. - TESOL applicants must also note if you plan to pursue an M.Ed. with or without certification
- 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. (This document can be uploaded using the ASF)
NOTE: An interview may be required for some programs. Applicant
will be contacted by program if needed.
International Applicants should visit the IES website (http://www.international.umd.edu/ies/97) for a listing of additional requirements for a completed application
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:
Enrollment Services Operations
University of Maryland College Park
Application for Graduate Admission
Rm 0130 Mitchell Building
College Park, MD 2074
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.
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.
