ADMISSION DEADLINES
New students are NOT enrolled in the spring semester of 2007
For summer 2007 admission - Friday, May 4, 2007
For fall 2007 admission - Friday, August 3, 2007

Admission Requirements
Application for admission to the Divergent Learning Program is open to women and men with a bachelor's degree either from a regionally accredited institution or with the approval of the Graduate Council.

Admission to the Graduate School is approved by the Admission Selection Committee. Students are admitted as either Degree Status students or as Non-Degree Status students.

Program Entrance Criteria
Applicants must complete the following requirements:

• File an application for the M.Ed. in Divergent Learning.
  
• Submit two recommendations
  DOWNLOAD RECOMMENDATION FORMS
• Give the "Recommendation Form" to people who can speak to your ability to perform graduate level work. This form may be mailed to the Office of Admissions or faxed to 803.786.3393.
  
• Submit official transcripts of ALL undergraduate and graduate work. An official transcript with BA/BS degree posted must be submitted, as well as official transcripts from ALL regionally accredited institutions attended. Failure to submit all transcripts by the deadline posted on the website will disqualify your application for admission.
  
• Choose one of the three scenarios below and write a two to three page essay on the topic. The essay must be typed in 12 pt. font, double-spaced, and with one inch margins. Submit your essay via email to graduate@colacoll.edu. Essays will not be accepted if they are faxed or mailed.

SCENARIO I You are a teacher (regular classroom, special areas, special education, or another area in your specialty). You have observed a student of yours who is obviously capable of average to high-level performance, but consistently performs poorly. Write about some strategies you believe would assist this student to become a successful learner.

SCENARIO II You are a teacher in a small rural school district that serves students from predominantly low-income families. The school district consistently has performed poorly in standardized assessments, and teachers and administrators are under constant pressure to improve academic performance. Prompted by a recent round of state budget cuts, the district superintendent has recommended that the school board cut all arts programs and divert the funds to remediation in reading and math. Discuss the impact that you feel this policy would have on your students, including your opinion of the role of the arts in education.

SCENARIO III You have been assigned the responsibility to provide on-the-job training to a fellow employee. Your supervisor has asked you to provide the greatest opportunities for this person's success. How would you structure a training program for this individual? Discuss some of the strategies you would employ.

Download the Essay Scoring Guide

• Submit a current teaching certificate, official GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores, official MAT (Miller Analogies) scores, an official baccalaureate transcript with degree posted and a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale, earned twelve semester hours or more of graduate credit and submit an official graduate transcript showing evidence of a 3.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale, OR an official graduate transcript with an earned graduate degree posted.
  

Note: Only GRE and MAT test scores within the last five years will be accepted.

• TOEFL Scores: International students, or those for whom English is a second language, must submit official TOEFL scores. The minimum score required for admission on the paper version is 550; the minimum score required for admission on the computer version is 213, and the minimum required on the web version is 85.
   

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All application materials should be mailed to:
Director of Graduate School Admissions
1301 Columbia College Drive
Columbia, SC 29203

 

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