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Admission to the Doctorate in HALE Program:

PhD applicants must possess a master's degree from an accredited institution.


Follow these steps to ensure a complete application:

  1. 1. Complete the online MSU Graduate School application, including the following:
    1. On-line graduate study application for admission (HALE PhD Program Code: 2245)
    2. Pay $50 application fee
    3. Personal statement/statement of professional goals. It should describe: how the applicant's professional and educational experiences have influenced the desire to pursue doctoral study, the broader, long-term career interests of the applicant and how the HALE program relates to those interests, and the applicant's goals and objectives for doctoral study. This statement is used to determine if the applicant's goals are consistent with those of the program and to assess the clarity and coherence of the applicant's writing.
      Please Note: The Graduate School application will ask you to complete a personal statement and academic statement.  You may use the same personal statement/statement of purpose for the HALE PhD application and the online Graduate School application. Please copy and paste your entire personal statement /statement of purpose into the personal statement section of the online Graduate School application form and you may leave the academic statement section blank.
  2. Complete the Online Supplemental Application System (OSAS), including:
    1. Provide information for three recommenders. The applicant should choose persons who are familiar with his or her academic and/or professional abilities and those individuals writing reference letters should be encouraged to be as specific as possible in their comments.
    2. Upload a pdf file of resume
    3. A writing sample that best represents analytic and integrative thinking of the applicant. Examples of material might include research papers completed for a graduate class, grant proposals, research reports, or published articles.
  3. Send official transcripts to:

    Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) Program

    c/o HALE Admissions Assistant

    4. Department of Educational Administration
    Erickson Hall
    620 Farm Lane Rm 423
    East Lansing, MI 48824-1034

  4. Supply scores from Graduate Record Examination taken within the last five years (MSU's ETS Institution Code is R1465).

We encourage you to keep copies of all application materials for your records.

HALE Admission Dates

Applications should be submitted by December 1 for optimal consideration. Applications submitted by this time can also be considered for College and University scholarships and fellowships, and for assistantships awarded by the program. Completed applications received after the December 1 deadline will be considered for fall admission as space permits.

U. S. Residents

U. S. applicants who are not already admitted to graduate study at MSU must submit the Graduate Application for Admission. An application fee and college transcripts of all previous academic work must be submitted with this form.

International Students:

International students who have not been admitted to graduate study at MSU are required to submit the International Graduate Application for Admission, proof of financial support, and proof of proficiency in English. For more information please contact the

Office of International Students and Scholars
103 International Center,
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824,               
Phone: (517) 353-1720         or
email: oiex@pilot.msu.edu

Transfering from other Michigan State Graduate Programs

Applicants who wish to transfer into the HALE MA from another MSU graduate program not in the Department of Educational Administration must complete a new application, including the Graduate Application for Admission and all supplemental materials to the HALE unit. Current students in the Department of Educational Administration looking to transfer to another program within the Department of Educational Administration should consult their faculty advisor and the coordinator of the program.

Contact Us:

To receive more information about the HALE doctoral program or the admissions process, or to schedule a campus visit, please contact:

Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) Program

c/o HALE Graduate Admissions Assistant

Department of Educational Administration
Michigan State University
423 Erickson Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1034
email: haleadm@msu.edu
Phone:  517/353-5187        
TDD/TTY:   517/423-3757         or 800/366-4MSU
Fax: 517/353-6393