Program Requirements

Entrance requirements

1. Admission decisions and assignment of an advisor will not be made until all required materials are submitted. A candidate may take up to nine hours as a nondegree-seeking student before being accepted into the program.
2. To be considered for admission to the program, a student must first submit a Graduate Application.
3. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work must be submitted.
4. Applicants must also submit a letter of intent, which includes the candidate’s teaching and professional goals, future plans, background and teaching experience.
5. Admission to the program requires the following minimum criteria:
   1. appropriate teacher certificate or eligibility for certification by a state or national board; and
   2. a minimum GPA of 3.00 for courses taken in undergraduate area of study. Candidates who do not meet the GPA requirement must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) earning a minimum combined score of 290. Results from the GRE must be provided prior to the candidate's registering for more than nine hours.

A candidate who does not meet all the above criteria, but who demonstrates outstanding potential, may be fully admitted by the Director and Graduate Admissions Committee on the basis of individual merit and successful completion of the first nine hours (3.00 GPA or higher).

Student program of study courses

The advisor and student will plan cooperatively a program designed to meet the student's needs.

Accelerated Master's Degree option - MSEd, Literacy

The MSEd-Literacy accelerated master's degree option provides exceptional MSU undergraduate students the opportunity to enroll in a combined baccalaureate and master's degree program.

Eligible BSEd majors may apply for preliminary acceptance into the MSEd-Literacy program after admission requirements for the accelerated master's option have been satisfied. Once accepted, students will be able to take up to 12 hours of graduate-level literacy courses that apply to both their undergraduate and graduate programs. Before enrolling in courses for both undergraduate and graduate credit, an undergraduate student must be accepted into the accelerated program and receive prior approval from the Literacy Program Coordinator, the RFT Department Head, and the Dean of the Graduate College. This is done by using a mixed credit form. A student will be fully admitted to the Graduate College upon completion of the requirements for the baccalaureate degree, provided the student meets all other requirements for admission to the Graduate College. Acceptance into the program and all approvals must be completed prior to the end of the Change of Schedule Period for the course(s). See the Graduate College for further information.

Admission requirements for Accelerated Master's Option

1. Junior standing, with an overall GPA of 3.25
2. BSEd major
3. Elementary majors - completed or enrolled in: RDG 318 or RDG 420, and RDG 421
4. Secondary majors - completed or enrolled in: RDG 474
5. Other BSEd majors - contact the Graduate Literacy Program Coordinator
6. Recommendation of a faculty member in the Literacy program

Graduate Coursework in Literacy Taken by Undergraduates and Accepted into the Accelerated Master's Option:

RDG 700 (3), RDG 640 (3); RDG 660 or RDG 665 (3); RDG 680 or RDG 685 (3). Other course may be substituted with approval from Graduate Literacy Program Coordinator.

Completion of MSEd-Literacy requirements:

Students must complete the additional course requirements and number of required hours as listed in the regular MSEd-Literacy degree.