General Admissions Policies and Procedures
1. Applicants must have earned an undergraduate or graduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 from a regionally accredited college or university. An applicant whose cumulative GPA is below 3.00 or who graduated from a non-regionally accredited college or university may be considered for admission by the Dean of the College of Education.
2. Applicants who have already completed a master’s degree at SVSU or another regionally-accredited college or university may transfer a maximum of nine (9) credits to a graduate degree program. A grade of “B” or higher must have been earned in each transfer course. The advisor, department chair, and dean must approve all transfer credits, course waivers, and/or course substitutions.
3. Graduate program candidates who, for seven consecutive semesters (including summer), have not been enrolled in the College of Education must apply for readmission. A readmitted candidate is subject to all regulations and requirements for the current catalog at the time of his/her readmission.
Admissions Requirements
Individuals seeking admission to a graduate degree program, endorsement, or non-degree teacher certification program who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, and have obtained teacher certification in the State of Michigan, or have an out-of-state teaching certificate recognized by the State of Michigan, must apply and be admitted to SVSU to be eligible to register for classes. Interested applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and do not have a teaching certificate should refer to the section below for Non-Certified Teaching Applicants.
Applicants must submit the following materials:
1. Application
2. $30.00 non-refundable application fee
3. Official transcripts from each college or university where college credit was earned. Applicants who have completed credit at SVSU do not need to submit a copy of their SVSU transcript. However, they will be required to request updated official transcripts from other colleges/universities where they earned credit to ensure that the College of Education has the complete academic history on file for admissions and state certification purposes. Official transcripts must be issued by the college or university to the SVSU College of Education either by US mail or through an official E-transcript system. In the interim, student copies may be uploaded to the electronic application for admission. All official transcripts must be received by the beginning of the term for which the applicant has applied.
4. A photocopy (front only) of the most recent teaching certificate. If an out-of-state teaching certificate was obtained, a photocopy of the certificate should be submitted.
5. International applicants seeking admission to a graduate degree program must complete the Graduate International Online Application
Non-Certified Teaching Applicants
Individuals who have never completed a preparation program for teacher certification and are seeking admission to a Master of Arts in Teaching or Master of Education degree program are required to obtain written approval from the appropriate department chair or faculty advisor. Applicants must include a letter with their application requesting admission to the program.
Applicants who are currently completing a teacher preparation program at SVSU or another approved teacher preparation program and want to apply for an endorsement or master’s degree program must meet the following conditions before submitting an application to be considered for admission.
1. All required course work requirements must be complete or final semester in progress at the time of application.
2. All required state testing (MTTC) must be complete and passed at the time of application.
Applicants completing a teacher preparation program at another college/university must include a letter with their application from that institution verifying that they will qualify for their degree and/or initial teacher certification upon successful completion of their final semester.
Applicants should be aware that Michigan Department of Education policy stipulates that coursework taken before the issuance of their initial certificate may not be used for certification progression.
Applicants with a Criminal Conviction
Applicants who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, or have any outstanding criminal charges or warrants pending in Michigan or any other state or jurisdiction, will be required to submit a photocopy of the actual court documents indicating the crime of which they were convicted, and dates and sentences imposed with their application materials. If criminal charges are pending, applicants will be required to submit a statement from the issuing court indicating court date and offense. Applicants who have been convicted of (or pled no contest to) a felony will be required to meet with the Dean or Assistant Dean of the College of Education and the Chair of the Admissions and Transitions Committee before their application for admission will be considered. It is strongly recommended that applicants schedule an appointment with the Dean or Assistant Dean prior to applying for admission and bring their court documents (as stated above) to their scheduled meeting.
SVSU has the right to deny admission or dismiss any applicant who has been convicted of any felony or one of the following misdemeanors:
1. Criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree
2. Attempt to commit criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree
3. Child abuse in the third or fourth degree or an attempt to commit child abuse in the third or fourth degree
4. Cruelty, torture, or indecent exposure involving a child
5. Delivery of a narcotic to a minor or student or to any person within 1000 feet of school property
6. Breaking and entering
7. Accosting, enticing, or soliciting a child for immoral purposes
8. Assault; assault and battery
9. Assault; infliction of a serious injury
10. Any conviction judged relevant by SVSU or the Michigan Department of Education
Admission Disclaimer
Admission to a SVSU College of Education program does not guarantee certification by the State of Michigan. The SVSU College of Education cannot guarantee approval of any recommendation made to the State of Michigan for any type of certification. Final approval of a recommendation made by SVSU is granted only by the Michigan Department of Education based on their policies and procedures in place at the time the recommendation for certification is made.
Program Requirements
1. All credits and requirements toward a master’s degree, including transfer credits, must be completed within seven (7) years prior to the date on which the degree is to be conferred. SVSU credits remain valid for a maximum of seven (7) years. Transfer credits are valid for seven (7) years from the time the course was taken, not from the time of transfer.
2. Graduate program candidates must maintain a minimum of a 3.00 GPA in graduate study. Only grades of “A,” “B,” or “C” may be certified toward graduation.
3. Whenever a GPA drops below a 3 00, or a graduate program candidate earns two “C” grades in the program, the candidate will be placed on academic probation. A candidate on probation must have records reviewed by a departmental committee. Continuation in the program and graduation will depend upon the recommendation of that committee and the approval of the Dean of the College of Education.
4. A maximum of six (6) credits for TE 509 courses may count toward the degree.
5. A maximum of six (6) credits of independent study may count toward the degree.
6. Graduate program candidates may be required to submit a set of assessments to an electronic portfolio storage system. Contact a program advisor for specific information.
7. Graduate program candidates must successfully complete a designated “capstone” course or thesis option during their last six credits of graduate study.
Program Management
1. Completion of the program does not qualify graduate program candidates for a teaching or administrative certificate or an endorsement.
2. Since degree programs are often highly structured, it is strongly advised that graduate program candidates considering a change to a different degree program do so within the first nine (9) credits of graduate coursework to avoid loss of credit.
3. Graduate program candidates must meet periodically with their faculty advisor to keep updated on coursework requirements for their degree program and to receive advisement on any course substitutions, transfer credit, and any other changes in the SVSU policy.
Graduate degree candidates must submit the Graduation Application in the SVSU Registrar’s Office. All documentation and official transcripts of transferred credits must be on file at SVSU at the time the application is submitted. If a degree audit indicates that a graduate program candidate is not eligible to graduate, the application is made inactive. Late applications or missing documentation may cause the candidate to be moved to a later graduation date. The graduation application deadline dates are available online at http://www.svsu.edu/officeoftheregistrar
|
