Doctoral Admission Requirements

The deadlines for applying to the program are:
  • Fall Semester: January 15
  • Spring & Summer Semesters: August 15

Required Application Materials:

1) Graduate School Application:

  • ­ Applicants who have never been enrolled at the University of Missouri-Columbia must submit their Application for Graduate Admission.  Please use the on-line application system, Apply Yourself Online.
  • Applicants who are currently enrolled at the University must submit a Change form to this office.   
  •  If you have been enrolled at UMC as a graduate student before but have not been enrolled in the last year, submit a Request to Re-Enroll to the Special Education Department, 303 Townsend, Columbia, MO  65211.
  • Graduate students who have taken only on-line courses should use the Apply Yourself system.

2) Official Transcripts:  Official transcripts from all previous college work at institutions other than UMC should be sent directly the Graduate School, 210 Jesse Hall, Columbia, MO 65211.

3) Personal Data Sheet: The Personal Data Sheet  includes pertinent biographical information and professional experience.

4) A Statement of Purpose:  (usually around 500 words) in which you summarize your professional goals, including career objectives, research interests, your motivation for advanced graduate work and other pertinent information.

5) Letters of Recommendation:  You must submit at least three letters of recommendation which attest to your professional competence, academic preparation, and potential for graduate work. Ideally, two letters should be from college or university professors who can discuss your academic abilities and one should be from an administrator or colleague who can describe authoritatively your professional experience and potential.  Letters may be sent to the Special Education Department or they may be submitted through the Apply Yourself system.

6) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores*:  All students are required to have GRE  scores on file taken within the last five years.  Applications will not be considered without these scores.

7) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores*:  Students whose native language is not English must submit scores on a TOEFL administered within the last two years.  Please see more details under Doctoral Admissions Criteria. Under certain conditions, this requirement may be waived.  See more details below.

Please feel free to submit any other materials, which you feel, would give a clearer picture of your qualifications.

If you have question or if you would like a paper application packet, contact the Special Education Department at umccoesped@missouri.edu.

Doctoral Admissions Criteria

Admissions to Doctoral programs in Special Education will be based upon the following criteria:

1. Graduate grade point average above 3.5 and a preferred combined score of 1000 or better on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GRE.

2. A minimum of three years full-time appropriate teaching or professional experience in pre K - 12 or other direct services with persons with disabilities.

3. A minimum of three letters of recommendation, which on the whole, clearly reflect professional success and predict academic success at the advanced graduate level.

4. Statement of purpose indicating clearly that the proposed doctorate is appropriate to the applicant's professional aspirations.

5. For students whose native language is not English, a score of 600 (paper based), 250 (computer based), or 100 (internet based) or better on the TOEFL taken within the past two years. Ideally, the TOEFL will be taken 6-9 months prior to the term in which the student wishes to start their program.

6. An interview may be required by the admissions committee.

7. Confer or correspond with one of the special education faculty members in the proposed area of concentration prior to submitting an application. This contact is ultimately a requirement for admission.

All requirements implicit in the above statement must be completed before consideration of an applicant for admission. The department cannot assure admission to all applicants who meet minimum standards specified for the degree program. Resource constraints do not permit the admission of all qualified applicants.

A committee of faculty reviews the credentials of all applicants. It is the responsibility of this committee to exercise professional judgment related to the criteria which applicants must meet in order to be considered for admission to the program. The committee frequently must use its judgment to discern from among a number of applicants those individuals who are judged to have the greatest potential for program success and ultimate contribution to the profession. Membership in under-represented groups will be a special consideration with regards to admission by the committee.

*For further information about the GRE or TOEFL, contact Testing Center, 205 Parker Hall, Columbia, MO 65211 or call them at (573) 882-4801. You may also receive information about the GRE or TOEFL from Education Testing Service at www.ets.org.

Special Education Department

303 Townsend Hall

Columbia, MO  65211

Phone: (573) 882-3742

Fax: (573) 884-0520

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