ADMISSION

Admissions Criteria | Admission Process | Deadline | Tuition & Fees | Financial Aid I Disabilities | Orientation | Degree Requirements

 

Admissions Criteria

All students will be evaluated based on the criteria set by the Graduate College and the Department of Educational Policy Studies. In addition, preference will be given to people who can show a strong interest in international education and have strong letters of recommendation from their school administrators or those familiar with the applicant's scholarly potential.

While it is useful for students to have had preparation in the humanities or social sciences, students are accepted from a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate backgrounds. The quality of previous academic work is more important than its particular emphasis.

The most current information on Graduate College Admissions requirements can be found at: http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/

General questions regarding the program should be sent to gse@ed.uiuc.edu

 

Admissions Process

To complete the GSE application, please follow the following steps:

1) Complete Online Application ( recommended ) for Admission to the Graduate College . The application is located at :

http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/admissions/apply/

Please include the following information on the Graduate College Application:

Proposed Program: Educational Policy Studies

Program Code: 10KS0220EDMU

Degree: Educational Policy Studies (Online) -- EDM

Field(s) of Specialization: Global Studies in Education

Desired Term of Enrollment: Spring 2009

*Although other Educational Policy Studies online programs do have admissions for Summer 2008, GSE only admits students in the Fall and Spring semesters.

Under the Test Information section - GRE is not required, so it is all right to leave this blank.

We encourage online applications because it saves time and paper. When you apply online you create an ID and PIN, which enables you to check your application status after submitting your application.

2) Pay application fee ($60 for domestic students, $75 for international).

3) Send official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate studies, issued by the institutions and sealed in original envelopes, to Global Studies in Education. Have the transcripts sent to the following address:

Global Studies in Education
360 Education Building
1310 S. Sixth Street
Champaign , IL 61820

4) Ask three (3) people to send letters of reference, preferably people who can speak about your scholarly potential, by uploading them to the university application as instructed in the application.

5) For International Applicants: in addition to the above materials, you will need to submit TOEFL scores as well. The minimum score for the Department of Educational Policy Studies is 590.

An international student verification form is not required. However, we do require either an email confirmation that you will not enter the U.S. during your studies, or a copy of a current non-student visa and an email confirmation that you will remain on this visa for the duration of your studies.

Visa eligibility documents (I-20 and DS-2019) cannot be issued for students in online programs. Also, no proof of funding is required for admission.

For further information on International Admission Requirements, please visit: http://www.oar.uiuc.edu/future/international/requirements.html

 

Application Deadline

To be considered for admission to the program starting in Spring 2009, prospective applicants must complete and return ALL information listed under the Admissions Process. It is your responsibility to see that all required information is received before September 15, 2008.

A student who is currently enrolled in college study should not wait until the end of the semester or quarter to have transcripts sent. If the applicant is admitted, the Office of Admissions will request final transcripts.

Letters of reference directed to the department office should be requested at the earliest possible time. Missing transcripts and letters of reference are the main causes of incomplete applications.

 

Tuition and Fees

Registration for the GSE courses is handled by the Office of Academic Outreach. Tuition costs and services provided to off-campus students are different from those offered to on-campus students. Tuition and fees per online course for the 2008-2009 academic year will be $1,356. There is no out of state tuition. All students pay the same amount. The total cost of the program over two years (8 Units) is approximately $10,848. Additionally, students are responsible for the cost of an Internet provider, textbooks, required hardware and software.

For more information about tuition and fees, billing and assessments and refund policies, go to: http://www.continuinged.uiuc.edu/oce-sites/outreach/tuition.cfm

 

Financial Aid

Students who are on a two-year program are eligible for financial aid. All students are eligible for financial aid in the Summer semesters.

Summer: Must be enrolled in .75 units (3 hours).
Spring or Fall: Must be enrolled in 1.5 units (6 hours).

To qualify, a student must be accepted into a degree program.
For more information on obtaining Financial Aid please go the University of Illinois Financial Aid Website or call them at 1-800-252-1360 x30100.

Financial aid is available to eligible degree-seeking UIUC students; however, the types and amounts of aid and the eligibility criteria vary greatly. The Office of Student Financial Aid uses a formula for determining student eligibility for need-based financial aid that includes three components: estimated educational expenses, estimated family contribution, and financial need. In order to receive federal financial aid, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. State and institutional financial aid funds are also subject to this requirement. For full consideration of all sources of need-based financial aid, please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA).

Consistent with University guidelines we do accept Veteran's Grants. For more information, visit the Veterans Affairs website or contact their office (veterans@uiuc.edu or 1-800-252-1360 x39283).

A minimum of 1 scholarship per cohort/per program will also be available. The following criteria will apply:

· Scholarships awarded will span the duration of the program and will expire at a maximum of two calendar years.

· Each “duration of program” scholarship will be valid for one year, subject to renewal for a second year if academic performance is satisfactory.

· Scholarship selection criteria, policies and procedures are at the discretion of the program, please contact the program coordinator for more information.

Waivers granted through Fellowships/Assistantships are governed by the Graduate College Tuition Waiver Policy.

Starting in Fall 2007 students will NOT be able to use the following types of waivers for GSE online classes

*Cooperating Teacher waivers
*Faculty/Staff waivers
*Non-Academic waivers from employees of the other state institutions
*Academic waivers from employees at UIC and UIS

This change will not affect students using those waivers who enrolled prior to Fall 2007.

Other employer tuition waivers, military waivers, and Veteran's grants are not affected by this policy.

We do not currently offer any assistantships for online students.

For more information on scholarship and loan opportunities, please visit the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

 

Scholarship Fund

There is a new scholarship fund awarded annually by the educators at GetEducated.com, a consumer advocacy group that rates, ranks and verifies the credibility of online colleges. GetEducated.com's $1,000 Excellence in Online Education Scholarship is especially for any student who intends to attend a college or university level program online or through distance means:
http://www.geteducated.com/services/scholarships.asp

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be a U.S. citizen enrolled in an accredited online degree program located in the USA with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

To Apply:

Download application
Write a 500-word essay: "What a College Degree Means to Me"
Attach a copy of your most recent grade transcript
Attach a copy of your most recent FAFSA (or your 1040 tax return)

Deadline for Receipt:  October 15

Recipients will be chosen and notified by December 1 each year.

 

Visual and Hearing Disabilities

Accommodations are made for students with visual and hearing disabilities.

 

Program Orientation

All students are required to participate in an on-line orientation, which will be held the week before courses begin. More specific information about the orientation meeting will be sent to students accepted into the program.

 

Degree Requirements

The Master of Education (Ed.M.) degree requires eight courses (32 semester hours, 4 hours per course). For GSE Online, there are six core course and two electives, including the possibility of a study abroad course. These courses are offered over six academic semesters (or two years). We will work with you to assure that your courses fit into your availability.

Three types of Master's degrees are available at the College of Education. The Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Science (M.S.) degree programs are for the student who has research interests in education. These candidates often enter the programs with the intent of eventually pursuing a doctoral program leading to the Ed.D. or Ph.D. degree. The Master of Education (Ed.M.) degree program is designed to meet the academic and professional interests of a person working in the educational field. The major difference between these three programs is the requirement that a master's thesis is not completed and defended as part of the Ed.M. degree. In the case of GSE, the School-Based Project may serve as evidence of your mastery of the course concepts.

 

Admissions Criteria | Admission Process | Deadline | Tuition & Fees | Financial Aid Disabilities | Orientation | Degree Requirements