Master’s FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is the GRE required to apply?
The GRE is not required for most of our master’s programs. The only exception is the Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics & Assessment (MESA) program.
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Do I need a bachelor’s in education to apply?
No, we accept many master’s students who are new to the field of education and are looking for a career change. However, certain MEd programs require a teaching license in order for you to be eligible to earn endorsements. See our licensure, endorsements & credentials page for more information.
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Can I attend part-time?
Yes. The majority of our master’s students take courses part-time. Part-time students typically take 1 or 2 courses per semester.
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How long will it take to graduate?
Part-time master’s students typically take 2 to 3 years to earn the MEd. Full-time students can finish in less than 2 years.
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What is the tuition for master's programs?
Tuition costs are set by UIC and can be found on the UIC Graduate Tuition & Fees page. Tuition rates may vary depending on the year and the number and type of courses you are taking.
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Is financial aid available?
Yes, but it varies for each person and program. UIC offers graduate student assistantships with tuition waivers, as well as scholarships. There are a few opportunities you can apply for at the same time as you apply to UIC, but many opportunities only accept applications from currently enrolled students, so you will have to be admitted first.
Funding options will depend on which program you enroll in, as well as your academic and/or professional qualifications. The UIC Graduate College is a great source of information to start learning about the many funding and award opportunities for UIC graduate students.
To learn more about scholarships and aid within the College of Education, visit our Tuition & Aid page.
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When do courses meet?
Classes meet once per week in the evenings, Monday through Thursday. We do not offer Saturday classes.
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Can I be employed full-time while working on my degree?
Yes. The majority of our students work full-time. Since classes meet in the evenings, it is possible to work full-time while pursing the degree.
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Are any of your degrees offered online?
Yes. The MEd in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment (MESA) is our only fully online program.
The MEd Special Education program offers a hybrid (in person online) model to complete the degree. Several other of our master’s degrees offer select courses online, but unless you are doing the MESA program, you need to be able to get to UIC campus for at least part of the time.
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What is the application deadline for master's programs?
Deadlines vary by MEd program and you can find them all here. Once you know which master’s program is right for you, check to see what the deadline(s) are for that program.
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Can I transfer credit hours towards my UIC master's degree?
Yes, there is an option to transfer a limited number of credits as long as they are within the guidelines of the UIC Graduate College. Read the full list of guidelines here. Here are some excerpts from that page:
“Consideration is given to the transfer of credit in four categories:
- Graduate work from another institution for which a degree was not, or will not, be awarded.
- Graduate work completed in the senior year, or in another college, at UIC.
- Graduate work completed as a non-degree student at UIC.
- Graduate work completed while in a Graduate College degree program, but not used for any earned degree. This includes extra work taken, for example, while in a master’s program, but that is to be used for the doctoral degree.”
“For master’s programs of 47 or fewer semester hours [which includes all College of Education M.Ed. programs], no more than 25% of the total hours required for the degree may be transferred from another institution or other UIC college.”
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What is the difference between traditional and alternative licensure programs? Which types of licensure programs do you offer?
Alternative licensure programs offer you the opportunity to pursue a teaching license only and no master’s degree. They are popular with people looking to switch careers whose bachelor’s degrees are not in the education field, who don’t want pay a lot of extra costs associated with a full master’s degree program, and who want to transition to teaching relatively quickly. Alternative licensure programs in Illinois are generally a full-time commitment and take about two years to complete.
The College of Education offers one alternative licensure program – the Early Childhood Education alternative licensure, which is a special pilot program run through the City of Chicago and does not accept applications through UIC.
However, all of UIC’s traditional licensure programs at the master’s level can be completed part-time in 2-3 years, with accommodations for student-teaching that allow students to keep their jobs, are open to students without a prior background in education, and at a cost that is much lower than alternative licensure programs at private universities.
Students graduate our traditional, part-time licensure programs with an advanced degree as well as a teaching license in a similar amount of time as other institutions’ full-time alternative licensure programs. Having an M.Ed. as well as a license increases our graduates’ access to jobs and higher salaries when they enter the teaching field.
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Can I start taking courses in my intended program before I am accepted?
For certain programs, you can take up to 12 credit hours as a non-degree seeking student at UIC that could potentially transfer to your intended master’s program. Please note that you will have to apply for the graduate non-degree studies option in order to receive admission, and you will not be eligible for scholarships and financial aid until you are in a degree program.
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Choosing a master's
Please read our Choosing a Master’s Program page. There you will find answers about the differences between programs such Educational Studies/Educational Policy Studies and Youth Development/Urban Higher Education.
If you are applying to a master’s program to get a teaching license, your options are Early Childhood Ed (teaching children 0-8 years), Special Ed (teaching K-12), or Science Ed (teaching high school science). None of the other master’s programs will lead you to earning a teaching license. These three programs also accept licensed teachers looking to add endorsements or specialize.
Educational Studies and Language, Literacy & Learning also offer pathways to earn endorsements such as the Bilingual/ESL, but they do not provide a path to licensure.