MALXD Application Steps

Step 1: Prepare your application materials

Before filling out the university application, consider the information and materials you need to gather:

1. Name, email, and phone number for 3 professional references who have agreed to write letters of recommendation for you. Your references should be supervisors, colleagues, and/or mentors who can tell us about your academic performance, work ethic, and professional character (please do not submit personal or character references). Your references will be automatically notified by the system to submit a letter of reference. Letters should speak specifically to your preparation for this program and for graduate-level study. We can not accept letters uploaded directly by applicants.
2. Personal Statement: Please respond to the following questions in an essay format (900-1500 words). This personal statement will be used to assess the following: It serves as evidence for your graduate-level writing abilities; allows us to get to know you as a designer; and ensures that MALXD is the best fit for you.
   • When designing a learning experience, what is your thought process? (What factors do you consider, and how do you ensure the experience is meaningful and effective?) 
   • What personal and professional goals will you meet through participation in the MALXD degree program?
   • Please explain how the online mode fits your goals and characteristics as a learner. 

3. CV/Resume
4. Official transcripts from your undergraduate institution(s) listed on your application (see Step 3: Request Official Transcripts below).

Step 2: Complete the University Application

We have prepared an MALXD Application Guide Checklist to support you as you complete your University application. You can make a copy and check off the details of the application process. We are available at MALXDegree@msu.edu to answer any questions throughout the process. 

Please note: As an MALXD applicant, you only need to apply to the MALXD program. Your graduate certificates are part of your MALXD admission so you do not need to apply separately to the graduate certificates programs.

Step 3: Request Official Transcripts

Please request official transcripts directly from the undergraduate institution listed on your application (MSU will not accept transcripts marked ‘Issued to Student’ or paper transcripts delivered outside of an officially-sealed, university envelope).

• For applicants who attended US institutions, we prefer electronic transcripts. Official electronic transcripts can be sent to the attention of Heather Williamson at MALXDegree@msu.edu. If electronic delivery is not available, transcripts can be sent via the postal address below.
• MSU alumni can request MSU transcripts for free directly from MSU. You will need to validate your identity with your MSUNet ID and password or your date of birth and student number (PID) or social security number (SSN). 
• For international applicants, please see the International or Multilingual Applicant section below for specifics related to your transcripts and degrees. MSU will not accept electronic transcripts issued by international universities. If you are applying from an institution outside of the USA, please have your official transcripts sent via postal mail to the address below.

Heather Williamson

MALXD

Michigan State University

Erickson Hall

620 Farm Lane; Room 513

East Lansing, MI 48824-1034

MALXD Application Due Date

We admit students to the Master of Arts in Learning Experience Design on a rolling basis until the July 1 due date. This means you can submit your application at any time so that you can prepare for your MALXD journey, which starts in the Fall semester. Applications are evaluated as they come in and you will be notified of an admission decision within 1-2 weeks of submitting your application.

This program is a cohort model that only admits for the Fall semester. If you are applying for a future Fall semester, but are not able to select it as an option in the application, please email us at MALXDegree@msu.edu.

Explore Financial Aid Options

• If you are planning to use Financial Aid to finance your degree, please consult the MSU Office of Financial Aid’s chart for program eligibility.
• Explore our curated list of Scholarships, Grants, and Assistantship Resources.

Information for International and Multilingual Applicants

We welcome applicants for whom English is not their first language. You are required to submit proof of English language competency before their application can be processed. A common method is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

• The test must have been taken within two years of the application.
• On the Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT), the university requires a minimum score of 80 with no subscore below 19 for reading, listening and speaking and no writing subscore below 22.
• No international candidates will be considered for admission review until they have taken the TOEFL test and achieved these required scores or higher.
• Results should be sent electronically directly from ETS. Michigan State’s school code is 1465.

If the student has completed a degree program in an English-speaking country, they can 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.

F-1 or J-1 Visa Status for International Applicants

Our courses are offered in a fully online format, and therefore residency in the US is not required to complete the degree program. If you are an international applicant interested in the program, please note that the MALXD program does not fulfill the academic requirements to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa. MALXD courses are all fully online, thus admission to the MALXD program does not qualify you for a student visa.

Special Instructions for International Transcripts

The MSU Graduate School outlines that official transcripts of all records from all postsecondary schools attended are required. Mark sheets, transcripts, certificates, and diplomas, must be submitted as official documents directly from each institution. In most cases, these documents will need to be sent in official, sealed, issuing institution envelopes.

