GTE Admission Requirements

Admission to Program

Applications for degree or additional endorsements:

Completed applications for admission into the graduate program are reviewed regularly throughout the year. The Teacher Education Admissions Committee (TEAC) makes admissions decisions and annually reviews admissions policies.  A completed application for degree or licensure/endorsement areas includes the following: 

1. Completed application to the Graduate Teacher Education program with a nonrefundable application fee of $50.00 (waived in Pa.).
2. Official transcripts from each college or university attended. 
3. Two academic recommendations on EMU provided forms: (a) building level administrator/supervisor and (b) someone qualified to speak to the applicant's academic ability and potential. (www.emu.edu/maed/forms)
4. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA (based on 4.0). If this condition is not met, graduate GPA of six or more credits will be considered.
5. A valid teaching license, a copy of which must be submitted by the applicant for the graduate file.  Applicants applying for the TESL emphasis with K-12 initial licensure in VA, the  Trauma and Resilience in Educational Environments emphasis, or the Restorative Practitioner concentration are exempt from the teaching license requirement.
6. Evidence of one year of licensed teaching in a public or private school setting (preferred), or evidence of one year of successful work with youth in a public or private school setting pursuant to employment with a non-school entity (e.g. – a non-profit organization).
   1. Applicants applying for the TESL emphasis with K-12 initial licensure in VA are exempt from the teaching experience requirement. 
   2. Applicants who seek admission without meeting this criteria must provide a written explanation of their relevant experience, rationale for seeking admission, and their relevant post-program goals for consideration by TEAC (this does not automatically satisfy requirement #6).
7. Applicants seeking initial licensure in Virginia through EMU’s Graduate Teacher Education program are required to pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy (VCLA) assessment and meet the mathematics entry requirement prior to admission. (See Required Licensure/Endorsement Exam Scores for equivalent basic skills assessment in the Graduate Teacher Education handbook (or Test Scores.)
8. A personal interview with the director or associate director of the Graduate Teacher Education program, or designee.
9. Full time students (9 hours per semester) applying to EMU’s main campus in Virginia must submit an EMU graduate student Health Evaluation before their second semester.  Student Life Health Forms

 International Students: 

In addition to the requirements above, International applicants must submit the following information: 

1. Nationality and country of birth. A financial certificate demonstrating the student's “ability to pay” is required in order for the program to issue a student visa application (I-20 form). International applicants currently residing in the U.S. must indicate status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 
2. For applicants whose native language is not English, one of three conditions may be used to satisfy English proficiency. 
   1. (1) A score of 550 on the paper-based or 80 on the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). EMU's institutional code is 5181; 
   2. (2) A written recommendation from qualified personnel from EMU’s Intensive English Program; or
   3. (3) Evidence that the applicant studied and received a degree from a college or university where degree instruction was in English.

 Applications for Graduate Certificates

1. A completed application to the Graduate Teacher Education program with a nonrefundable application fee of $50.00 (waived in Pa.).
2. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.  Official transcripts from the college or university attended for highest degree earned with evidence of degree conferred. 
3. A personal interview with the director or associate director of the Graduate Teacher Education program, or designee, or, in the case of a school-sponsored cohort participant, recommendation of district administrator.
4. Evidence of one year of licensed teaching in a public or private school setting (preferred), or evidence of one year of successful work with youth in a public or private school setting pursuant to employment with a non-school entity (e.g. – a non-profit organization). Applicants applying for the TESL emphasis with K-12 initial licensure in VA are exempt from the teaching experience requirement.  Applicants who seek admission without meeting this criteria must provide a written explanation of their relevant experience, rationale for seeking admission, and their relevant post-program goals for consideration by TEAC (this does not automatically satisfy requirement #4).

Only completed applications will be considered by the Teacher Education Admissions Committee.

Persons who are denied admission may appeal in writing to the Teacher Education Admissions Committee for consideration of full admission, providing additional information pertinent to an admission decision. Prospective students may appeal a second denial of admission to the graduate dean, whose determination for admission is final.

Persons holding a bachelor’s degree who are pursuing personal or educational development may enroll in graduate education courses, special institutes, or site-based curricular offerings without being admitted into the MA in Education program.

Persons taking more than nine semester hours are encouraged to apply to the program to ensure that subsequent hours can be counted toward the master’s degree.

Candidates who wish to enroll in more than ten hours per term must request, in writing, permission from the director or associate director.  Consideration of a request to enroll in more than ten hours per term is considered on a case-by-case basis, and may include consideration of factors such as prior academic performance.

