Application Steps

The first step to applying to Michigan State University and the Special Education master's program is to complete the University Application (with payment, see step 1 below). After completion of the University Application, you will receive an email inviting you to complete application materials in the GEA portal. (see step 2 below).

 

Admission Requirements

Step 1: University Application and Fee (SPED Program Code: 6742)

• Our program is designed to start in the summer. Please select summer semester (US) on your application.
  
• In this application, please leave the "Personal Statement" and "Academic Statement" blank.
  
• Note the application fees, payable to Michigan State University, are non-refundable.
• Note that the recommendation form provided in the graduate application is not required, and does not need to be submitted in conjunction with recommendation letters. Your recommendation letters are to be submitted through the GEA Portal described below.
• After completion of the University Application plus payment, an email inviting you to complete the GEA Portal will be sent to the email address submitted on your University Graduate School Application. The supplemental application will serve as an electronic depository for your student-generated application materials.

Step 2: MSU Graduate Education Application Portal (GEA Portal)

The GEA Portal allows you to upload supplemental documents, request letter of recommendation, check the status of your application and send e-messages to the program. Log into the GEA Portal using your applicant ID and password to complete the application process and monitor your application status.

1. Provide contact information for three (3) recommendation letter writers in the GEA Portal.
   
   
   • You will need to include: Title (e.g., Dr.), first and last name, job title, employer, email address.
   • Please ensure you have a mutual agreement and understanding with your recommender prior to submitting their information into the system. You are responsible for ensuring the required letters of recommendation are submitted on your behalf. You may need to follow up with your recommenders regarding missing letters to complete your application.
   • Your recommenders should look for an email from admis@msu.edu
     
     
2. Upload your Professional & Scholarly Goal Statement to the GEA Portal (specify "personal statement" as document type).
   
   
   • This document is a very important element of your application.
   • See description of content and formatting of this statement.
     
     
3. Upload your Vita or Resume to the GEA Portal (specify "Resume" as the document type).
• List professional experience, awards, honors, publications, presentations, professional affiliations and professional development activities.
  
  
4. Upload a copy of your teaching certificate.
   
   
5. Send one (1) official copy of your transcript from all previous institutions attended.
   
   
   • Have the transcripts sent directly to:
     Missy Davis, Office Assistant
     CEPSE Michigan State University
     620 Farm Lane, Room 335
     East Lansing, MI 48824-1034 USA
     517-355-1837
     sped@msu.edu
     
     Note that the transcripts and the CDGDC report (for applicants from Chinese universities) are the only materials to be sent to this address.
     
   • Applicants from Chinese Universities: Please arrange for a verification report of your university academic records with the China Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC). The report must be mailed directly to Missy Davis (see address above) by the CDGDC, rather than by you or any third party.
     • China Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center Verification Division B-17. Tongfang Scientific Plaza No. 1 Wangzhuang Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, P.R. China Tel: +86-10-82379480 Fax: +86-10-82378718 (24 hours) Email: cqv@cdgdc.edu.cn Website: www.chinadegrees.cn
       
       
   • These transcripts must be sent directly from the institution. Please contact the registrar's office at the institutions you attended for the appropriate procedures and fee information.
     
     
6. Please let us know which option you are applying to as part of the master's program.
   
   
   • Master's only (learning disability-based)
   • Master's with an endorsement in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
   • Master's with an endorsement in Learning Disabilities (LD)

ABA Application Process

Application procedures:

Current MSU special education graduate students:

Individuals currently enrolled in a special education graduate program at Michigan State University who would like to apply to the Graduate Certificate Program in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) should complete the following steps:

Step 1:

Submit a personal (goal) statement to Missy Davis (davisme@msu.edu). See the guidelines.

Your personal statement should address each of the following points:

• What experiences led to your interest in pursuing this certificate?
• What qualities, characteristics and skills do you possess that will make you a strong candidate for the Special Education ABA certificate program at Michigan State?
• How will the Special Education ABA certificate program program at Michigan State help you meet your personal and professional goals?

