GRADUATE STUDIES
Requirements for Admission
Alt. M.Ed. | Elementary Education K-6 | Class-A Certification
Undergraduate Course
• Undergraduate Course: EDU 330/RED 330 – Foundations of Reading Instruction
o *If not previously completed, students must be admitted as an unclassified, non-degree seeking undergraduate student to
enroll in this course. The necessary registration override will be provided by Graduate Studies after the transcript
evaluation is complete. Note that non-degree seeking students may not be eligible to receive financial aid.
Degree Requirements
• USA Graduate School Degree Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and a minimum grade point average, on ALL undergraduate
coursework, of 3.0 for regular admission, or 2.5 for provisional admission, or 2.75 on the last 60 hours of college work.
GPA is calculated by the Office of Admissions
•
ALSDE Degree Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher with a minimum grade point average (GPA) overall of 2.50.
*This GPA must be documented on the official transcript of the degree granting institution and must be the GPA that was
used as the basis for granting the degree.
Test & Background Requirements
• Satisfactory performance on the Alabama Educator Certification Testing Program. Scores must be sent from AECTP to USA.
o Information and registration for the AECTP (formerly APTTP) are available at http://www.act.org/alabamaectp.
o APTTP is only valid if passed prior to 9/1/12.
•
Passing score on appropriate Praxis II exam (Elementary Education required for admission). Praxis II requirements are
subject to change as dictated by the ALSDE. See http://www.ets.org/praxis/al/al_teacher_ed/ for current ALSDE
requirements. Scores must be sent from Praxis to USA. School Code: 1880
o Elementary Education Multiple Subjects Test Code: 5001 OR
o Elementary Education Multiple Subjects Test Code: 5031 (only valid if passed prior to 9/1/15) OR
o Elementary Ed Content Knowledge Test Code: 0014/5014 Min. Score: 137 (only valid if passed prior to 9/1/13)
•
Clear Alabama State Department of Education background check.
o Information and registration for the ALSDE background check and fingerprinting sites are available at
http://www.cogentid.com/alabama.
Application Requirements
• Completed Graduate School Application with the Office of Admissions.
o Application and semester deadlines are available at http://www.southalabama.edu/admissions.
o All supporting documents can be emailed to admiss@southalabama.edu.
•
Official transcripts from each institution attended since high school, regardless of whether credit was earned.
•
Two recommendation forms attesting to applicant’s scholarship and/or professional abilities.
•
Two page narrative, typed and double spaced, stating applicant’s career goals and purpose for graduate study.
*Transcripts can be evaluated upon request to verify requirements before application for admission.