GRADUATE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

Applicants must submit a completed Application for Graduate Admission to the Graduate Admissions Office located in Barnard Hall, Rm. 102.  If you have questions concerning your application, please contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 860-832-2350 or graduateadmissions@mail.ccsu.edu.

Admission Dates

Fall and Spring Admissions. Most applications must be received by July 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for spring.

However, some programs have established earlier deadlines or admit students only once per year. International applicants should submit all application materials as soon as possible and when possible one year before the semester they wish to begin their program to ensure adequate time for processing visa applications and for making other arrangements.

Note: Most graduate programs require candidates to submit additional materials beyond the minimum requirements of the Graduate Office.  These additional materials should be submitted to the specific department offering the program. A personal interview with the academic department may also be required for entry into some graduate programs.   Applicants to all programs are encouraged to consult the appropriate program description in the Graduate Catalog or the department chair to assure that all special admissions requirements are met.  Additional material requirements are also found at: www.ccsu.edu/grad/Additional Material.

Summer Admission.  For those programs offering summer matriculation, all completed applications must be received no later than March 1. All of the programs that offer summer matriculation require students to submit additional materials along with the graduate studies application, all transcripts, and the $50 fee.  If students are uncertain about what additional materials are required, they are advised to contact the specific department. 

Summer matriculation allows first time program students to be eligible for financial aid during the summer.  The first step for applying for Financial Aid is to complete a Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) application on the web.  The students can link to the FAFSA website from the Financial Aid website: www.ccsu.edu/finaid.  They also can go directly to the governments website at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.   Candidates must list CCSU on the form and provide the CCSU Title IV code of 001378.  The Office of Financial Aid will receive an electronic student aid report (ISIR) and, then, notify the student of any other paperwork that is needed (i.e. copies of signed tax returns, W2's and a verification worksheet for verification) if they are selected by the government.

Admission Criteria

Students must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education to apply for a Master's Program, post baccalaureate teacher certification, and most other programs. The undergraduate record must demonstrate clear evidence of ability to undertake and pursue studies in a graduate field successfully.  To apply for the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, 6th year certificate degrees, and Advanced Official Certificate Programs in Professional Counseling, Superintendent of Schools and Reading, a master's degree is required.  

A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.700 (some programs require a 3.000) on a 4.000 point scale (where A is 4.000), or its equivalent, and good standing (3.000 GPA) in all post-baccalaureate course work is required.  

Teacher Certification Programs

Teacher Certification Programs have specific guidelines for teacher preparation programs that are consistent with state requirements.

After admission to the graduate program a student 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 to be accepted to the professional program in the School of Education and Professional Studies. Your assigned adviser will explain the separate process for applying to the professional program and give you the dates of submission.  A complete description of the process is also included in the Graduate School Catalogue.  Further 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).

Ed.D., Sixth-Year Certificates and Other Post-Master’s Study

Admission to programs of post-master’s study, including Ed.D., and the Sixth-Year Certificates in Educational Leadership and in Reading, is based on performance at the master’s degree level in addition to the undergraduate GPA.  Admission to sixth year certificates is limited to students who hold the appropriate Connecticut teaching certificate. Most programs also limit admissions to applicants who hold an appropriate master’s degree or who present other evidence of advanced course work in the field of study.

Students wishing to develop a program of study for other fields may request admission to a 30-credit planned program of post-master’s study in an available area of interest. All applicants are advised that planned programs of post-master’s study, with the exception of the Ed. D., and the Sixth-Year Certificates in Educational Leadership and in Reading, are non-degree programs and are provided in a limited number of fields.

Conditional Admission

An applicant for a Master Program who does not meet regular admission standards but has an undergraduate GPA between 2.400 and 2.690 (some programs require between a 2.700 and 3.000) 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 that 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 and does not apply to teacher certification areas.  Students admitted conditionally, where appropriate, are notified of pre-admission requirements.

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) and provide a Declaration of Finance form, which documents financial responsibility. 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.

Applicants who have earned an appropriate undergraduate degree from a college or university at which English is the language of instruction may be waived from the TOEFL requirement.

There is at present no financial aid available for non-U.S. students. Graduate assistantships may be available to international students who are available for on-campus interviews and/or who have completed successfully a semester of graduate study at Central Connecticut State University.

In addition to the application form, $50 (non-refundable) application fee, official transcripts and records of undergraduate and graduate studies, and any program-specific application requirements, international applicants must submit:

(1) 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 entirely on-line) Graduate Affidavit of Support.

(2) translations of academic records produced and verified by the educational institution in the home country or a U.S. academic credential evaluation agency if such materials are not in English; see list of credential evaluation agencies. 

(3) proof of competency in English as indicated by the TOEFL with a score of no less than 550 (or 213 on the computer based test) unless waived by the university.

NOTE: Conditional Admission may be offered if a student meets all academic requirements for admission, including the approval of the graduate school program, but demonstrates "insufficient English language proficiency" by a TOEFL score that does not meet the CCSU graduate school requirements but has at least a score of 485/160.

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 an 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.    

The Intensive English Language Program (IELP) includes highly participatory instruction in reading, writing, listening, grammar, pronunciation, speaking and TOEFL preparation. The IELP also administers an institutional TOEFL test five times per year.

Central Connecticut State University is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant, permanent resident students. These students will be required to submit proof of immigration status.

International students are also required to submit a completed medical form before attending the university. This health form includes immunizations required for students. A Tuberculin Skin Test (Mantoux test) is also required and must be administered in an American medical facility.

If you are planning on living in a the residence hall on campus, you will be required to have the meningococcal vaccination (Menactra).  This vaccination must also be administered in an American medical facility. The United States requires this vaccine with subtypes A, C, Y, W 135 in the vaccine, which may not be available in your country.

The University Health Service will be offering both the Tuberculin Skin Test and the meningococcal vaccination on September 5, 2006, if you are not able to obtain these in an American facility prior to the first day of classes. There is a cost associated with the vaccinations.

Please complete the form and return it to the University Health Service by July 15, 2006.  Additional medical information may be needed, and we will notify you by e-mail to enable you to obtain this medical information while you are still in your country.

The information provided on the Connecticut State University Health Service form is strictly confidential and will be reviewed and used only by health care providers employed by and affiliated with Central Connecticut State University.  The information contained within the health form is not shared with any staff person within the CCSU Center for International Education, U.S. immigration officials nor any other person at the University without your written permission to release any part of the information on the form from the University Health Service.