Educator Preparation Program

Application Submission Guidelines

To begin, please apply by clicking the red Online Application button.
 

Important details about the application process:

• Two-part application: You will first submit your portion of the application. Once that is complete, you’ll gain access to the page where you can enter your recommenders’ information.
• Recommendation requests: After you click “Send to Recommender,” the system automatically emails your recommenders. You can track the status of their submissions through your applicant dashboard.
• Official documents: All official test scores and transcripts from other institutions must be sent directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admission before the application deadline.
• Allow adequate time: We strongly recommend that you submit the first part of your application at least four weeks before the official deadline. This early submission allows time for your recommenders to receive and complete their recommendation requests and for your transcripts and test scores to reach our office before the deadline.

Application Deadlines 

• Fall Admission – February 1st by 5:00 p.m.
• Spring Admission - September 15th by 5:00 p.m. 

Please note: If the application deadline falls on a weekend, applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday immediately following the deadline. 

Applicants will be notified via e-mail regarding the admission decision no later than six weeks after the application deadline. Applicants who are selected for admission will receive information about a mandatory orientation session for the program. 

Questions about the undergraduate online application should be directed to your academic counselor.

The professional writing requirements provide an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to the admission screening committee. The committee will be looking for evidence of: 

• experiences working with diverse children and/or adolescents
• leadership and collaboration
• critical thinking and creativity
• respect for all people and commitment to making a positive difference

Please complete the following requirements and upload with your on-line application. Read the directions carefully and proofread your work. Each requirement should be double-spaced (Times New Roman 12 point font) and no more than three pages. Your written communication skills will be evaluated using the effective written communication rubric. 

Professional Statement Essays 
Please complete two responses, one for each of the following, using the instructions above and upload them to your online application. 

• In consideration of the characteristics of an effective teacher, the ability to collaborate, and to support student collaboration in the classroom, is essential. Please self-evaluate this important skill and indicate whether you consider this as a strength or weakness. If you consider it as a weakness, please explain how you might further develop this skill. Also, please explain how you might encourage collaboration in your future classroom.

• In what ways have your life experiences shaped (1) the way you learn and (2) how you interact with others with different life experiences? Additionally, explain how you would support the ideal of "respect for all learners" in your future classroom.

   

Teacher Education Résumé 
Please follow the résumé template when developing your resume and upload to your on-line application. Please include the following:

• Experiences working with children and/or adolescents through volunteer and paid work such as in after school programs, church programs, coaching, daycare worker, tutoring, babysitting, camp counselor, etc. 

Admission Testing Requirements 

One of the following four MUST be met:

1. ACT composite score of 22 or corresponding minimum scores of Reading (20), Writing (18)*, and Math (19)
2. Praxis CASE Reading (150), Writing (158), and Math (144)
3. A combination of ACT and CASE minimum scores
4. Minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.0 within 5 points of one or more of the minimum PRAXIS CASE scores *The ACT English section counts as Writing Information on the Praxis CASE (Core Academic Skills for Educators) exam can be found here: https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/kentucky-tests.html

Sending Praxis Scores

The ETS institutional code for the University of Louisville is 1838.

The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board also has its own recipient code, 7283, which is needed for teacher certification.

You should use these codes when requesting that your Praxis scores be sent to the University and EPSB. If your scores are not reported to the correct bodies, you may have to pay for an additional score report in the future.

Competitive applicants may be contacted by a department representative to schedule an interview with faculty members of the admissions screening committee. 

Applicants are encouraged to prepare for the interview by reflecting on the following: 

• How do you demonstrate intellectual curiosity?
• How do you develop positive relationships and work collaboratively with peers, teachers, and others?
• How do you demonstrate the interpersonal skills necessary to do the daily work of teaching?
• Can you give examples of your commitment to diversity, equity and social justice?
• Can you identify characteristics critical to successful teaching (such as dependability, initiative, organization) and give examples of how you exhibit those traits? 

Applicants should be prepared to discuss their qualifications for admission to the teacher education program and should project a professional image in their dress and behavior for the interview. Please be aware that candidates may participate in an in-person interview, a group interview, or multiple interviews during the admission process. 

1. Application to Graduate School. This should be completed three to four weeks prior to the application deadline.
2. Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university with a minimum 2.75 Grade Point Average (official transcripts required)
3. Prerequisite course requirements
4. Oral communication course
5. Grade of C or higher in ENGL 102 (or equivalent)
6. TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo All applicants for whom English is a second language must also submit official TOEFL scores of 79 or higher on the internet-based test, 213 or higher on the computer-based test. English proficiency can also be met by submitting official IELTS scores of at least 6.5 overall band score from the academic module exam or official Duolingo overall score of 105.
7. Professional writing requirements
8. Three letters of recommendation
9. Acceptable interview.

