Program Admission

Admit Terms-Rolling, SU, FA, WI Graduate School Requirements (Minimum) Program Requirements

Online Education Eligibility

The U.S. Federal Government limits the number of online courses international students may enroll in while living in the United States. For this reason, we cannot admit students on F1 or J1 VISAs to fully online programs. Please check with International Admissions to confirm eligibility before applying. 

All applicants, please review to Online Education for Out-of-State Students confirm your eligibility to enroll in an online program based in Michigan.

Application 

Your application will be submitted using GradCAS, a Centralized Application Service (CAS) hosted by Liaison. requirements, please review the application instructions and select the appropriate application.

Domestic Applicants Domestic applicants are and select the appropriate required to submit only the transcript from the institution granting their bachelor’s degree if either of the following criteria is met: 1) Lists 30 or more credit hours with an overall GPA of 3.0 or over OR 2) Lists 60 or more credit hours with an overall GPA between 2.7 and 2.99. Within the application, follow the instructions to submit an official transcript. The University may ask applicants to submit additional transcripts after applying.

International Applicants Before applying, applicanys must review the international application/process deadlines as they may differ from general program requirements 

For additional information regarding the application process, please see Graduate Admissions or International Admissions.

Applicants must also meet the following program requirements:

• Possess a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with a minimum 3.3 GPA.
• Have three years of documented professional experience in special education.
• Have an endorsement in one area of special education.
• Submit two letters of recommendation.The recommenders must be able to address the applicant’s professional work quality.

Application - GradCAS - All Transcripts

Department Information

Special Education & Communication Sciences and Disorders 128 Porter, 734.487.3300

Jacquelyn McGinnis, PhD, Department Head

Jennifer Desiderio, EdS, Graduate Coordinator

Advisor Information

Jackie S. McGinnis, Ph.D, Interim Department Head 

Special Education & Communication Sciences and Disorders, 734.487.3300

128E John W. Porter Building

Program Requirements

The program requirements for the Specialist of Arts degree include:

1. Completion of a minimum of 32 hours beyond the master’s degree.
2. Achievement of an overall GPA of 3.3 (B+) or better.
3. Completion of an internship.
4. Completion of all other requirements of the Graduate School 

Degree Requirements: 32 hours

Exit Criteria

Criteria are to meet all the objectives listed previously for graduate study in special education, as demonstrated by successful completion of:

• All course work in the program of study (minimum GPA of 3.3)
• Approved internship

Critical Graduation Information

Each graduate student is responsible for fulfilling the requirements or their equivalents of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

Specialist’s degree requirements must be completed within six (6) years of admission if entering with a master’s degree or eight years if entering with a bachelor’s degree.

In the event a student does not complete the specialist degree requirements within six or eight years of the date of their original registration, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their degree in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

The following are minimum requirements for all specialist degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University. Some programs require more than the minimum in one or more areas below.

• A specialist degree must require a minimum of 32 credit hours (post master’s degree).
• No more than six credits of independent study courses, and no more than 12 credit hours of special topics and independent study courses combined, may be applied to a graduate degree.  
• Residency Requirement:
  • For students admitted to specialist degree programs of 36 or fewer required hours, at least 24 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere). 
  • For students admitted to specialist degree programs of 37 or more required hours, at least 30 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. Minimum degree hours must still be met for graduation. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere).
• Only credits from one completed graduate certificate may be applied to a master’s or specialist degree in a relevant field of study, as determined by the Graduate School and with the approval of the degree-granting academic department, and be included in the residency hours above.
• The Graduate School does not permit the use of undergraduate courses (499 and below) to meet degree requirements on graduate programs of study.
• Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all graduate-level courses taken at EMU and in their program of study to remain in good academic standing and be eligible for graduation. Students do not need to be registered for classes during the semester of graduation.