Graduate Program Admission Requirements

Graduate Program Admission Requirements

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• Agriculture (M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet all Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 in the Graduate Bulletin). The status (conditional/unconditional) of an applicant must be determined before the student enrolls in their first class. Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission are as follows.
  
  Unconditional

  For unconditional admission, students must meet both of the following requirements:

  • An overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work; and
  • The equivalent of an undergraduate area or major in agriculture is required.

  Conditional

  Students may be conditionally admitted according to the following requirements:

  • An undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 or a GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work; and
  • In some cases, students without the undergraduate area or major may be admitted on the condition that they have significant agricultural work experience and/or complete prerequisites consisting of at least the undergraduate agriculture core courses in their respective field. The plan of study must be approved by the advisor and graduate coordinator and may allow taking of a combination of undergraduate/graduate courses concurrently.

  Upon completion of nine hours of graduate work a student admitted conditionally must have a 3.0 GPA or the student will be dropped from the program. A graduate student dropped for academic reasons may reapply after withdrawal from the graduate program for one semester. Readmission decisions will be made according to the recommendation of an appointed graduate admissions committee.

   

• Applied Engineering and Technology Management (M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission are as follows. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to this program.
  
  Unconditional

  Admission to the Master of Science degree in Applied Engineering and Technology Management is open to persons holding a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college in engineering, engineering technology, science, or related fields. Persons holding degrees in other fields may also apply if the nature of the professional employment has provided significant technology-related experience. Courses included in the program of study may require prerequisite course work. Unconditional admission requires a 2.75 grade point average (GPA based on an A equals 4.0).
  
  Conditional

  Students denied unconditional admission to master of science degree programs in the Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology, but who meet University requirements for conditional admission (outlined in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin), may petition for conditional admission. Conditional admission is usually reserved for applicants whose previous education and/or experience is evaluated by the department chair to indicate a likelihood of success. Students applying for conditional admission must have a GPA of 2.25 to 2.74. A student accepted conditionally will be expected to complete nine hours of prescribed work with a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA. These initial nine hours are assigned by the advisor and may be in addition to the student’s program of study. After completion of these nine hours the Departmental Graduate Committee will evaluate the student’s progress. The first nine hours may include undergraduate or graduate courses as directed by the department. Depending on the student’s undergraduate preparation, undergraduate courses may be required before enrolling in any graduate courses. Graduate courses may be allowed concurrently with these undergraduate courses in special situations.
  
  Language Proficiency

  Applicants whose native tongue is not English or who did not graduate from an English speaking college or university must demonstrate language proficiency. Applicants must adhere to the university’s guidelines for language proficiency.

   

• Biology (M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 in the Graduate Bulletin). A faculty member must agree to mentor the student. Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission are as follows.
  
  Unconditional

  • Undergraduate courses in botany, zoology, ecology, and genetics.
  • Eight undergraduate hours in chemistry.
  • Composite GRE score of 1,000 (V+Q) or higher.

  Conditional

  Recommendation of the advisory committee.

   

• Business Administration (M.B.A.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission are as follows.
  
  Unconditional

  An applicant must attain an acceptable score using the following formulas that combine the undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) and the score on either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). All applicants, including those with GPAs of 3.0 and above, must take either the GMAT and achieve a minimum score of 400, or the GRE and achieve a minimum score of 286. Applicants with undergraduate GPAs of less than 3.0 on the 4.0 scale need GMAT scores that are higher than 400, or GRE scores higher than 286. For unconditional admission to the program, an applicant must satisfy one of two formulas:

  GMAT Users: (200 x UGPA) + GMAT > 1,000

  GRE Users: 321-(11.66 x UGPA) = GRE

  (Combined quantitative and verbal sections only)

  An alternative formula is used if an applicant’s grade point average on the last 60 semester hours (LGPA) of undergraduate work is 0.25 points or more above the applicant’s overall UPGA: 200 x (LGPA-0.25) + GMAT > 1,000

  An applicant whose native language is not English or who did not graduate from an English-speaking college or university must satisfy the above requirements, meet all admission requirements specified in the international student admission section of the graduate bulletin, and score a minimum of 20 in each of the four areas examined in the new TOEFL, ie. writing, reading, listening, and speaking.
  
  Conditional

  An applicant who has not taken the GMAT or GRE will be granted conditional admission to the M.B.A. program if the applicant’s UGPA is at least 2.75 (on a 4.00 scale), or if the applicant’s LGPA is at least 3.00. This student must take the GMAT/GRE within two months of receiving the conditional admission letter. A student who is conditionally admitted may enroll in foundation courses (see Graduate Bulletin) but may not enroll in 600 level courses without a special waiver from the associate dean/MBA director. International students are not usually admitted conditionally, meaning they must take and pass the GMAT or GRE before coming to the United States.

   

• Chemical Manufacturing Management (M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 in the Graduate Bulletin). Additional information regarding unconditional and conditional admission is given below.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in a chemistry-related field.
  
  Conditional

  Requirements for conditional admission are the same as MSU requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin).

   

• Chemistry (M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional information regarding unconditional and conditional admission is given below.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have undergraduate preparation in chemistry. If that preparation does not conform to an American Chemical Society certified program, the student may be required to correct any deficiencies.
  
  Conditional

  Requirements for conditional admission are the same as MSU requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin).

   

• Creative Writing (M.F.A.)

  Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing

  We are looking for candidates who show strong promise as creative writers and who also demonstrate a commitment to the serious reading of literature. Additionally, we seek students who are self-motivated, able to work independently, and capable of making positive use of criticism to improve their writing.

  Applicants must have completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, usually with a major or minor in a literary field. Applicants without significant undergraduate credit in literary studies should address how they have made up for this deficit in their personal statements. Committee review of MFA applications will be based on the following:   

  • Writing sample in appropriate genre (see below)  
  • Performance in previous undergraduate and/or graduate programs (as measured by GPA, awards, internships, etc.)   Two (2) letters of recommendation  GRE (verbal)*  
  • Maturity, preparation and experience as demonstrated in the personal statement  

  * Although the GRE is not absolutely required, a good score in the verbal section will enhance your candidacy. If you wish us to consider your GRE scores, direct the Educational Testing Service to submit them to Murray State University, code 1494.       
  
   
  
  Submission of Writing Sample  

  All applicants must declare a specialization in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction and submit a writing sample within the chosen genre. The writing sample may be composed of one or multiple works. Prose samples should be double-spaced, and all samples should be typed in a legible font. Applicants who would like to be considered in more than one genre should submit multiple writing samples.         

  Fiction/YA Fiction: 20-30 pages         

  Creative Nonfiction: 20-30 pages         

  Poetry: 15-20 pages          
  
   
  
  How to Apply   

  1. Send the following items to MSU Graduate Admissions and Records, B2 Sparks Hall, Murray KY 42071-3312:  
     • Completed Graduate Admission Application, which may be submitted electronically or through the mail, as per the directions found here. 
     • Non-refundable check or money order for $30 USD made payable to Murray State University. 
     • Official transcripts from every educational institution you have attended (graduate or undergraduate) other than Murray State University. Transcripts should be mailed directly from the registrar's office of each institution.   
       
       
  2. Send the following items electronically to Nita King, MFA program assistant at nking3@murraystate.edu:  
     • Writing sample (assembled according to the guidelines above). 
     • 200- to 300- word personal statement addressing your experience and goals as a writer.
       
       
       
       Note: Please include the writing sample and the statement in the same Word document and attach it to an email with Application Materials in bold in the subject line.
       
       
  3. Send two letters of recommendation (directly from recommenders), either electronically to Nita King at nking3@murraystate.edu or via traditional mail to Nita King at MFA Program in Creative Writing, English and Philosophy Department, Murray State University, 7C Faculty Hall, Murray KY 42071-3341.
     
