Admissions Criteria

Acceptance for graduate study in Drexel University's School of Education requires:

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (graduate degree GPAs will be considered along with the undergraduate GPA).
• Complete graduate school application.
• Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended. Instead of hard copy transcripts, you may supply official electronic transcripts issued by a post-secondary institution directly to Drexel University Online (use our email address, customerservice@drexel.com). You must supply transcripts regardless of the number of credits earned or the type of school you attended.  If you do not list all post-secondary institutions on your application and these are listed on transcripts received from other institutions, processing of your application will be delayed until you have submitted the remaining transcripts. Click here to use our Transcript Lookup Tool to assist you in contacting your previous institutions. If a college or university that you attended offers the option to send transcripts in a secure, password-protected electronic format, you may have the transcript sent  to customerservice@drexel.com. 
• Two letters of recommendation - professional or academic.
  • Drexel University Online now accepts electronic letters of recommendation.  Please access the following webpage for instructions regarding their submission: http://www.drexel.edu/apply/recommend.  If a recommender prefers to submit an original, hard copy letter of recommendation, please remind the recommender that it must be signed and submitted in a sealed envelope signed across the flap by the recommender. 
  • One letter of recommendation must come from the principal of the school where the applicant has worked. (Recommendation must include applicant's presentation skills and experiences in leadership roles help in a K-12 school setting as well as the skills observed that would have a strong bearing on the applicant's success as a school leader and administrator.) 
   
• An essay describing why the applicant is interested in pursuing graduate study in this field.
  • Applicant must include two paragraphs briefly describing their educational philosophy and explaining how principals shape learning in K-12 schools.
   
• International Students: must submit a TOEFL score of 550 or higher. Students with transcripts from non-US institutions should have such transcripts evaluated by World Education Service (WES). The TOEFL examination is required for some non-citizens.  Applicants whose native language is English (who list themselves as born in or citizens of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British West Indies, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, England, Ghana, Guam, Ireland, Jamaica, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad/Tobago, Uganda, Virgin Islands, Wales, Zimbabwe) are exempt from the TOEFL.  Applicants whose native language is not English are exempt from the TOEFL if the applicant completed 4 years of high school in the United States or completed English 101 and English 102 with a grade of C or better from a US domestic accredited institution. Applicants who received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an academic institution located in the U.S., UK or Canada are also excempt from the TOEFL.

Please note all submitted materials become the property of Drexel University.

*Important note regarding teaching experience for those seeking state certification as a school principal: Although not required for admission to the Master's program, a candidate for the principal's certification must provide at the time of applying for the certificate a verification of the candidate's completion of five years of satisfactory professional school experience on a state-issued certificate appropriate for the assignment. The candidate may obtain this experience either before, after, or during participation in the MS in Educational Administration. As part of a program of online graduate study at Drexel, you may pursue teacher certification and principal certification simultaneously.

*Important note regarding consideration for appointment as a District Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent: The PA Department of Education will issue the appropriate Letter of Eligibility for consideration for appointment as a District Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent to an applicant who:

1. Completes Drexel University's Pennsylvania approved graduate-level program of educational administrative study which minimally approximates two full academic years for the preparation of chief school administrators.
2. Receives Drexel University's recommendation for certification as a chief school (district-level) administrator.
3. Provides evidence of six years of teaching or other professionally certificated service in the basic schools for the Assistant Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility, and for the Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility three of those six years must have been in a supervisory or administrative capacity.

*Note for prospective students outside the United States: For applicants seeking state certification, you must be a U.S. citizen. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must enclose a notarized copy of your permanent immigrant visa, which permits you to seek employment within the United States. Additionally, with the exception of foreign language teachers, you must intend to become a citizen and file a notarized form titled, "Declaration of Intent to Become a Citizen of the United States" (part of Foreign Supplement Package available from the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation). If the information noted in these instructions is not submitted with this application form, your application will be returned to you.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for all four terms. Apply today! See the above criteria for specific supplemental materials required. 

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