Urban SEALS Application Criteria and Guidelines

The application procedure for the Urban SEALS doctoral program requires that prospective students (a) contact the grant coordinator to express an interest, (b) complete an online University Graduate Admissions application, (c) prepare and submit application materials to the College of Education Office of Advanced Graduate Studies, and (d) participate in an interview with faculty from the Special Education Program.
 
The Graduate Admissions application is a summary of traditional application data such as transcriptions and GRE scores.  The interview with the special education faculty provides the applicant the opportunity to present a comprehensive picture of one’s interests and abilities.

Admission Criteria

• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater in upper division coursework, and
• Master’s GPA of 3.25 or higher
• GRE score of 1,000 or greater (sum of verbal and quantitative).
• TOEFL score (if applicable) of 550

Applying to the Program*

Applying to the Urban SEALS program is a four-step process.  Each is briefly described below.

Step 1:  Contact Grant Coordinator

Contact the grant coordinator via  phone or email to express an interest in applying to the program (See contact information at the bottom of this page.). You will be asked to submit a preapplication form. An appointment may be scheduled with a special education faculty member to review the program.

Step 2: FIU University Application

Applicants must apply on-line through the FIU Office of Admissions, (305-348-2363). On-line application procedures begin at http://www.fiu.edu/gradadm/index_high.html. Along with filling out the application, you will be required to submit:

• Official academics transcriptions
• GRE scores
• Application fees

Step 3: College of Education Application

Applicants must submit the following items to the College of Education Coordinator of Doctoral Studies (305 348-2975):

• Letters of Recommendation: A minimum of three reference letters from educational professionals attesting to applicant’s ability for success in doctoral study.
• Letter of Intent: This is a brief letter describing why applicant is applying for the doctoral program.
• Current Resume:  This will provide detailed work and educational history

Dr. Frank DiVesta
COE Coordinator of Doctoral Studies
Florida International University
11200 SW 8th Street
College of Education ZEB 310B
Miami, FL 33199

Step 4: On-Site Interview

Applicants to be further considered to the ESE doctoral program will participate in an interview with faculty from the Special Education program and other appropriate faculty from the Department of Educational and Psychological Studies. Interview formats vary but typically include a group interview with the faculty in the Special Education program, interviews with individual faculty members, or other formats. An interview will be arranged once an applicant has submitted all materials to the University and Department.

*Additional information can be found in the Exceptional Student Education Doctoral Application Packet that can be downloaded at http://www.fiu.edu/~edpsy/sped_graduate.htm.