Southwest Baptist University

Admissions Requirements and Procedures for the Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Administration

Admission Requirements

All applicants accepted for graduate study must have graduated, or be scheduled to graduate during the current academic year, from a regionally accredited college or university with a baccalaureate degree comparable in content and credit hours with degrees granted by Southwest Baptist University.

For admission into the Educational Specialist program students must currently hold a master's degree and hold a valid teaching certificate and at least five years of teaching experience. There are three tracks for admission to the program depending the graduate degree held and certification as a building level administrator.

Admission to Classified Status for Degree-Seeking Students

Graduate students in classified status are those who have been admitted to the Master of Science in Education degree program or the Master of Science in Educational Administration degree program.

Persons wishing to pursue either master's degree [or the Education Specialist degree--(See next paragraph)] at Southwest Baptist University should complete the process of admission to the graduate program as a classified degree-seeking student by the second term of their enrollment.

At least 15 hours must be completed at Southwest Baptist University after official admission to the Master of Science in Education degree program. Admission to the Master of Science in Educational Administration and    Education Specialist  degree programs must be accomplished prior to the completion of 12 credit hours at SBU.

An applicant for admission to either of the Master of Science Degree programs may be fully or unconditionally admitted or may be admitted with limitations or conditions.

Criteria for full or unconditional admission to the Master of Science degree programs are:

  1. A Missouri Teaching Certificate (PC-1) issued after September 1, 1991, or a Pass for Missouri certification on the National Teacher's Examination (PRAXIS) or 1200 (total of Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical) on the Graduate Record Exam; and
  2. An undergraduate Grade Point Average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale; and
  3. A positive recommendation for admission from the Graduate Education Admissions Committee.

Conditional Admission may be granted upon the recommendation of the Graduate Education Admissions Committee for a person who does not fully meet the criteria given above. When a person is granted conditional admission, the conditions for continuing in the program are communicated in writing by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Steps to be followed in obtaining admission to the Educational Specialist are:

  1. An official transcript showing the completion of a bachelor's degree and masters's degree, as well as all undergraduate and graduate work attempted. The transcript must come directly from the sending institution. No "issued to student", faxed, or photocopied transcripts will be accepted.
  2. $25.00 application fee if you are not a graduate of SBU
  3. Graduate application and questionnaire
  4. A copy of the candidate's administrative and/or teaching certificate.
  5. Successful completion of the SLLA (scores submitted) or a professional development plan.