Do I need to have experience in education to qualify for admission?

No. While many students bring a background of employment in education to their graduate studies, they come from a variety of disciplines. Successful candidates are very interested in studying policy and leadership principles in a wide array of educational settings.

Can you accommodate part-time students?

Yes. Most classes are held once each week in the late afternoon or evening (either from 4:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. or from 7:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.) to accommodate part-time students and those with job and family commitments. Faculty are generally available for consultation during evening hours as well. Approximately half of our students pursue their studies part-time.

How do I check the status of my application?

Once you have applied, you will receive an email letting you know your application was received. This email will have instructions for logging onto the Application Supplemental Form (ASF) website (https://apra.umd.edu). Through this website, you will be able to check the information received to make sure it is correct, and make corrections if it is not. You will also be able to check the status of your application’s progress to find out what documents have been received.

Allow 10 business days for data entry before checking for missing items. In addition, you can log onto TESTUDO and click on the admission link (http://www.testudo.umd.edu/admissions/) to reach “Graduate School Application Status.” You will be able to determine if your application is pending, but this method will not let you know what materials are missing.

How do I ensure that my supporting documents are added to my file?

Whenever you contact the university, please write your full name exactly as it appears on your application; your social security number or UM student identification number (if you have one); your date of birth; and the program to which you are applying. Please make sure that all of this information is always included in your correspondence with us.

How will I know if I am admitted?

Once the Department has reached an admission decision, a recommendation is sent to the Graduate School. Formal admission to the University of Maryland is offered only by the Graduate School. An official letter is sent to the applicant by the Dean of the Graduate School. The Graduate School also sends a letter to notify applicants who are unsuccessful in gaining admission.

When can I expect a decision?

Department admission committees begin the review process after all the application requirements have been met and all the documents have been received by us. After the application is complete, it is forwarded to the admission committee who makes recommendations for admission within 6-8 weeks.