Admission

To apply for admission to a graduate program at North Central College, please contact the School of Graduate and Professional Studies 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

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.)

For admission consideration, applicants are required to submit the following credentials in addition to any individual program requirement:

1. Completed online application for admission.
2. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended showing an earned four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and evidence of earning a minimum of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale during the last sixty (60) hours of undergraduate study. Unofficial transcripts may be used for admission decisions, but official transcripts will be required before registering for classes.
3. Two letters of recommendation from employers, professors or others who are able to judge your potential for graduate study in the academic field.
4. Statement of purpose that discusses long range goals, interest in the chosen discipline and the reason(s) for applying to this program. The maximum length is 500 words.
5. A reflective essay of no more than 500 words.
6. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, the Master of Leadership Studies and the Master of Science in Computer Science. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or GRE is required for the Master of Business Administration program. No minimum test score is required. This admission requirement may be waived if the applicant:
   1. Earned a minimum 3.6 GPA for the last sixty (60) hours of the undergraduate degree, or
   2. Earned a postgraduate degree in the United States, or
   3. Has a minimum of five (5) years of working experience in a field associated with the academic discipline
7. Complete an interview with the Graduate and Professional Studies advisor.

For information about transferring graduate credit, see the Transfer Credit  section.

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 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 Business Administration

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

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.) Careful monitoring by Faculty Coordinator of first three classes.

Master of Science in Computer Science

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

Readmission

Students who have been out for more than two terms and less than five years who were not approved for a leave of absence must complete the following steps to return as a graduate student. Students who are readmitted do so under the catalog in effect upon readmission. Steps to readmission are as follows:

1. Complete the readmission application.
2. Pay the readmission fee of $150.
3. Submit a personal statement indicating the reason for returning to the graduate program and a proposed plan of study to complete the program within the five year time limit.
4. Provide transcripts from institutions (if any) attended since leaving North Central College.

Note: This policy will not apply to students who are unable to take courses due to institutional offering constraints.