In order to enroll in the Master of Arts in Teaching program, candidates must fulfil both the criteria for program admission and graduate studies at Trinity. Please refer to the "Graduate Studies" section of the Course of Study Bulletin for additional information.
GRADUATE STUDIES Trinity University offers four graduate degrees: the Master of Arts (Education: School Psychology); the Master of Arts in Teaching; the Master of Education (Education: School Administration); and the Master of Science (Accounting and Health Care Administration).Graduate work was instituted at Trinity University in 1950. The objective of the Graduate Program is to provide students with opportunities to achieve productive scholarship and professional competence in the area of their specialization, with emphasis upon the development of analytical thinking, independent and original research, and effective communication.The University’s Coates Library offers exemplary collections, ample study space, group interaction rooms, and contemporary electronic resources in support of graduate work. Librarians team with faculty in the graduate programs to provide instruction on organizing optimal access to Internet-based tools, including databases specific to each graduate program. Collections of print resources provide research-level support for every graduate program.
COMMISSION ON GRADUATE STUDIESThe Commission on Graduate Studies serves as the academic policy committee for graduate students on all matters related to graduate degrees and programs. The Commission consists of one faculty member from each graduate department, two students appointed by the Graduate Student Association, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs or his or her representative.
GRADUATE FACULTYAs a liberal arts university with selected professional degree programs, Trinity does not maintain a separate graduate faculty. Faculty members selected to teach graduate-level courses will have an earned doctorate (or other terminal degree) in their teaching field and demonstrated research capability, or will be practitioners with at least a master’s degree and appropriate training and experience in the professional field they are teaching. The Department Chair is responsible for determining whether a faculty member’s qualifications meet the requirements for graduate-level teaching. Eligibility to teach at the graduate level is periodically reviewed in order to maintain viable programs and specialized and regional accreditation.
ADMISSION
bachelor’s DEGREE REQUIREMENTGraduates holding the bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting organization and fulfilling all other requirements listed below may be admitted to graduate study in full standing. Graduates of colleges that are not accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting body may be admitted as provisional students at the discretion of the director of graduate studies and the Department Chair. Students who are close to completing the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at an accredited university are occasionally permitted to enroll for a limited number of graduate courses at Trinity University. For further information, contact the specific department.
PREREQUISITE COURSE REQUIREMENTSThe requirement for background work varies with each graduate program at Trinity. The department chair or director of graduate study in a department may recommend that prerequisites be waived for superior students or, in certain cases, that prerequisites be taken on the graduate level. Consult individual department listings for specific requirements.
ADMISSION CATEGORIES
FULL ADMISSION - Requirements for full admission normally include:
1) A grade point average of 3.00 or better on the last 60 hours of undergraduate level work and an average of 3.00 or better on all work taken in the undergraduate major field.
2) Acceptable scores not over six years old on the Graduate Record Examination or Graduate Management Admissions Test, if required.
3) Letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with student’s ability to pursue graduate study.
4) Departmental acceptance into the Graduate Program.* Students who have earned at least 18 hours of graduate level credit must have a GPA of 3.00 or better on all graduate course work attempted. Graduate credit may be considered in lieu of undergraduate course work.
PROVISIONAL ADMISSION - Students who are not eligible for full admission may normally be granted provisional admission in cases where:
1) The grade point average is between 2.60 and 3.00 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate level work and/or between 2.60 and 3.00 on all work taken in the undergraduate major.
2) Test scores, if required, are below acceptable levels.
3) Prerequisite work is required.Note: Students admitted provisionally are reviewed after completion of their first 9 hours of graduate study. Those who have maintained a 3.00 average are eligible to apply for candidacy; those with an average below 3.00 are dropped from the graduate program.
FORMAL APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
Students interested in doing graduate work at Trinity University should make application to the appropriate academic department and must submit to the Graduate Admissions Office the following items:
1) Application form and fee.
2) An official transcript or transcripts of all previous college and university work. These transcripts must be current (not over one year old). All transcripts become a part of the University’s files and will not be returned.
3) Test scores not over six years old on the Graduate Record Examination, Graduate Management Admission Council exam, or any other similar examinations. Consult departmental listings for specific requirements.
4) One or more letters of recommendation if specified by the department in which the student plans to major.
The application for admission to graduate study and all supporting papers should be sent well in advance of the opening of the session that the student plans to attend. Because of the number of applications for some fields and the necessity of handling each case with care, the admissions procedure requires considerable time after the application and supporting materials have been received. The application deadline is one month prior to the beginning of the semester or as established by the program. Students outside the United States should submit their applications at least three months prior to the semester they plan to enter the University. Registration is not permitted until application for admission is approved.The final decision on admission is made by the Office of Academic Affairs after receiving the recommendation of the academic department involved.