     
     
     Note: Recommendations sent electronically should be sent as Word documents and attached to an email marked MFA Recommendation in bold in the subject line.

• Economics (M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin) and have a minimum total score on the Internet-based TOEFL of 76. Additional information about unconditional and conditional admission is following.
  
  Unconditional

  Admission into the M.S. in economics program is open to persons with:

  • an acceptable undergraduate grade point average (normally 2.75 on a 4.00 scale), and
  • an acceptable score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (normally at least 50th percentile on the quantitative portion and 10th percentile on the verbal section), and
  • an undergraduate minor in economics or its equivalent.

  The applicant’s overall record, including undergraduate training, experience, and GMAT or GRE score, will be evaluated by the department graduate coordinator to determine the prospective student’s suitability for graduate work in economics.
  
  Conditional

  Admission into the M.S. in economics program may be granted to an individual not qualifying for unconditional admission if the individual demonstrates the potential to succeed. A conditional student may be admitted to full standing after completion of one semester (nine hours) of satisfactory work including prerequisites, with the recommendation of the M.S. graduate coordinator.

   

• Elementary Education - Teacher Leader (M.A.Ed.)

  Masters and Certificate Program Options Below

  Master’s Degree Programs - College of Education requirements

  These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for all graduate students listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  All students applying for admission to a master’s degree program offered by the College of Education must have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Some program areas require a score on the general test (V + Q) of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE); consult departmental sections of the graduate bulletin.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have:

  • an appropriate undergraduate major;
  • an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0;
  • in addition, some programs in the college require a Kentucky letter of eligibility for the beginning teacher internship program or a Kentucky provisional certificate or comparable documentation from another state department of education. Contact departmental chair for information;
  • international students must meet TOEFL score requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin, as well as other requirements.

  Conditional

  Conditional admission may be granted to students who meet one of the following guidelines:

  • an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 but less than 3.0;
  • all unconditional admission requirements specified above except coursework to meet requirements for appropriate major or certification.

  Students without appropriate certification may be admitted upon departmental review by signing a waiver acknowledging non-certification. Students who do not meet admissions criteria specified above may be reviewed by the appropriate departmental graduate committee. Following a full review of all student records, that committee will:

  A. recommend conditional admission (permissible only when the student meets university graduate admission requirements), carefully specifying conditions; or

  B. recommend remediation and reschedule the student for departmental graduate committee admission review once remediation is complete; or

  C. deny admission.

  Students admitted conditionally who successfully complete nine hours of graduate work will be reassigned to unconditional status. A student admitted conditionally who has a GPA of less than 3.0 will be dropped from the graduate program. A graduate student dropped for academic reasons may reapply after remaining out of the graduate program for one semester.

  
  

  Non Degree Post Master’s Certification Programs (Rank I)

  NOTE: These programs are specific to Kentucky and may not transfer to other states. Students are encouraged to complete a specialist in education or a second master’s degree to obtain Rank I certification.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  In addition to Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin), an applicant must have:

  • a master’s degree or completed fifth-year program from a regionally accredited institution;
  • an application to the appropriate department of the College of Education, submitted to Graduate Admissions of Murray State University;
  • an official transcript of all graduate work, sent to Graduate Admissions, if the such work was not earned at Murray State University; completion of all required examinations for admission to the graduate program; and
  • a valid teaching certificate.

  
  Initial Teaching Certification for Graduate Students

  Graduate students who currently hold no teaching certificate may become eligible for certification if they enroll in an initial certification program, meet the criteria for admission to teacher education and student teaching and fulfill the requirements for certification.
  
  General Requirements for Certification in Kentucky

  Any person who wishes initial certification in the Commonwealth of Kentucky must have:

  • completed a teacher education program (including student teaching);
  • earned a passing score on all required Praxis II Specialty Exam(s) and the Principles of Learning and Teaching exam;
  • applied for a statement of eligibility; and
  • successfully completed a one-year Kentucky teacher internship.

  Students seeking certification or to add additional certification to current Kentucky teaching certificates should:

  • complete and have signed a TC-1 form;
  • complete a transcript request form;
  • mail completed/signed TC-1 form and transcript request form to MSU Teacher Education Services, 2101 Alexander Hall, Murray, KY 42071.

  Records and information on all the above standards and requirements are maintained in the Teacher Education Services Office, 2101 Alexander Hall, (270) 809-2054.

   

• English (M.A.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must comply with the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). For non-native speakers of English, a TOEFL score of 20 for each section of the iBT, an IELTS score of 6.5 with no band lower than 6.0 or a previous degree earned from an accredited U.S. institution or successful completion of Level 6 of the MSU ESL program. Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission are:
  
  Unconditional

  • Undergraduate major or minor in English.
  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.

  Conditional

  Departmental judgment of probable success based on Graduate Record Examination scores, letters of recommendation, or other evidence such as a planned program of prerequisite courses. Note: At least half of the total coursework, excluding thesis credit, must be in 600-level courses. Any substitutions for the requirements listed below must be approved by the departmental graduate coordinator.

   

• Geosciences (M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). The department requires that three letters of recommendation accompany application materials. A letter discussing reasons for the applicant’s interest in the program should also be forwarded. Submission of GRE scores is encouraged but not required. Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission are as follows.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in a geoscience (or related) field.
  
  Conditional

  Students admitted conditionally are admitted to full standing after completing (1) any remedial courses required by the graduate faculty and (2) one semester of graduate work with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above.

   

• History (M.A.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional requirements are as follows.
  
  Unconditional

  • An undergraduate major or minor in history.
  • GPA of 3.0 or better in history courses.
  • GRE score of at least 900 (V+Q) (old scoring scale); GRE of at least 290 (V+Q) (new scoring scale)
  • 3-5 page (minimum) sample of historical writing.
  • Two letters of recommendation that addresses candidates ability to do graduate work in history.

  Conditional

  A student with a GRE score of less than 900 (V+Q) may be admitted conditionally to the history M.A. program, but the student must satisfy the conditional requirements for admission as specified in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin.

   

• Human Development and Leadership (M.S.)

  Master’s Degree Programs - College of Education requirements

  These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for all graduate students listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  All students applying for admission to a master’s degree program offered by the College of Education must have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Some program areas require a score on the general test (V + Q) of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE); consult departmental sections of the graduate bulletin.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have:

  • an appropriate undergraduate major;
  • an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0;
  • in addition, some programs in the college require a Kentucky letter of eligibility for the beginning teacher internship program or a Kentucky provisional certificate or comparable documentation from another state department of education. Contact departmental chair for information;
  • international students must meet TOEFL score requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin, as well as other requirements.

  Conditional

  Conditional admission may be granted to students who meet one of the following guidelines:

  • an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 but less than 3.0;
  • all unconditional admission requirements specified above except coursework to meet requirements for appropriate major or certification.

  Students without appropriate certification may be admitted upon departmental review by signing a waiver acknowledging non-certification. Students who do not meet admissions criteria specified above may be reviewed by the appropriate departmental graduate committee. Following a full review of all student records, that committee will:

  A. recommend conditional admission (permissible only when the student meets university graduate admission requirements), carefully specifying conditions; or

  B. recommend remediation and reschedule the student for departmental graduate committee admission review once remediation is complete; or

  C. deny admission.

  Unconditional Admission

  Students admitted conditionally who successfully complete nine hours of graduate work will be reassigned to unconditional status. A student admitted conditionally who has a GPA of less than 3.0 will be dropped from the graduate program. A graduate student dropped for academic reasons may reapply after remaining out of the graduate program for one semester. The department uses the same requirement as the University. Minimum requirements for unconditional admission are an overall 3.00 grade point average (based on an A equals 4.0).
  