Records must show courses taken, grades earned, and must be translated into English if the original records are in another language. Translations must be done by the issuing institution, a certified translator in the country of study, or by an American Translator’s Association certified translator in the US. The original record should also be included. For complete information, please visit the International Transcripts and US Degree Equivalency section of the Graduate School’s International Applicants page.

Special Instructions for Transcripts from Chinese Institutions

All applicants pursuing or who have earned degrees from universities in China submit not only transcripts and graduation certificates from China, but must also obtain verification of these documents from the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC). CDGDC operates underneath the Ministry of Education for the purpose of verifying the authenticity of transcripts and degrees granted at the post-secondary level.

The process is:

• Applicants send copies of their official documents to the CDGDC along with payment (approximately $40 U.S.).
• Applicants must request that the original transcript accompany the CDGDC verified documents when sent to MSU.
• CDGDC verifies grades and degrees (depending on what is requested) by accessing national and provincial databases and contacting universities directly.
• CDGDC then sends the report and verified documents, via courier service, directly to Michigan State University. The report is in English and provides a statement noting what degree was conferred and whether the university and program is recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Education.

If you need more information about CDGDC please refer to the China Degrees website.

Graduate Certificate Application Steps

Depending on your current MSU student status, the application process varies.

Are you already enrolled in a graduate degree program at MSU?

We welcome Spartans who are currently enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program at Michigan State University to join our Graduate Certificate (GC) programs. Please begin by consulting with your program’s academic advisor to determine how your GC will fit in to your course plan. Information about your eligibility can also be found in the Second, Dual or Joint Degree Section of the University Academic Programs Catalogue.

For current graduate learner Spartans, please complete the Intent to Enroll form for your GC program of choice after receiving approval from your main program’s advisor. No formal application process is required since you are already admitted to MSU as a graduate learner. The Intent to Enroll form is all you need to complete!

Are you a new applicant to Michigan State University?

We welcome future Spartans to our Graduate Certificate programs. To apply, please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Prepare Your Application Materials

Before filling out the university application, consider the information and materials you need to gather:

1. Name, email, and phone number for 3 professional references who have agreed to write letters of recommendation for you. Your references should be supervisors, colleagues, and/or mentors who can tell us about your academic performance, work ethic, and professional character (please do not submit personal or character references). Your references will be automatically notified by the system to submit a letter of reference. Letters should speak specifically to your preparation for this program and for graduate-level study. We can not accept letters uploaded directly by applicants.
2. Official transcripts from your undergraduate institution(s) listed on your application (see Step 3: Request Official Transcripts below).

Step 2: Complete the University Application

In general, the application process is:

1. Create your application on MSU’s application management system by selecting Graduate Certificate from dropdown menu.
2. Provide Personal Background information.
3. Under Other Information:
   1. select Major Preference, scroll to the College of Education and select your choice of:
      1. Learning Sciences (Online Program),
      2. Learning Design (Online Program), or
      3. Learning Design Leadership (Online Program).
   2. select the first semester you wish to enroll in classes.
   3. provide additional details about Enrollment Information, Communications preferences, and Financial Aid.
   4. providing information on your experiences in the COVID-19 section is optional.
4. Provide responses to Conduct Questions from the dropdown menus and in text boxes where appropriate.
5. Include all Academic History information for higher education institutions that you’ve attended. To begin, click on Add Institution.
6. Test Scores: The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is not required. All international applicants and applicants whose first language is not English must be competent in English as a condition for regular admission to MSU. Such applicants will be required to demonstrate their English language competency by meeting certain minimum standards. See the International or Multilingual Applicants section below for more information.
7. Employment and Activities Pages: Leave blank.
8. References: Using Add Recommender, provide contact information for your three professional references.
9. Provide your Signature electronically by typing in your full legal name, then select Confirm.
10. The Review section will provide you with a list of potential errors if a section has not been completed. Please return to those sections and make the appropriate corrections.
11. Submit your application fee ($65 fee for domestic applicants or $75 fee for international applicants). The MSU McNair program covers the cost of MSU’s application fee for first generation or underrepresented students. If you meet these criteria, please complete their application waiver form.
12. Request your official transcripts (see Step 3: Request Official Transcripts section below).
13. Check the status of your application and remind references to upload their letters of recommendation as needed.

