College of Education > Admission & Aid > Graduate Admission > Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

Whether you are preparing to become a teacher, counselor or principal, or if you are looking for options for enhancing your knowledge and skill as an educator, the College of Education offers excellent degree programs at the master's and doctoral levels, as well as endorsement and licensure programs that will enable you to gain additional professional educator credentials.

Admission eligibility and application requirements vary by graduate program; please select your program of interest on the list below to learn more.

The College of Education offers a broad range of master’s degrees for prospective students who want to earn initial teaching or counseling licensure, as well as for education professionals who want to add credentials to their existing professional licensure.

The College of Education's doctoral program enables students to build upon their existing knowledge and skills to enhance their understanding of one of three concentration areas.

The College of Education's Education Specialist program enables students to build upon their existing knowledge and skills to enhance their understanding of their concentration area.

The College of Education's licensure and endorsement programs allow students to gain professional credentials; the requirements for these programs meet the specific course work and field experience requirements set by the State of Illinois.

Initial Teaching Licensure (PEL) with Endorsement:

Endorsement-only:

Professional Specializations:

The College of Education admits non-degree seeking students who wish to take a course or courses to complete prerequisites for admission, professional development or personal enrichment. (Course work completed in non-degree status may or may not be applicable to a degree program; it is subject to approval by an advisor and appropriate department chair.) 

To apply as a non-degree student, please submit the following materials:

  • Graduate/non-degree application
  • Transcripts showing evidence of having earned a bachelor's degree
  • Personal statement explaining your reasons for taking courses as a non-degree student
  • $40.00 application fee

If you were previously admitted to a DePaul College of Education program but have been absent for more than one year, you must apply to be readmitted to your program.

To apply to be readmitted to a master's degree, endorsement or licensure program, please submit the following materials:

  • Graduate application
  • $10.00 application fee
  • Copy of your DePaul transcript
  • Transcripts for coursework taken elsewhere during your absence
  • Any additional materials required by the program at the time of readmission. 

To apply to be readmitted to the doctorate program, please submit the following materials:

  • Graduate application
  • $10.00 application fee
  • Statement of purpose explaining, in some detail, why you became discontinued from the program and why you will be able to complete the program if you are readmitted (The admissions committee expects compelling reasons for being readmitted to the program.)
  • Letter of support from a full-time faculty member who taught one of your classes in the doctoral program or a letter of support from your dissertation committee chair  (The letter should provide compelling reasons for why you should be readmitted to the program; a letter that merely states you completed a course and the grade earned is not sufficient.)
  • Copy of your DePaul transcript
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