  Conditional Admission

  Conditional admission may be granted to a student who has an overall grade point average of less than 3.0. Upon completion of nine hours of graduate work, a student admitted conditionally must have a grade point average of 3.0. Students who have a 2.25-2.49 may request conditional admission by contacting the program coordinator and submitting a letter explaining any circumstances surrounding the low GPA, any relevant work experience, and any other pertinent information that would help in assessing likelihood of success in the graduate program.

   

• Information Systems (M.S.)

  Application packet

  Applicants with any 4-year Undergraduate degree can apply for the program. Completed applications packets from domestic students must be received by December 1st for Spring admission, and by June 1st for Fall admissions.   Applications from International students must be received by October 1st for Spring admission, and April 1st for Fall admissions.

  The complete application packet includes:

  1.    Official Undergraduate transcript

  2.    Official GRE (or GMAT) score report.  Murray State University's Institutional code is 1494. If you are already at Murray State, the GRE may be taken at our Counseling and Testing Center (270-809-6851).  Please call and schedule at least three weeks in advance of the date you wish to take the test.

  3.    A current résumé and

  4.    Additionally, international students whose native language is not English must submit evidence of English proficiency; we accept official TOEFL or IELTS scores as evidence. (Institution code: 1494).  See Proficiency requirements for details.

  To get started, visit the admissions office  it may take several weeks to complete all needed processing. International applicants need to start here .

  Admission

  The applicant's undergraduate grades, and his/her performance in GRE (or GMAT) will be used to make admission decisions.  Depending on the scores and GPA, an applicant may be given unconditional admission or conditional admission or denied admission. 

  Unconditional admission

  An applicant may be granted unconditional admission in the program if he/she (a) has achieved a combined score of 288 or higher in the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GRE’s Revised General Test (or 980 or better in the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the old GRE or 490 or better in GMAT) and (b) has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in his/her Undergraduate program.   International students must also have met the University’s English proficiency requirements.

  Conditional admission

  Applicants may be granted admission on a conditional basis, under two circumstances.

  1.    Domestic applicants (and International students who are already in the USA), who have not taken the GRE (or GMAT) may be granted conditional admission if they have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. International students must also have met the University’s English proficiency standards. To convert to unconditional admission status, they must submit official GRE (or GMAT) score report before the end of their first semester in the Graduate program.   The test scores requirements are the same as in Unconditional admission requirements.

  2.    An applicant, whose standardized test score or GPA falls lower than unconditional admission thresholds, may be granted conditional admission, provided (a) his/her GRE score is 283 or better in GRE’s Revised general test (or 900 or better in the GRE or 460 or better in GMAT) and (b) his/her cumulative GPA during the last 2 years of his undergraduate program is 3.0 or better.   Students admitted on conditional basis must make an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in their first semester courses (foundation and Graduate level), to be changed to unconditional admit status. 

  If you have any questions, contact the Program Director, Dr. Solomon Antony (santony@murraystate.edu).

• Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education - Teacher Leader (M.A.Ed.)

  Masters and Certificate Program Options Below

  Master’s Degree Programs - College of Education requirements

  These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for all graduate students listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  All students applying for admission to a master’s degree program offered by the College of Education must have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Some program areas require a score on the general test (V + Q) of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE); consult departmental sections of the graduate bulletin.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have:

  • an appropriate undergraduate major;
  • an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0;
  • in addition, some programs in the college require a Kentucky letter of eligibility for the beginning teacher internship program or a Kentucky provisional certificate or comparable documentation from another state department of education. Contact departmental chair for information;
  • international students must meet TOEFL score requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin, as well as other requirements.

  Conditional

  Conditional admission may be granted to students who meet one of the following guidelines:

  • an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 but less than 3.0;
  • all unconditional admission requirements specified above except coursework to meet requirements for appropriate major or certification.

  Students without appropriate certification may be admitted upon departmental review by signing a waiver acknowledging non-certification. Students who do not meet admissions criteria specified above may be reviewed by the appropriate departmental graduate committee. Following a full review of all student records, that committee will:

  A. recommend conditional admission (permissible only when the student meets university graduate admission requirements), carefully specifying conditions; or

  B. recommend remediation and reschedule the student for departmental graduate committee admission review once remediation is complete; or

  C. deny admission.

  Students admitted conditionally who successfully complete nine hours of graduate work will be reassigned to unconditional status. A student admitted conditionally who has a GPA of less than 3.0 will be dropped from the graduate program. A graduate student dropped for academic reasons may reapply after remaining out of the graduate program for one semester.

  
  

  Non Degree Post Master’s Certification Programs (Rank I)

  NOTE: These programs are specific to Kentucky and may not transfer to other states. Students are encouraged to complete a specialist in education or a second master’s degree to obtain Rank I certification.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  In addition to Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin), an applicant must have:

  • a master’s degree or completed fifth-year program from a regionally accredited institution;
  • an application to the appropriate department of the College of Education, submitted to Graduate Admissions of Murray State University;
  • an official transcript of all graduate work, sent to Graduate Admissions, if the such work was not earned at Murray State University; completion of all required examinations for admission to the graduate program; and
  • a valid teaching certificate.

  
  Initial Teaching Certification for Graduate Students

  Graduate students who currently hold no teaching certificate may become eligible for certification if they enroll in an initial certification program, meet the criteria for admission to teacher education and student teaching and fulfill the requirements for certification.
  
  General Requirements for Certification in Kentucky

  Any person who wishes initial certification in the Commonwealth of Kentucky must have:

  • completed a teacher education program (including student teaching);
  • earned a passing score on all required Praxis II Specialty Exam(s) and the Principles of Learning and Teaching exam;
  • applied for a statement of eligibility; and
  • successfully completed a one-year Kentucky teacher internship.

  Students seeking certification or to add additional certification to current Kentucky teaching certificates should:

  • complete and have signed a TC-1 form;
  • complete a transcript request form;
  • mail completed/signed TC-1 form and transcript request form to MSU Teacher Education Services, 2101 Alexander Hall, Murray, KY 42071.

  Records and information on all the above standards and requirements are maintained in the Teacher Education Services Office, 2101 Alexander Hall, (270) 809-2054.

   

• Mass Communications (M.A. and M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional requirements follow.
  
  Unconditional

  Unconditional admission is granted to applicants who have a bachelor’s degree from an ACEJMC-accredited, or similarly rigorous, program in any mass communications field and whose undergraduate GPA is 2.75 or higher.

  International students must submit TOEFL scores of at least 213 computer-based test, including at least 21 on each of the three verbal areas, or 20 in each of the four areas of the Internet-based test in addition to the above requirements, or 550 on paper-based test.
  
  Conditional

  Conditional admission may be granted to applicants who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in fields other than mass communications or whose undergraduate GPA is between 2.50 and 2.74. The graduate coordinator may require up to nine (9) hours of additional prerequisite courses, including JMC 168, for any student admitted conditionally. Conditional students are admitted to full standing after completion of nine (9) hours of graduate course with a 3.0 GPA or better and no single grade below a B.

  International students entering the JMC program from the Murray State University English as Second Language program (ESL) must complete Level 6, AND students must submit TOEFL scores of at least 213 computer-based test, including at least 21 on each of the three verbal areas, or 18 in each of the four areas of the Internet-based test in addition to the above requirements.

   

• Mathematics (M.A., M.S., and M.A.T.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission to M.S. or M.A. programs are as follows:
  
  Unconditional

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college with a major (or equivalent) in mathematics;
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 or above in all mathematics courses beginning with the last elementary calculus course.