Changes to program/certificate concentrations are subject to TEAC approval.  Candidates must submit a written request to TEAC that provides the current concentration, the requested concentration, and the reason for the request to change concentrations.  Candidates must also submit evidence that admission criteria for the requested concentration are met to the extent it was not provided in the underlying application, which may include (but is not limited to) evidence of a teaching license, teaching experience, and test results.

Admission to Candidacy (MA in Education degree only)

Admission to Candidacy is required for degree-seeking candidates only and indicates potential to conduct Action Research.

Application for admission to candidacy may take place when the candidate has successfully completed two of the core courses (EDCC 501 Creating Cultures of Change, EDCC 521 Peacebuilding & Conflict Resolution, or EDCC 531 Social & Ethical Issues) plus six semester hours of the concentration area courses.

An Application to Candidacy should be submitted to the Education Department the semester before taking Action Research. All applications are reviewed for admission by the Teacher Education Admissions Committee (TEAC).

Applicants seeking initial licensure in ESL must be admitted to candidacy, pass Praxis #5362, and complete certification or training in emergency first aid, (Red Cross or American Heart Association) cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators (http://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching/licensure/emergency_first_aid_cpr_aed/index.shtml) prior to placement in an internship (student teaching).

Admission to candidacy is required prior to enrollment in EDCC 551 Action Research in Educational Settings. Mentors will be assigned during the Action Research in Educational Settings course.

A completed application includes the following:

1. A completed Application to Candidacy.
2. A rationale (1-2 paragraphs) stating the reason the candidate’s concentration area was chosen.
3. An academic recommendation form from an instructor of a core or concentration area course.

                    Application to Candidacy                   Candidacy Recommendation Form

Exit Requirements

 Master’s degree:

1. An exit interview with the director/assistant director of the Graduate Teacher Education.
2. Have a minimum of a C or better in all EMU MA in Education courses to receive credit towards the MA in Education degree.
3. Successful completion of the Action Research Project and other program requirements.
4. Candidates completing initial Virginia licensure (TESL) and complete the required Child Abuse Recognition and Intervention Training and the required Dyslexia Awareness Training. A copy of the certificate issued by the Virginia Department of Education on the Child Abuse Recognition Training and the Dyslexia Awareness Training shall be submitted to the Education Department. http://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching/licensure/child_abuse_training[WU1] 
5. Candidates completing state endorsements/certifications, see requirements below.
6. Candidates completing initial licensure or additional endorsements/certifications must submit the necessary licensure forms and fees.
7. A GPA of 3.0 is the minimum requirement for graduation.

Graduate Certificates in English as a Second Language (PA only) and Reading Specialist (PA only), and State Certifications/Endorsements:

1. An exit interview with the director/assistant director of the Graduate Teacher Education.
2. Have a minimum of a C or better in all EMU MA in Education courses. For the PA Reading Specialist Certification, all grades in the area courses must be B or higher.
3. Successful completion of endorsement/certification program requirements.
4. Candidates completing endorsement/certification requirements for:
   1. ESL must pass all VDOE- or PDE-required (as applicable) assessments, including the following assessments, and submit a copy of the score report to EMU.
      • ESL in VA: Virginia Communication & Literacy Assessment (VCLA) http://www.va.nesinc.com/ and Praxis English to Speakers of Other Languages #5362 www.ets.org/praxis (EMU Harrisonburg recipient code is 5181.)
      • ESL in PA: Praxis II English to Speakers of Other Languages #5362 www.ets.org/praxis (EMU Lancaster recipient code is 2215.)
   2. Reading Specialist must pass VDOE- or PDE-required (as applicable) assessments, including the following assessments, and submit a copy of the score report to EMU.
      • Reading Specialist in VA: Praxis Reading for Virginia Educators: Reading Specialist #5304  www.ets.org/praxis (EMU Harrisonburg recipient code is 5181.)
      • Reading Specialist in PA: Praxis II Reading Specialist #5301 www.ets.org/praxis (EMU Lancaster recipient code is 2215.)
5. Additional requirement for ESL and Reading Specialist in PA that must be satisfied prior to program completion, whether through program coursework or prior/other courses:
   1. At least 9 credits or 270 hours regarding accommodations and adaptations for students with disabilities in an inclusive setting (instruction in literacy skills development and cognitive skill development for students with disabilities must be included); and 
   2. At least 3 credits or 90 hours regarding the instructional needs of English language learners
6. Candidates completing initial licensure or an additional endorsement/certification must submit the necessary licensure forms and fees.
7. A minimum GPA of 3.0.

 Graduate Certificates in Restorative Justice in Education and Trauma and Resilience in Educational Environments:

1. Have a minimum of a C or better in all EMU Certificate courses.
2. Successful completion of certificate program requirements.
3. A Certificate Program GPA of 2.75 is the minimum exit requirement