Note: Applicants may choose to complete the prerequisite course requirements through the University of Louisville or through another accredited institution. Applicants should contact MAT admissions counselor (teacher@louisville.edu) BEFORE applying to the teacher education program or enrolling in prerequisite classes.

EDTP 399 – Music, Art & Motion in Elementary Schools – 3 credit hour course
Examines the instructional methods and curricular materials appropriate for incorporating the concepts and skills of art, music, and movement education in grades P-5.

MATH 151 – Mathematics for Elementary Education I – 3 credit hour course
Problem solving and number systems, including numeration systems, integers, rational, and real numbers, and elementary number theory. Note: Recommended for majors in elementary or middle grades education.

MATH 152 – Mathematics for Elementary Education II – 3 credit hour course
Prerequisite: MATH 151. Geometry, patterns, elementary statistics, discrete probability and counting. Note: Recommended for majors in elementary or middle grades education.

History course - American History or World Civilizations

• Hist 101 or Hist 102 - History of Civilizations - 3 credit hour course
  Origins of civilization from earliest times to present
• Hist 211 or Hist 212 - American History - 3 credit hour course
  A survey of American history using a political framework but emphasizing social, economic, and intellectual factors.

Biology course – Kentucky certification requires that all Elementary teachers successfully complete at least one undergraduate course in Biology. The University of Louisville offers two introductory Biology courses that would satisfy this requirement as noted below.

• BIOL 102 – Introduction to Biological Systems – 3 credit hour course
  Selected topics from the biological sciences, emphasizing important factual information, methods, basic scientific principles, and their applications.
• BIOL 263 – Environmental Biology – 3 credit hour course
  A study of the biological principles of environmental effects on living organisms; emphasis on ecological relationships of man, including resource exploitation, pollution, environmental degradation, and human behavior.

Physical Science course – Kentucky certification requires that all Elementary teachers successfully complete at least one undergraduate course in the Physical Sciences. The University of Louisville offers a variety of courses that would satisfy this requirement as noted below:

• CHEM 101 – Introduction to Chemistry – 3 credit hour course
  A one-semester introduction to inorganic, organic, and biochemistry for non-majors. The course is designed to provide a general background for an elementary understanding of chemistry and societal issues related to chemistry.
• GEOS 200 – The Global Environment – 3 credit hour course
  An introduction to the global environment, emphasizing the evolution and interaction of Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere; energy and material cycles, and global change.
• PHYS 107 – Elementary Astronomy – 3 credit hour course
  Introduction to the basic laws of nature as seen in the large-scale structure of the universe: galaxies, stars and our solar system.
• PHYS 111 – Elements of Physics – 4 credit hour course (lab included)
  3 lecture, 1 hour lab and conference alternating each week. An introduction to the physics of mechanics; levers, pulleys, wedges. Electricity and magnetism: electrical conduction, and magnets. Optics: color, mirrors, and lenses.
• PHYS 220 – Contemporary Issues in Meteorology – 3 credit hour course
  Contemporary issues serve as an introduction to the physical basis, distribution and consequences of global-scale meteorological phenomena.

Science Lab – The science lab requirement can be met through a Biology lab or Physical Science Lab. Lab courses are offered at the University of Louisville as noted below:

• BIOL 104 – Introduction to Biology Lab – 1 credit hour
• CHEM 103 – Introduction to Chemistry Lab – 1 credit hour
• PHYS 108 – Elementary Astronomy Lab – 1 credit hour

1. Application to Graduate School. This should be completed three to four weeks prior to the application deadline.
2. Praxis II content exam registration and/or scores
3. Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university with major in content area or appropriate prerequisite courses and a minimum 2.75 GPA (official transcripts required)
4. Grade of C or higher in ENGL 102 (or equivalent)
5. Grade of C or higher in oral communication course
6. TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo
7. Professional writing requirements
8. Three letters of recommendation
9. Signed Professional Code of Ethics/Technology User Agreement/Statement of Understanding of Admissions Guidelines
10. Acceptable interview

For candidates for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in Middle Grades, Secondary, or World Language Education are required to complete a bachelor's degree with a major in the teaching content area, or complete the specific course requirements in their content area. Candidates may be considered for admission to the traditional route MAT program with three prerequisite courses remaining. Candidates may be considered for admission to the alternative certification route MAT program with two prerequisite courses remaining.

