Application Requirements by Program

Program is 36 credit hours.

One reference preferred to be a current/recent professor. Professional references considered. Writing sample, not to exceed two pages, addressing:

• Your goals and aspirations related to the field of higher education.
• One or more significant life events that contributed to the development of these aspirations.
• The single greatest personal asset that will serve you in realizing your goals.
• The one personal characteristic or quality that you most need to modify/improve/change to realize your aspirations.
• Any other information you think would be helpful in evaluating your application.

Applicants can apply for any upcoming semester, the UNT Graduate Admissions Deadlines and Fees page lists application deadines. 

Exclusive to the Cohort Option:

February 1^st deadline: Follow the student affairs track and with prearrangement by the program, applicants must interview and be offered a GA position within student affairs, take an arranged set of 9 hours beginning in the fall semester and continuing in the long semesters for two academic years totaling 36 hours.

Admissions deadline for fall February 15^th, deadline for spring/summer October 1st
For the fall 2027 admissions cycle, deadline changes to February 1st

One reference from a faculty member with whom you have studied/conducted research. Professional references considered.

Admissions Essay that does not exceed 2 pages, addressing the following:

• Your reasons for pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education.
• Major area of interest in the field of higher education.
• Expectations regarding the program and career opportunities from the degree.
• Your immediate and long-range goals.
• Your work experience and previous scholarship as it relates to future career goals.
• Educational background relates to future career plans; and personal uniqueness and how it contributes to entering the class and the program’s reputation.

A sample of your best recent work: The writing sample can be a published journal article or book chapter, a research term paper, master’s thesis, or a professional report for which you are the sole or primary author.

Applicants can apply for any upcoming semester, the UNT Graduate Admissions Deadlines and Fees page lists application deadines. 

Letter of Interest:

Your reasons for pursuing the community college leadership certificate, immediate and long-range academic and career goals, work experience, and previous education relates to community colleges.

Minimum Eligibility:

• Undergraduate GPA: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

All applicants to the MS Counseling Programs must submit:

• Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Three (3) reference evaluation forms specific to the counseling program
• One-page writing sample responding to the prompt on our website

Applicants can apply for any upcoming semester, the UNT Graduate Admissions Deadlines and Fees page lists application deadines. 

Minimum Eligibility:

• Undergraduate GPA: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

All applicants to the MS Counseling Programs must submit:

• Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Three (3) reference evaluation forms specific to the counseling program
• One-page writing sample responding to the prompt on our website

Applicants can apply for any upcoming semester, the UNT Graduate Admissions Deadlines and Fees page lists application deadines. 

Eligibility:

• Applicants must hold a master’s degree in a counseling-related field

Applicants to the PhD Counselor Education and Supervision Program must submit:

• Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• GRE Scores
• Three (3) reference evaluation forms specific to the doctoral program
• Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
• Statement of Purpose
• Video demonstration of counseling skills (submitted on DVD, flash drive, or via email)
• Theoretical orientation essay describing the theory applied in the video session
• CACREP equivalency worksheet (required if your master’s program was not CACREP-accredited)
• Doctoral Assistantship Application (optional).

Applicants can apply for any upcoming semester, the UNT Graduate Admissions Deadlines and Fees page lists application deadines. 

Eligibility:

• Applicants must hold a master’s degree in counseling from a CACREP-accredited program

Send the following materials to COE-Counseling@unt.edu for preliminary review:

• School Counselor Certification Deficiency Worksheet (found on our website)
• Unofficial transcripts
• Course syllabi for each course marked as complete on the worksheet

The Licensure Committee may request further documentation after reviewing the initial submission.

• Applicants requiring internship placement and/or more than 9-credit hours must:
• Complete the master’s program admissions process
• Be formally admitted to the counseling program prior to enrolling in any deficiency coursework.

Two letters of recommendation, your resume, and a 1-3 page personal statement.

Applicants can apply for any upcoming semester, the UNT Graduate Admissions Deadlines and Fees page lists application deadines. 