  Conditional

  Recommendation of the student’s advisory committee or

  • a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college with a major in a related field and at least a 3.0 GPA in their major courses;
  • credit for three calculus courses (including a multivariable calculus course), a proof based course, and a matrix/linear algebra course with a 3.0 GPA in all mathematics courses beginning with the last elementary calculus course;
  • GPA of 3.0 or above in all mathematics courses beginning with the last elementary calculus course; and
  • two letters of recommendation from college teachers addressing the candidate’s ability to do mathematics graduate work.

• Middle School Education - Teacher Leader (M.A.Ed.)

  Masters and Certificate Program Options Below

  Master’s Degree Programs - College of Education requirements

  These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for all graduate students listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  All students applying for admission to a master’s degree program offered by the College of Education must have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Some program areas require a score on the general test (V + Q) of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE); consult departmental sections of the graduate bulletin.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have:

  • an appropriate undergraduate major;
  • an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0;
  • in addition, some programs in the college require a Kentucky letter of eligibility for the beginning teacher internship program or a Kentucky provisional certificate or comparable documentation from another state department of education. Contact departmental chair for information;
  • international students must meet TOEFL score requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin, as well as other requirements.

  Conditional

  Conditional admission may be granted to students who meet one of the following guidelines:

  • an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 but less than 3.0;
  • all unconditional admission requirements specified above except coursework to meet requirements for appropriate major or certification.

  Students without appropriate certification may be admitted upon departmental review by signing a waiver acknowledging non-certification. Students who do not meet admissions criteria specified above may be reviewed by the appropriate departmental graduate committee. Following a full review of all student records, that committee will:

  A. recommend conditional admission (permissible only when the student meets university graduate admission requirements), carefully specifying conditions; or

  B. recommend remediation and reschedule the student for departmental graduate committee admission review once remediation is complete; or

  C. deny admission.

  Students admitted conditionally who successfully complete nine hours of graduate work will be reassigned to unconditional status. A student admitted conditionally who has a GPA of less than 3.0 will be dropped from the graduate program. A graduate student dropped for academic reasons may reapply after remaining out of the graduate program for one semester.

  
  

  Non Degree Post Master’s Certification Programs (Rank I)

  NOTE: These programs are specific to Kentucky and may not transfer to other states. Students are encouraged to complete a specialist in education or a second master’s degree to obtain Rank I certification.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  In addition to Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin), an applicant must have:

  • a master’s degree or completed fifth-year program from a regionally accredited institution;
  • an application to the appropriate department of the College of Education, submitted to Graduate Admissions of Murray State University;
  • an official transcript of all graduate work, sent to Graduate Admissions, if the such work was not earned at Murray State University; completion of all required examinations for admission to the graduate program; and
  • a valid teaching certificate.

  
  Initial Teaching Certification for Graduate Students

  Graduate students who currently hold no teaching certificate may become eligible for certification if they enroll in an initial certification program, meet the criteria for admission to teacher education and student teaching and fulfill the requirements for certification.
  
  General Requirements for Certification in Kentucky

  Any person who wishes initial certification in the Commonwealth of Kentucky must have:

  • completed a teacher education program (including student teaching);
  • earned a passing score on all required Praxis II Specialty Exam(s) and the Principles of Learning and Teaching exam;
  • applied for a statement of eligibility; and
  • successfully completed a one-year Kentucky teacher internship.

  Students seeking certification or to add additional certification to current Kentucky teaching certificates should:

  • complete and have signed a TC-1 form;
  • complete a transcript request form;
  • mail completed/signed TC-1 form and transcript request form to MSU Teacher Education Services, 2101 Alexander Hall, Murray, KY 42071.

  Records and information on all the above standards and requirements are maintained in the Teacher Education Services Office, 2101 Alexander Hall, (270) 809-2054.

   

• Music Education (M.M.E.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Each student who wishes to be considered for unconditional admission to graduate study leading to the Master of Music Education degree must have the following additional qualifications:

  • an undergraduate music major, or the equivalent, with teacher certification.

• Nursing (D.N.P.)

  Requirements for Admission - BSN-DNP

  1. Undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale.
  2. Degree requirements: individuals must hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a program accredited by NLNAC or CCNE.
  3. “Official” transcripts from every college/university attended must be sent to Murray State University, Graduate Admission Office.
  4. Certification:
     - All students: Current Basic Life Support (CPR Certification)
     - Nurse Anesthesia only: Current PALS and ACLS
  5. English Proficiency Requirements:
     If native tongue is not English the student must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). The minimum requirements are as follows:
     
     a minimum cumulative score of
     - 86 combined, and
     
     minimum individual scores of:
     - 26 in speaking
     - 20 in writing
     - 20 in reading
     - 20 in listening
  6. Experience:
     Family Nurse Practitioner applicants: one (1) year experience as a registered nurse
     Nurse Anesthesia applicants: one (1) year critical care experience by the time of interview  
  7. GRE: Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (Minimum scores of 500 on the Verbal and Quantitative portions are preferred).
  8. Three professional references (forms provided).  
  9. Unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse*  
  10. Goal Statement: In one to three double-spaced pages, discuss reasons for seeking doctoral study, including short- and long-term professional goals. 
  11. An interview with DNP faculty is required.  

  * In addition students will be required to be licensed as an RN in any state in which they intend to complete clinical hours for the program.

  Proof of liability insurance for advanced practice nursing, current immunizations, hepatitis vaccine or signed wavier, and TB testing are required before enrollment in clinical nursing courses. Please send copies of these to the Graduate Coordinator, School of Nursing.  

  Students who request admission to Murray State University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Program must be in good standing at previously and/or current enrolled programs.

  Where unusual or extenuating circumstances are indicated, the Dean of the School of Nursing may admit a student who does not meet the above criteria. ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED ON OR BEFORE THE APPLICATION DEADLINE
  
  Requirements for Admission - Post Master's Entry

  1. Master’s grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 grading scale.
  2. Individuals must hold a master’s degree in nursing with advanced practice credentials from a program accredited by NLNAC or CCNE. 
  3. “Official” transcripts from every college/university attended must be sent to Murray State University, Graduate Admission Office. 
  4. Certification
     - All students: Current Basic Life Support (CPR Certification)
     - Nurse Anesthesia only: Current PALS and ACLS
     - APRN Certification: Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), or Nurse Anesthetist (NA).
  5. English Proficiency Requirements: If native tongue is not English the student must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). The minimum requirements are as follows:
     
     A minimum cumulative score of:
     - 86 combined and
     
     minimum individual scores of:
     - 26 in speaking
     - 20 in writing
     - 20 in reading
     - 20 in listening
  6. Three professional references (forms provided). 
  7. Unencumbered licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)*  
  8. Goal Statement: In one to three double-spaced pages, discuss reasons for seeking doctoral study, including short- and long-term professional goals.
  9. An interview with DNP faculty is required.  

  * In addition students will be required to be licensed as an APRN in any state in which they intend to complete clinical hours for the program.

  Proof of liability insurance for advanced practice nursing, current immunizations, hepatitis vaccine or signed wavier, and TB testing are required before enrollment in clinical nursing courses. Please send copies of these to the Graduate Coordinator, School of Nursing.

  Students who request admission to Murray State University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Program must be in good standing at previously and/or current enrolled programs.

  Where unusual or extenuating circumstances are indicated, the Dean of the School of Nursing may admit a student who does not meet the above criteria. ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED ON OR BEFORE THE APPLICATION DEADLINE

   

• Nutrition (M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional requirements for unconditional admission are as follows.

  • Applicants must complete the Murray State University Dietetic Internship Program or other American Dietetic Association accredited program. Students must successfully complete program, earning a grade of B or better in all program sections.
  • Students must pass the Registered Dietitian National Registration Examination administered by the American Dietetic Association prior to admission to the program.