Non-majors may complete content courses at the University of Louisville, or equivalent courses may be completed through another accredited institution. Candidates interested in completing the courses at the University of Louisville may do so as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate student. Candidates must earn a minimum, overall content course GPA of 2.50 to be considered for admission and certification. Courses may not be completed on a pass/fail basis.

Candidates are encouraged to request an official transcript evaluation prior to registering for courses. Candidates should complete the transcript evaluation request form [PDF] and submit the completed form to teacher@louisville.edu along with a copy of college/university transcripts.

1. Application to Graduate School. This should be completed three to four weeks prior to the application deadline.
2. Praxis II exams (official scores or registration ticket)
3. Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university with a minimum 2.75 GPA (University of Louisville students are not required to submit a UofL transcript)
4. Prerequisite course requirements
5. Letters of recommendation (Letters submitted previously with teacher education application may be used.).
6. Professional writing requirements
7. Grade of C or higher in ENGL 102
8. Grade of C or higher in oral communication course

1. Application to Graduate School. This should be completed three to four weeks prior to the application deadline.
2. Praxis II exams (official scores or registration ticket)
3. Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university with a minimum 2.75 GPA (University of Louisville students are not required to submit a UofL transcript)
4. Prerequisite course requirements
5. Three letters of recommendation (Letters submitted previously with teacher education application may be used.)
6. TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo
7. Professional writing requirements
8. Grade of C or higher in ENGL 102
9. Grade of C or better in oral communication course
10. Acceptable interview
11. Signed Professional Code of Ethics/Technology User Agreement/Statement of Understanding of Admission Guidelines 

Application Deadlines 

• Fall admission – February 1st by 5:00 p.m.
• Spring admission - September 15th by 5:00 p.m. 

Please note: If the application deadline falls on a weekend, applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday immediately following the deadline. 

Applicants will be notified via e-mail regarding the admission decision no later than six weeks after the application deadline. Applicants who are selected for admission will receive information about a mandatory orientation session for the program. 

Questions about the graduate online application should be directed to your academic counselor.

Applicants are required to submit a final, official transcript showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The minimum grade point average (GPA) required is 2.75. 

For applicants who have earned a 2.50-2.74 undergraduate degree GPA: A "last 30 credit hours" GPA may be calculated. If the "last 30 credit hours" GPA is at least 3.0, then the applicant may be considered for admission. Post-baccalaureate and graduate courses from accredited institutions may be considered in the "last 30 credit hours" GPA. Applicants with an undergraduate degree GPA below 2.50 are not considered competitive candidates for the Master of Arts in Teaching program. 

Note for those still completing their bachelor's degree:  Applicants who are in process of completing the last semester of courses for graduation with the bachelor's degree, and/or students who are in process of completing prerequisite courses, should submit official transcripts showing "in progress" or registration for the current semester. If the applicant is approved for admission to the program, final transcripts will be requested upon completion of courses. 

Note for UofL undergraduate students: University of Louisville students are not required to submit official transcripts of work completed at the University of Louisville. However, official transcripts are required for any courses completed through another institution. 

Transcripts from a Foreign Institution 
Applicants who have attended a college or university outside of the United States are required to submit a course-by-course evaluation of their transcript(s) from WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). 

Please note that ECE or WES transcript evaluations may take several weeks. 

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) 

Applicants whose first language in not English and who earned their college degree(s) from an institution in another country must provide evidence of their English proficiency as part of the application process. The test score is valid for two calendar years. 

For more information about the TOEFL, please visit the Education Testing Services (ETS) website at www.ets.org and click on the link for "TOEFL". 

The professional writing requirements provide an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to the admission screening committee. The committee will be looking for evidence of: 

• experiences working with diverse children and/or adolescents
• leadership and collaboration
• critical thinking and creativity
• respect for all people and commitment to making a positive difference

Please complete the following requirements and upload with your online application. Read the directions carefully and proofread your work. Each requirement should be double-spaced (Times New Roman 12 point font) and no more than three pages. Your written communication skills will be evaluated using the effective written communication rubric. 

Professional Statement Essays 
Please complete two responses, one for each of the following, using the instructions above and upload them to your online application. 

