Frequently Asked Questions by Graduate Applicants:
What are the program’s application deadlines?
The department will accept applicants on a rolling admission for Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Application deadlines for each semester are as follows:
January 3rd : Deadline for initial consideration for Summer or Fall semester
If the applicant is also seeking financial assistance from the department, they must adhere to this deadline.
2nd Friday in March: Final application deadline for Summer or Fall semester
3rd Friday in October: Final application deadline for Spring semester
I teach during the day, can I still attend Graduate School?
Yes. Program courses are designed to accommodate the schedules of working teachers. Most courses are offered in the evening, once a week, for 3 hours. Students must enroll in a minimum of 3 hours (1 course) per semester. There is no other departmental policy regarding fulltime or part-time enrollment.
Are any of the graduate courses available online?
If the student is out-of-field, the department will allow prerequisite Undergraduate-level coursework to be completed online. Currently, all Special Education courses are offered on-campus only. Some graduate classes in related areas (i.e Educational Leadership) may be offered on-line.
Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
The department requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for courses taken at an accredited school. If you have previously taken any program prerequisite courses, you will need to have earned a grade of “B” or higher.
Do I have to take any test or hold any teaching certificate before I apply for the special education program?
You will need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) to apply to any of our Graduate programs. If you are an international applicant, you will also need to take the TOEFL exam. This is a University of Georgia Graduate School requirement. If you are pursuing initial certification, you will need to take the GACE Basic Skills test, but this is not required prior to beginning the program.
The department does not require incoming M.A.T. students to have prior teaching certification upon entry into the program. Incoming Ph.D. students must have a minimum of 2 years related experience with disability populations. Incoming Ed.S. students must have a minimum of 1 year experience in a related field.
I haven’t taken the GRE yet, can I go ahead and apply to the program?
Yes. Students are encouraged to begin the application process as soon as possible. The department will collect your application materials as they arrive, and will submit the application for review once it is complete.
Do you need the official TOEFL and GRE report BEFORE the application materials are processed?
Yes, scores must be received by the department before an application can be considered complete and submitted for Graduate faculty review.
Should I send the official GRE and TOEFL report to the Graduate School or the department? What is the institution code and the department code?
They should be sent to the Graduate School via institution code 5813.
What is the difference between an M.A.T., an M.Ed., and an M.A.?
The program offers two Master’s degrees in Special Education (MAT & M.Ed.) and the MA degree in Education:
The Masters of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree is designed for those students seeking initial education certification. Students enrolled in this degree program must complete specific prerequisite/co-requisite courses along with the Master’s program coursework. SPED 2000 and SPED 3050, two prerequisite classes are offered summer session, therefore, applicants are encouraged to apply for admission in Spring and Summer semesters. M.A.T. students will follow the Master’s program of study, and will complete an Internship and Applied Research Project prior to exiting the program. For information regarding prerequisite courses, please refer to the Master’s program of study. In addition MAT students must participate in the College of Education portfolio evaluation (Foliotek)
The Masters in Special Education (M.Ed.) degree is designed for those students who already have an initial teaching certification. Students may apply for admission in any semester. M.Ed. students will follow the Master’s program of study, and will complete an Internship and Applied Research Project prior to exiting the program.
The Masters of Arts in Education (M.A.) degree is designed for students seeking initial certification, or for students who already have certification. Students who do not have initial certification will be required to complete specific prerequisite courses before starting program coursework. For information regarding prerequisite courses, please refer to the Master’s program of study. M.A. students will follow the Master’s program of study, and will complete an Internship and Master’s thesis prior to exiting the program. Please note that the M.A. degree is in Education not Special Education so the diploma will state Masters of Arts in Education.
Are there any assistantship positions available for graduate students that I can apply for?
The availability of departmental assistantships is dependent on funding, which is determined on a year to year basis. Assistantships are awarded for the next academic year each Spring semester. To be considered for an assistantship, you must have completed all application requirements by January 3rd. Applications are available through the Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education website.
Is the amount of money enough to cover tuition, fees, and living expenses?
Assistantships will cover tuition and fees. Students can work either 1/2 time or 1/3 time, and will be paid once a month. Depending on the commitment associated with the Assistantship, the monthly payment may cover a portion of a student’s living expenses (dependent of the student’s individual situation).
Do I have to send the financial statement with my other application materials?
The department does not require a financial statement for consideration for an assistantship, but the Graduate School does for international students. You can find further information here.
I’ve been accepted, what next?
Once students are accepted to the program, they will receive a letter from the program coordinator, informing them of the offer of admission and assigning an initial faculty advisor. Students will be given a deadline to respond to the department to accept or decline the offer of admission. Students must also contact their initial faculty advisor to make an advising appointment.
The Graduate School outlines specific steps incoming students must complete. You can find that information here.
Does the program have a Facebook page?
Yes. The program maintains a Facebook page as a medium in which current and former students can interact with each other and with program faculty. The page may be accessed here. Please friend us!