Upon admission, the academic department will assign a faculty advisor to the student. Before registering for courses each semester or session, the student consults with the advisor to determine appropriate courses to fulfill program requirements. If an advisor is unable or unwilling to continue to serve in this role, the academic program, led by the director of graduate studies, will ensure that a replacement is assigned.
Full-time enrollment for graduate students is defined as enrollment in 9 credit hours per semester in the fall and spring semesters and/or 4.5 hours in the summer session. Without special permission of the Dean of the Graduate School, the maximum number of credit hours in which a graduate student may enroll is 16 credit hours per semester in the fall and spring and/or nine in the summer.
View the enrollment guidelines on the International Center website.
All students must pass a qualifying examination or process. Any department or area program may limit the number of times this examination or process may be attempted. The examination or process varies according to each academic program.
Once a student has worked with their advisor to identify the committee members, the student must submit the S-1 Form Request for the Education Specialist Advisory Committee to the Graduate School by the end of the second semester.
The Educational Specialist Advisory Committee must be recommended by the student’s advisor and approved by the academic program’s director of graduate studies and the Graduate School before one year has elapsed following the student’s first registration as an educational specialist student.
All members of the education specialist advisory committee participate actively in the activities of the educational specialist student at all the stages of the student’s career at MU. Committee members may call a meeting of the full committee at any time to discuss the student’s progress.
The completed form will be sent to the Graduate School for final approval. The plan of study must be filed with the Graduate School by the end of the student’s second semester of enrollment.
Note: If a student completes more than one graduate credential at MU, they may use a course for no more than three formal credentials (e.g., a master’s, doctoral, specialist, and/or dual degree; certificate, minor).
If the student changes the approved plan of study, then they must submit the Plan of Study Courses Substitution form to the director of graduate studies in the academic department.
The results must be approved by a majority of the candidate’s advisory committee. All committee members will sign the S3 Report of Committee form upon completion indicating whether the student passed and submit it to the department’s director of graduate studies. The form will then be submitted to the Graduate School. The culminating experience will vary depending upon the degree program.
Refer to the academic program for more information.
Students have eight years to complete the degree from the time they are first admitted to the degree program. No more than 12 hours of non-degree, graduate coursework may be used toward a EdSp degree.
All transfer credits are considered general electives. They cannot be used toward the 8000-level requirement, but are considered as credit hours toward the completion of the degree.
Off-campus courses authorized for graduate credit and offered by MU faculty members and courses offered through Mizzou Online taught by MU faculty may be included in the program.
If educational specialist students have completed all their course work and only need to take complete their culminating capstone experience, they can enroll in MISC 8999 Graduate Examination, located in the Miscellaneous section of the Schedule of Courses in myZou.
Registration in 8999 Graduate Examination does not count toward enrollment certification. Students enrolled in the Graduate Examination would not be considered full time or part time.
If students need to use the library or computers on campus, they should enroll in at least one hour of regular credit instead of graduate examination.
Students who have a financial aid or visa situation should check with Student Financial Aid or the International Center, respectively, before registering for the graduate examination option. Failure to do so could cause serious consequences for the student’s financial aid or visa status.
Extra fees apply for access to the Student Health Center and the Student Recreation Center. Please consult the Office of Cashiers about these optional fees.
View the enrollment guidelines on the International Center website.