Admission to the School of Education

Admission to the School of Education
Admission Requirements and Procedures for:
    Degree-Seeking Graduate Students
    Non-degree Students
    International Students
Readmission

Admission to the School of Education

Trinity seeks students who have academic potential for its graduate programs, a record of scholastic achievement at the undergraduate level, and promise for success in the professional area in which they are applying. Students are admitted without regard to race, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or disability. Applications from qualified students of diverse cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged.

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Admission Requirements for Degree-Seeking Graduate Students

General Entrance Requirements
Additional Entrance Requirements by Degree Program    
Application Procedure
Declaration of Intent
Admission Status
PRAXIS I Examination
Interviews
Application Deadline
Transfer Credits for Degree Programs

General Entrance Requirements

All candidates for admission to the School of Education graduate degree programs must meet the following entrance requirements:

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution of higher learning
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale
• Secondary Education candidates must also have earned a minimum of 3.0 undergraduate GPA in the content area in which they plan to teach.
   

Additional Entrance Requirements by Degree Program

In addition to meeting general entrance requirements, applicants to the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs must also submit the following documents as part of the application:

• Master of Arts in Teaching: Applicants must submit official copies of passing scores for the PRAXIS I examination.
• Master of Education: Reading or TESOL programs applicants must submit a copy of their current teaching credential.

Application Procedure

Candidates for admission to graduate degree programs in the School of Education must submit the following documents to the Office of Admissions:

• A completed application form with a non refundable application fee of $40 (US)
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended at the undergraduate and graduate level, sent directly to Trinity from the issuing institution(s). Transcripts submitted directly from an applicant are considered unofficial unless received in the original, unopened envelope from the issuing institution.
• Two letters of recommendation in support of the application testifying to the applicant’s aptitude for graduate education and potential for professional growth and development.  One letter of recommendation should be written by supervisory personnel such as principals or department chairs.
• A 1000-1500 word essay that outlines personal and professional goals.
• A current resume or curriculum vitae.
• For M.A.T. applicants only:  Official scores, sent from the Educational Testing Services (ETS) directly to Trinity, on the Praxis I examination.
• For M.A.T. Secondary Education applicants only: Official scores, sent from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), directly to Trinity, on PRAXIS exam for English or Social Studies.
• For M.Ed. Reading and TESOL applicants only:  A copy of the applicant’s current Standard Teaching Credential.
• Applicants for whom English is not their first language and who have received degrees from institutions outside of the United States: Official scores of 550 or higher (written format) or 213 or higher (computer format) or 79-80 or higher (internet format) from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be submitted prior to admission. The TOEFL is administered by the ETS.

NOTE:  While the content portion of Praxis II is NOT required for admission into the A.C.P. or M.A.T. programs, passing scores in content ARE required to obtain Provisional Certification in the District of Columbia.  It is recommended that applicants inquire of their employer as to whether Provisional Certification is a requirement of their job and, if so, to take the appropriate content area exam so that Trinity faculty can assist them in applying for Provisional Certification.

All materials should be sent to:

Office of Admissions: School of Education
Trinity Washington University
125 Michigan Avenue, N.E.
Washington, DC 20017

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all required documentation is submitted to Trinity for an admission decision.  Applications are reviewed and evaluated in the order in which they are received.  Admissions decisions will be communicated in writing to applicants as soon as possible after a decision is made.

All materials received by Trinity from applicants or third parties (high schools, undergraduate and/or graduate institutions, recommenders, etc.) will be the property of Trinity.  Trinity does not return or release materials submitted to the Admissions Office to applicants or third parties.

Falsification or alteration of any documents submitted for admission will result in actions up to, and including, revocation of acceptance to Trinity and the School of Education and/or dismissal from Trinity.

Declaration of Intent

Upon notification of acceptance, the applicant will be asked to sign and return a Declaration of Intent (DOI). The DOI confirms an accepted candidate’s intention to enroll at Trinity in the School of Education. Registration for courses cannot be processed until a DOI has been received.

Admission Status

Degree Seeking Students

Applicants who intend to obtain a degree through the School of Education and meet all admissions requirements to their program are admitted as a Degree Seeking Student.

Provisional Admission

At the discretion of the Dean of the School of Education, applicants who do not meet the standard admission requirements but who demonstrate potential may be admitted on a Provisional basis and may take up to six (6) credits of graduate course work during their first semester to demonstrate academic preparedness for graduate level studies. A minimum grade of “B” or higher must be earned and official transcripts for course work must be submitted for evaluation in order to be considered for full admission into the School of Education.

