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APPLYING FOR ADMISSION
Central Connecticut State University welcomes advanced-level applicants
with a broad range of abilities, interests, and backgrounds. Students
are admitted to either full-time (nine hours or more) or part-time
(eight hours or less) study. Applications are accepted for both the fall
and spring semesters. (Some programs have summer matriculation.)
To be considered for full-time or part-time admission, applicants should
submit the completed Application for Graduate Admission to the
University, accompanied by a non-refundable application fee of $50.
Students may apply online at www.ccsu.edu/grad. The Application for
Admission is also available upon request or may be obtained in a number
of campus offices. As part of the application and admission process, an
applicant must request that official undergraduate and graduate
transcripts be submitted directly to the Graduate Admission Office,
located in Davidson Hall, Room 115, from every institution at which
courses were taken, except Central Connecticut State University. Failure
to identify on the application form all institutions attended, or to
have transcripts sent from each of them, may be considered sufficient
reason for non-admission or for subsequent dismissal from the graduate
program. Applicants who have attended Central Connecticut State
University must list all dates of attendance so their official record
can be appropriately evaluated. All academic credentials submitted by an
applicant become part of the student’s permanent file at the University
and cannot be returned.
Many graduate programs have established additional admission
requirements beyond the minimum requirements of the School of Graduate
Studies. Prospective applicants should consult the program description
section of this catalog, or the graduate website at
www.ccsu.edu/grad , to determine
the requirements of the program to which they are applying. Such
program-specific admission standards may include a higher minimum
cumulative average; an undergraduate major or its equivalent in the
program for which admission is sought; scores from the Advanced Test of
Graduate School Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission
Test (GMAT); evidence of language proficiency; and additional evidence
of admissibility, such as letters of reference, statements of goals and
objectives, personal interviews. If so required by the program of
application, applicants must provide the additional evidence of
admissibility directly to the department.
Further, some programs can accept only a limited number of qualified
applicants and may review admission files only at certain times of the
year.
Applicants to all programs are urged to consult the appropriate program
description, the School of Graduate Studies, the graduate website, or
the department chair to assure that all special admission requirements
are met.
Admissions requirements are subject to change without notice.
Application Deadlines. It is strongly recommended that applicants
apply for the fall semester by May 1 and for the spring semester by
November 1. However, unless other programmatic deadlines have been set,
all applications must be received no later than July 1 for the fall
semester and December 1 for the spring semester.
It is recommended that international applicants submit all application
materials one year before the semester they wish to begin their program
to ensure adequate time for processing visa applications and for making
other arrangements. However, all international applications must be
received no later than May 1 for the fall semester and by November 1 for
the spring semester. (A March 1 deadline exists for the programs that
allow summer matriculation.)
Please note that some programs have established earlier deadlines or
admit students only once per year.
International Students. International applicants must meet all
regular requirements for admission (including such tests as the Graduate
Record Examination or the Graduate Management Admissions Test when
required). In addition, applicants must submit a satisfactory score on
the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), when required, and
provide a Declaration of Finance form, which documents financial
responsibility. Qualified applicants who cannot demonstrate financial
responsibility will not be admitted. Presently financial aid is not
available for non-U.S. students. A limited number of graduate
assistantships may be available to students who are available for
on-campus interviews and/or who have successfully completed a semester
of graduate study at Central Connecticut State University.
International applicants must submit the following in addition to the
application form, application fee, official transcripts and records of
undergraduate and graduate studies, and any program-specific application
requirements:
(1) two letters of academic and character reference;
(2) a Declaration of Finance form, which is provided to international
applicants and includes provisions for indicating and verifying
financial capability and responsibility (not applicable for students in
programs that are completed entirely on-line);
(3) translations of academic records produced and verified by the
educational institution in the home country, or by a U.S. academic
credential evaluation agency, if such materials are not in English;
(4) proof of competency in English as indicated by the Test of English
as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of no less than 550 on the
paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 79 on the
Internet-based test (iBT), unless waived by the University.
Information about the TOEFL test is available from the Educational
Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6154, USA. An
undergraduate academic degree from a U.S. institution of higher
education or from an overseas institution where the primary medium of
instruction is English may be considered as proof of English competency.
