Continuing and College Education

Admissions and Application Process

Application Procedures

Students may enter the program during any of the four quarters of the year. Application materials must be received in the Graduate School by the following deadlines:

Submit the online application form and pay the application fee by credit card; then email all supporting materials (except test scores and transcripts) to Graduate.School@wwu.edu.

Admissions Requirements

Admission to the Continuing and College Education program requires the candidate to fulfill the admission requirements of WWU’s Graduate School and demonstrate professional goals consistent with those of the program.  Application forms and requirements are:

• A completed online application form and application fee payment
• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter or 60 semester credits of undergraduate and graduate study.
• One official transcript from each previous institution attended - send to the Graduate School at the below mailing address.
• Three current references are required.  You can email the link to the online reference form to your referees so they can fill out and submit this form electronically.  In lieu of the reference form, your referees can email a narrative letter of reference (addressing the same evaluation criteria) from their official email account to Graduate.School@wwu.edu.  
• Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test scores - current within the past 5 years - are due by the application deadline (applications cannot be reviewed until test scores are received).  Test scores will be emailed to the Graduate School from the Testing Centers.  No test scores are required if the applicant holds an advanced degree.  Refer to the Testing information below.
• Current resume emailed to Graduate.School@wwu.edu.
• A 300 - 500 word Statement of Purpose emailed to Graduate.School@wwu.edu describing your past experience working with adults as a volunteer or an employee, particularly in an education capacity; your understanding of and commitment to the field of continuing and college education, why you are interested in pursuing this particular degree, and how you see this degree program fitting with your career goals.
• Computer competence is expected.  Fill out the CCE Program Technology Self Assessment (MS Word Doc) and email it to Stan.Goto@wwu.edu.

For questions about the application process, refer to the WWU Graduate School website, email Graduate.School@wwu.edu or call (360) 650-7704.  The mailing address is:                               

Western Washington University-Graduate School
516 High Street, Old Main 530
Bellingham, WA 98225-9037
Phone: (360) 650-3170
Email: Graduate.School@wwu.edu
Website: http://www.wwu.edu/depts/gradschool

Testing: MAT (Miller Analogies Test) or
GRE (Graduate Record Exam)

While a standardized exam score is a required part of the application materials, it usually provides a limited picture of the ability of applicants to do well in the Continuing and College Education program.  Other variables are more important, such as the applicant's goals, prior work or volunteer experiences, and  demonstration of continued lifelong learning.

The Miller Analogies Test is usually preferred by adults who do not have recent experiences doing math.  According to the MAT information booklet, "The MAT is a high-level mental ability test requiring the solution of problems stated as analogies.  It consists of 120 partial analogies that are to be completed in 60 minutes."  For information on testing times and cost, contact the WWU Testing Center at (360) 650-3080.  The test is also given at the University of Washington - (206) 543-1170.  If you are still anxious, contact a faculty advisor.

An alternative assessment is the Graduate Record Exam.  According to the GRE information bulletin, the general GRE "measures verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and are not related to any specific field of study."  The test can be taken as either a paper-and-pencil test or a computer-based test.  For more information phone (609) 771-7670. 

 

Tuition and Financial Aid

For graduate tuition, refer to the Graduate School website. 

For availability of graduate scholarships, refer to the Woodring College of Education Scholarship webpage.  

To apply for financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Forms are available from WWU's Student Financial Resources office, and on the web.  To contact the Student Financial Resources office, call (360) 650-3470 or email Student Financial Resources. 

For financial aid purposes, full-time graduate student enrollment is a minimum of 8 credits, half-time is 4 credits and 5-7 credits is three quarters time.  The majority of CCE students are part-time students because they are balancing work, family, and other life activities with their graduate school work. 

Western Washington University links for financial aid are as follows:

• WWU Financial Aid Services Center
• FAFSA on the Web  
• Woodring College of Education Scholarships
• U.S. Department of Education's Student Financial Assistance Website

 

Preparing Thoughtful, Knowledgeable, and Effective Educators
for a Diverse Society