We encourage you to review the requirements for your degree program below. When you are ready to apply, you will apply using the Graduate School’s online application for admission. Deadline and specific program requirements may be found here. If you have any questions about applying, please contact the Office of Student Services at edinfo@uw.edu or phone (206) 543-7834.
**Graduate Applications for the autumn 2024 programs will be open beginning September 15, 2023**
Master of Education Programs
The requirements listed below are required for admission to all Master of Education programs in the College of Education. Learn more about Master in Teaching requirements.
Tests
The College of Education programs do not consider the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) for admission.
TOEFL/IELTS/DUOLINGO
Applicants whose native language is not English who attended school outside the US, UK, Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore, Trinadad, or Tobago are also required to submit official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS, or Duolingo scores. Please read about demonstrating English Language Proficiency.
Applicants using test scores to demonstrate this must send official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores to UW for their application. Scores are valid for 2 years after the test date.
For TOEFL, please order official test scores from the Educational Testing Service using the institution code #4854. All IELTS test centers can report scores electronically. You must request from the center where you took the test that your scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system (E-TRF) to the following address: University of Washington All Campuses, Organisation ID 365, Undergrad & Graduate Admis, Box 355850, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States of America. For Duolingo, follow the instructions on their website.
WEST-B/Basic Skills Test (M.Ed. Special Education Teacher Candidates)
State required basic skills assessment for all teacher candidates (MIT and Special Education Early Childhood, High Incidence, Low Incidence). Applicants must take the reading, writing, and math subtests of the West-B, Praxis I, CBEST, ACT, or SAT. Visit the WEST website for registration information and upcoming test dates. Test scores for SAT or ACT or may be submitted in lieu of the WEST-B for Reading Writing and Math - SAT Writing must be from 2005 or later. Applicants may submit scores from the Praxis I or CBEST. For those who took the SAT/ACT prior to the inclusion of the writing subtest you will need to take the WEST-B writing exam in order to meet the basic skills requirement. Score reports may be uploaded to your application.
If you are unable to upload scores, you must send them to UW.
ACT: Contact Student Services Score Report (319-337-1270) to order your score report in addition to requesting your scores be sent to University of Washington, Seattle at code 4484. ACT scores prior to 1995 cannot be used to meet the basic skills requirement.
SAT: Call 866-756-7346 and ask that your scores be sent to University of Washington, Seattle, school code #4854.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
A four year Bachelor's degree must be completed before the start of the program. UW Graduate School minumum requirements for the degree may be found here.
Grade point average of 3.0 from the most recent 90 quarter (60 semester) credits
Transcripts
One unofficial transcript is required from each institution in which you have earned a degree and from each institution that you have attended in the last 5 years. Unofficial transcripts must be issued from the institution you have attended and include your name, institution, coursework, and degree if completed. Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded in the online application. If you are offered admission to the College of Education, the Graduate School will request an official transcript be submitted to their office prior to enrollment.
Goal Statement/Statement of Purpose
The goal statement or Statement of Purpose is a very important part of the application process. Admissions committees use the goal statement, along with other evidence, to determine whether your goals and our programs are well-matched. In general, the goal statement should address your goals, relevant experience, future plans, and why the specific program to which you are applying meets your needs. Be sure to include personal experiences that have prepared you for the challenge of graduate school (a character-defining moment, a personal challenge faced, a hardship overcome, or the cultural awareness you’ve developed). Goal statements range from 1-2 pages (MIT program) to 2-3 pages depending on the Master's degree program. Please refer to your specific program’s page to write about how the program would meet your academic goals.
Personal History Statement (Optional)
Consistent with our goal of enhancing the intellectual and social enrichment of the University community, the University of Washington actively seeks and welcomes students from diverse backgrounds. The Personal History Statement is optional but encouraged to provide the committee with further information about you. The prompt for this statement is below.
Please provide a statement, no more than two pages in length, about your personal history, family background, and other influences on your intellectual development. The statement should address educational, cultural, and economic opportunities and disadvantages that you have experienced, and ways those experiences have affected the development of your special interests, career plans, and future goals.
Please note that this optional statement is not an academic Statement of Purpose, but a personal statement that addresses your intellectual growth and development, both inclusive of and beyond academic goals.
Letters of Recommendation
Most Master of Education programs require two letters of recommendation with the exception of the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and Educational Specialist programs in which they require three. As part of the online application process, you will be given instructions for having letters of recommendation submitted electronically. All recommenders must be entered in the online application in order to match letters with applications.
Resume/Vita
A current academic and professional resume or vita is required. In addition to educational degrees and professional experience, the vita should include a listing of all relevant awards, publications, presentations, or other achievements that will help us evaluate your application.
