MS in Special Education Admission & Application Requirements

Deadlines

  • Summer: April 15 (priority deadline)
  • Fall: July 1 (priority deadline)
  • Spring: November 15 (priority deadline)

Applications are often accepted after the deadlines posted below when space is available. Please contact the Graduate Studies Office if you have questions.

Part 1: Graduate Studies Application

Admission Requirement
Instructions
  1. Online graduate application

Submit the Graduate Online Application - This is only the first step in the application process.

  1. $35 Non-Refundable application fee for all graduate applications

After you complete the Graduate Online Application:

  • Log in to eServices with your StarID.
  • Click on Bills and Payment, and you will be able to pay the application fee using a credit or debit card.

Note: Upon completion of the application form in step one, you will receive an email in 1-2 business days giving instructions for the remaining steps and completing the program application in Part 2. Please note that the steps below cannot be completed until you receive that email. If you do not receive the email with Self Service Center instructions, please contact the Graduate Studies Office.

  1. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

Contact ALL the colleges and universities you have attended and have your transcripts sent to:

Graduate Studies Office, MSU Moorhead
1104 7th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56563

You do not need to order transcripts from MSUM or other Minnesota State system institutions. See Transcript Policy for more details.

Part 2: Graduate Program Application

  1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution; major in education, special education or related field (e.g., speech and language pathology, school psychology, psychology) required. If pursuing licensure, candidate must hold a current MN teaching license

This requirement will be verified by the Graduate Studies Office and the department.

  1. Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or at least 3.25 for the last 30 semester credits

This requirement will be verified by the Graduate Studies Office and the department.

  1. Special Education Application Form
  • Log in to the Self Service Center site (allow 24 hours after application submission before logging in).
  • Select the “Applications” tab, where you will see your graduate application listed.
  • Select “Continue” to access the extended program application and fill in all information. Be sure to “Submit Application” when you have completed all aspects.

Reflect on your responses to the EDA and prepare a 1,000- 1,200 word essay.

  • Log in to the Self Service Center site (allow 24 hours after application submission before logging in).
  • Select the “Applications” tab, where you will see your graduate application listed.
  • Select “Summary” to see a list of all program requirements and corresponding statuses.
  • Upload both documents (EDA and essay) by selecting the “Upload” link under the respective “Action” column.
  1. Two recommendations; school administrator, former employer, or professor
  • Log in to the Self Service Center site (allow 24 hours after application submission before logging in).
  • Select the “Applications” tab, where you will see your graduate application listed.
  • If you have not submitted contact information yet, select “Continue” to go into your application and complete program app and recommender information.
  • After clicking “Submit Application” you will need to contact the Graduate Studies Office for any recommender information changes.
  • Your recommenders will receive an e-mail from the Graduate Studies Office asking them to fill out the recommendation form.
  • To check the status of your recommendations later, select “Summary” in the Applications tab.
  1. Copy of Minnesota Teaching License
  • Log in to the Self Service Center site (allow 24 hours after application submission before logging in).
  • Select the “Applications” tab, where you will see your graduate application listed.
  • Select “Summary” to see a list of all program requirements and corresponding statuses.
  • Upload document by selecting the “Upload” link under the respective “Action” column.

Tk20 is the online assessment management system used by Teacher Education at MSUM. Tk20 will allow students and faculty access all metrics utilized in the generation of data for self-assessment and continuous improvement purposes as well as state and national accreditation of our Teacher Education/Preparation Programs.

Subscription to Tk20 will be required upon admission into the Special Education Graduate Program with a one-time payment of $110.