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International Student Information


Increasingly, international students find a home in K-12 Educational Administration for their masters and doctoral studies. Currently enrolled Educational Administration (K-12 and HALE) students come from around the globe including Pakistan, Cambodia, Kenya, Indonesia, China, Viet Nam, and Mexico. Study in our programs introduces international students to educational policy formulation and enactment; organization and management of public, private, and charter schools; and ways in which administrative leaders and teacher leaders encourage instructional improvement.


International students join cohorts that include diverse students, many of whom remain full time educational practitioners. Internships and research field placements, as well as relationships with cohort members, afford students opportunities to spend time in local schools. The K-12 department can put prospective students in touch with a student ambassador, who will be happy to provide information. A student organization, ComUNITY, provides social and academic support and opportunity to international students.


International students who would like to apply need to:


1.Submit the online International Graduate Application for Admission and pay the 50 dollar application fee.


All other materials should be sent to K-12 directly:


2. Complete the Financial Proof and Affidavit of Support for International Graduate Students to demonstrate the ability to pay for your program.


3. Take an English proficiency  test and the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). International students whose first language is not English must meet requisite language proficiency requirements. The results of these tests should be sent directly to our department from the testing service. Please see MSU guidelines for recommended scores.


Major Code: 1646, K-12 Educational Administration, PHD
Major Code: 1644, K-12 Educational Administration, MA

For more information on the locations and dates for taking the TOEFL and GRE near you,
go to: www.ets.org. Click on the "tests" button at the top of the page.

For the MA program:

While we are providing more online options and hybrids for students, it is not currently possible to earn the MA in K-12 Administration degree online or through a mix of summer and online coursework only. The program involves students in core studies delivered in Michigan fall and spring terms. Applications to the Main Campus or Birmingham Master degree in K-12 Educational Administration program sites are accepted on a rolling basis, but applicants must have all materials submitted no less then 8 weeks prior to the semester they wish to enter.  Please check the current academic calendar to determine your deadline for any of the three semesters:

  • Fall (Aug - Dec)
  • Spring (Jan - May)
  • Summer (May - August) 

Follow these steps to ensure a complete application:

  1. Complete the online MSU Graduate School application, including the following:
    1. On-line graduate study application for admission (EAD K-12 MA Program Code: 1644)
    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 K-12 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 Educational Administration 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.
  1. Complete the Online Supplemental Application System (OSAS):
    1. Provide information for at least two 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 version of your professional resume listing each activity that accounts for your time since earning a bachelor’s degree (e.g., employment, military service, travel). Be sure to include the type of activity, name of your employer, city/state, and dates. List the most recent activity first.
    2.  
  1. Graduate students who have been away from MSU for more than one year will also need to fill out an online Readmission Form.
  1. Send two copies of official transcripts showing any confirmed Bachelor's degrees (and Master's degree, if obtained) from an accredited institution. If confirmed degree is not stated on the transcript, provide a certified copy of the degree certificate.

    Admissions Secretary, K-12 Educational Administration

    Michigan State University

    402 Erickson Hall

    East Lansing, MI 48824

    Phone:  (517) 353-8480 / Fax:  (517) 884-1392

    Email:  k12adm@msu.edu

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

Review of Applications

The review committee of K-12 Administration faculty members considers the following in assessing Master's program applications:
  1. Experience teaching and leading in a K-12 setting.
  2. Strength of professional background and academic record.
  3. Alignment of professional goals with the purposes and objectives of the Masters program.
  4. Consistency with Graduate School and College admission requirements.

 

For the PhD program:

Applications to the PhD program in K-12 Educational Administration are considered December 1st through April 1st. Applicants who wish to be considered for College and University Fellowship competitions must have all materials submitted by December 1st.  Note that Fellowship applicants require a 3rd letter of recommendation. All other applicants must have all materials submitted no later than April 1st.

PhD applicants must have a Master's degree from an accredited institution.

Follow these steps to ensure a complete application:

  1.  Complete the online MSU Graduate School application, including the following:
    1. On-line graduate study application for admission (EAD K-12 PhD Program Code: 1646)
    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 K-12 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 Educational Administration 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 version of your 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.  
  3. Supply scores from Graduate Record Examination taken within the last five years (MSU's ETS Institution Code is R1465).

Send official transcripts to:

    Admissions Secretary, K-12 Educational Administration

    Michigan State University

    402 Erickson Hall

    East Lansing, MI 48824

    Phone:  (517) 353-8480 / Fax:  (517) 884-1392

    Email:  k12adm@msu.edu

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

The review committee of K-12 Administration faculty members considers the following in assessing doctoral program applications:

  • Experience with and potential for educational leadership, outreach, research and scholarship
  • Strength of professional background and academic record
  • Skills in analysis and written expression
  • Alignment of professional goals with the purposes and objectives of the doctoral program
  • Consistency with Graduate School and College admission requirements

International Students:

For additional information about these requirements, please see http://grad.msu.edu/apply/ or contact:

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

If you would like additional information or have any questions, please contact:

Cecelia Highstreet, Admissions Secretary

K-12 Educational Administration
Michigan State University
402 Erickson Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone:  (517) 353-8480 / Fax:  (517) 884-1392
Email:  k12adm@msu.edu