Applying to the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Program

Application Process

The University of Mount Union's Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Program has been officially approved by the Ohio Board of Regents (OBR) and the Higher Learning Commission. The University has also received OBR approval to offer the Ohio Principal's License (PreK-6, 4-9 and 5-12). Steps to apply are as follows:

• Submit the application for admission no later than June 15, 2013.

• A non-refundable application fee of $30 must be paid while submitting the application. Credit/Debit cards including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Electronic Check (U.S. banks only) are accepted.
• Recommendation forms must be submitted electronically by two former professors and/or employers who can attest to the applicant’s potential for graduate level study and research, as well as suitability for educational leadership.  The required online recommendation form is included as part of the online application. Recommendations will not be accepted in any other format.
• Request an official transcript from each of the colleges or universities previously attended. Each institution must forward the transcript to: Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Program, Office of Admission, University of Mount Union, 1972 Clark Avenue, Alliance, Ohio 44601.  Failure to submit an official transcript for each previous institution where coursework was attempted, regardless of whether or not credit was received, will void the application for admission.
• Provide official test results of the Miller’s Analogy Test (MAT) and/or the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to the University of Mount Union.
• Upload a curriculum vita or résumé and a personal statement that outlines the applicant’s career aspirations, qualifications and rationale for applying to the program.
• Submit any hard copy materials to: Office of Admission, Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program, University of Mount Union, 1972 Clark Avenue, Alliance, Ohio 44601 in time to be received no later than the deadline.
• Incomplete applications, applications submitted without the non-refundable $30 application fee or applications completed after the deadline will not be reviewed.

Admission Requirements/Criteria

Degree/Credentials: Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Be eligible to hold an Ohio teaching license or a comparable license from another state.

Test Scores: Document satisfactory scores on the Miller’s Analogy Test (380 and above) or the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (Verbal = 400 and above; Math = 380 and above; and Writing = 4.0 and above).

Undergraduate Achievement: Possess an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) or a grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in a minimum of 12 hours of graduate study.

Personal Statement and Writing Ability: Applicants will submit a personal statement which outlines the applicant’s career aspirations, qualifications and rational for applying to the program. This piece will demonstrate the candidate’s ability to write at the graduate level.

Experience: Provide a curriculum vita or résumé.

Professional Recommendations: Provide two recommendations from employers or former professors who are in a position to judge the applicant’s potential for graduate level study and research, as well as suitability for educational leadership.

Personal Interview: The University of Mount Union values the richness and diversity of experiences, and a personal interview will be an important tool to assess this.  Therefore, MAEL faculty will interview prospective program candidates.  Interviews may take place in person or via electronic means.

Applicants who do not meet the traditional criteria will be judged on a case-by-case basis and will be asked to submit additional documentation if under consideration for conditional admission.

Other Admission/Enrollment Related Information

TOEFL Requirement: For admission into the MAEL program, applicants whose primary language is not English must have a recent IBT (Internet-Based TOEFL) score of 100 or more in addition to meeting other program requirements.

Transfer Credit Policy: A maximum of six (6) semester hours of graduate transfer credits will be considered. The course(s) must have been taken at a regionally accredited institution and be aligned with the objectives for the University of Mount Union course(s).  Additional credits may be transferred on a case-by-case basis. 

A candidate wishing credit must submit an official transcript for the work, along with a copy of the appropriate course description from the graduate catalog of the institution and may be asked to offer additional documentation, such as syllabus. To initiate a transfer credit evaluation, email a request to Dr. Thomas Gannon, Director of Master of Arts in Educational Leadership at gannontw@mountunion.edu.

Only coursework earning a grade of B+ or better will be considered for transfer credit. Transfer credit is limited solely to the following Mount Union course offerings as a maximum: ED 501 or 503 in semester one and ED 502 or ED 504 in semester two.

Enrollment Deposit: If admitted to the program, candidates are required to submit a non-refundable deposit of $250. This deposit will be applied toward tuition charges. Pay your deposit.

Background Check: Prior to program matriculation, students must provide a criminal background check conducted within the last calendar year, using Certified Background (at certifiedbackground.com).

It is the policy of the University of Mount Union not to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, marital or parental status, or disability in student admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or employment as now or may hereafter be required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, regulations of the Internal Revenue Service, and all other applicable federal, state and local statutes, ordinances and regulations.  Inquiries regarding compliance may be directed to (330) 823-2886, Associate Dean of Students, Hoover-Price Campus Center, or to (330) 829-6560, Director of Human Resources and Employment Development, Beeghly Hall.