Admissions Graduate Education

Application Process

M.A. and M.A.T Degree Requirements

Graduate Education Program Mission Statement

The Graduate Education Program of Asbury University is committed to preparing leaders for the schools of today and tomorrow. As part of the School of Education, the following mission statement applies to the Graduate Education Program: Our mission as the School of Education is to facilitate the preparation of professional educators who embody world-class academic excellence, spiritual integrity, and servant leadership.

Visit our Graduate Education page for more information.

Graduate Education Governance

The Dean of the School of Education and the School of Education Administrative Council are responsible, within the School of Education, for all policies related to the Graduate Education Program including admission, graduation, academic policies, and appeals. The Registrar serves as policy and curricular consultant for institutional graduate issues. The School of Education is responsible for recommending candidates for education licensure.

Application Process

1. Completed online graduate application form at no charge, including Character and Fitness and Reference Waiver forms.
2. Three Professional Recommendations from the following:
   1. personal, not family member
   2. employer
   3. professional colleague
3. Official transcripts are required from institutions that granted any and all undergraduate or graduate degrees. In addition, transcripts from all graduate-level programs attended are required even if a degree was not granted.

Graduate admissions may request additional transcript(s) as necessary to fulfill admissions or state certification requirements.

*NOTE: Transcript of undergraduate degree-granting institution and any graduate work transcript(s) must be sent directly from the credit-granting institution to Asbury University Graduate Education Admissions. Hand-carried transcripts, even in sealed envelopes, will not be accepted. Electronic transcripts are acceptable only if, when printed, they do not show watermarks.

Transcripts from non-US institutions must be submitted through World Education Services (WES).

Submit all transcripts/correspondence to:
Graduate Education Admissions
Asbury University
One Macklem Drive
Wilmore, Kentucky 40390
For further information, contact Graduate Education Office: 859-858-3511 (x2502)

4. Bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree from a college or university accredited by WASC, NWCCU, HLC, SACS, MSCHE, or NECHE (previously regional accreditation) with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. This requirement may also be met by cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on last 30 hours of undergraduate coursework or graduate coursework.
5. Valid Teaching Certificate (only for programs with certificate as a prerequisite).
6. TOEFL for all applicants whose native language is not English: 550 minimum on the paper-based test (PBT) or 80 minimum on the Internet based test (iBT).
7. M.A.T. applicants must pass the PRAXIS II content exam in respective disciplines (excluding LBD, ESL, Principal Licensure, and Elementary Education).
8. Final admission to the Graduate Education Program will be made by the School of Education.
9. The M.A. Principal Licensure program requires a faculty interview for admission and 3 years teaching experience. 

Students may be provisionally accepted to a program after all documents are submitted, pending further review and full acceptance into a degree program. Provisionally accepted students may register for certain recommended classes while they await full admission.

This results in provisional admittance for the first hours of graduate work. See below requirements for admission to Degree Status.

Endorsements and proficiency evaluations in several areas are also available for qualified candidates. Contact Graduate Education for further details.

Transfer of Credits: With approval of the Dean of the School of Education and the Registrar, a student may transfer up to nine semester hours of prior graduate credits toward the master’s degree. These credits must have been recently completed at a graduate school accredited by WASC, NWCCU, HLC, SACS, MSCHE, or NECHE (previously regional accreditation). Only courses with a grade of B or better which are equivalent to Asbury University courses may be transferred. See Graduate Transfer Policies.

Admission to Degree Status (Gate 5)

Note: M.A. Principal Licensure completes Gate 7. See Principal Licensure/Instructional Supervisor Program for details.

The student must meet all of the following requirements to be admitted into degree status:

1. Successful completion of a minimum of two program courses at Asbury University.
2. A minimum of 3.00 grade point average on all graduate coursework completed.
3. Minimum grade of C or better on all coursework.
4. Successful submission of Entry Professional Portfolio demonstrating critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration as well as demonstrating professional dispositions expected of professional educators.

Certification Examinations

All candidates seeking teacher certification are required to pass the appropriate PRAXIS II Specialty Area Examination(s) in order to be recommended for certification. A passing score on the appropriate Principles of Learning and Teaching Examination(s) is also required for M.A.T. candidates (excluding LBD). Contact the Graduate Education Office for a list of tests required for each program area.

All candidates seeking principal certification are required to pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) exam to be recommended for certification. 

EPSB Disclaimer: Teacher certification requirements are subject to change. Before registering for the test(s), please refer to the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) website at www.epsb.ky.gov for current requirements or contact the Division of Educator Preparation, Assessment, and Internship at (502) 564-5789. 

A bachelor’s degree is a pre-requisite to all Master of Arts and Master of Arts in Teaching degree programs. Additional pre-requisites may be required for each program. All these programs lead to Kentucky certification.

Granting of the M.A. OR M.A.T. Degree (Gate 6)

Note: M.A. Principal Licensure completes Gate 8. See Principal Licensure/Instructional Supervisor Program for details.

The actual granting of the M.A. or M.A.T. degree requires completion of the following:

1. Successful completion of all coursework in a maximum of 6 years from the date of enrollment.
2. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00.
3. Minimum grade of C or better on all coursework.
4. Minimum of 30.0 hours of graduate coursework.
5. Successful submission of Exit Professional Portfolio.
6. Successful completion of Action Research and Project Presentation.
7. Approval for graduation by the program faculty.
8. Submission of a Degree Application showing course plan for final requirements, in the Registrar’s Office by posted deadline for the commencement year and expected graduation date (Oct. 15 for December graduation, and Feb. 15 for May or August graduation.)
9. Be approved at the vote of the Faculty Assembly for degree conferral.  

The Degree Application link will be emailed from the Registrar’s Office based on student’s remaining requirements and graduation date.  Students may email Registrar’s Office for degree application information when reaching fulfillment of all requirements.