Admission to the School of Education

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

Admission to the School of Education

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

Return to top

Admission Requirements for Degree-Seeking Graduate Students

Entrance Requirements
     Praxis Policy
Application Procedure
Interviews
Application Deadline
Provisional Admission
Conditional Admission
Transfer Credits for Degree Programs

Entrance Requirements

Candidates for admission must have completed a bachelor's degree from any regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Though no specific program of study at the undergraduate level is required for admission, students seeking teacher certification who have not had required content area courses or other general education requirements within their undergraduate degree program may be required to take additional course work at the undergraduate level. Students planning to teach in secondary schools must have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA in the content area in which they plan to teach.

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

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

Any student currently enrolled in the M.A.T. program who has not successfully completed PRAXIS I, will not be eligible to receive their degree until official passing Praxis I scores are submitted to Trinity and recorded.  Students pursuing a B.A. in Education, an undergraduate minor in education, or the B.A./M.A.T. Program must pass Praxis I prior to registering for education courses at the 300-level or above.

All candidates for admission to the School of Education must meet all general requirements. Additionally, successful completion of the Praxis II within the subject area is required for the Accelerated Certification Program. The Master of Arts in School Counseling requires two years of documented teaching experience and the Master of Science in Administration requires three years of documented teaching experience. The Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction requires a current standard teaching credential.

Admission into the graduate or undergraduate teacher preparation program does not automatically guarantee admission into student teaching.

Application Procedure

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

1. A completed application form with a non refundable application fee of $40.
2. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (wherever any courses were taken) at the undergraduate and graduate level. (Students should request that the transcripts be sent directly to them in a sealed envelope.  These sealed envelopes should be included with other application documents being sent to Trinity. 

   (Students applying for the M.A.T. Program must submit passing Praxis I scores with application materials.)

3. Two letters of recommendation in support of the application testifying to the applicant's aptitude for graduate education and potential for professional growth and development. One letter of recommendation should be written by supervisory personnel such as principals or department chairs.
4. A 1000-1500 word essay that outlines personal and professional goals.
5. A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
6. For M.A.T. program only, official scores (sent from ETS) on the Praxis I Examination.
7. For M.Ed. only, copy of Standard Teaching Credential.

All materials received by Trinity from applicants or third parties (high schools, undergraduate institutions, graduate institutions, recommenders, etc.) will become the property of Trinity. Trinity does not return or release materials submitted to the admissions office to applicants or to third parties.

All materials should be sent to:

Office of Admissions
Trinity
125 Michigan Avenue, N.E.
Washington, DC 20017

Students for whom English is not their first language must also submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), administered by ETS.

Interviews

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

Application Deadline

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

Provisional Admission

In some instances, students may be permitted to register for up to six credits prior to the receipt of all admission materials. Such students will be assigned non-degree status for no more than one semester. In such cases permission to register should not be construed as conferring admission to the degree program. Students for whom complete admission files have not been received by the deadline for academic withdrawal will be dismissed.

Conditional Admission

Students who do not meet the standard admission requirements but who demonstrate potential may be conditionally admitted and may take up to six credits during their first semester. A student must receive a minimum grade of "B" in each of these courses in order to be fully admitted to a graduate program. Students who do not meet these criteria at the end of their first six credits will be dismissed.

Transfer Credits for Graduate Degrees

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

Return to top

Admission Requirements and Procedures for Non-degree Students

Students who hold a bachelor's degree and meet the 2.8 minimum GPA requirements are welcome to register as non-degree or non-matriculating students for a maximum of six credits. Every effort will be made to accommodate such students subject to prerequisites and enrollment limitations. In no instance should permission to register as a non-degree student be construed as conferring admission to the degree program or to student teaching. Non-degree students must complete an application for non-degree student status with the Office of Continuing Education and provide documentation for all requirements as stated on the application. Non-degree students must provide an official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. All students for whom English is a second language must submit a posted official TOEFL score of 550 or higher with their application.

Non-degree students may apply for status as a degree student according to the admissions policy set forth in the School of Education Academic Policies section of this catalog. Credit earned as a non-degree student may be applied toward the graduate degree subject to the requirements at the time of enrollment as a degree candidate. A maximum of six graduate credits, excluding credits earned in Professional Development Workshops which in general may not count toward a degree, earned as a non-degree student at Trinity may be applied toward a graduate degree (students should refer to School of Education Academic Policies for exceptions).

Return to top

Admission Requirements and Procedures for International Students

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

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

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

• Are admitted to Trinity.
• Are proficient in the English language.
• Demonstrate sufficient funds to cover expenses for at least one academic year.

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

Return to top

Readmission

A student previously registered as a degree candidate who has failed to maintain continuous enrollment in the same graduate program for one calendar year or more must apply for readmission. A letter requesting file reactivation should be submitted along with a $40 non refundable application fee to the Admissions Office. Two current letters of recommendation and a writing sample should also be forwarded to this office.

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

Return to top