Master of Education
1. Complete application and pay application fee.
2. Official transcripts in English, listing all undergraduate and graduate work, must be submitted from regionally accredited institutions, or institutions that are members of the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Transcripts must indicate the completion of prerequisite bachelor’s degree and list appropriate leveling work for graduate study.
3. Applicants need one of the following for regular admission into the MEd program:
- A cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 2.7 on a 4-point scale.
- If the applicant does not meet one of the grade point averages listed above, a Graduate Record Exam Score (GRE) may be required for consideration. Test scores older than five years prior to the date of application are not acceptable.
- If it is determined that a student needs to take a standardized test, the student is responsible for preparing, scheduling, and funding the exam.
4. Provide three letters of reference including one from an individual who has been directly involved in supervising the applicant’s professional experience if the applicant has been out of college for three or more years or an academic advisor for more recent graduates.
5. Submit a self-reflective statement of 500 words relating the applicant’s personal goals to the program requirements. This statement should reflect the student’s ability to communicate effectively through writing, as writing ability will be one component in determining whether the student will be accepted into any program.
6. A copy of a current, valid South Carolina teaching certificate or out-of-state equivalent (or evidence of prior certification) or an explanation should be included in your 500-word essay regarding your professional reasons for pursuing this degree without your teacher certification established.
7. All international applicants must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language with a high degree of proficiency to successfully complete graduate level work. Much of an applicant’s success will depend on fluency in English. Thus, international applicants must submit a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 paper-based or 213 computer-based, unless the primary language of the applicant’s home country is English, or the applicant has matriculated from schools whose primary language of instruction is English. Official score reports must be sent directly to NGU from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Only scores from tests completed within the two years prior to the date of application will be accepted. To take the TOEFL, the student must obtain a specially prepared “Bulletin of Information” from the office for the country or area. Copies of the “Bulletin” are usually available at United States educational commissions and foundations, United States Information Services (USIS) offices, bi-national centers, and private organizations, such as the Institute of International Education (IIE).
Students who are unable to obtain a “Bulletin” locally should request one well in advance from:
TOEFL Phone: 609-771-7100, Educational Testing Service Fax: 609-771-7500,
P.O. Box 6155. E-mail: toefl@cts.org, Princeton, NJ 08541-6155 Website: http://www.toefl.org.
To request an exemption from taking the TOEFL, please submit an appeal for the exemption with your application. Please note that an applicant must have the financial resources to take the required TOEFL exam. Inability to pay for the exam is not a valid reason for exemption.
8. International Applicants: To receive unconditional admission, the quality of post-secondary studies must meet the usual standards for admission to the Graduate School. Transcripts of work taken in an international university must be submitted to World Education Services, P.O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY 10113-0745, or Josef Silny & Associates, 7101 S.W. 102 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33173, for a detailed evaluation before being mailed to the Graduate Admissions Office. International applicants must also meet all requirements set forth by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, including a demonstrated ability to meet the financial obligations of graduate study. The form, “Statement of Financial Responsibility,” must be completed, signed, and accompanied by a letter from the student’s or sponsor’s bank showing an amount sufficient to cover one year of graduate study.