North Carolina Central University

Students | Graduate

Graduate Programs

Overview

North Carolina Central University's School of Education provides qualified holders of at least one academic degree with a broad base of professional knowledge and research skills in Educational Technology, Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, School Administration, Special Education, Communication Disorders and Counselor Education. Essential to the accomplishment of this purpose is the continuing aim to help students develop the attributes of independent study, originality of thought, competence in research, and the application of critical thinking to professional problems. Please download the 2007 SOE Graduate Student Handbook (Adobe Reader Required) for more information.

Degrees Conferred

The Master of Arts, Master of Education, Master of School Administration, and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees are offered through the School of Education’s Graduate Division. Students who major in Educational Technology or Counselor Education receive the M.A. degree. Those who major in Curriculum and Instruction or Communication Disorders receive the M.Ed. degree. Students who major in Special Education may receive a Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, or the M.Ed. degree. Students who major in School Administration receive the M.S.A. degree.

Admission Procedures

  1. Each application submitted to the Graduate Division of the School of Education must be accompanied by an application fee of $40.00 in the form of a cashier's check, money order, or personal check payable to North Carolina Central University.
  2. Two completed applications, two copies of official transcripts, at least two letters of recommendation, one application related to claimed North Carolina Resident for tuition purposes, one copy of GRE scores, one copy of teaching license (as applicable), and the $40.00 non-refundable application fee must be submitted to the admission office of the Graduate Division by October 1 for possible Spring admission and March 1 for possible Summer and Fall admission.* A student who applies late or whose application has not been evaluated may enroll as a special student through the Office of Graduate Studies. Degree credit for graduate course work taken as a special student may not be granted, unless the student meets requirements for admission.
  3. After evaluation of the student's credentials, the Dean will notify the student of the admission decision by letter (noting stipulations, if applicable).

*Application deadlines vary. See individual programs for application deadline dates.

Types of Admission

  1. Unconditional Admission
    A student holding a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is eligible for unconditional admission under the following provisions:
    1. The applicant's overall undergraduate average must be at least a 2.5 and an average of 3.0 or better in the undergraduate major of at least 30 semester hours in the area of the proposed graduate major or related area.
    2. Applicants who intend to qualify for the Curriculum and Instruction Program with a Concentration in Middle Grades Education must hold the North Carolina initial license (A) in Middle Grades or its equivalent and those intending to qualify for the Curriculum and Instruction Program with a Concentration in Elementary Education must hold the initial license (A) in Elementary Education.
    3. The seven program units which offer graduate work may have other requirements in addition to those listed above. Students are advised to review the sections in the university catalog, consult the program coordinator of the intended major or the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, or follow the link to Programs.
  2. Conditional Admission
    With the approval of the program coordinator of his/her proposed graduate major and the Dean, a student whose scholastic record does not fully meet requirements for unconditional graduate status may be granted conditional admission. The student may be required to complete prerequisite work without graduate credit. The student may be admitted for a trial period after which he/she may be given full graduate status, if the work is judged to be of graduate quality by the student’s intended Program Director. Admission may be refused due to low grades on the student's scholastic record or low performance during the trial period.
  3. Special Student Admission
    The Graduate Division recognizes the admission classification of special student. This designation is a temporary classification for persons who wish to take licensure renewal, to transfer credits to another institution, or to take courses for personal satisfaction. This classification terminates on the date of the student's completion of successful application or admission to a program in the Graduate Division. Students admitted as special students are not candidates for a degree. They may take courses for graduate credit but cannot later be granted more than nine semester hours toward any program leading to a master's degree. However, credits earned while a student is designated as a special graduate may later be applied toward the fulfillment of the requirements of a graduate degree program provided:
    1. the action is recommended by the Program Coordinator of the student's intended major and approved by the Dean;
    2. the credit was earned within the past two years;
    3. the amount of credit does not exceed nine semester hours
    4. the work is "B" level or better; and
    5. the work has not been taken to remove deficiencies. (Deficiencies are defined as qualifications needed in order to meet Graduate Division admission standards.)

Admission of International Applicants

All applicants who are non-citizens of the United States and graduates of institutions of higher learning located outside the United States are classified as international applicants. In addition to providing academic credentials, GRE scores, letters (or forms) of recommendation, and proof of health insurance, international applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. The applicant must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by acceptable performance on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Exceptions will be made for those whose native language is English or whose medium of instruction has been English. An interview may be required. The TOEFL score (minimum of 500 required for admission) must be submitted directly to the Graduate Division of the School of Education, North Carolina Central University, Durham, N.C. 27707 from TOEFL, Box 880, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-008, U.S.A. Proficiency may also be demonstrated by passing a full academic year of college level freshman English (e.g., ENG 1100, ENG 1200) with a grade of "C" or better at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or by successfully completing the English Language Program at one of the many ESL Language Centers in the United States.
  2. Generally, international applicants with academic credits from institutions outside the United States should have academic documents submitted directly from the institution to the Graduate Division of the School of Education. Where original documents are impossible to obtain, properly notarized documents will be considered. The notarization should be done by a proper government official or proper representation of the American Embassy in the country. Applicants for admission who submit foreign transcripts must pay any costs associated with having those transcripts translated and/or evaluated before they can be admitted.
  3. Before a Form I-20 can be issued for a visa application, international applicants are required to submit documentation certifying their capacity to meet the financial requirements necessary to complete the master's program.
    Prospective students can apply as a graduate student by filling out the Graduate School Application, or call 919-530-6478 or email Vonda Belle at vbelle@nccu.edu for further information.

Programs

The School of Education offers graduate programs in

Graduate Programs in Other Colleges

Programs for the preparation of elementary and secondary teachers at the bachelor's level or master's level and for the preparation of school and agency counselors, career counselors and placement officers, school administrators, supervisors, special education teachers and media coordinators at the master's level are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Teacher licensure programs are accredited by the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). The program in Communication Disorders is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Programs in Counselor Education are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).