• Occupational Safety and Health (M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission are as follows.
  
  Unconditional

  Unconditional admission status is granted only to students who graduate from Murray State University with a Bachelor Degree in Occupational Safety and Health and with an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher.

  All other students regardless of GPA, field of study, and GRE results are admitted to the program with CONDITIONAL ADMISSION STATUS. To move into UNCONDITIONAL status, the student must meet the university requirement of obtaining a 3.00 in the first nine hours of graduate work and additional criteria set forth by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health.

  Conditional

  The following conditional status will be based on undergraduate grade point average, regardless of undergraduate baccalaureate degree field or major. 

  2.99 - 2.50: CONDITIONAL

  2.49 - 2.25: CONDITIONAL AFTER A THOROUGH TRANSCRIPT EVALUATION

  2.24 - 2.00: CONDITIONAL AFTER EVALUATION AND PROBATIONARY ADMISSION
                     The student must be enrolled as full time and maintain a GPA of 3.30 for that semester.

  Students admitted from a different undergraduate field/discipline must complete the following course work in addition to the above GPA requirements. Undergraduate course work is required in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. The following courses are the minimum accepted requirements for pursuing a Master's degree in OSH.

  • BIO 101 - Biological Concepts
  • CHE 105 - Introductory Chemistry I
  • CHE 210/215 - Brief Organic Chemistry and Lab
  • MAT 230 - Technical Math II
  • PHY 125 - Brief Introductory Physics and Lab

  Student must also complete 21 prerequisite credit hours in Occupational Safety and Health and pass these courses with a grade of "C" or higher.

   

• Organizational Communication (M.A. and M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional departmental requirements are as follows:
  
  Unconditional

  • An overall GPA of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate work with at least a minor in communication, business, or related field.

  Conditional

  • An undergraduate GPA of at least 2.50.

  Conditional students may be required to complete certain undergraduate courses before beginning the program. After beginning the program, conditional students will undergo a review after their first nine hours and are admitted to full standing after completion of B or better work and approval of the graduate program coordinator.

  International students entering the organizational communication program from the Murray State University English as a Second Language (ESL) program must have completed Level 6 and must score at least 18 in each test area on the TOEFL Internet-based test, a 500 on the TOEFL paper-based test or 178 on the computer-based test. International students who have not completed the ESL program must score at least 18 in each test area on the TOEFL Internet-based test, a 550 on the TOEFL paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test.

   

• Psychology (Clinical or General Experimental) (M.A. and M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission
  
  

  The deadline for submission of applications is March 15. Early submission of applications is encouraged, as admission is competitive. Applications arriving after March 15 will be considered only if space is available. Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission are as follows.

  For non-native speakers of English, a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, paper-based TOEFL score of 550, an internet based TOEFL score of 88, or a previous degree earned from an accredited United States institution is required.
  
  Unconditional

  • A minimum of 15 undergraduate credit hours in psychology, including courses in research methods, statistics and physiological psychology or their equivalent.
  • A grade point average of 3.0 or higher overall and in psychology courses.
  • Official score report of the Graduate Record Examination.
  • Three letters of recommendation.
  • A written statement of purpose for entering graduate work in psychology.
  • For the general experimental program, a statement of personal research interests.

  
  Conditional

  The Department of Psychology does not normally admit students who fail to meet the university requirements for unconditional admission (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). However, students who otherwise meet those standards but lack the prerequisite undergraduate courses in psychology are encouraged to enroll in those classes as irregular or unclassified students. Such students should contact the department chairperson.

  In some cases, students lacking only one or two undergraduate prerequisite courses may be admitted with the understanding that they must complete those undergraduate courses along with their graduate courses.

  Please Note: Admission into Department of Psychology graduate programs obligates students to adhere to the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association as well as the academic conduct principles and the interpersonal skills policies of the department. Any violation of these is cause for dismissal from the program. In the case of the clinical program,the department reserves the right to deny admission to or discontinue the training of any student who in the judgment of the department’s graduate training committee would not be able to function competently in the profession of clinical psychology.

   

• Public Administration (M.P.A.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission are as follows.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have:

  • an undergraduate major in political science, other social science or business, or substantial background in relevant disciplines;
  • a grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.00 scale);
  • students whose native language is not English must present a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on paper based test or an overall score of 79 on the internet-based test (iBT), with no score on the writing, listening, and reading sections below 15, or an overall score of 6.0 on the IELTS, with no score on any band below 5.0.

  Conditional

  For conditional admission, an applicant may have:

  • a grade point average between 2.25 and 2.74 (on a 4.00 scale) or
  • an overall grade point average of 2.0 to 2.24 if the student’s experience is evaluated by the director and faculty of the M.P.A. program as indicating the likelihood of success;
  • students whose native language is not English must present a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on paper based test or an overall score of 79 on the internet-based test (iBT), with no score on the writing, listening, and reading sections below15, or an overall score of 6.0 on the IELTS, with no score on any band below 5.0 before the completion of nine hours.

• Reading and Writing (M.A.Ed.)

  Master’s Degree Programs - College of Education requirements

  These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for all graduate students listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  All students applying for admission to a master’s degree program offered by the College of Education must have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Some program areas require a score on the general test (V + Q) of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE); consult departmental sections of the graduate bulletin.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have:

  • an appropriate undergraduate major;
  • an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0;
  • in addition, some programs in the college require a Kentucky letter of eligibility for the beginning teacher internship program or a Kentucky provisional certificate or comparable documentation from another state department of education. Contact departmental chair for information;
  • international students must meet TOEFL score requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin, as well as other requirements.

  Conditional

  Conditional admission may be granted to students who meet one of the following guidelines:

  • an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 but less than 3.0;
  • all unconditional admission requirements specified above except coursework to meet requirements for appropriate major or certification.

  Students without appropriate certification may be admitted upon departmental review by signing a waiver acknowledging non-certification. Students who do not meet admissions criteria specified above may be reviewed by the appropriate departmental graduate committee. Following a full review of all student records, that committee will:

  A. recommend conditional admission (permissible only when the student meets university graduate admission requirements), carefully specifying conditions; or

  B. recommend remediation and reschedule the student for departmental graduate committee admission review once remediation is complete; or

  C. deny admission.

  Students admitted conditionally who successfully complete nine hours of graduate work will be reassigned to unconditional status. A student admitted conditionally who has a GPA of less than 3.0 will be dropped from the graduate program. A graduate student dropped for academic reasons may reapply after remaining out of the graduate program for one semester.

   

• School Administration (M.A.Ed. and Ed.S.)

  Masters, Specialist, and Certificate Program Options Below

  Master’s Degree Programs - College of Education requirements

  These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for all graduate students listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  All students applying for admission to a master’s degree program offered by the College of Education must have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Some program areas require a score on the general test (V + Q) of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE); consult departmental sections of the graduate bulletin.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have:

  • an appropriate undergraduate major;
  • an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0;
  • in addition, some programs in the college require a Kentucky letter of eligibility for the beginning teacher internship program or a Kentucky provisional certificate or comparable documentation from another state department of education. Contact departmental chair for information;
  • international students must meet TOEFL score requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin, as well as other requirements.

  Conditional

  Conditional admission may be granted to students who meet one of the following guidelines:

  • an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 but less than 3.0;
  • all unconditional admission requirements specified above except coursework to meet requirements for appropriate major or certification.