Two letters of recommendation, your resume, and a 1-3 page personal statement.

Note: The Educational Diagnostician concentration requires three years of experience as a fully-licensed teacher, a copy of the applicant’s teaching certificate, and the policy Manual signature page 

Applicants can apply for any upcoming semester, the UNT Graduate Admissions Deadlines and Fees page lists application deadines. 

Two letters of recommendation, your resume, and a 1-3 page personal statement.
Three years of experience as a fully-licensed teacher, a copy of the applicant’s teaching certificate, and the policy Manual signature page.

Applicants can apply for any upcoming semester, the UNT Graduate Admissions Deadlines and Fees page lists application deadines. 

One letters of recommendation, your resume, and a 1-3 page personal statement.

Applicants can apply for any upcoming semester, the UNT Graduate Admissions Deadlines and Fees page lists application deadines. 

Prerequisites

Evidence of three years of successful teaching experience. In the event the applicant does not meet this requirement, the faculty in C&I may recommend the student participates in extensive practicum or internship experiences as part of the doctoral degree requirements.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can address your ability to pursue doctoral-level studies and potential for contributing to a field of study related to the degree.

Personal Statement

Personal statement that includes the concentration area to which you are applying (Curriculum Studies, Language and Literacy Studies, or Early Childhood Studies). Prompt for personal statement:

A doctoral program is a personal, professional, and intellectual endeavor. Describe how the doctoral program in Curriculum and Instruction would serve those purposes for you. Also, address the following questions:

• What is the change you hope to see in education? Why is this important?
• What are the inquiries that you would pursue in a doctoral program that would enable you to be part of that change? We are not asking for you to settle on a dissertation topic at all; we simply want to know what curiosities and interests you have currently. Your dissertation topic will emerge through your studies.

Basic requirements for the personal statement:

• Page limit: 2 single-spaced pages
• Any of the commonly used fonts, size 12.
• One-inch margins

Curriculum Vitae

A curriculum vitae demonstrating prior educational and professional experience.

 Valid Texas teaching certification or the equivalent.

 Two- to three- page essay on your personal philosophy of teaching with concrete examples of that philosophy applied to your own teaching practices.

Letter of intent for pursuing a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

 Current curriculum vitae or resume.

 

Personal Statement

A three-page double-spaced personal statement describing the applicant’s (a)  two most important professional achievements, (b)  future career goals related to educational leadership and administration, (c) a problem of practice the applicant would like to investigate during their time in the program, and (d) how completing the degree in educational leadership will relate with those goals.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation from three people who can provide evidence of the applicant’s reading, writing and critical thinking skills. One of the letters should be from a college or university professor familiar with the individual’s academic strengths, and one letter should be from a supervisor or mentor familiar with the individual’s professional work.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

A curriculum vitae demonstrating prior educational and professional experience.

Evidence of Teaching and Administration

Documentation of at least two years of teaching experience in either a public or private school. Documentation of principal certification.

Interview

After your application is received, the Admissions Committee will be in touch to schedule a short interview. Committee members will have questions for applicants. Applicants are encouraged to ask the committee questions, as well.

Problem-Solving Scenario

A three-page double-spaced response to a problem-solving scenario, where the applicant will develop a leadership plan of action and explain both the rationale and the expected result(s). Scenario will be sent after the interview.

Personal Statement

A three-page double-spaced personal statement describing the applicant’s (a) interests in and reasons for pursuing a Ph.D. in educational leadership, (b) future career goals related to educational leadership, (c) early thinking around a research topic or policy issue the applicant may want to pursue during their time in the program, and (d) specific faculty whose research dovetails with the applicant’s burgeoning interests.

Writing Sample

A sample of the applicant’s best-written work that is scholarly-oriented with references. This could be a paper from a master’s class, an article or book chapter, or other similar work.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation from three people who can provide evidence of the applicant’s reading, writing and critical thinking skills. One of the letters should be from a college or university professor familiar with the individual’s academic strengths, and one letter should be from a supervisor or mentor familiar with the individual’s professional work.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

A curriculum vitae demonstrating prior educational and professional experience.

