Master’s Degree
Admission
Requirements
The Master’s Degree programs are 36 or 39-credit programs designed for graduate level educators who are presently teachers or administrators in a school setting or have regular weekly access to a school and classrooms.
Master’s Degree Admission Requirements
- Successful completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. The degree must be verified on an original transcript duly signed and certified by the Registrar or other responsible officer of the awarding institution directly to Acacia University. Mail or secure electronic delivery is accepted. Applicants submitting transcripts from non-US institutions may be required to have their transcript evaluated by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member agency.
- English language competency – Applicants whose first language is not English and do not have a bachelor’s degree from a university in which instruction is conducted in English must provide evidence of English proficiency. The following are accepted exams and minimum scores required for admission:
- 60 on the paper-delivered Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT), or 71 on the Internet Based Test (iBT)
- 6.5 on the International English Language Test (IELTS)
- 50 on the Pearson Test of English Academic Score Report
- 100 on the Duolingo English Test
- 55 on the 4-skill Michigan English Test (MET)
- 650/LP on the Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE)
- A minimum score on the College Board Accuplacer ESL Exam Series as follows:
- ESL Language Use: Score of 85
- ESL Listening: Score of 80
- ESL Reading: Score of 85
- ESL Sentence Meaning: Score of 90
- ESL Writeplacer: Score of 4
- Comprehensive Score for all exams of 350
- A minimum grade of Pre-1 on the Eiken English Proficiency Exam.
- A minimum B-2 English proficiency level identified within the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) standards and assessed through various ESOL examinations, including the University of Cambridge.
- For degrees in Education, applicants must demonstrate access to classrooms – confirmation of classroom and connectivity attestation through either a signed form https://www.acacia.edu/required-classroom-and-connectivity-attestation.pdf or declared via the Classroom and Connectivity Access Attestation section in the website admission form.
- The Master of Arts in Elementary Education requires access to elementary classrooms.
- The Master of Arts in Secondary Education requires access to secondary classrooms.
- The Master of Education in Educational Administration prefers a record of at least two years of successful teaching experience and requires access to classrooms.
- The Master of Education in Special Education requires access to Special Education classrooms for implementation of strategies and assignments.
- The Master of Education in English as a Second Language requires access to classrooms with ESL students.
- Ongoing access to computer technology – All Acacia University courses are presented online so each applicant must have a computer and internet access to participate.
Regular Applicants
Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and are currently employed in public or private education at the elementary, secondary or higher education level are considered regular applicants to the program. The majority of applicants to this program are adults working in a variety of professional education settings. Consequently, prior class rank and/or grade point average are not significant factors in the admission process.
Special Applicants
An individual not qualifying as a regular applicant may apply as a special applicant. Special applicants are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but must have an academic background equivalent to a bachelor’s degree earned in the United States.
Application for Admission to the Master’s Degree Programs
Submitting this application begins the official part of the Acacia University enrollment process. We will review your application and contact you within two business days to discuss your status. (You should also receive an email after completing this application that covers the next steps in the enrollment process.)
I am Ready to Start the Application for Admission to the Master’s Degree Program