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Academics

Application Process for MSU Undergraduates

The admission application for MSU undergrads is now closed. The next application period will be Labor Day through Thanksgiving, 2012 (September 4 through November 21, 2012). Please plan to apply then!
More Applications Available

Do you already have your bachelor's degree?

View the instructions for Post-Bachelor's admissions here

Are you a transfer student?

View the instructions for Transfer Student admissions here
Information important for completing the application process is contained here. Please print this information so you will have ready access to the instructions as you proceed. You will be asked to indicate that you have read and printed the instructions before proceeding with the application.

Criteria for admission to the teacher preparation program include:

  • Academic accomplishments and promise
  • Commitment to teaching and dispositions that support learning to teach
  • Disposition to teach students of all races and ethnicities, students in poverty, students in urban settings and students with special needs
  • Contribution to the diversity of program participants

Eligibility

The undergraduate application process is intended for MSU undergraduates who (1) are currently enrolled, (2) have reached at least sophomore status, (3) have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75, (4) have passed all three subparts of the MTTC Basic Skills test (see below), (5) will have completed all remedial coursework in mathematics and writing by the end of Fall Semester 2012, and (6) wish to be considered for admission to the teacher preparation program in Fall Semester 2013. Students must have 56 credits by the beginning of Fall Semester 2013 to be fully admitted.

Applicants should understand that meeting minimum requirements makes them eligible to have their application considered. It does not guarantee admission. Each application receives a thorough and holistic review by several evaluators.

In addition to meeting minimum requirements for admission to the teacher preparation program, admission to the elementary Mathematics teaching major is competitive and requires submission of the Supplemental Application for Admission to the Elementary Mathematics Teaching Major (see below).

Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Basic Skills Test

Before students can be admitted to the teacher preparation program, MSU must receive official notification that they have passed all three parts of the MTTC Basic Skills test (Reading, Writing and Mathematics). Taking the Basic Skills test requires separate registration and fee payment. Please visit the MTTC website for information about test preparation and registration. You should request that official results be sent to MSU when you register to take the test. Both the paper-based test (PBT) and the computer-based test (CBT) are acceptable (the PBT is less expensive). Students who fail one or two subparts of the test may register to retake only those portions of the test. Students should take the test or be registered for the test before completing the application. This means taking the test before FS12 or in September (CBT), October (PBT) or November (PBT).

Online Application

The online application will be available Labor Day through Thanksgiving, 2012 (September 4 through November 21, 2012). You will need Adobe PDF Viewer to access the online application and the additional paper materials that are required (see below).

After logging on to the application from your MSU email account, a unique password will be sent to your MSU email address. The password is necessary to complete the application process, so please treat it carefully.

Timed and Proctored Essay

As part of the online application, all applicants must write a timed and proctored essay at a testing site on campus. At the end of the online application, you will have an opportunity to select a time and date to write the essay.

Last year's essay sessions were in the Business Center Complex Computer Lab (BCC N 012). The test dates and times were:

  • Saturday, November 12, 2011
  • Sunday, November 20, 2011
  • Sunday, December 4, 2011
  • Saturday, December 10, 2011

You must arrange your schedule to be available on one of the test dates. As soon as you reach the end of the online application, please reserve a seat in one of the essay sessions. If you postpone making a reservation, you may find that your preferred session is full. Scheduling the essay requires online payment of a $20.00 essay fee using a credit card, debit card, or checking account. After you have reserved a space in a session, you will receive an email message confirming the date, time, and location. Please print and keep that information.

Reserving an essay session and closing your application will not prevent you from re-entering the application at a later time to make changes; however, once you have written the essay your application will be closed. Your essay will be electronically loaded into your application from the testing site, and your application will be complete at that time. You will not be able to re-enter your application after you have written your essay.

You may reserve a seat in an essay session up until eight hours before the session begins.  If you miss your scheduled session, you will be able to enter your application 24 hours later and you may attempt to reschedule at that time.

You must bring (1) picture identification, (2) your application login and password, and (3) your essay fee receipt to the testing site. Please arrive at the assigned testing site on the correct date at least 20 minutes early. You will need this time to receive instructions and complete pre-test paperwork. You will not be permitted to enter the session late. Do not bring a dictionary, thesaurus, backpack, books, computer disk, computer software, food, or drink to the testing site. You will be given one hour to complete the essay using word-processing software. You will not be permitted to print or save copies of your essay, except as directed at the testing site. Software used to detect cheating is applied to all essays. Evidence of plagiarism, cheating, or falsification will result in denial of admission.

Acceleration Grids

Applicants who have earned 56 or more credits (junior standing) before the beginning of Fall Semester 2012 and who plan to graduate and meet all internship requirements by Spring or Summer 2014, should complete an Elementary or Secondary Acceleration Grid (see below). Other applicants are not eligible to accelerate. Please complete as much of your Acceleration Grid as possible, and then meet with your advisor to discuss it. Your advisor must sign the form. Additional instructions are provided on the Acceleration Grids.

UECP and GECP Students

Students admitted to UECP and GECP are required to meet all admission requirements. However, they are not required to complete the entire application for admission to the teacher preparation program. In the online application, they are required to complete only the Personal Information and Application pages. They are not required to write an essay or to answer questions about experience and diversity. If they are applying for the special education major, the elementary mathematics teaching major and/or to accelerate, they must submit those additional materials (see below).

The Application Package

A complete application package includes the following items. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Paper materials must be submitted in a single package to 134 Erickson before 5:00 PM on November 21, 2012:

Application Period

The admission application for MSU undergrads is now closed.
The next application period will be Labor Day through Thanksgiving, 2012
(September 4 through November 21, 2012).
Please plan to apply then!

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