Evidence of Teaching and Administration

Documentation of at least two years of teaching experience in either a public or private school. Documentation of experience in educational administration or educational management in school systems or other public or private non-profits, such as NGOs, museums, and/or policy organizations.

Interview

After your application is received, the Admissions Committee will be in touch to schedule a short interview. Committee members will have questions for applicants. Applicants are encouraged to ask the committee questions, as well.

• Two letters of reference, written on letterhead, from professionals who address the applicant’s ability to successfully pursue graduate study
• Three-to-four-page, double-spaced essay on your personal purpose for undertaking graduate study at UNT, including professional plans or career goals and a discussion of professional interests related to early childhood education; and
• Current curriculum vitae or résumé outlining your experience in education, and particularly early childhood education.

 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. If a candidate already holds a master’s degree, the courses and the candidate’s performance in that degree are reviewed.
• Bachelor’s GPA of 3.0 or higher overall; or bachelor’s GPA of 3.0 or higher for the last 60 hours; or previous master’s degree GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• A letter of recommendation from your supervisor identifying your leadership, critical thinking, and writing skills.
• An essay describing why you’re seeking a master’s degree in educational leadership identifying relevant educational experiences and strengths and providing evidence that you will be a successful educational leader in a diverse, multicultural environment.
• A résumé that includes your previous work and educational experiences. Experience in EC-12 is preferred for admission.

Applicants seeking the Educational Leadership M.Ed. with Principal as Instructional Leader Certification should also have the following:  

• At least one year of teaching experience in an accredited EC-12 school and the ability to complete a second year of teaching experience by the end of the certification process.
• A standard teaching certificate.
• Ability to complete a two-semester practicum in an accredited, Texas Prek-12, brick-and-mortar (not fully online) school.
• A GRE score is not required for admission to the Master’s degree program. However, a rule from the Texas Education Agency states, “An applicant who does not meet the minimum GPA requirement of 2.5 and is seeking Principal as Instructional Leader certification must perform at or above a score equivalent to a 2.5 GPA on the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytic Writing sections of the GRE® (Graduate Record Examinations) revised General Test.”

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants must have a previous master’s GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• A letter of recommendation from your supervisor identifying your leadership, critical thinking, and writing skills.
• An essay describing why you’re seeking the Principal as Instructional Leadership Certification identifying relevant educational experiences and strengths and providing evidence that you will be a successful educational leader in a diverse, multicultural environment.
• A résumé that includes your previous work and educational experiences.
• A copy of your teaching certificate (must be a valid certificate).
• Ability to complete a two-semester practicum in an accredited, Texas Prek-12, brick-and-mortar (not fully online) school.
• At least one year of teaching experience in an accredited EC-12 school and the ability to complete a second year of teaching experience by the end of the certification process.
• A GRE score is not required for admission to the Master’s degree program. However, a rule from the Texas Education Agency states, “An applicant who does not meet the minimum GPA requirement of 2.5 and is seeking Principal as Instructional Leader certification must perform at or above a score equivalent to a 2.5 GPA on the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytic Writing sections of the GRE® (Graduate Record Examinations) revised General Test.”

1. Essay prompt: Describe a meaningful experience that sparked or strengthened your desire to become a teacher. Explain how this experience shaped your understanding of the responsibilities, challenges, and impact of the teaching profession. Discuss how your prior academic, professional, or personal experiences have prepared you to work effectively with different learners and contribute to an inclusive learning environment.
2. Length: 500–700 word
3. 2 Letters of Recommendation.
4. Post Bacc Application for Admission into the Teacher Education Program.
5. Online Interview with faculty and staff from the Educator Preparation Program.
6. Please note: "Students seeking admission to the Master of Education in Teaching must first be admitted to the Teacher Certification Program"
7. Transcripts showing a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 in their undergraduate degree or in their final last 60 credit hours.
8. Students must demonstrate that they have successfully completed the required courses for the track they are applying for.