Domestic Students

Please note: You will add your supplemental materials after you have submitted your initial application in MSU’s application management system.

1. Complete MSU’s online Graduate School application:
   • This program is listed under the College of Education as “K-12 Educational Administration (Doctoral)”
   • Pay $65 application fee
2. Complete the Online Graduate Education application portal, 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. The application portal will send recommendation requests to the people you listed. The requests come from admissions@admissions.msu.edu.
   2. Upload a PDF version of your 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.
   3. Upload the PDF version of your personal statement. 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. This required statement should describe:
      • how the applicant’s professional and educational experiences have influenced the desire to pursue graduate study,  
      • what research topic the applicant wants to pursue, 
      • which MSU faculty the applicant would like to work with and why, 
      • and the broader, long-term career interests of the applicant and how the K-12 program relates to those interests.   
   4. 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.
   5. Send one copy of official transcript showing any confirmed bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees from an accredited institution. If confirmed degree is not stated on the transcript, provide a certified copy of the degree certificate.

Program Assistant
K-12 Educational Administration
Department of Educational Administration
Erickson Hall
620 Farm Lane Rm. 402
East Lansing, MI 48824-1034
Phone: (517) 353-8480
k12adm@msu.edu

International Students

Applications to the Ph.D. program in K-12 Educational Administration are considered December 1st. As that applicants can 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.

PhD applicants must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution.

Required Application Materials

Follow these steps to ensure a complete application:

Please note: You will add your supplemental materials after you have submitted your initial application in MSU’s application management system.

1. Complete MSU’s online Graduate School application:
   • This program is listed under the College of Education as “K-12 Educational Administration (Doctoral)”
   • Pay $75 application fee
2. Complete the Online Graduate Education application portal, 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. The application portal will send recommendation requests to the people you listed. The requests come from admissions@admissions.msu.edu.
   2. Upload a PDF version of your 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.
   3. Upload the PDF version of your personal statement. 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. This required statement should describe:
      • how the applicant’s professional and educational experiences have influenced the desire to pursue graduate study,  
      • what research topic the applicant wants to pursue, 
      • which MSU faculty the applicant would like to work with and why, 
      • and the broader, long-term career interests of the applicant and how the K-12 program relates to those interests.   
   4. 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.
   5. Send one copy of official transcript showing any confirmed bachelor’s degrees and master’s degree from an accredited institution. If confirmed degree is not stated on the transcript, provide a certified copy of the degree certificate.
      • APPLICANTS FROM CHINESE UNIVERSITIES: The CDGDC verification of transcripts for Chinese applicants has been recently modified. Please see the following link for important details about the admissions requirements for applicants from Chinese Universities  https://grad.msu.edu/verification-process-transcripts-and-degrees-china. Please refer to the China Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC) for more details http://www.chinadegrees.cn/en/.
   6. Request English proficiency test score to be sent directly to the department, program code is 1646.
   7. Complete the Financial Proof and Affidavit of Support for International Graduate Students to demonstrate the ability to pay for your program and sent to the department. ** This document must originate from your source of support and must be a certified, original statement with stamp and original signature.

Program Assistant
Department of Educational Administration
Erickson Hall
620 Farm Lane Rm. 402
East Lansing, MI 48824-1034
Phone: (517) 353-8480
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 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
• Clarity of research interests
• Consistency with Graduate School and College admission requirements