• In consideration of the characteristics of an effective teacher, the ability to collaborate, and to support student collaboration in the classroom, is essential. Please self-evaluate this important skill and indicate whether you consider this as a strength or weakness. If you consider it as a weakness, please explain how you might further develop this skill. Also, please explain how you might encourage collaboration in your future classroom.
• In what ways have your life experiences shaped (1) the way you learn and (2) how you interact with others with different life experiences? Additionally, explain how you would support the ideal of "respect for all learners" in your future classroom.

Along with other relevant information, in your résumé or curriculum vita, please include the following:

• Home and office email addresses along with phone number(s)
• Educational background
• Professional employment history
• Courses taught or professional development delivered
• Scholarly/professional writings and creative activities
• Active involvement and leadership in professional and community activities
• Professional and academic honors and recognitions

Praxis II 

The Praxis Series™ assessments provide educational tests and other services that states use as part of their teacher licensure and certification process. The Praxis II® tests measure subject-specific knowledge.  Each state sets passing scores for PRAXIS II examinations. For further information about test preparation, passing score requirements, and test sites, please visit the following: 

ets.org/praxis/ky/test-takers/plan-your-test/licensure-requirements.html 

All applicants must register for the appropriate, subject-specific PRAXIS II examination(s) and provide either: 

1. official scores – for admission to the Alternative Certification MAT program 

OR 

2. registration ticket – for admission to the traditional route MAT program 
   Applicants should be registered for the appropriate PRAXIS II examination no more than one test administration date after the application deadline. 

Applicants are not required to take the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam for admission purposes, but should plan to pass the exam by the end of their program. Praxis scores may be accepted by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) that are less than five years old at the time of application for teacher certification. 

The College of Education and Human Development requires all applicants to submit three recommendations. One reference is required to be Faculty/Academic and one is required to be Work with Children and/or Adolescents. The third reference can be a second Faculty/Academic or Work With Children, or a Professional/Community reference (additional recommendations are optional). Each recommender will be required to complete a form addressing the applicant's skills, abilities and experience as they relate to teacher education. You may not use a relative as a recommender. Applicants must decide whether or not to waive their right to view the recommendations. 

Applicants should indicate the e-mail addresses of the recommenders in the appropriate section of the on-line application. Recommendation requests are automatically sent to the recommenders upon selecting the "Send to Recommender" button. (Applicants may check their application account to check the status of their recommendation requests.) Adequate time should be given to recommenders to respond to the request by the application deadline! 

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all recommendations are received by the application deadline. 

Please review the types of recommendations required below. 

1. Faculty Recommendation - This should be completed by a faculty member at the college level (not high school). The faculty member will be asked to address the applicant’s academic skills and potential to succeed in a graduate program. Academic skills and abilities include: critical thinking, communication, organization, and ability to work in groups. 

College graduates who have been away from higher education more than five years may have difficulty obtaining a faculty recommendation. Applicants who will not be enrolling in prerequisite courses prior to the MAT program, may choose to submit a Professional/Community Recommendation instead. Two Professional/Community Recommendations would then be required. 

2. Professional/Community Recommendation - This should be completed by an individual who can address personal character and professional qualities (punctuality, communication, leadership, work ethic, etc.). Pastors, P-12 teachers, supervisors/employers, and community organization directors are a few examples of appropriate recommenders.
3. Work with Children and/or Adolescents Recommendation - This should be completed by an individual who has observed the applicant’s work/engagement with children and/or adolescents. The recommender should address the applicant’s ability to relate to and work with children/adolescents, as well as his/her ability to organize, lead and direct activities. The faculty screening committee wants to see evidence that applicants have engaged with the age group they intend to teach, and that a professional (such as a teacher or school administrator, scout leader, community organization director, etc.) confirms the applicant's potential for success in the teacher education program. 

Prepare a statement of purpose (1-2 pages, double-spaced) that describes your rationale for pursuing a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Louisville. Discuss your interest in doctoral study, indicating how your personal and professional goals, professional experiences, and commitment to education, learning, and research are congruent with a doctoral program in curriculum and instruction. Explicitly identify the specialization area in which you wish to study. 
 
At the top of the statement of purpose document (before actually beginning the text of your statement), please write a short statement indicating your intentions with regard to full-time or part-time study, and (only if full-time) your interest in being considered for assistantships. Expressions of interest in an assistantship do not guarantee that one will be offered – however, your expression of interest will alert the committee. For example, your expression of interest might be one of the following two statements:

• If admitted, I intend to pursue the PhD in Curriculum and Instruction on a full-time basis, and I would be (or would NOT be – choose whichever is appropriate for your situation) interested in being considered for a Graduate Assistantship (GA). I will submit a GA application form immediately upon hearing of admission to this program at this link.
   