  Students without appropriate certification may be admitted upon departmental review by signing a waiver acknowledging non-certification. Students who do not meet admissions criteria specified above may be reviewed by the appropriate departmental graduate committee. Following a full review of all student records, that committee will:

  A. recommend conditional admission (permissible only when the student meets university graduate admission requirements), carefully specifying conditions; or

  B. recommend remediation and reschedule the student for departmental graduate committee admission review once remediation is complete; or

  C. deny admission.

  Students admitted conditionally who successfully complete nine hours of graduate work will be reassigned to unconditional status. A student admitted conditionally who has a GPA of less than 3.0 will be dropped from the graduate program. A graduate student dropped for academic reasons may reapply after remaining out of the graduate program for one semester.

   

  Specialist in Education Degrees - College of Education Requirements

  Admission to graduate study

  An individual seeking a specialist degree who is not already a graduate student at Murray State University must apply to Graduate Admissions for admission to graduate study. An individual who has completed requirements for a master’s degree at Murray State University must apply for readmission before the individual can be accepted to the specialist in education degree program. In addition, official records of (1) all graduate work, (2) all undergraduate work, and (3) Graduate Record Examination scores, if applicable, must be sent to Graduate Admissions.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  In addition to Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin), an applicant must have:

  • a master’s degree or acceptable alternative from a regionally accredited college or university;
  • basic graduate courses in the areas of educational research, educational foundations, and curriculum if applicable;
  • one year of successful experience in a certified position in an educational setting;
  • evidence of satisfactory scholarship;
  • selected an appropriate field of specialization;
  • a satisfactory score on the aptitude section of the Graduate Record Examination if required by the program;
  • approval by the graduate faculty in the specialization field; and
  • a valid teaching certificate (where required).

  
  

  Non Degree Post Master’s Certification Programs (Rank I) - College of Education Requirements
  

  NOTE: These programs are specific to Kentucky and may not transfer to other states. Students are encouraged to complete a specialist in education or a second master’s degree to obtain Rank I certification.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  In addition to Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin), an applicant must have:

  • a master’s degree or completed fifth-year program from a regionally accredited institution;
  • an application to the appropriate department of the College of Education, submitted to Graduate Admissions of Murray State University;
  • an official transcript of all graduate work, sent to Graduate Admissions, if the such work was not earned at Murray State University; completion of all required examinations for admission to the graduate program; and
  • a valid teaching certificate.

  
  Initial Teaching Certification for Graduate Students

  Graduate students who currently hold no teaching certificate may become eligible for certification if they enroll in an initial certification program, meet the criteria for admission to teacher education and student teaching and fulfill the requirements for certification.
  
  General Requirements for Certification in Kentucky

  Any person who wishes initial certification in the Commonwealth of Kentucky must have:

  • completed a teacher education program (including student teaching);
  • earned a passing score on all required Praxis II Specialty Exam(s) and the Principles of Learning and Teaching exam;
  • applied for a statement of eligibility; and
  • successfully completed a one-year Kentucky teacher internship.

  Students seeking certification or to add additional certification to current Kentucky teaching certificates should:

  • complete and have signed a TC-1 form;
  • complete a transcript request form;
  • mail completed/signed TC-1 form and transcript request form to MSU Teacher Education Services, 2101 Alexander Hall, Murray, KY 42071.

  Records and information on all the above standards and requirements are maintained in the Teacher Education Services Office, 2101 Alexander Hall, (270) 809-2054.

   

  M.A.Ed.: School Administration

  
  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must comply with Murray State requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin) and the College of Education requirements stated below. Additional requirements are as follows:
  
  Unconditional

  A person who wishes to be unconditionally admitted to a master’s degree program in school administration must meet the following requirements:

  • provide proof of a valid Kentucky teaching certificate. If a student is not certified to teach in Kentucky, he/she must sign a waiver acknowledging enrollment for degree purposes only. Note: This verification is critical. If a student is to be certified as a principal for the state of Kentucky, a student must have a valid Kentucky teaching certificate.
  • submit a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 800 (V + Q) or higher; and
  • submit a letter of recommendation for the M.A.Ed. in school administration program from a supervisor.

  Conditional

  Applicants not meeting the conditions stated above at the time of application may be admitted conditionally for a period of one year or nine hours of coursework, whichever comes first. After one year or nine hours of course work, the student will be dropped from the program and will be prohibited from taking additional coursework until all conditions have been met.
  

  
  Specialist in Education: School Administration

  
  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must comply with the Murray State requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin) and the College of Education requirements stated below. Additional requirementsare as follows:

  • successful completion of nine hours in the school administration program;
  • a total score of 900 (V+Q) on the GRE;
  • recommendation of the graduate faculty in school administration;
  • appointment of a specialty study committee.

  School Administration Post Graduate Certifications

  Requirements for Admission

  To be unconditionally admitted to any of the post-master’s certificate programs, the applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • provide proof of a valid Kentucky teaching certificate. If a student is not certified to teach in Kentucky, he/she must sign a waiver acknowledging enrollment for degree purposes only. Note: This verification is critical. If a student is to be certified as a principal for the state of Kentucky, a student must have a valid Kentucky teaching certificate.
  • submit a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 700 (V + Q) or higher; and
  • submit a letter of recommendation for the school administration program from a supervisor.
  • Director of Special Education certification additionally requires at least three years of special education teaching experience or three years of experience as a school psychologist as required by the director of the special education program.

• School Counseling (M.A.Ed. and Ed.S.)

  Masters and Specialist Program Options Below

  Master’s Degree Programs - College of Education requirements

  These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for all graduate students listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  All students applying for admission to a master’s degree program offered by the College of Education must have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Some program areas require a score on the general test (V + Q) of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE); consult departmental sections of the graduate bulletin.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have:

  • an appropriate undergraduate major;
  • an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0;
  • in addition, some programs in the college require a Kentucky letter of eligibility for the beginning teacher internship program or a Kentucky provisional certificate or comparable documentation from another state department of education. Contact departmental chair for information;
  • international students must meet TOEFL score requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin, as well as other requirements.

  Conditional

  Conditional admission may be granted to students who meet one of the following guidelines:

  • an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 but less than 3.0;
  • all unconditional admission requirements specified above except coursework to meet requirements for appropriate major or certification.

  Students without appropriate certification may be admitted upon departmental review by signing a waiver acknowledging non-certification. Students who do not meet admissions criteria specified above may be reviewed by the appropriate departmental graduate committee. Following a full review of all student records, that committee will:

  A. recommend conditional admission (permissible only when the student meets university graduate admission requirements), carefully specifying conditions; or

  B. recommend remediation and reschedule the student for departmental graduate committee admission review once remediation is complete; or

  C. deny admission.

  Students admitted conditionally who successfully complete nine hours of graduate work will be reassigned to unconditional status. A student admitted conditionally who has a GPA of less than 3.0 will be dropped from the graduate program. A graduate student dropped for academic reasons may reapply after remaining out of the graduate program for one semester.

   

  Specialist in Education Degrees - College of Education Requirements

  Admission to graduate study

  An individual seeking a specialist degree who is not already a graduate student at Murray State University must apply to Graduate Admissions for admission to graduate study. An individual who has completed requirements for a master’s degree at Murray State University must apply for readmission before the individual can be accepted to the specialist in education degree program. In addition, official records of (1) all graduate work, (2) all undergraduate work, and (3) Graduate Record Examination scores, if applicable, must be sent to Graduate Admissions.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  In addition to Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin), an applicant must have:

  • a master’s degree or acceptable alternative from a regionally accredited college or university;
  • basic graduate courses in the areas of educational research, educational foundations, and curriculum if applicable;
  • one year of successful experience in a certified position in an educational setting;
  • evidence of satisfactory scholarship;
  • selected an appropriate field of specialization;
  • a satisfactory score on the aptitude section of the Graduate Record Examination if required by the program;
  • approval by the graduate faculty in the specialization field; and
  • a valid teaching certificate (where required).

