Admissions Criteria - Masters Programs

Application Procedures/Deadlines:
July 1st- Fall Semester
November 1st- Winter Semester
April 1st- Summer Semester

Applicants must submit the following items in order to be considered for the Master's program:

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.
  • UMC students who have taken only on-line courses should use the Apply Yourself system.

2) Official Transcripts: Official transcripts of all previous college work at institutions other than UMC should be sent directly to Graduate School Admissions, 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 graduate work and other pertinent information.

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

6) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores*: All students are required to have on file scores of the GRE. 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. Under certain conditions, this requirement may be waived. Please see more information below under Master Program Admissions Criteria.

Please feel free to submit any other materials that 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.

Master Programs Admissions Criteria

Admissions to the Masters Program in Special Education will be based upon the following criteria:

1. A completed baccalaureate degree

2. Graduate grade point average above 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.

3. GRE scores taken within the last five years reflecting a preferred combined score of 900 or better on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GRE.

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

5. Statement of purpose clearly indicating that the proposed Masters degree is appropriate to the applicant's professional aspirations.

6. 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. 

7. Students may be required to complete an interview with special education faculty.

8. Students must complete all graduate school and program application materials by the deadline posted each term.

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 each applicant. It is the responsibility of this committee to exercise professional judgment related to the criteria that 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 please contact the Testing Center, 205 Parker Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, (573) 882-4801, http://web.missouri.edu/~umcvcsatesting/index.html. 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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