Admission

To apply for admission to a graduate program at North Central College, please contact the Office of Graduate Admission for an application.

North Central College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, or religion in its policies and programs of admission. The College believes that the master’s programs should be accessible to as many students as possible. It also affirms that the programs should reflect the highest standards of quality.

A student may take selected courses for professional development only. A student who selects this option must have at least a four-year bachelor’s degree and meet the specific course prerequisites, but may also have completed a master’s or doctorate degree or courses beyond the bachelor’s degree without having completed a graduate degree. Students may take no more than three classes while classified a student-at-large.

A student may be accepted into a graduate program, but still need to complete one of the Requirements for Admission. A student accepted in such a situation is PROVISIONALLY admitted. The remaining admission requirements must be met before a student is allowed to register for a second term of classes.

Admission Requirements for Degree Candidacy and Certificates

The following items are necessary for admission to the program as a degree candidate or as a certificate student. It is suggested that applicants submit all materials at least 45 days before the start of the term for which they apply. (Note: A student not having submitted one of the documentation items may be admitted as a provisional student for a maximum of one term of study.)

Requirements for all Programs and Certificates

To be considered for admission to any of North Central College’s master’s programs, applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete an application for admission, including a personal statement
2. Hold an earned four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
3. Provide official transcripts from all undergraduate-and graduate-level work.
4. Obtain a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with a GPA <3.0 will be considered but must address this issue and their plans for growth and future success in their personal statement.
5. Meet all program specific admission requirements. See below.

Candidates may also be required to complete an interview with the appropriate Faculty Coordinator or Graduate Advisor.

International Applicants

An applicant whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a college or university in a country other than the United States must complete the following additional requirements in order to be considered for admission:

1. Apply at least 60 days before the term begins. Students who are currently not in the United States may need to allow additional time.
2. Show evidence of English competency in one or more of the following ways:
   1. Provide official results of the TOEFL, with a score of at least 80 internet-based test 550 paper-based test or official results of the IELTS, with a band score of at least 6.5.
   2. Complete a minimum of two years, full-time university-level study in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand (within the past five years).
   3. Hold a recent degree from a college or university in the United States. Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand.
   4. Contact the Office of International Programs for alternative testing information.
   5. A native speaker of English who graduates from a college or where instruction is conducted in a language other than English can submit a high school/secondary school transcript.
3. Submit an official course-by-course evaluation by World Education Services (WES) or Education Credential Evaluators (ECE).  This must be sent directly to North Central College by WES or ECE to be considered official.
4. Complete an interview with the College’s International Student Advisor, in addition to the regular admission requirements.
5. For all non-immigrant applicants present in the United States, provide a copy of a valid passport, U.S. Visa page, current I-94, and Form I-20, if applicable. Permanent residents, provide a copy of Form I-551, Resident Alien or Permanent Resident card.
6. For applicants requiring a Form I-20, provide evidence of financial support. Submit a notarized Declaration of Finances and bank letter.

On-campus housing may be available for graduate students on a limited basis.

International Student Contact Information

TOEFL Services, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA Telephone 609.771.7100, E-mail: toefl@ets.org, http://www.toefl.org. Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., P.O. Box 514070, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 Telephone 414.289.3400, E-mail: eval@ece.org, http://www.ece.org

Program Specific Requirements

Master of Arts Degree in Education

Students applying for the Leadership and Administration program or the Curriculum and Instruction program must provide proof of full time work in a school as well as two professional letters of recommendation. In addition for both programs a letter from your district’s personnel office indicating the length of your teaching experience is required. Candidates must possess a valid Illinois teaching certificate.

The North Central Educational Leadership and Administration Master’s Degree addresses the new Illinois State Board of Education requirements whereby for applications submitted on or after February 1, 2012, candidates must meet the following requirement:

Two years of full-time teaching experience shall have been accrued while the individual held a valid early childhood, elementary, secondary, special K-12, or special preschool-age 21 certificate.

Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies

Students applying to enter the Liberal Studies program must submit writing samples. Writing samples should reflect the ability to research and to write critically. (Contact the faculty coordinator or an admission counselor for more details.)

Master of Leadership Studies

Students applying for this program must submit a writing sample. Samples should reflect the ability to research and to write critically. (Contact the faculty coordinator or an admission counselor for more details.)

Master of Business Administration Degree

There are seven undergraduate prerequisite courses in business areas. (Note: Students may be admitted as degree seeking students in the graduate program while they complete needed prerequisite courses.)

Master of International Business Administration Degree

There are seven undergraduate prerequisite courses in business areas. (Note: Students may be admitted as degree seeking students in the graduate program while they complete needed prerequisite courses.)

Master of Leadership Studies

Careful monitoring by Faculty Coordinator of first three classes.

Master of Science Degree in Web and Internet Applications

All undergraduate prerequisite coursework must be completed before a student may register for their fourth graduate-level Computer Science class.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of two graduate courses from other schools may be transferred into the master’s program. Such work must have course grades of B- or higher, be appropriate to the program and must have been completed within the five year period immediately preceding admission as a degree candidate. In addition, the work must have been completed for graduate credit or designated for possible graduate credit, and taken in excess of credit required for the student’s undergraduate degree. Transfer credit is granted by the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Studies, in consultation with the specific Program Coordinator and Director of Graduate and Continuing Studies.

A North Central undergraduate student may take a graduate course if he or she has senior standing and/or receives special permission from the faculty member teaching the course, the Director of Graduate and Continuing Studies or Program Coordinator, and the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Studies. This does not include courses that are cross-listed at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Dates of Entry and Matriculation

A graduate student’s matriculation date is the first day of the term in which he or she enrolls in a 500- or 600-level course at North Central. All course work and other requirements for each master’s degree must be completed within five years after a student’s date of matriculation. A student retains this date of entry, and follows the terms of the catalog then in effect, as long as he or she does not drop out for more than one term, not including summers, or receives approval for a Leave of Absence as described below. A student who  is not in attendance for two or more consecutive terms, not including summer, and who does not obtain a Leave of Absence ), must enroll under the terms of the catalog in effect on the first day of the term in which he or she is readmitted to the graduate  program at North Central College.

Graduate Entrance Exams

Graduate entrance exams, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are optional. Students who take the entrance exams and score above a certain level, as indicated in the formulas below, may take courses in the order they choose.

Master of Arts Degree in Education Curriculum and Instruction

MAT + (GPA x 10) = 65

Master of Arts Degree in Education Leadership and Administration

MAT + (GPA x 10) = 65

Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies

Verbal GRE + (GPA x 100) = 762

Master of Business Administration

GMAT + (GPA x 200) = 1000

Master of International Business Administration

GMAT + (GPA x 200) = 1000

Master of Leadership Studies

Verbal GRE + (GPA x 100) = 762

Master of Science Degree in Web and Internet Applications

no exam required

Master of Arts Degree in Education Curriculum and Instruction

First six classes must include:

1. EDN 501  
2. EDN 510 

Master of Arts Degree in Education Leadership and Administration

First six classes must include,

1. EDN 500  
2. EDN 515 
3. EDN 534 

Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies

Careful monitoring by Faculty Coordinator of first three classes.

Master of Business Administration

First six MBA classes must include three quantitative courses as approved by the MBA Faculty Coordinator or Director of Graduate and Continuing Studies.

Master of International Business Administration

First six MBA classes must include three quantitative courses as approved by the MBA Faculty Coordinator or Director of Graduate and Continuing Studies.