Step 2:

Complete internal application form and send to Missy Davis (davisme@msu.edu).

---

Current MSU students outside of special education program:

Step 1:

Please complete the internal application form
and send to Missy Davis (davisme@msu.edu).

Step 2:

Please send the following:

• Official transcripts
• Three (3) letters of recommendation on stationery of the recommender's school or company
• Goal statement (need guidelines?)
  • Your personal statement should address each of the following points:
    • What experiences led to your interest in pursuing this certificate?
    • What qualities, characteristics and skills do you possess that will make you a strong candidate for the Special Education ABA certificate program at Michigan State?
    • How will the Special Education ABA certificate program program at Michigan State help you meet your personal and professional goals?
• Resume

Please send to:

davisme@msu.edu or

Regular postal mail:

Counseling, Education Psychology and Special Education (CEPSE) Program

c/o SPED Admissions Assistant

620 Farm Lane, 335 Erickson Hall

East Lansing, MI 48824-1034

---

New students to MSU/not currently enrolled in a program at MSU:

The first step to applying to Michigan State University and the Special Education Applied Behavior Analysis certificate program is to complete the University Graduate Certificate Application (with payment, see step 1 below). After completion of the University Application, you will receive an email inviting you to complete application materials in the GEA portal (see step 2 below).

Step 1:

University Graduate Certificate Application (Program Code: 6761)

• Choose your status (domestic or international).
• Choose "Graduate Certificate."
• Indicate your major code:
  • 6761 (Graduate Certificate Program in Applied Behavior Analysis in Special Education)
  • In selecting the "Semester you wish to enroll" please note:
    
    
    • Fall Semester = FS
    • Spring Semester = SS
    • Summer Semester = US
• Pay $50 application fee.

• In this application, please leave the "Personal Statement" and "Academic Statement" blank.
  
• Note the application fees, payable to Michigan State University, are non-refundable.
• Note that the recommendation form provided in the graduate application is not required, and does not need to be submitted in conjunction with recommendation letters. Your recommendation letters are to be submitted through the GEA Portal described below.
• After completion of the University Application plus payment, an email inviting you to complete the GEA Portal will be sent to the email address submitted on your University Graduate School Application. The supplemental application will serve as an electronic depository for your student-generated application materials.

 

Step 2:

MSU Graduate Education Application Portal (GEA Portal)

The GEA Portal allows you to upload supplemental documents, request letter of recommendation, check the status of your application and send e-messages to the program. Log into the GEA Portal using your applicant ID and password to complete the application process and monitor your application status.

1. Provide contact information for three (3) recommendation letter writers is GEA Portal.
   
   
   • You will need to include: Title (e.g., Dr.), first and last name, job title, employer, email address.
   • Please ensure you have a mutual agreement and understanding with your recommender prior to submitting their information into the system. You are responsible for ensuring the required letters of recommendation are submitted on your behalf. You may need to follow up with your recommenders regarding missing letters to complete your application.
   • Your recommenders should look for an email from admis@msu.edu
     
     
2. Upload your Professional & Scholarly Goal Statement to GEA Portal (specify "personal statement" as document type).
   
   
   • This document is a very important element of your application.
   • See description of content and formatting of this statement.
     
     
3. Upload your Vita or Resume to the GEA Portal (specify "Resume" as the document type).
• List professional experience, awards, honors, publications, presentations, professional affiliations and professional development activities.
  
  
4. Upload a copy of your teaching certificate.
   
   
5. Send one official copy of your transcript from all previous institutions attended.
   
   
   • Have the transcripts sent directly to:
     
     Missy Davis Graduate Secretary
     CEPSE Michigan State University
     620 Farm Lane, Room 335
     East Lansing, MI 48824-1034 USA
     517-355-1837
     sped@msu.edu
     
     Note that transcripts and the CDGDC report (for applicants from Chinese universities) are the only materials to be sent to this address.
     
