Admission to our Online School of Education Degree Programs
The WGU School of Education is a recognized national leader in online education. Below are admissions requirements specific to School of Education programs that are in addition to WGU’s general admissions requirements.
Special requirements for select programs:
Applicants to undergraduate initial licensure programs must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent AND demonstrate program readiness through one of the following options below:
Option 1: Submit transcripts documenting completion of college-level coursework for review of GPA.
Option 2: Possess a bachelors or associate degree (A.A or A.S. acceptable) from an accredited post-secondary institution.
Option 3: Submit high school transcripts for review of GPA.
If you enroll in a program that also includes a special endorsement (for example, the M.A. in Mathematics Education, with an endorsement to teach secondary mathematics) and you plan to eventually apply for the endorsement, the following is required of you:
- A copy of a valid teaching license.
- Official transcripts that demonstrate you have earned a bachelor’s degree from a recognized accredited university.
An Enrollment Counselor will instruct you as to when and how to submit your teaching license prior to or during your program.
Additional requirements for program entry:
Prior to entry into the M.S. Educational Leadership degree program, you will be required to complete a candidate interview and provide the following:
- Evidence of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- Proof of a state issued, valid, and unexpired standard professional license
- A resume showing three years of licensed professional experience in a P-12 setting (excluding probationary, temporary, and substitute teaching experience)
- A confidential recommendation
- Recent annual summative performance evaluation
To be considered eligible for enrollment into a M.A. in Teaching English Education, Mathematics Education or Science Education degree programs, you must provide official transcripts that demonstrate you have earned a bachelor’s degree from a recognized, institutionally accredited (also known as regionally accredited) university AND demonstrate readiness through one of the following:
- Option 1: Content-related undergraduate or graduate degree with GPA of at least 2.5 (or higher, depending upon your state)
- Option 2: Undergraduate or graduate degree with GPA of at least 2.5 (or higher, depending upon your state) and 24-30 hours of content specific coursework, equivalent to a major.
- Option 3: Undergraduate or graduate degree with GPA of at least 2.0 (or higher, depending upon your state), a passing score on the WGU program required basic skills test (e.g., Praxis CORE) and demonstrate content competency via one of the following pathways 1) 24-30 hours of content specific coursework, equivalent to a major OR 2) an undergraduate or graduate degree in a content-related area to which area of program you are seeking admission.
The M.A. in Teaching, Elementary Education and M.A. in Teaching, Special Education degree programs requires a 2.5 minimum GPA (or higher, depending upon your state), or the competency-based equivalent, in your bachelor's program. Applicants with a GPA lower than a 2.5 but a 2.0 or above may seek admission by submitting passing scores from the WGU program required basic skills test (e.g. Praxis CORE). An Enrollment Counselor can help you best determine whether you have the sufficient background for entry into your program of choice.
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We can help you make an informed decision.
The first step toward change can be the hardest—we get it. Your "welcoming committee" at WGU is made up of Enrollment Counselors, Admissions Specialists, and faculty members. Your initial interactions at WGU will be guided by an Enrollment Counselor who specializes in the programs you're interested in.
Your Enrollment Counselor is ready with as much help as you may need:
- Get your cost and admissions criteria questions answered.
- Assess WGU's fit with your career goals.
- Get started toward enrollment!
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Steps and deadlines for enrollment in a School of Education program:
Below is the list of steps and their respective deadlines required for enrollment in an online education degree program. Please note that at the present time, WGU is accepting applications only from individuals living in the United States.
The exceptions are U.S. active-duty military personnel and their families at overseas installations and individuals living in Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
International Applicants
Unfortunately, we have discovered we cannot always guarantee that the educational experience for students living outside the United States will meet our high standards for quality and convenience. It is our expectation that these problems will be solved in future years. An Enrollment Counselor has more information about which areas are eligible to submit applications.
1. Apply for admission.
You may apply for admission at any time once you’re ready. You will need to have information such as your social security number, the name of the program you are interested in, and a few more items in order to apply.
2. Send in your official transcripts.
Transcripts of your prior college experience are required if you are seeking transfer credit, confirmation of sufficient background (for master’s licensure programs), or if you are looking to enroll into a graduate program. WGU offers a free transcript gathering service to help you get transcripts from participating institutions. If your previous institution does not participate, you will need to pay and arrange for your transcripts to be sent to WGU.
Official copies of your transcripts must arrive by the 5th of the month prior to your intended start date for evaluation. For any MAT program, the applicant must have completed all the major-specific content.
Submit by mail or email:
Western Governors University
ATTN: Transcripts Department
4001 South 700 East, Suite 300
Salt Lake City, UT 84107-2533
3. Complete the financial aid application process.
If you intend to use federal financial aid to cover your tuition expenses, you will need to complete WGU’s financial aid application process and be certified as eligible to receive aid no later than the 22nd of the month prior to your intended start date. An Enrollment Counselor can answer any questions you may have about the financial aid process.
4. Complete your Commit to Start Documents.
Once your official transcripts have been received, an admission decision will be made. At this point you will complete a self-guided, web-based experience or speak with a WGU Enrollment Counselor to submit your Commit to Start documents. This process will finalize your enrollment and officially set your program start date. This process will likely take 20-30 minutes.
5. Make tuition payment arrangements.
Tuition payment arrangements must be made by the 22nd of the month prior to your start date.
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