Core Application:

Submit an application and a non-refundable application fee. This fee is not required from students previously admitted to a graduate program at Concordia University Irvine.

Items required to complete the admission file:

Baccalaureate Degree
Official transcripts from all college/universities attended.
Minimum GPA of 2.75. If GPA is lower than 2.75, applicant may submit a Letter of Petition to be considered by the program director.
Personal Statement of Intent (on Concordia form).
Two letters of recommendation (on Concordia form).
Certificate of Clearance.
Health Clearance (negative tuberculosis [TB] test in last 2 years).
Basic Skills Requirement met.
Submission of the Basic Skills/Subject Matter Evaluation Form with supporting documents.

International Applicants

If an international student has an undergraduate degree from an English speaking university, a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is not required. A TOEFL or IELTS score is required if the international student has an undergraduate degree from a non-English speaking university. The required scores are:

TOEFL - 88 or higher
IELTS - 7.0 or higher

International Student I-20 requirements can be found here.

Acceptance Procedures

When the admission file is complete, applicants will be scheduled for an interview with a Teacher Credential Program faculty representative. Acceptance into the program is dependent upon a successful interview and recommendation from the faculty member.
The applicant will be notified by email regarding program acceptance.
If the applicant is accepted, the email will include steps that must be taken before they can register for classes.

Special Admission Circumstances

Candidates with a GPA below 2.75 who meet one of the following criteria may petition to be considered for conditional acceptance:

If the candidate has 3 or more years of credible service in schools (credible service is defined as full-time teaching after completing a teacher preparation program) they may request, complete, and submit the Verification of Experience form available from the graduate admissions office.

OR

If the candidate has submitted documentation of meeting minimum scores for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) as follows:
- GRE minimum score of 900 combined verbal and quantitative scores OR a 450 verbal score and 3.5 analytical writing score.
- MAT minimum raw score of 41.

To initiate the petition, the candidate must submit a letter of explanation for previous low grades including why grades in the new program will be acceptable. The school's dean may accept, deny, or refer the petition to an application review committee.

Candidates admitted with conditional status must achieve full admittance by the end of the first 8-week term in order to continue in the program. If full admittance is not achieved, the candidate will be ineligible to continue as only fully admitted students may matriculate toward a degree. Full admission is defined as all admission criteria having been met and the student receiving written confirmation regarding full admittance.

Admission Appeals on GPA

Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement for the program to which the applicant is applying may appeal the GPA admission requirement. In appealing, the candidate must submit with their application packet a letter of explanation for the low grades and why the candidate’s grades in a new program would be acceptable. The Dean, or Program Director designated by the Dean, may approve or deny the GPA appeal. The Dean or designated Program Director will consider the potential of the candidate for academic and teaching success by reviewing a variety of factors including the following, which should be addressed in the appeal letter:

Significant life experience since completing the B.A.
Second language issues
Teaching experience, teacher aiding, classroom volunteering
Undergraduate coursework

PB-CRED: CRSE - Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Support Needs (Credential) (38 units)

Download as PDF