Admissions Procedure

1. Apply through the Office of Graduate Admissions in Holden Hall for "General Admission" to the Graduate School. Read the Graduate Catalog of the University for admission requirements. A Bachelor's Degree from Texas Tech University or any other university does not guarantee admission to the master's program.
   
   
2. Complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applications may be obtained from the Testing and Evaluation Center in West Hall on the campus or other authorized testing centers.
   
   The Graduate School has two admission statuses, described briefly here. Official descriptions are in the current graduate catalog. The graduate admissions categories are: (1) Full admission to the master's program in Elementary Education and (2) Graduate temporary (GTMP). Students may enroll as a "Graduate Temporary" (GTMP) graduate student for one semester while awaiting the test results.
   The College of Education (COE) has established a holistic approach to the admission process. If a student does not gain full admission within one semester, he or she will not be permitted to register for the second semester.
   
   
3. The standards for admission to the Elementary Education Program go beyond those for admission to the Graduate School. Complete the Master's degree application process by submitting an application portfolio (described later) and recommendation forms.
   

Student applications will be reviewed on the first day of months of September,October,November,Feburary,March,April June and July. Applications should be completed at least a month prior to the review. The program's recommendation regarding admission is forwarded to the Graduate School.Incomplete applications will not be reviewed until all materials are recieved.

Notification of acceptance. You will be notified by letter from the Office of Graduate Admissions of the decisions regarding your acceptance into the Elementary Education program.

Appeal process. Applicants who are not accepted into the Master's of Education Program in Elementary Education may appeal the Program faculty's decision. The first level of appeal is to reapply to the program, addressing the program faculty's reasons for rejection, as delineated in the notification of the rejection letter. If an applicant is still rejected by the Program faculty, the next level of appeal is the College of Education Graduate Studies Committee. In making an appeal to the Graduate Studies committee, the applicant must address the Elementary Education Program faculty's reasons for rejection as defined in the two previous letters.. If the applicant's appeal is denied by the College of Education Graduate Studies Committee, there is no further recourse for admission.

Advisement Procedures
Following admission to the Elementary Education Program, Students are advised to meet with a graduate faculty member in elementary education.

The endorsement plan (for certification) and/or degree plan (for graduation) are the primary advisement tools. Both are completed early in the student's program, ideally in the first semester, and provide the listing of courses needed for graduation. The student is responsible for keeping the endorsement and/or degree plans updated and for bringing the plans to advisement sessions. Students need to file degree plan changes when necessary.

The student's faculty advisor will provide other forms of guidance as requested by the student. This includes providing suggestions for preparing for the comprehensive examination.

Degree Plan
As soon as possible after admission to a degree program, but no later than during the first semester of work, the student should contact elementary education graduate faculty memeber to develop a "Program for the Master's Degree." During an individual conference, the departmental advisor will assist the student with selection of courses related to the program option chosen. After the student's departmental degree plan is signed by the Faculty member and department head and approved by the Graduate School, the student is expected to follow it as the basis of all subsequent enrollments.

With proper planning, the academic requirements for the Texas Professional Teacher Certificate can be completed concurrently with the 36-hour Master's degree program by taking the 12 minor-concentration hours in an appropriate academic field.

Transfer credit. Only 6 approved semester hours of coursework may be transferred from another accredited university. Transfer courses may not include practicum or internship. No course on the degree plan may be over six years old at the time the degree is conferred.

Applicants with a prior master's degree. The TTU Graduate Catalog states that permission to work toward a second degree of the same level is granted only upon approval by the Elementary Education Program and review by the Graduate Dean. The applicant is subject to all requirements as a new student. While there is no guarantee that any work from the first master's degree may apply to the second, at least one full year (24 semester hours) must be taken specifically for the new degree program. Therefore, applicants with a prior master's degree are urged to investigate the Doctoral Program in Elementary Education.

Continuation of Enrollment
Students who have been granted admission are expected to register in the term for which admission is granted. Any student who fails to register during any one-year period prior to graduation, and who does not have an official leave of absence from study granted by the Elementary Education Program and the Graduate School, may be required to apply for re-admission to the program according to the procedures and standards in effect at the time of reconsideration.

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