• If admitted, I intend to pursue the PhD in Curriculum and Instruction on a part-time basis (at least initially) and thus would not be eligible for a Graduate Assistantship.

Interview Guidelines and Advisor Signature [PDF]. The process of mutually identifying a faculty member who agrees to serve as your doctoral advisor includes an applicant-initiated two-way interview process. As noted on the linked form, faculty with whom you interview in the process of identifying an appropriate advisor are requested to submit input to the admissions committee – such input becomes a portion of the evidence with which the admissions committee will make an admission decision. 

Competitive applicants may be contacted by a department representative to schedule an interview with faculty members of the admissions screening committee. 

Applicants are encouraged to prepare for the interview by reflecting on the following: 

• How do you demonstrate intellectual curiosity?
• How do you develop positive relationships and work collaboratively with peers, teachers, and others?
• How do you demonstrate the interpersonal skills necessary to do the daily work of teaching?
• Can you give examples of your commitment to diversity, equity and social justice?
• Can you identify characteristics critical to successful teaching (such as dependability, initiative, organization) and give examples of how you exhibit those traits? 

Applicants should be prepared to discuss their qualifications for admission to the teacher education program and should project a professional image in their dress and behavior for the interview. Please be aware that candidates may participate in an in-person interview, a group interview, or multiple interviews during the admission process. 

• Phase I—All applicants must have the following:
  • A complete application for the Louisville Teacher Residency position at www.jcpsky.net/employment.html. Questions about the JCPS application should be directed to louisvilleteacherresidency@jefferson.kyschools.us. The following items must be submitted for the application to be considered complete:
    • Résumé - Follow the résumé template attached to the JCPS job list posting.
    • Unofficial transcripts from all colleges or universities attended uploaded to your application.
    • Two-minute video telling us about yourself, what grade/subject area you would like to teach, and why you would like to become a teacher.
• Phase II—Candidates selected to proceed to phase II will receive explicit instructions outlining program expectations.
  • Interview (Face-to-face or Virtual)
• Phase III—Candidates selected to proceed to phase III will receive explicit instructions outlining program expectations.
  • Apply to the University of Louisville College of Education
  • Professional writing essays
  • Three (3) professional reference letters
  • Official transcripts to JCPS and the University of Louisville
• Phase IV—Candidates selected to proceed to phase IV will receive explicit instructions outlining program expectations.
  • Group interview with cohort members and program coaches
  • JCPS background check
• LTR Application Process Link:
  • LTR Application Process 

• Online Graduate Application for Admission
• Application fee (non-refundable)
• Valid Kentucky Teaching Certificate or Statement of Eligibility for candidates outside Kentucky.
  • If you are certified in Kentucky, please indicate that on your application. You are not required to submit this documentation as we have access through the Education Professional Standards Board.
  • If you are certified in another state, please read the Out of State disclaimer below.
• Two letters of recommendation – please list the email addresses for two recommenders in the online application. Recommenders will receive instructions and forms that they will complete online.
• Signed code of ethics/technology statement – use Professional Code of Ethics and CEHD Technology Agreement form [PDF]. Please upload this document to your online application.
• Current Résumé
• Professional Writing Requirement - please complete the following and upload with your application. Your response should be double-spaced (Times New Roman 12 point font) and no more than three pages.

Written Response

Please review the Professional Dispositions Rubric [PDF] and consider how you would evaluate your areas of strength as well as those for potential growth in each of the categories. In your essay, please identify three categories that you would rate yourself as "target" or "exemplary" and explain why. Then, identify one area for professional growth, and explain how you envision this program supporting your growth in this area.

• Official transcripts for any undergraduate work (minimum GPA of 2.75 preferred) and any graduate work (minimum GPA of 3.0 required) 

  Please have transcripts sent to:
  Graduate School 
  University of Louisville 
  Louisville, KY 40292 

  For electronic transcripts, please have them sent to: gradadm@louisville.edu

Note: Meeting GRE score and/or GPA minimums does not guarantee admission to the program.

Out-of-State Students

Out-of-state prospects who have teacher certification should be advised that we cannot guarantee the program will meet licensure, salary, advancement or other requirements in their state. As part of the admission process, we will require a written statement confirming their interest in the program for personal development and they understand the program is designed to meet Kentucky certification requirements only. For more information, please contact our academic advisor at betty.hampton@louisville.edu

International Students 

Applicants who have attended a college or university outside of the United States are also required to submit an evaluation of their transcript through either WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators) and other NACES approved evaluators found here:  www.naces.org/members. Please note that transcript evaluations can sometimes take several weeks.

• TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo – required of all foreign students from countries in which English is not the native language.
  • Students who hold a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. are exempt from this requirement.

Enrollment Requirements

Upon admission to the program, students will be assigned a faculty advisor and will work collaboratively with that advisor to complete any additional requirements needed before enrolling.

• Submit Graduate Application
• Master's degree in education (or related area) with a minimum 3.3. GPA
• Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• A written rationale for pursuing the degree, including philosophy of education (limit of one page)
• A current résumé or vita
• Three years of full-time K-12 teaching experience
• Two written letters of recommendation attesting to the candidate's skills and understanding of (a) ability to improve student achievement, (b) leadership, (c) advanced knowledge of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. One must be from the current site supervisor.
• Completion of six (6) credit hours of advanced teaching coursework (beyond initial teacher preparation program)

Graduate Assistantships (GA) and University Fellowships are competitive and awarded to full-time students for the fall semester well in advance--as early as mid-January for Fellowships--and typically by late March or April for Graduate Assistantships. Applications for both should be submitted by the November 1 deadline.

Specify the subsequent fall semester as your intended start date on the application. Indicate interest in assistantships on your statement of purpose.

Part-time doctoral student work or otherwise not interested in Graduate Assistantship funding:

• November 1 - Spring semester start (or later semester as indicated on application)
• February 15 - Summer semester start (or later semester as indicated on application)
• May 1 - Fall and Late Summer semester start (or later semester as indicated on application)

Members of the Curriculum and Instruction PhD admissions committee evaluate all applications after the appropriate admission deadline. Admission decisions are made by the professional judgment of the admissions committee according to established criteria. Admission to the program is competitive and preference is given to applicants who have strong academic records, experiences, and abilities that show demonstrated excellence in professional performance and research potential. All applicants will be notified in writing regarding their admission; typically this notification occurs approximately three weeks after the admissions deadline.

To be considered for admission, all materials must be submitted prior to the admission committee's review. If materials are incomplete, applicants will be notified and may submit again during the next review.

See the Application Process Overview [PDF] document for details.

Admission Materials

• Graduate Application
• Three letters of recommendation (see Directions for Applying for more information). If you have recommendation letters on file from a previous University of Louisville program application, you will need three new letters of recommendation for this application that speak to your potential in a doctoral program. In addition to the standard University form linked above, please have these individuals submit letters with supporting details for the recommendation. At least one of the three recommendation letters you choose should come from someone familiar with the rigor and requirements of a doctoral program.
• TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores for non-native speakers of English (if needed - see Directions for Applying for more information)
• Transcripts from each college you have attended other than the University of Louisville. Have all official non-University of Louisville transcripts sent to the Graduate School.

• Statement of purpose. Prepare a statement of purpose (1-2 pages, double-spaced) that describes your rationale for pursuing a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Louisville. Discuss your interest in doctoral study, indicating how your personal and professional goals, professional experiences, and commitment to education, learning, and research are congruent with a doctoral program in curriculum and instruction. Explicitly identify the specialization area in which you wish to study.

  At the top of the Statement of Purpose document (before actually beginning the text of your statement), please write a short statement indicating your intentions with regard to full-time or part-time study, and (only if full-time) your interest in being considered for assistantships. Expressions of interest in an assistantship do not guarantee that one will be offered – however, your expression of interest will alert the committee. For example, your expression of interest might be one of the following two statements:

1. If admitted, I intend to pursue the Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction on a full-time basis, and I would be (or would NOT be – choose whichever is appropriate for your situation) interested in being considered for a Graduate Assistantship (GA). I will submit a GA application form immediately upon hearing of admission to this program at: https://education.louisville.edu/student-experience/scholarships-funding/graduate-assistantships-gss.
2. If admitted, I intend to pursue the Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction on a part-time basis (at least initially) and thus would not be eligible for a Graduate Assistantship.

• Writing Sample. Prepare an academic essay (no more than 4 pages, double-spaced, not including references) that provides a clear statement about your initial research interest(s) and goals. Related to your interests, identify an educational problem or issue that drives you to pursue a Ph.D. degree. In this essay, convey what you know about this problem (or its resolution) based on your personal or professional experience, academic work, and reading. Describe what you want to know or learn about this issue, or what the field needs to know or learn about this problem, in order to improve practice and move the field forward.
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae [PDF]