Program Admission

Admission to Graduate study at UNI

Before being admitted to the Science Education Graduate program, one must first be admitted to graduate study at the University. The minimum bachelor’s degree grade point average (GPA) for admission is 3.00. Students with a GPA of 2.75-2.99 may be admitted on a provisional status depending on indicators of academic potential. The Graduate Records Exam (GRE) is not required.

Complete the Application to Graduate Study specifying degree choice on the application (821= M.A. Science Education, 827=M.A. Earth Science Emphasis or 828=Physics Emphasis).  The application fee (for non-UNI alumni) is payable by credit card for on-line applications or can be submitted with a written application to:

Office of the Registrar
Graduate Admissions, Gilchrist Hall 115
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0006

Your application must list ALL institutions from which you have completed course work, starting with your bachelor’s degree to the present. Have academic institutions send official transcripts for your bachelor’s degree and for all course work taken after your bachelor’s degree directly to the Office of the Registrar at the above address.

Graduate Assistantships

If interested in a graduate teaching assistantship stipend and tuition scholarship, obtain the application forms from the Science Education Graduate Coordinator or from the Graduate College web page.

Admission to Graduate study in Science Education

The Application to Graduate Study in Science Education can be found here. Submit the application to the Science Education Graduate Coordinator:

Science Education Graduate Coordinator
McCollum Science Hall 153, UNI
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0296.
sciedgradcoord@uni.edu

Completed forms can be submitted to the Science Education Graduate Coordinator.  Graduate Teaching Assistantships in Science Education are available each year.  Applications should be completed by February 1, with letters of recommendation received by Feb. 28.  Award decisions are made in early March. Teaching licensure and endorsement is a requirement of this program. If licensure is not held upon entering the program, it must be completed by the end of the program. International students returning to their home country upon completion of the degree should work with their advisor with respect to licensure and endorsement requirements.

English as a Second Language

International students and all students for whom English is not their first language, TESOL or IELTS exam scores are required.  Minimum paper-based TOEFL score is 550, the computer-based score is 213.  A minimum IELTS of 6.5 is required.

Acceptance and Initial Faculty Advisor

You will receive an email from Graduate Admissions once your application materials are complete.  You will then receive a letter indicating your acceptance status into graduate study in science education. You will be assigned a faculty advisor by the Science Education Graduate Coordinator based on the information included on the Science Education application form, or you may indicate a preference of faculty advisor to the Science Education Graduate Coordinator.

University Student Service (MyUNIverse)

Upon being admitted to UNI you will be assigned a student number and CatID username. If you previously attended/graduated from UNI you will reassume your previous student number and CatID, however you will need to re-set your password.  The CatID is used for a variety of campus systems including email, eLearning or WebCT) and MyUNIverse.

You will be assigned an “@uni.edu” address. It is highly recommend that you either check this email regularly for program and university updates or have email automatically forwarded to another account.  See the ITS website for more detailed email instructions. eLearning is a course management system which you will likely use in several courses.  It provides a forum for class based discussion boards, electronic access to materials, assignments, assessments, calendars, announcements and a variety of other course tools. Check with your individual course instructors for more information.

The MyUNIverse portal allows lifetime access with a current password. See the new student information page for instructions on how to set your username and password.  Call (319) 273-5555 to reset an expired password. MyUNIverse can be accessed from the UNI home page. This portal provides access to countless resources and processes required for successful completion of your program including:

  • UNI email access
  • Checking your University bill (U-bill)
  • Registration for classes
  • Accessing your Academic Advisement Report (formerly Program of Study)
  • Accessing student request forms for changes in your program plan
  • Accessing transfer credit evaluation forms
  • Accessing the application to graduate form
  • Financial Aid
  • Rod Library, etc.