   

  M.A.Ed.: School Counseling

  Requirements for Admission

  Admission is not based on any sole factor but on a combination of the applicant’s academic record, work experience, potential for becoming a effective and ethical counselor and the match between the program training objectives and the applicant’s professional goals. Applicants must meet Murray State requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin as well as submit:

  • a MSU Graduate School application;
  • an application to the school counseling program. The program application may be obtained by contacting the Department of Educational Studies, Leadership and Counseling or on the department’s website;
  • a recent (less than five years) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score;
  • a criminal background report (federal and state);
  • a written statement of intent reflecting graduate level writing ability;
  • three letters of recommendation from people able to address the applicant’s potential as a counseling professional;
  • a current resume; and
  • have an interview with the Counseling Program Admissions Committee.

  Note: Admission to the program does not guarantee graduation. The following nonacademic conditions may result in dismissal if they are observed to impair the student’s ability to work in class, practicum, or internship settings: 1) personal concerns,2) interpersonal relationship problems, 3) personal attitudes or values that conflict with effective counseling relationships, and 4) unethical behavior.
  
  Conditional Admission

  Conditional admission may be granted to applicants deficient in a single area as space permits. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Students admitted conditionally must obtain a B or better grade in each of their first nine credit hours of program study to gain unconditional status.
  
  Admission to Candidacy in the Professional School Counseling

  Training Program requires a 3.0 GPA (based on an A equals 4.0)
  
  Requirements for School Counseling Certificate

  The following is required to be recommended for a Provisional School Counseling Certificate (grades P-12).

  1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

  2. Satisfactorily complete M.A. in School Counseling requirements with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

  3. Satisfactorily complete a practicum and internship experiences in school counseling as prescribed by state regulations.

  4. Pass core content exam after the candidate has completed 33 credit hours.

  5. Pass school counseling comprehensive exam after the candidate has completed 48 credit hours or during the final semester of graduate study.
  
  

  Specialist in Education: School Counseling

  Requirements for Admission

  Admission is not based on any sole factor but on a combination of the applicant’s academic record, work experience, potential for becoming an effective and ethical counselor and the match between the program training objectives and the applicant’s professional goals. Applicants must meet Murray State requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin as well as submit:

  • a MSU Graduate School application;
  • an application to the school counseling program. The program application may be obtained by contacting the Department of Educational Studies, Leadership and Counseling or through the department’s website;
  • a recent (less than five years) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score;
  • a written statement of intent reflecting graduate level writing ability;
  • three letters of recommendation from people able to address the applicant’s potential as a counseling professional;
  • a current resume; and
  • have an interview with the Counseling Program Admissions Committee.

  Note: Admission to the program does not guarantee graduation.The following nonacademic conditions may result in dismissal if they are observed to impair the student’s ability to work in class, practicum, or internship settings: 1) personal concerns,2) interpersonal relationship problems, 3) personal attitudes or values that conflict with effective counseling relationships, and 4) unethical behavior.
  
  Conditional Admission

  Conditional admission may be granted to applicants deficient in a single area as space permits. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Students admitted conditionally must obtain a B or better grade in each of their first nine credit hours of program study to gain unconditional status.

  
  

  
  

• Secondary Education - Teacher Leader (M.A.Ed.)

  Masters and Certificate Program Options Below

  Master’s Degree Programs - College of Education requirements

  These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for all graduate students listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  All students applying for admission to a master’s degree program offered by the College of Education must have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Some program areas require a score on the general test (V + Q) of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE); consult departmental sections of the graduate bulletin.
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have:

  • an appropriate undergraduate major;
  • an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0;
  • in addition, some programs in the college require a Kentucky letter of eligibility for the beginning teacher internship program or a Kentucky provisional certificate or comparable documentation from another state department of education. Contact departmental chair for information;
  • international students must meet TOEFL score requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin, as well as other requirements.

  Conditional

  Conditional admission may be granted to students who meet one of the following guidelines:

  • an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 but less than 3.0;
  • all unconditional admission requirements specified above except coursework to meet requirements for appropriate major or certification.

  Students without appropriate certification may be admitted upon departmental review by signing a waiver acknowledging non-certification. Students who do not meet admissions criteria specified above may be reviewed by the appropriate departmental graduate committee. Following a full review of all student records, that committee will:

  A. recommend conditional admission (permissible only when the student meets university graduate admission requirements), carefully specifying conditions; or

  B. recommend remediation and reschedule the student for departmental graduate committee admission review once remediation is complete; or

  C. deny admission.

  Students admitted conditionally who successfully complete nine hours of graduate work will be reassigned to unconditional status. A student admitted conditionally who has a GPA of less than 3.0 will be dropped from the graduate program. A graduate student dropped for academic reasons may reapply after remaining out of the graduate program for one semester.

  
  

  Non Degree Post Master’s Certification Programs (Rank I)

  NOTE: These programs are specific to Kentucky and may not transfer to other states. Students are encouraged to complete a specialist in education or a second master’s degree to obtain Rank I certification.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  In addition to Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin), an applicant must have:

  • a master’s degree or completed fifth-year program from a regionally accredited institution;
  • an application to the appropriate department of the College of Education, submitted to Graduate Admissions of Murray State University;
  • an official transcript of all graduate work, sent to Graduate Admissions, if the such work was not earned at Murray State University; completion of all required examinations for admission to the graduate program; and
  • a valid teaching certificate.

  
  Initial Teaching Certification for Graduate Students

  Graduate students who currently hold no teaching certificate may become eligible for certification if they enroll in an initial certification program, meet the criteria for admission to teacher education and student teaching and fulfill the requirements for certification.
  
  General Requirements for Certification in Kentucky

  Any person who wishes initial certification in the Commonwealth of Kentucky must have:

  • completed a teacher education program (including student teaching);
  • earned a passing score on all required Praxis II Specialty Exam(s) and the Principles of Learning and Teaching exam;
  • applied for a statement of eligibility; and
  • successfully completed a one-year Kentucky teacher internship.

  Students seeking certification or to add additional certification to current Kentucky teaching certificates should:

  • complete and have signed a TC-1 form;
  • complete a transcript request form;
  • mail completed/signed TC-1 form and transcript request form to MSU Teacher Education Services, 2101 Alexander Hall, Murray, KY 42071.

  Records and information on all the above standards and requirements are maintained in the Teacher Education Services Office, 2101 Alexander Hall, (270) 809-2054.

   

• Special Education/Advanced Studies in Learning and Behavior Disorders - Teacher Leader (M.A.Ed.)

  Masters and Certificate Program Options Below

  Master’s Degree Programs - College of Education requirements

   

  These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for all graduate students listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin.
  
  
  
  Requirements for Admission

  All students applying for admission to a master’s degree program offered by the College of Education must have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Some program areas require a score on the general test (V + Q) of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE); consult departmental sections of the graduate bulletin.
  
  
  
  Unconditional

  To qualify for unconditional admission, an applicant must have:

  • an appropriate undergraduate major;
  • an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0;
  • in addition, some programs in the college require a Kentucky letter of eligibility for the beginning teacher internship program or a Kentucky provisional certificate or comparable documentation from another state department of education. Contact departmental chair for information;
  • international students must meet TOEFL score requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin, as well as other requirements.

  Conditional

  Conditional admission may be granted to students who meet one of the following guidelines:

  • an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 but less than 3.0;
  • all unconditional admission requirements specified above except coursework to meet requirements for appropriate major or certification.

  Students without appropriate certification may be admitted upon departmental review by signing a waiver acknowledging non-certification. Students who do not meet admissions criteria specified above may be reviewed by the appropriate departmental graduate committee. Following a full review of all student records, that committee will:

  A. recommend conditional admission (permissible only when the student meets university graduate admission requirements), carefully specifying conditions; or

  B. recommend remediation and reschedule the student for departmental graduate committee admission review once remediation is complete; or

  C. deny admission.

  Students admitted conditionally who successfully complete nine hours of graduate work will be reassigned to unconditional status. A student admitted conditionally who has a GPA of less than 3.0 will be dropped from the graduate program. A graduate student dropped for academic reasons may reapply after remaining out of the graduate program for one semester.