Step 3: Request Official Transcripts

Please request official transcripts directly from the undergraduate institution listed on your application (MSU will not accept transcripts marked ‘Issued to Student’ or paper transcripts delivered outside of an officially-sealed, university envelope).

• For applicants who attended US institutions, we prefer electronic transcripts. Official electronic transcripts can be sent to the attention of Heather Williamson at MALXDegree@msu.edu. If electronic delivery is not available, transcripts can be sent via the postal address below.
• MSU alumni can request MSU transcripts for free directly from MSU. You will need to validate your identity with your MSUNet ID and password or your date of birth and student number (PID) or social security number (SSN). 
• For international applicants, please see the International or Multilingual Applicant section below for specifics related to your transcripts and degrees. MSU will not accept electronic transcripts issued by international universities. If you are applying from an institution outside of the USA, please have your official transcripts sent via postal mail to the address below.

Heather Williamson

MALXD

Michigan State University

Erickson Hall

620 Farm Lane; Room 513

East Lansing, MI 48824-1034

Graduate Certificate Application Due Dates

We admit students to our graduate certificates on a rolling basis until the final due date. This means you can submit your application any time before the due date so that you can prepare for your graduate certificate journey. Applications are evaluated as they come in and you will be notified of an admission decision within 1-2 weeks of submitting your application.

• Graduate Certificate in Learning Sciences: July 1 (Courses begin late-August)
• Graduate Certificate in Learning Design: December 1 (Courses begin early-January)
• Graduate Certificate in Learning Design Leadership: July 1 (Courses begin late-August)

If you are applying for a future semester, but are not able to select it as an option in the application, please email us at MALXDegree@msu.edu.

Consider the Financials

Graduate Certificate students are not eligible for federal financial aid. If you are considering applying to one of our GC programs, you will need to pay out of pocket or find your own funding for the courses. If you have questions about this, please reach out to our GC Academic Advisor.

Information for International and Multilingual Applicants

We welcome applicants for whom English is not their first language. You are required to submit proof of English language competency before their application can be processed. A common method is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

• The test must have been taken within two years of the application.
• On the Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT), the university requires a minimum score of 80 with no subscore below 19 for reading, listening and speaking and no writing subscore below 22.
• No international candidates will be considered for admission review until they have taken the TOEFL test and achieved these required scores or higher.
• Results should be sent electronically directly from ETS. Michigan State’s school code is 1465.

If the student has completed a degree program in an English-speaking country, they can 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.

F-1 or J-1 Visa Status for International Applicants

Our courses are offered in a fully online format, and therefore residency in the US is not required to complete the certificate program. If you are an international applicant interested in the program, please note that the MALXD graduate certificate programs do not fulfill the academic requirements to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa. MALXD courses are all fully online, thus admission to an MALXD graduate certificate program does not qualify you for a student visa.

Special Instructions for International Transcripts

The MSU Graduate School outlines that official transcripts of all records from all postsecondary schools attended are required. Mark sheets, transcripts, certificates, and diplomas, must be submitted as official documents directly from each institution. In most cases, these documents will need to be sent in official, sealed, issuing institution envelopes.

Records must show courses taken, grades earned, and must be translated into English if the original records are in another language. Translations must be done by the issuing institution, a certified translator in the country of study, or by an American Translator’s Association certified translator in the US. The original record should also be included. For complete information, please visit the International Transcripts and US Degree Equivalency section of the Graduate School’s International Applicants page.

Special Instructions for Transcripts from Chinese Institutions

All applicants pursuing or who have earned degrees from universities in China submit not only transcripts and graduation certificates from China, but must also obtain verification of these documents from the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC). CDGDC operates underneath the Ministry of Education for the purpose of verifying the authenticity of transcripts and degrees granted at the post-secondary level.

The process is:

• Applicants send copies of their official documents to the CDGDC along with payment (approximately $40 U.S.).
• Applicants must request that the original transcript accompany the CDGDC verified documents when sent to MSU.
• CDGDC verifies grades and degrees (depending on what is requested) by accessing national and provincial databases and contacting universities directly.
• CDGDC then sends the report and verified documents, via courier service, directly to Michigan State University. The report is in English and provides a statement noting what degree was conferred and whether the university and program is recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Education.