Coordinator:
Julie Ricks-Doneen
102 Pawley Hall
(248) 370-4107
ricksdon@oakland.edu
Program description
The Education Specialist in Early Education Intervention degree is a 36-credit program that provides students with course content from both early childhood and special education. This blended preparation is critical for individuals working in the field of early childhood navigating the complexities of the current and continually changing issues in the field of early education and intervention. It is anticipated that graduates with this degree will assume leadership positions in a variety of settings such as early childhood settings, public and private schools, higher education, hospitals, and community agencies.
Admission terms and application deadlines
Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Admissions by the semester deadlines listed below.
Interviews are scheduled subsequent to review of completed application.
Readmission and program transfer
Requests for readmission and program transfers must be completed and approved prior to the beginning of a semester.
International application deadlines
International applications are reviewed for fall admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment in the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission. International applicants are not eligible for Special Graduate classification.
Special Graduate classification
Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact the department and request Special Graduate temporary admission. The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study, plus a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department. Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.
Students may request special graduate classification beginning with the dates below.
- August 1 for fall semester
- December 1 for winter semester
- April 1 for summer semester
Note: Special Graduate classification will not be granted after the first week of classes in a semester.
Application requirements
To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following university and program application documents by the published application deadlines.
University graduate application requirements
- Application for Admission to Graduate Study
- Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
- Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
- As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
- Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
(Note: Some programs require more than two recommendation forms. Refer to the program application requirements listed below for the total number of recommendations and specific requirements for the recommendations.)
- Proof of English language proficiency
- International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.
Program application requirements
- Additional Recommendation for Graduate Admission form
In addition to the two recommendations listed above, a third recommendation is required by the program.
Requirements for recommendations
All three forms must be from former college teachers or employers.
- Vitae
- Writing sample focusing on a personal or professional experience that generated an interest in pursuing the education specialist degree in Early Education and Intervention.
- Interview
Admission requirements
Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate and graduate records, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.
To be admitted to the EEI education specialist program, the following are required:
- Hold a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Special Education, or a related area such as Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Infant Mental Health, or Family Development.
- Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher in master’s-level coursework
- Additional prerequisite coursework or field experience may be required if deficiencies are noted in the applicant’s prior credentials or experience.