Applications are accepted throughout the year for the Master in Science Education program. A candidate may begin the program in any semester. Admission requirements are:

• Michigan teaching certificate;
• an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
• admission interview with the Director of Graduate Education Programs; and completed application. There is no application fee for the MSE program.

Application Procedure

The School of Education is located in the Browne Center at 2001 Robinson Road S.E. , at the corner of Woodward Lane and Robinson Road . You are invited to meet with Tim Bennett, the Director of the Graduate Education Programs to obtain further information regarding the program, individual courses, and the faculty. Please call the School of Education at 1-888-329-2748 or (616) 632-2800 to schedule an advising appointment. Along with the completed application and the following materials are required:

• copy of Michigan teaching certificate;
• two official transcripts from each college attended; and
• one official high school transcript if a Michigan high school graduate. If not a Michigan high school graduate, proof of Michigan residency is required.

Scholarships for Practicing Teachers

The Donnelly Scholarship Program is available for teachers who are employed in participating Western Michigan public and non-public school districts. Designed for new students to assist with tuition costs at Aquinas College , the goal of the Donnelly program is to attract the finest teachers to our outstanding graduate education division. The Norbert J. Hruby Scholarship awards are based on community service and leadership through volunteerism. The Hruby Scholarships are awarded in the fall prior to the start of the academic year. For further information, please call the Graduate Studies Office.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid is available to graduate students based on need. Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to show eligibility for Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority grants and for Stafford loans. All degree candidates who wish to apply for financial assistance must be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (six semester hours per semester).

For additional information visit the Financial Aid Office online.

Veterans Information

Veterans attending Aquinas College may receive VA benefits. Eligible veterans are urged to contact the Veterans Certifying Official in the Advising Center for additional information and assistance.

For more information, please link to the Financial Aid Department web page at: http://www.aquinas.edu/financialaid/masters.htm

Provisional Acceptance

Degree candidates are considered to be provisionally accepted to their specific programs until nine credit hours of work have been successfully completed. At that time, full acceptance status is granted. The purpose of the provisional phase is to ensure that every student demonstrates competence at the graduate level of study.

Transfer of Credit

Prior to or concurrent with enrollment, up to nine credit hours in courses from other institutions may be transferred to Aquinas. All master-level credits must be earned from an accredited college/university program with a grade of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale), and verified on an official transcript. Course work must be equivalent to course work which would have been taken at Aquinas College . Work completed prior to MSE entrance cannot be more than five years old. Course work at another institution taken concurrently with MSE enrollment must receive prior approval from the MSE Program Director in order to be acceptable for transfer.

Withdrawals

If a student drops a course no later than the week following the middle point of the course, the student's permanent record will indicate a Withdrawal (W) from the course, with no impact on the grade point average. Dropping a course after the week following the middle point of the course will be recorded with a grade of No Credit (NC), which carries zero honor points and therefore has a negative effect on the student's grade point average.

Repeated Classes

Both grades are recorded. The prior grade is not removed from the transcript, but only the new grade is counted in GPA computations. No course is to be repeated more than once without permission of the Academic Review Board of the Committee on Graduate Studies.

Incompletes

If work is satisfactory at the time that an Incomplete is requested, the Incomplete may be granted with a set date for completion. If the deadline is not met, the Incomplete reverts to No Credit.

Guest Status

Aquinas College welcomes teachers who may wish to take only one or two courses of special interest. To be eligible for guest status, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate; submit an application and fee; and arrange for a brief interview with the MSE Program Director. A guest student may also be required to take the Aquinas College competency exam in order to demonstrate competency in English language skills. Any guest student who decides to complete a specific course of study in the MSE program should call the MSE Program Director for information about application procedures.

Auditing

Auditing of MSE classes is not permitted.

Probation/Dismissal Policy

If at any time after completion of the first six (6) semester hours, the student's cumulative grade point average falls below a 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. If the student's cumulative GPA is still below 3.0 upon completion of at least six (6) additional semester hours, the student may be dismissed from the program. The student must appeal to the Academic Review Board of the Committee on Graduate Studies for approval to be reinstated into the program for no more than three (3) credit hours. Only if the cumulative GPA is at least 3.0 upon completion of those three (3) credit hours will the student be allowed to continue in the program.

Appeals/Grievances Policy

All appeals are made in writing to the MSE Program Director. The Aquinas College Grievance Procedures are available to any student who believes that college policy or his/her rights as a student have been violated. Contact the Provost's office for further information.

Accreditation

Aquinas College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.