Admissions Overview

The application period for a 2020 start in the EPET PhD program is now open. Application materials are due December 1, 2019.

The first step to applying to Michigan State University and the EPET doctoral program is to complete the University Application (with payment). After you complete the University Application and submit your payment, you will receive an email inviting you to access the MSU Graduate Education Application Portal (GEA Portal).

Admissions Requirements

The admissions requirements are the same for the hybrid and the on-campus programs. You can find further information on the On-Campus Program and the Hybrid Program under Two Modes in the menu to the right.

1. University Application and Fee
   • All on-campus applications should be for Fall Semester (FS), and all hybrid applications should be for Summer Semester (US).
   • 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. 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.
2. MSU Graduate Education Application Portal (GEA Portal) (using the link emailed to you)
   • Provide contact information for 3 recommendation letter writers in GEA Portal
   • You will need to include: first and last name, job title, employer, email address.
   • Please ensure you have a mutual agreement and understanding with your recommender prior to submitting their information into the system. You are responsible for ensuring the required letters of recommendation are submitted on your behalf. You may need to follow up with your recommenders regarding missing letters to complete your application.
   • NOTE: Please inform your recommenders the portal sends recommendation requests from admis@msu.edu
3. Upload your Professional & Scholarly Goal Statement to the GEA Portal (specify “Academic Statement” as the document type)
   • This document is a very important element of your application.
   • See description of content and formatting ( ) of this statement.
4. Upload your Writing Sample to the GEA Portal
   • 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 student.
   • Samples whose content is close to the applicant’s stated interest are most useful.
5. Upload your Vita or Resume to the GEA Portal (specify “Resume” as the document type)
   • List professional experience, awards, honors, publications, presentations, professional affiliations, and professional development activities.
6. Send one official copy of your Transcripts from all previous institutions attended
   • 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. (For international applicants, see the additional information below.)
   • For courses you have taken at MSU, a transcript is not required.
   • Have the transcripts sent directly to:
     

     EPET Program and Admissions Secretary
     Michigan State University
     620 Farm Lane, Room 513
     East Lansing, MI 48824-1034 USA
     517-355-6683
     epetphd@msu.edu

7. Complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
   • The verbal, quantitative, and analytical portions of the GRE should be submitted. Applications should have official test results reported to institution code 1465. Note that scores that are more than 5 years old cannot be considered for the application.
   • Information on testing may be obtained from:
     • MSU Testing Office
       http://www.testingoffice.msu.edu/
       207 Student Services Building
       East Lansing, MI 48824
       517-355-8385
     • The ETS GRE site: http://www.ets.org/gre/

Have questions? Check out our FAQ list. Also, the EPET Program and Admissions Secretary (epetphd@msu.edu) can answer questions related to the submission of your materials for both the hybrid and on-campus programs. Note that all admissions decisions are made by EPET program faculty. If you have questions about the hybrid program, feel free to contact us at epetphd@msu.edu, (517) 355-6683.

International Applicants

People who are applying to our programs from overseas have a few extra requirements in the application process. See the International Applicants page of the MSU Graduate School website.

• You would need to prove that you have financial means
• You would need to demonstrate sufficient fluency with English:
  For more information, see also the English Language Center:
  http://www.elc.msu.edu/
• All transcript information must be professionally translated into English.
• Michigan State University requires admitted Chinese students who have earned degrees in mainland China to submit a degree conferral verification report from the CDGDC and a transcript verification report from CHESICC. Both of these reports must be made available electronically via Parchment to the MSU’s Office of Admissions email address:  admis@msu.edu.

Other important resources can be found at:

• Graduate School resources for international students:
  https://grad.msu.edu/international-students

• International Admission:
  https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/international/default.aspx

• The International Center for Students at Michigan State University:
  http://oiss.isp.msu.edu/

• International Student Financial Aid:
  http://finaid.msu.edu/internat.asp

• For the hybrid mode, international students will also need to have medical insurance for the two weeks students are on campus before the start of the school year. For information about this, please see the Office For International Students and Scholars

Please contact us with additional information regarding visa requirements.

Requirements for the English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English are required to be proficient in English as a condition for regular admission to MSU. Such applicants will be required to demonstrate their proficiency by meeting certain minimum standards. To learn more, visit the English Language Competency page of the MSU Graduate School website.

A few suggestions for all applicants…

As you prepare your application materials for submission, here are some specific suggestions to consider.

• Shop widely for doctoral programs, in and outside of the College of Education, and make sure that Educational Psychology and Educational Technology is right for you. If you are not sure, contact us.
• If possible, don’t wait until the December 1st deadline to apply. Access to fellowships and the program itself are facilitated by submitting your materials before the deadline.
• GRE scores are essential for doctoral admissions decisions, here and elsewhere. If you are not happy with your score, construct a plan to do a little study and retake the examination.
• Give close attention to your Professional and Scholarly Goals Statement and make sure that it articulates your research interest(s), how that interest has arisen, and why it is compelling for you. If possible, describe how you have been thinking about exploring that interest and draw links to EPET faculty whom you think are doing related work.
• If possible, select a Writing Sample that is linked to your research interest.
• Understand that you are responsible for making sure that Recommendation Letters are submitted in a timely fashion. Access to fellowship support and admission to the program require 3 letters of recommendation.
• Most of all, make sure that you are ready for 5 years (typically) of demanding and exciting work to become a educational researcher and scholar!

In general terms, the EPET program is looking for bright, well-prepared, highly-motivated applicants who feel strongly drawn to research and scholarship in educational psychology and/or educational technology. All applicants must be ready for full-time study that is more demanding and consuming than all their prior education. They must also be ready to learn to conceptualize, carry out, and report innovative research.

Student Residence

Michigan State University will not be offering certain online programs to students based on their residence at the time of application for admission to Michigan State University – see State-By-State Summary https://esp.msu.edu/StateSummary.pdf

Student Notification

Applicants or students enrolling in any course or program shall be notified if graduates of the program in which they are enrolling qualify to sit for any licensure, licensure exam, third party certification, third party certification exam, or similar credential related to the program’s field of study. This notice shall be clearly stated and given regardless of whether or not the license, certification, or other credential is required for entry into the student’s chosen field of study or occupation. The notification shall be in writing and signed or otherwise acknowledge by the student.

Student Notification – Professional Licensure, Certification & Exams

Professional Licensure. Michigan State University has not determined whether online or hybrid courses or programs meet the requirements for professional licensure outside the state of Michigan. Applicants or students need to contact the applicable licensing board(s) in the states they wish to pursue licensure before seeking admission or beginning study in a course or program.