Conditional Admission

At the discretion of the Dean of the School of Education, applicants may be admitted to Trinity and the School of Education on a conditional basis if all application materials are not received and evaluated prior to the beginning of the semester in which the applicant wishes to start. Applicants may be permitted to register for up to six (6) credits prior to receipt of all admissions materials as Non Degree Seeking Students.  Those admitted on a conditional basis admission have one semester to submit all required admissions materials. Permission to register as a conditional admit should not be construed as conferring full admission to Trinity or the School of Education.  Students from whom complete admission files have not been received by the end of the first semester will be dismissed and must reapply for admission.

The Praxis I Examination
The Praxis I examination is a prerequisite for admission into the M.A.T. and A.C.Pp programs at Trinity. Students must present official copies of passing scores based on the requirements of the District of Columbia. The test is administered by the Educational Testing Service and measures reading, writing, and computational skills vital to all teacher candidates. Further information about the test, testing dates and locations can be obtained at http://www.ets.org or from ETS, Princeton, New Jersey 08540. Trinity's school code is RA5796.  

Assistance with Praxis I preparation is offered through the Professional Development Workshops at Trinity.  Information regarding these workshops can be obtained on this web site at Professional Development Workshops. Preparation courses in Reading/Writing and in Math are offered in a hybrid format (combination of on-line and class meeting) each semester. Please see the School of Education Praxis Policy for further details.

Students pursuing a B.A. in Education, an undergraduate minor in education, or the B.A./M.A.T. Program must pass Praxis I prior to registering for education courses at the 300-level or above.

Interviews

An interview may be required for admission to the graduate degree programs. Interviews will be scheduled after the Office of Admissions has received a completed application.

Application Deadline

There is no application deadline, but candidates for admission should apply and arrange that all credentials be forwarded well in advance of the semester in which they wish to matriculate.

Transfer Credits for Graduate Degrees

Students enrolled in a graduate degree program may transfer a maximum of six credits from appropriately accredited institutions of higher learning toward a degree at Trinity. For specific rules governing transfer credits, see the School of Education Academic Policies.

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Admission Requirements and Procedures for Non-degree Students

Individuals interested in taking courses at Trinity on a part-time, non-matriculating basis may apply as non-degree students.  Prospective non-degree students must complete an application for non-degree student status with the Office of Admissions and pay the $40 application fee.

Individual courses are offered on a space-available basis only, and students must satisfy all course prerequisites.  Admission into these courses does not imply admission to Trinity. Students may earn no more than six graduate credit hours as a non degree-seeking student.  Special policies apply to credit earned through the Professional Development for Educators Program.  These credits may not be applied toward a degree and do not count toward credits taken as a non-degree seeking student.

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Admission Requirements and Procedures for International Students

International applicants must submit all credentials mentioned above for degree-seeking or non-degree students. The student is responsible for submitting all transcripts from institutions attended outside the United States for evaluation. To apply for admission to Trinity, international applicants must present the following documents:

• An application form, accompanied by a non-refundable fee of U.S. $40.00, payable to Trinity.
• A copy of the applicant’s official high school or college/university transcript. Transcripts must be translated into English and evaluated by an accredited agency such as the World Education Services, Inc. - www.wes.org or the American Association of Collegiate Registrar’s and Admissions Officers - www.aacrao.org/credential/index.php
• A letter of recommendation from an instructor or supervisor from a previous college/university or workplace, supporting the application for admission.
• Official score reports of TOEFL to be sent directly to the Office of Admissions. (A basic score of 550 on the paper exam or 213 on the computer-based exam or 79-80 on the internet exam is required.)
• Proof of financial responsibility, such as a Declaration/Certificate of Finances or an official bank statement for the first year of study.
• A 250 - 500 word essay, written in English.  The applicant may choose to write about his/her future ambitions, goals, a special talent or unusual interest that sets him/her apart from peers, or a significant professional or community experience.

Trinity will issue the form I-20 (for the F-1 / Student Visa) to applicants who:

• Are admitted to Trinity.
• Are proficient in the English language as measured by the TOEFL or by graduation from an appropriately accredited American university.
• Demonstrate sufficient funds to cover expenses for at least one academic year.

Deadlines: All required documents must be submitted by July 1 for the fall term and November 1 for the spring term. Financial aid is not available to international students.

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Readmission

A student previously registered as a degree candidate who has failed to maintain continuous enrollment in the same graduate program for one calendar year or more must apply for readmission. A letter requesting file reactivation should be submitted along with a new application form and a $40 non-refundable application fee to the Admissions Office.

Students who have not taken classes for five years or longer must apply for admission under the current academic program. Under certain circumstances, students who leave the college may be required to repeat courses that have expired. Students in specific programs may be required to complete additional course work to meet degree, licensure, or certification requirements. The student's transcript and program of study will be evaluated by the Dean.

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