The University of St. Thomas

School of Education

Admissions

The following admissions policies take effect for applications received as of
Sept. 1, 2007. 

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The School of Education is committed to recruiting, enrolling, and educating a diverse, socially representative population of students. To this end, the School of Education utilizes multiple measures of assessment to ensure the admission of qualified candidates.

Applicants who are graduates of regionally accredited colleges and universities are invited to apply for admission to the School of Education graduate programs.

Graduate Admission Office

Room 217, Opus Hall, Minneapolis campus
651-962-4550
800-328-6819, Ext. 2-4550
education@stthomas.edu

Postal Address

University of St. Thomas
School of Education Admissions
MOH 217
1000 LaSalle Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403-2009

Application Deadlines


Recommended Deadlines

Applicants are advised to submit their application materials to the School of Education office by the recommended deadlines for corresponding terms. This helps to facilitate acceptance prior to term registration periods so applicants can enroll in appropriate classes (registration opens prior to final deadlines).

  • For Fall Term: June 1
  • For Spring Term: November 1
  • For Summer Term: April 1

Final Deadlines

Applicants who miss the recommended deadlines must submit their application materials to the School of Education office by the final deadlines for corresponding terms in order to gain admission. Because registration opens prior to final deadlines, students who wait until the final admissions deadlines generally register for classes after students who met the recommended deadlines.

  • For Fall term: August 1
  • For Spring term: January 1
  • For Summer term: May 1

Missed Deadlines

Applications received after the final deadline may be eligible for non-degree admission. Applicants will be considered for but not guaranteed regular admission in the subsequent term. Non-degree students enroll for classes after all students who have met recommended or final deadlines. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

Admissions Criteria

Specific admission requirements vary by degree, licensure, and certificate program:

Doctorate (Ed.D.): Each doctoral program has its own admission criteria. See each program for related information.

Specialist (Ed.S.): Each Educational Specialist program has its own admission criteria. See each program for related information.

Master's: While each master’s program has additional admissions requirements, the following are standard requirements for all master's programs.

Application for admission will be made on forms provided by the School of Education admissions office. Forms are available on the web site to print or submit online. Official transcript(s) must be sent directly from the appropriate institution to the graduate admissions office of the School of Education. All application credentials are retained at the university and are not returned.

Regular Admission

Applicants will be considered for Regular Admission if they meet the following requirements:

  • G.P.A.: a cumulative minimum Undergraduate G.P.A. of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or the successful completion of a graduate level program from another institution; applicants who cannot meet the grade point requirement may be eligible for special admission.
  • APPLICATION: a completed application form and one-time, $50 application fee.
    Printable Application Form (pdf)
  • RECOMMENDATIONS: two positive letters of reference from non-related individuals with substantive knowledge of the candidate.
    Printable Form to the Recommender (pdf)
    Printable Reference Contact Information Form (pdf)
  • TRANSCRIPTS: official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work (unless that work was completed at the University of St. Thomas). Official transcript(s) must be sent directly from the appropriate institution to the graduate admissions office of the School of Education.
    Printable Transcript Request Form (pdf)
  • PERSONAL STATEMENT: writing sample as directed in the formal application.
    Printable Personal Statement Form (pdf)

Supplementary Requirements

  • PRAXIS I: The Praxis I (PPST) exam is required by the state of Minnesota for any candidate being admitted into an initial teacher licensure program. Scores must be submitted to the School of Education as a requirement of admission.

    Both pencil-and-paper and computer-based versions of the test are available. The pencil-and-paper test is offered locally several times each year; the computer-based test is offered locally by appointment at an ETS or ProMetric Testing Center. ESL candidates may petition ETS for extended time versions of the exams.

    For more information about the pencil-and-paper tests, visit the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Web site. To locate a testing center near you, access the ProMetric Web site. Official Praxis I (PPST) scores must be sent to the University of St. Thomas (Institutional Code RA6110) and be on file in the School of Education.
  • ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: applicants whose primary language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to being accepted. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 550 (written test); 213 (CBT - computer-based test); or 80 (iBT) internet based test) with a iBT minimum score of 20 for each section for listening, writing, and speaking. Since English proficiency is directly related to program success, applicants will not be admitted and may not begin classes until passing TOEFL scores are on file in the SoE office. No TOEFL exam is required if an applicant has graduated from either an undergraduate or graduate program in which all coursework was completed in English.

Special Admission

Applicants will be considered for Special Admission if they meet all regular admission requirements except the G.P.A. requirement if they meet the following additional requirements:

  • G.P.A.: a cumulative minimum undergraduate G.P.A. of 2.75 (4.0 scale)
  • STANDARDIZED TEST: submission of a minimum score from one of the following standardized tests:
       - MAT score of 405
       - GRE score of verbal 450; quantitative 550;
         analytic writing 4.5
       - GMAT score of 510 and 50th percentile
       - LSAT score of 145
  • ADMISSION INTERVIEW: a candidate may be asked to interview with an admissions’ person/committee.
  • No special admission students will be allowed to begin classes until test results are on file.

Non-degree Admission

Applicants who meet the admission requirements for either regular or special admission but missed the application deadlines will be considered for Non-degree admission.

Non-degree status means that a student is not formally enrolled in a degree-seeking or licensure-seeking course of study and does not qualify for financial aid. Students who apply for nondegree status are limited to taking six semester credits at the University of St. Thomas. Non-degree students are not guaranteed regular or special admission to any program.

Students seeking nondegree admission must submit the following:

  • A completed application form
  • An official copy of all undergraduate transcripts
  • A one-time, $50 application fee

International Admission

In addition to fulfilling standard School of Education admission requirements, applicants whose primary language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to being accepted (see regular admission requirements). International students must have their transcripts evaluated by the Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) to show United States equivalency.

Transient Admission

Graduate students working for a degree in another institution may be given transient graduate admission without meeting customary admission procedures. Transient students may complete a maximum of six credits. Transient graduate admission forms must be submitted each time the student chooses to register at St. Thomas and must bear the endorsement of the dean of the parent school. Transient students must come in person to register during nondegree registration dates (dates listed in course schedule) for the specific term in which the student wishes to enroll. Students should register in Room MOH 217, Opus Hall, Minneapolis campus.

Audit Admission

A student who is eligible for admission to a credit-bearing course may register to audit a course, provided s/he meets the prerequisites for the course. An audit fee will be charged. Students who audit graduate courses in education will be expected to complete all class assignments. In no case can students subsequently receive credit for audited courses.

Deactivation / Reinstatement

Students who do not register for any program coursework at the University of St. Thomas for one calendar year (without an approved Course Interruption request) are removed from the active student list. A deactivated student who wishes to return and resume a program needs to contact the School of Education registration coordinator. After verifying that the student was in good academic standing prior to deactivation, the registration coordinator will reinstate the her/him under the terms of the catalog in effect at the time of reinstatement.

Because programs continuously evolve, a reinstated student needs to contact a program advisor. All coursework (including transfer coursework) needs to be revaluated in terms of revised program requirements, course currency limitations, and a program completion plan. (Course Currency policies are explained further in the “Attendance, Program Time Limits, and Withdrawals” section.)

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