Central Connecticut State University reserves the right to require
additional evidence of competency or to require that students admitted
to graduate programs take courses to develop their English language
skills. Decisions regarding the need for such courses will be made by
the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the School
of Graduate Studies in conjunction with the student’s advisor and
appropriate staff from the George R. Muirhead Center for International
Education.
Central Connecticut State University is authorized under federal law to
enroll non-immigrant, permanent resident students, provided they meet
all admission standards. These students will be required to submit proof
of immigration status.
Intensive English Language Program. The Intensive English
Language Program (IELP) offers dynamic English language instruction to
international students, faculty, foreign professionals, and other
non-native English speakers. The Intensive English Language Program
includes highly participatory instruction in reading, writing,
listening, grammar, pronunciation, and speaking. Students are placed in
the appropriate level, based primarily on the results of a placement
exam which is administered the first day of the course. The IELP also
administers an institutional TOEFL test five times per year.
Registration for these courses is done directly through the IELP office
in the George R. Muirhead Center for International Education, Barnard
Hall.
Please contact the office at 832-3376 for application, course
scheduling, or other information.
Re-Admission of Former Students. Students who wish to be
considered for re-admission after one year of being withdrawn as a
full-time student from a graduate program must be reactivated by
completing a Request for Reactivation form. After two years of not being
registered for classes, graduate students will be notified that they are
in danger of becoming inactive and being dropped from their program,
unless they register for courses in the next semester. Once students are
made inactive, they must reapply and pay a re-enrollment fee of $50 to
continue in the program. Any semesters in which the student has not
taken course work still fall within the six-year time limit for
completing the graduate degree program. Only students in good standing
(3.00 graduate GPA or higher) are considered for reenrollment. Students
may request file reactivation or reenrollment when their program has not
been completed.
If a former student wishes to enter a program other than the one to
which she or he was originally accepted and completed, a new application
(including the application fee and official transcripts from any
additional institutions) must be filed. Good standing status on the
accumulated graduate record (3.00 or higher GPA) also applies to such
students.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
Admission for a graduate program is based on the applicant’s academic
record. Master’s degree applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a
regionally accredited institution of higher education. The undergraduate
record must demonstrate clear evidence of ability to undertake and
successfully pursue studies in a graduate field. A minimum undergraduate
GPA of 2.70 on a 4.00 point scale (where A is 4.00), or its equivalent,
and good standing (3.00 GPA) in all post-baccalaureate course work is
required. (Some programs require a cumulative GPA above the 2.70, as
well as other additional materials. Students are advised to check
additional materials required by departments.)
For those students who apply to the School of Graduate Studies and do
not meet the minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.70 on a four-point scale
(where A=4.00), the quality points of credits for courses taken at the
graduate level will be added to the quality points of the undergraduate
GPA to compute the total GPA to determine if the required 2.70 has been
met. Along with the overall 2.70, it is expected that students meet the
requirement of a 3.00 GPA for their graduate or post-baccalaureate
course work.
When applicable, evidence of successful completion of a master’s degree
from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.00 GPA, on a four-point
scale (where A=4.00), will admit the student to the School of Graduate
Studies, and the undergraduate GPA will not be counted.
Applicants to the Ed.D. program and to Sixth-Year Certificates in
Educational Leadership and in Reading must hold master’s degrees and
bachelor’s degrees from regionally accredited institutions of higher
education. The academic record must demonstrate clear evidence of
ability to undertake and successfully pursue studies in the graduate
field. Each program has its own requirements. Applicants are advised to
consult the program description sections of this catalog or the graduate
website about specific application requirements relevant to the graduate
program.
Other Post-Master’s Study. Students wishing to develop a program
of study in other fields beyond the master’s may request admission to a
30-credit planned program of post-master’s study in an available area of
interest. All planned programs of post-master’s study, with the
exception of the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Sixth-Year
Certificates in Educational Leadership and in Reading, are non-degree
programs and are provided in a limited number of fields. Admission to
programs of post-master’s study is limited to students who hold an
appropriate master’s degree and, if applicable, the appropriate
Connecticut teaching certificate or who present other evidence of
advanced course work in the field of study. Acceptance is based on
performance at the master’s degree level (minimum 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
where A=4.00). Additional admission requirements are described in the
program descriptions section of this catalog.
Official Certificate Programs (OCP) are academic programs of
study that have been designed for those interested in developing
expertise in a particular field of study. These do not lead to degrees
and requirements are individually prescribed dependent on the program.