   • Applicants from Chinese Universities: Please arrange for a verification report of your university academic records with the China Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC). The report must be mailed directly to Missy Davis (see address above) by the CDGDC, rather than by you or any third party.
     • China Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center Verification Division B-17. Tongfang Scientific Plaza No. 1 Wangzhuang Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, P.R. China Tel: +86-10-82379480 Fax: +86-10-82378718 (24 hours) Email: cqv@cdgdc.edu.cn Website: www.chinadegrees.cn
       
       
   • These transcripts must be sent directly from the institution. Please contact the registrar's office at the institutions you attended for the appropriate procedures and fee information.
     

 

Please Note:

Admission to the Graduate Certificate Program in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is separate and distinct from other graduate programs offered at Michigan State University. Acceptance into the one program does not qualify an individual for admission into any other graduate degree or certificate program.

Eligibility

*Please note: We cannot offer our online degree program to students who reside in Maryland or Arkansas.

**The master’s program meets requirements for special education endorsements only in the State of Michigan. States have varying requirements for certification/endorsement that include differences in course work, categories of disability, sensitivity to the age of learners and state tests. We cannot advise you about the requirements for certification/endorsement outside the State of Michigan. It is incumbent upon you to seek the advice of your state department of education if you teach or are planning to teach in a state other than Michigan.

A chart provides a summary of each state’s requirements to offer distance education to its residents. Please refer to this chart before applying to our online program. MSU is not authorized by Arkansas or Maryland to provide distance learning in either state.

Similarly, if you are entering the master’s program with a teaching certificate from another state, and you wish to teach special education in Michigan upon completion of the master’s program, you will need to check with the Michigan Department of Education to determine if your certification is valid in Michigan. We cannot award a special education endorsement unless your teaching certificate is valid in Michigan.

***Please note: The State of Delaware is in the process of a complete overhaul of its rules and regulations with regard to institutions of higher education and online distance education programs. Until we can obtain decisive information from the Delaware Department of Education, enrollment of NEW students residing in Delaware will be restricted. 10/2015

Financial Information

• Tuition calculator (online education master's program)
• MSU Financial Aid
• University Fellowships & Assistantships
• College Fellowships & Assistantships

The identification of financial assistance and graduate assistantships is an important factor for many students admitted to the program. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide guaranteed funding to support enrollment and living expenses. However, the program has established a number of successful placements on campus and in the surrounding communities that have served as sources of employment for many of our students. 

Many students apply directly to the campus Office of Residence Life for positions as residence hall advisors, while some apply for substitute teaching opportunities in schools in the surrounding communities. Admitted students will receive a list of campus openings as they occur throughout the summer. Newly admitted students are strongly encouraged to contact student mentors during the summer months for assistance with any questions regarding employment opportunities, housing and other issues associated with adjustment to the university and community. Due to nine-month academic appointments, program faculty members are typically not available for consultation during the summer months.

Helpful Hints in Completing your Application:

We encourage you to begin the application process in enough time to complete all components by the deadlines shown above. If you have questions about or issues with any part of the application process, please contact sped@msu.edu or (517) 355-1837.

U.S. Residents:

U.S. applicants who are not already admitted to graduate study at MSU must submit the Graduate Application for Admission. An application fee and college transcripts of all previous academic work must be submitted with this form.

• More Information on Admission to the MSU Graduate School

International Students:

International students who have not been admitted to graduate study at MSU are required to submit the International Graduate Application for Admission, proof of financial support and proof of proficiency in English. For more information, please contact the Office of International Students and Scholars:

427 N. Shaw Lane, Room 105
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-1720
oiss@msu.edu

Notes:

Unfortunately we cannot offer our online degree program to students from Maryland or Arkansas, given that Michigan State is not authorized to offer online or hybrid programs to residents of those states.

Admission decisions for the Master of Arts in Special Education occur once a year for ASD, twice a year for LD and MA only. The deadline for applications are due by the dates shown above for optimal consideration. Completed applications received after deadlines will only be considered for admission as space permits.