Writing sample(s)
If your program requires it, you must submit a sample of scholarly writing (e.g., course papers, articles, essays). The sample should demonstrate how well you can analyze or synthesize and critically reflect on information. The writing sample must have been written by you alone. If you have no appropriate examples of scholarly writing, we urge you to consider preparing a medium-length (10-12 page) critical essay review of a book that you feel is central to your interests in education. The writing sample will be uploaded in your online application. The Educational Leadership and Policy Studies programs require a writing sample. The other Master of Education programs do not.
Interviews
Some programs may require an admission interview. This information would be listed on their program page.
Doctor of Education Programs (Ph.D. and Ed.D.)
The requirements listed below are required for admission to Ph.D. and Ed.D programs in the College of Education.
**Graduate Applications for the autumn 2024 programs will be open beginning September 15, 2023**
Tests
The College of Education programs do not consider the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) for admission.
TOEFL/IELTS/DUOLINGO
Applicants whose native language is not English who attended school outside the US, UK, Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore, Trinadad, or Tobago are also required to submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS, or Duolingo scores. Please read about demonstrating English Language Proficiency.
Applicants using test scores to demonstrate this may send official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores to UW for their application. Scores are valid for 2 years after the test date.
For TOEFL, please order official test scores from the Educational Testing Service using the institution code #4854. All IELTS test centers can report scores electronically. You must request from the center where you took the test that your scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system (E-TRF) to the following address: University of Washington All Campuses, Organisation ID 365, Undergrad & Graduate Admis, Box 355850, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States of America. For Duolingo, follow the instructions on their website.
Master's degree or higher from an accredited institution
Some programs such as Learning Sciences and Human Development and Special Education may permit direct admission to a doctoral program without a master’s degree. See individual program requirements.
Grade point average of 3.0 from the most recent 90 (60 semester) credits
Transcripts
One unofficial transcript is required from each institution in which you have earned a degree and from each institution that you have attended in the last 5 years. Unofficial transcripts must be issued from the institution you have attended and include your name, institution, coursework and degree if completed. Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded in the online application. If offered admission to the College of Education, the Graduate School will request an official transcript.
Goal statement/Statement of Purpose
The goal statement or Statement of Purpose is a very important part of the application process. Admissions committees use the goal statement, along with other evidence, to determine whether your goals and our programs are well-matched. In general, the goal statement should address your goals, relevant experience, future plans, and why the specific program to which you are applying meets your needs. Be sure to include personal experiences that have prepared you for the challenge of graduate school (a character-defining moment, a personal challenge faced, a hardship overcome, or the cultural awareness you’ve developed). Goal statements range from 3-5 pages for Ph.D. or Ed.D applicants. We recommend viewing program and faculty pages so you can write about how they are a match for your academic goals.
Personal History Statement (Optional)
Consistent with our goal of enhancing the intellectual and social enrichment of the University community, the University of Washington actively seeks and welcomes students from diverse backgrounds. The Personal History Statement is optional but encouraged to provide the committee with further information about you. The prompt for this statement is below.
Please provide a statement, no more than two pages in length, about your personal history, family background, and other influences on your intellectual development. The statement should address educational, cultural, and economic opportunities and disadvantages that you have experienced, and ways those experiences have affected the development of your special interests, career plans, and future goals. While there are no standard formatting requirements, it is encouraged to double-space the text with a legible font.
Please note that this optional statement is not an academic Statement of Purpose, but a personal statement that addresses your intellectual growth and development, both inclusive of and beyond academic goals.
Letters of Recommendation
Three (3) letters from persons who are able to assess your potential for success in a graduate degree program. As part of the online application process, you will be given instructions for having letters of recommendation submitted electronically. All recommenders must be entered in the online application in order to match letters with applications.
Resume/Vita
A current academic and professional resume or vita is required. In addition to educational degrees and professional experience, the vita should include a listing of all relevant awards, publications, presentations, or other achievements that will help us evaluate your application.
Writing sample(s)
If you are a doctoral applicant you must submit a sample of scholarly writing (e.g., master's thesis, course papers, articles, essays). The sample should demonstrate how well you can analyze or synthesize and critically reflect on information. The writing sample must have been written by you alone. If you have no appropriate examples of scholarly writing, we urge you to consider preparing a medium-length (10-12 page) critical essay review of a book that you feel is central to your interests in education. The writing sample will be uploaded in the online application. The Special Education doctoral program does not require a writing sample.
Interviews
Some programs may reach out to candidates about interviewing. This information would be listed on their program page.
