Thank you for applying to the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education. Steps to complete the application process have been outlined below. Domestic Applicants must complete Steps 1-4. International Applicants must complete Steps 1-6.
The first step to applying to Michigan State University and a CEPSE graduate program is to complete the University Graduate Application. See Step 1 below. The below program information will aid you in completing the University Graduate Application. After you complete the University Graduate Application and submit your payment, you will be able to access the MSU Graduate Education Application Portal (GEA Portal). See Step 2 below.
If space is available, programs may consider late applications. Please contact the Program Administrative Representative if applying after the listed application deadline.
In this application, please leave the “Personal Statement” and “Academic Statement” blank.
Application fees, payable to Michigan State University, are non-refundable.
The recommendation form provided in the graduate application is not required, and does not need to be submitted in conjunction with recommendation letters. Your recommendation letters are to be submitted through the GEA Portal described below.
After you complete the University Application and submit your payment, an email inviting you to complete the GEA Portal will be sent to the email address submitted on your University Graduate School Application. The supplemental application will serve as an electronic depository for your student-generated application materials.
The GEA Portal allows you to upload supplemental documents, request letter of recommendations, check the status of your application, and send e-messages to the program. Log into the GEA Portal using your Applicant ID and Password to complete the application process and monitor your application status.
You will need to include: first name, last name, and an email address.
If you have created a multimedia statement, upload a PDF with the URL.
Submit an example of academic or professional writing, e.g., something that you have published, a master’s thesis, or a paper you might have submitted to fulfill graduate course requirements. You must have authored the sample exclusively. The purpose is to demonstrate your ability to write analytical English prose in order to give the review committee a clear idea of how well you will be able to carry out the kind of analytical writing that is such a central component of advanced graduate study.
Samples whose content is close to the applicant’s stated interest are most useful.
List professional experience, awards, honors, publications, presentations, professional affiliations, and professional development activities.
The GRE is required for all Ph.D. and Ed.S. programs.
Rehabilitation Counseling M.A. applicants see M.A. Requirements for GRE requirements.
The verbal, quantitative, and analytical portions of the GRE should be submitted. Applications should have official test results reported to institution code 1465.
These transcripts must be sent directly from the institution; please contact the Registrar’s Office at the institutions you attended for the appropriate procedures and fee information.
Have the transcripts sent directly to the corresponding Graduate Admissions Representative. Note: Transcripts and the CDGDC report (for applicants from Chinese universities) are the only materials to be sent to admissions representatives.
International Applicants: Submit original or attested copies of all transcripts, diplomas, mark sheets, and certificates from all secondary schools and colleges attended and official English translations if original or attested documents are not in English.
Applicants who attended Chinese Universities: Please arrange for a verification report of your university academic records with theChina Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC). The report must be mailed directly to the corresponding Graduate Admissions Representative by the CDGDC, rather than by you or any third party.
Applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit proof of proficiency in the English language as a condition for regular admission to MSU. Applicants will be required to demonstrate their proficiency by meeting certain minimum standards on any one of the following tests. The test must be taken within two years of the admitting semester.
More details about these assessments and minimum scores required by the University are given under the heading Minimum English Requirements here.
If an applicant completed a degree program in an English speaking country, he or she may request a waiver of the TOEFL requirement. Once the program admissions committee is convinced of the student's English language skills based on past program completion and other evidence, it will ask the university to waive the requirement. This waiver is usually granted, but the university may require the student to take the English proficiency test upon arrival at MSU.
International applicants are required to submit an Affidavit of Support and financial proof. This statement, which is found on the Grad School's website, must originate from your source of support and must be a certified, original statement with stamp and original signature.
Please note: Proof of Financial Support is not required for applications to Online/Hybrid Programs.
Have questions? Check out the FAQ’s listed on each CEPSE graduate program’s website. Also, the Program Admission Representative for each graduate program can answer questions related to the submission of your materials. Note that all admissions decisions are made by the CEPSE faculty.
Financial Aid -- Information on graduate student financial aid is available from the Office of Financial Aid at http://www.finaid.msu.edu/.
Funding Support -- Information on Ph.D. fellowships and assistantships can be found on the Graduate School web site at http://grad.msu.edu/funding/, or from the College of Education web site.
All Ph.D. applicants must meet a December 1 deadline to be considered for university and college awards.
Housing Information -- On campus Graduate housing information is available at http://liveon.msu.edu/apartments, and off campus housing information is available at https://offcampushousing.msu.edu/.