Admission information
Graduate School programs (doctor of philosophy and master of arts)
Admission to our graduate programs is competitive. The number of applicants admitted each year varies by track and depends on the applicant pool, the availability of advisers and financial resources. Program faculty make admission decisions based on compatibility of credentials and goals and interests with the programs’ areas of research and scholarship.
Strong applicants to the M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Education, Curriculum and Instruction demonstrate the following:
- Evidence of interest in research and in the development of research competencies
- Evidence of substantial background and experience in the field of choice
- Strong writing skills
- Undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) GPAs of at least 3.00 are preferred; the most competitive applicants have much higher GPAs
- GRE scores that meet our preferred minimums (500 verbal; 500 quantitative; 5.0 analytical writing); the most competitive applicants report scores that exceed the preferred minimums.
December 1st is the priority deadline for fellowship and graduate assistantship consideration. Applications submitted after this date are considered on a case-by-case basis and may not be reviewed until the following year. Faculty review applications in mid-late December, and the Graduate School will notify applicants about admission decisions shortly thereafter. Final admission decisions are based on complete applications.
How do I apply?
If you are a new applicant to the Graduate School, you must submit their online application.
Additional Information regarding required application materials:
- Applicant Statement –
for
Graduate School’s online application
Please address the following questions within Statement #1 (and complete Statement #2 per Graduate School application instructions): - How did you become interested in research in your selected discipline?
- What aspects or specific problems in your discipline interest you most at this point and why?
- What outstanding strengths, expertise, research experience would contribute to your success in the graduate program?
- What are your professional goals for pursuing a research focused degree (M.A./Ph.D.)?
- What specific factors led you to apply to Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Minnesota?
- Departmental
application* [.doc] (upload to Supplementary
Section of online application)
*NOTE: if you are applying to the Family, Youth and Community track, you must also submit this application: Family, Youth and Community application. This should be either 1) uploaded to Supplementary Section, 2) mailed to the CI Director of Graduate Studies, 150 Peik Hall, 159 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455), or 3) emailed to cigs@umn.edu
- Three letters of recommendation (your recommenders should upload their letters and form to the online application) Letters should be written by professors, employers, or supervisors and should address your potential for successfully completing the academic research program to which you are applying.
- Graduate School Record Examination (GRE) scores (department code 3101; University of Minnesota code 6874) GRE Subject Test is not required.
- TOEFL/IELTS or MELAB (for international students) See Graduate School Admissions for more information.
- Current résumé (upload to Supplementary Section of online application)
- Short writing sample (optional for all tracks except Literacy Education**), such as an excerpt from a term paper or research paper for
publication to demonstrate your academic writing ability (no more than five
pages in English – upload to Supplementary Section of online application).
**A writing sample is required for all Literacy Education applicants and may be longer than five pages.
If you are a returning Graduate School student, you need to follow the Change of Status/Readmission guidelines. The above materials may need to be submitted directly to cigs@umn.edu or Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, 150 Peik Hall, 159 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455.
Please contact the Graduate Studies Assistant, Jessie Eastman, if you have questions about these materials (612-625-2545).
What kind of financial support is available?
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers financial support in the form of Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and fellowships. During the admission review process faculty evaluate the pool of applicants for graduate assistant positions for the following academic year (fall-spring). The number of positions available in any given year varies and is limited in number; thus competition is rigorous among those applying. Although we make every attempt to financially support full-time students through degree completion, there are no guarantees that support is available. Please note that most assistantships are offered to Ph.D. students rather than those students pursuing the M.A.
The majority of our teaching assistantships are for graduate students acting as student teaching supervisors for our M.Ed. initial licensure program. These positions require teaching experience and availability to work during the daytime. It is important to note that assistantships are limited and are reserved for the most qualified students. Although we make every attempt to financially support full-time students through degree completion, there are no guarantees that support is available. Please note that most assistantships are offered to Ph.D. students.
A typical graduate assistantship that includes full benefits (tuition, Grad. Assistant health insurance, and a stipend) is 50% time during the academic year (20 hours per week) and paid at a stipend around $17 per hour. Benefits are pro-rated based on the appointment percentage. See the Grad. Assistant Employment website for more information on benefits.
Applicants interested in pursuing their degree full-time will also be considered for various departmental and Graduate School fellowships. See specific CI program tracks for available fellowships. Graduate School Fellowships are based on a departmental nomination process, and applicants to the program are selected by program faculty. Applicants being considered for these fellowships will be notified by the Director of Graduate Studies.
As an international student, where do I go for assistance?
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) in conjunction with professional advisers in Student Services provide counseling, advising, and educational services for students and scholars from other countries. Students may receive counseling and advising services regarding visa requirements and other immigration issues; social, personal, and financial matters; international and intercultural educational opportunities; academic issues; and English language requirements.
Prior to your arrival on campus, general prospective student inquiries may be addressed to International Student and Scholar Services, 190 Hubert H. Humphrey Center, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455 or call 612-626-7100. International applicants who require an I-20 for a student visa must provide a Financial Certification Statement upon admission to a program. For assistance, contact Student Services at 612-625-6501.
What about the master of education (M.Ed.) programs?
M.A. or
M.Ed./professional studies?
Master's degrees explained
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