The Graduate Application form lists the OCP that are available.
Applicants are advised to consult the program description sections of
this catalog to determine specific requirements for each of the
programs.
Teacher Certification Programs. Central Connecticut State
University offers programs of preparation for teacher certification at
both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Consistent with state
requirements for the undergraduate academic preparation of teachers,
only those applicants who present at least a 2.70 (B-) undergraduate
cumulative average may be considered for admission to a certification
program at the graduate level.
After admission to the graduate program, a student seeking acceptance to
the Professional Program in the School of Education and Professional
Studies is required to submit a separate application and accompanying
documents for review by the Office of the Dean, School of Education and
Professional Studies, and the respective department. The application
must be submitted by September 10 (for fall consideration) or by
February 10 (for spring consideration) of the semester in which the
student is first eligible. (Note: These dates and processes differ for
applicants to the Summer through Summer Program in Elementary Education
and accelerated programs for teacher certification in mathematics or
Spanish. Applicants should consult directors of these programs.) An
eligible student is someone who has: been admitted to the graduate
program; completed or is enrolled in no less than six credits of
post-baccalaureate course work at CCSU; met special departmental
requirements; and passed the basic skills examination for prospective
teachers (Praxis I or the Pre-Professional Skills Test-PPST) or received
an official waiver.
A complete application for the Professional Program in Education
includes two letters of recommendation from persons able to testify to
the candidate’s suitability as a prospective teacher; an essay which
demonstrates a command of the English language, describing in written
narrative the reasons for wanting to enroll in the Professional Program
and emphasizing experiences which are relevant to teaching; verification
of a satisfactory Praxis I or the PPST test completion or an official
waiver; a copy of the letter of admission to the graduate program; and a
signed copy of the official planned program of graduate study.
The student is responsible for presenting a complete application packet
to the Assistant Dean of the School of Education and Professional
Studies (Barnard Hall 248).
Students admitted for graduate study, but not yet admitted to the
Professional Program for teacher certification, develop, with their
assigned advisor, a planned program of required courses. The length of
the planned program depends on the undergraduate preparation of the
student. Most students must devote the equivalent of at least two years
or more of full-time study in order to complete undergraduate coursework
and professional education, including student teaching, in areas of
study required for certification.
Students must be accepted to the Professional Program before registering
for student teaching. Those requesting student teaching in the fall
semester must submit student teaching applications by March 1 of the
preceding spring semester. Applicants requesting student teaching in the
spring semester must apply by October 1 of the preceding fall semester.
Additional information about the requirements for entry into the
Professional Program may be obtained from the Office of the Dean, School
of Education and Professional Studies (Barnard Hall 248). Student
teaching applications and information are available in the Office of
Field Experiences and Student Teaching (Barnard Hall 309).
CONDITIONAL ADMISSION
An applicant for graduate study in master’s or some Official Certificate
Programs who does not meet regular admission standards, but has an
undergraduate GPA between 2.40 and 2.69, may be considered for
conditional admission when the department of application has agreed in
advance to make this option available to prospective students. The
conditional admission program is an arrangement which allows students to
demonstrate the ability to perform successfully in a graduate degree
program. The conditional admission plan is available only in a limited
number of fields by departmental agreement.
Conditional admission does not apply to graduate study in the Ed.D. in
Educational Leadership, Sixth-Year Certificate programs in educational
leadership and reading, and advanced OCP.
Students admitted conditionally, where appropriate, are notified of
pre-admission requirements. When any course requirements set forth are
completed with grades of B or better and conditions are met with a GPA
of at least 3.00, the academic advisor must then recommend full
acceptance to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
ADMISSIONS APPEALS
Applicants who are denied admission to a graduate program at Central
Connecticut State University may request a review of this decision. Such
requests must be made in writing to the dean of the School of Graduate
Studies and should include additional academic information (such as
scores from standardized tests, grades in very recent courses, or
letters of recommendation from instructors) which was not submitted with
the original application. The dean will first consult the department
offering the program for reconsideration of the applicant. Depending on
the nature of the appeal, further consultation may be made with an
appropriate designee of the academic school or the department chair of
the relevant program before making a decision. The dean, School of
Graduate Studies, will notify the student of her decision in writing. If
an unfavorable decision is rendered, the applicant may request that the
appeal be sent to the Graduate Standing Appeals Subcommittee of Graduate
Studies.
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