  
  
  

  Non Degree Post Master’s Certification Programs (Rank I)

   

  NOTE: These programs are specific to Kentucky and may not transfer to other states. Students are encouraged to complete a specialist in education or a second master’s degree to obtain Rank I certification.
  
  
  
  Requirements for Admission

  In addition to Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin), an applicant must have:

  • a master’s degree or completed fifth-year program from a regionally accredited institution;
  • an application to the appropriate department of the College of Education, submitted to Graduate Admissions of Murray State University;
  • an official transcript of all graduate work, sent to Graduate Admissions, if the such work was not earned at Murray State University; completion of all required examinations for admission to the graduate program; and
  • a valid teaching certificate.

  
  
  Initial Teaching Certification for Graduate Students

  Graduate students who currently hold no teaching certificate may become eligible for certification if they enroll in an initial certification program, meet the criteria for admission to teacher education and student teaching and fulfill the requirements for certification.
  
  
  
  General Requirements for Certification in Kentucky

  Any person who wishes initial certification in the Commonwealth of Kentucky must have:

  • completed a teacher education program (including student teaching);
  • earned a passing score on all required Praxis II Specialty Exam(s) and the Principles of Learning and Teaching exam;
  • applied for a statement of eligibility; and
  • successfully completed a one-year Kentucky teacher internship.

  Students seeking certification or to add additional certification to current Kentucky teaching certificates should:

  • complete and have signed a TC-1 form;
  • complete a transcript request form;
  • mail completed/signed TC-1 form and transcript request form to MSU Teacher Education Services, 2101 Alexander Hall, Murray, KY 42071.

  Records and information on all the above standards and requirements are maintained in the Teacher Education Services Office, 2101 Alexander Hall, (270) 809-2054.

   

   

• Speech-Language Pathology (M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional requirements for unconditional admission are as follows.

  • Complete application for admission to Murray State University Graduate School by deadline;
  • Complete application to the Communication Disorders program by the deadline issued by the Communication Disorders program;
  • A baccalaureate degree in communication disorders or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution;
  • At least a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average;
  • Submission of official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores by program application deadline;
  • Successful completion of the following prerequisite courses (or their equivalents) at time of application:
    - CDI 215 Clinical Phonetics
    - CDI 310 Anatomy and Physiology
    - CDI 315 Speech Science
    - CDI 325 Pediatric Speech Disorders I
    - CDI 340 Speech and Language Development
    - CDI 345 Pediatric Language Disorders I
    - CDI 405 Audiology
    - CDI 451 Aural Rehabilitation
    - CDI 465 Neuroanatomy and Physiology for the Speech-Language Pathologist
    - CDI 470 Pediatric Speech Disorders II
    - CDI 472 Pediatric Language Disorders II

  Additional courses may be required to meet certification and/or graduate degree requirements. Additional course work completed prior to graduate study must be approved by the graduate coordinator in order to be used for certification and/or licensure requirements.

   

• Teacher Education and Professional Education (Ed.S.)

  Specialist in Education Degrees - College of Education Requirements

  Admission to graduate study

  An individual seeking a specialist degree who is not already a graduate student at Murray State University must apply to Graduate Admissions for admission to graduate study. An individual who has completed requirements for a master’s degree at Murray State University must apply for readmission before the individual can be accepted to the specialist in education degree program. In addition, official records of (1) all graduate work, (2) all undergraduate work, and (3) Graduate Record Examination scores, if applicable, must be sent to Graduate Admissions.
  
  Requirements for Admission

  In addition to Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin), an applicant must have:

  • a master’s degree or acceptable alternative from a regionally accredited college or university;
  • basic graduate courses in the areas of educational research, educational foundations, and curriculum if applicable;
  • one year of successful experience in a certified position in an educational setting;
  • evidence of satisfactory scholarship;
  • selected an appropriate field of specialization;
  • a satisfactory score on the aptitude section of the Graduate Record Examination if required by the program;
  • approval by the graduate faculty in the specialization field; and
  • a valid teaching certificate (where required).

• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (M.A.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must comply with the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). Additional requirements for unconditional admission are as follows:

  • an undergraduate major in English or a modern foreign language or approval by the TESOL Advisory Committee;
  • at least 12 semester hours in one modern foreign language or demonstrated proficiency at that level (permission maybe granted to complete this proficiency during the program; for non-native speakers, language may be English);
  • for non-native speakers of English, a TOEFL score of 20 for each section of the iBT, an IELTS score of 6.5 with no band lower than 6.0 or a previous degree earned from an accredited U.S. institution or successful completion of Level 6 of the MSU ESL program.
  • students who have a minimum of 18 for each section of the iBT or an IELTS score of 5.5-6.0 with no band below 5.5, but meet all other conditions for admittance may be admitted conditionally by the TESOL Advisory committee. Under these conditions, students will have their English language skills assessed by the director of the TESOL program immediately after they arrive on campus to determine if further classes are needed to develop English language proficiency. After assessment the students may be assigned to full-time language study in the English as a Second Language Program, or permitted to take graduate-level classes on a conditional basis along with further designated language study, or permitted to begin graduate study without further restrictions.

   

• Telecommunications Systems Management (TSM) (M.S.)

  Unconditional

  Applicants to the TSM Graduate Program will be unconditionally admitted if their undergraduate grade point average (GPA) is 3.0 or higher and they submit a Graduate Management Test (GMAT) score of at least 400 on combined verbal and quantitative sections or submit a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of at least a combined score of 286 on the verbal and quantitative sections.  However, if the applicant’s GPA is less than 3.0 and they submit a GMAT score that satisfies the GMAT admission formula, or they submit a GRE score that satisfies the GRE admission formula, they will be unconditionally admitted.

  GMAT formula: (200 x GPA) + (GMAT score) > 1,000

  GRE formula: (11.66 x GPA) + GRE > 321

  Note: The GRE formula uses the combined score from the quantitative and verbal sections only. Ask the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send scores directly to Murray State University using our institution code: 1494.  
  
  Conditional

  Applicants to the TSM Graduate Program may be admitted conditionally if their overall GPA is 2.75 or higher, or at least 3.0 for their last 60 hours of undergraduate study. Full admission to the TSM Graduate Program will be granted in one of only two ways, namely:

  1. The applicant takes TSM 601, TSM 610 and one other core course (ACC 604, MGT 651, TSM 602, TSM 603, or TSM 630) as their first nine hours of on the program and earn a GPA of not less than  3.33 from the three core courses, OR
  2. The applicant takes the GMAT or GRE and meets the unconditional admission formula within their first semester in the program.

  If neither of these two conditions is met, the student will be dropped from the TSM Graduate Program even if they have already taken graduate coursework.  
  
  

  International Admission

  Applicants, from any country where English is a second language, will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency.  To demonstrate their proficiency the applicant may take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam and score a minimum of 20 in each band iBT (internet-based test) or the applicant may take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam and score 6.0 on the academic test (with no band <5.5).

   

  
  

• Watershed Science (M.S.)

  Requirements for Admission

  Applicants must meet all Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2 of the Graduate Bulletin). A faculty member must agree to mentor the student. Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission are as follows:
  
  Unconditional

  • Baccalaureate degree in biology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, physics, or a closely related field.
  • At least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA.
  • Composite GRE score of at least 1,000 (500 verbal + 500 quantitative).

  Conditional

  Recommendation of the advisory committee.