Admission to the graduate certificate programs at Illinois State University is competitive. Prior to admission to the Department of Special Education, you must be admitted to the graduate program at Illinois State University. Learn more about the graduate certificate program (pdf).
Minimum Admission Criteria
- Meets all University admission criteria.
- Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited program.
- Minimum grade point average in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale OR Graduate Record Examinations scores, with a minimum combined score of 1,000 on any two subtests.
- Current special education, speech and language or audiology certification/licensure and a minimum of one year of successful teaching or related service experience
- Prerequisite coursework, which includes survey of special education, prior to enrolling in SED 400 level courses.
- The applicant’s stated professional development goals can be expected to be facilitated by completion of this master’s degree program.
- Evidence of disposition for advanced study in the special education profession
Admission to Illinois State Graduate Program
Admission to the Department of Special Education
Prospective students are required to submit an admission portfolio to the Department. The portfolio must include:
- admission credential supplement form (pdf)
- cover letter outlining professional goals
- current resume
- photocopies of current teaching certificates and/or licensures
- three departmental recommendation forms (pdf) completed by an employer or colleague which addresses disposition for advanced study in the special education profession
- letter documenting a minimum of two years of successful teaching or reliable service experience
- additional artifacts of the applicant's choosing (optional)
Send the portfolio to: Department of Special Education,
Assistant Chairperson,
Department of Special Education, Campus Box 5910,
Normal, IL 61790-5910. Applicants may be asked to provide further information or to participate in an interview process to determine a match
between their previous preparation and current goals and the focus of the plan of study.
Admission portfolios are reviewed and acted upon by the department Graduate Coordinator.
