TLES
The Practice of Teaching
TLES Graduate Programs
After Admission
Take Care of Your Paperwork
As you prepare to enter
the master's program it is critical that you attend to the following
procedures in the order outlined by the specified times.
Step 1 - Design a tentative program based on your needs and interests.
Carefully examine the program description and the graduate catalogue course descriptions to determine what courses will most benefit you. Be attentive to course prerequisites. If you have questions, contact the department in which the course(s) originate to discuss the suitability of the course(s) for your program. Complete a program outline (official form attached to program guideline). You may include no more than nine hours of course work that you completed prior to the date of being accepted into the program. You must include a minimum of fifteen hours of 600 level or above course work.
Step 2 - Seek Advisor Approval for your Program
The procedure for filing your permanent program is as follows:
A. Submit a list of courses to your graduate advisor by mail. Allow six weeks for the list to be reviewed by the advisor and processed. Use the attached program outline to assist you in the development of your list. This must be done within one semester following notification of admission to the program.
B. The advisor will review your selections. If your selections are within departmental guidelines and your advisor concurs with your choices, your list will be converted into a permanent program. If your selections are not within guidelines, your advisor will contact you by phone or mail regarding the necessary changes.
C. The final program will be signed by your program advisor and by the Dean of the Graduate College.
D. One copy of your program will be kept on file with your advisor, another will be kept at the graduate college and a copy will also be mailed to you. Be certain to file your copy in a safe, accessible place.
Step 3 - File Necessary Program Changes in a Timely Manner
If it becomes necessary for you to change any of your courses, send a clearly written note to vour advisor which includes the following in the order listed:
A. Your name
B. Your social security number
C. Your current address
D. Your current phone number and daytime hours (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.) and
evening hours (5 p.m. - 9 p.m.) when you can be reached
E. The course(s) you wish to drop
F. The course(s) you wish to add
Step 4 - Ready to Graduate?
A separate form for graduation may be obtained from the Registrar's Office and returned to that office approximately six months before vour intended graduation date.
Time Constraints
You have six vears from the date of your first course until the last course in vour program is completed. It is possible to file for a one or two semester extension, provided you have clear justification for the delay in your completion. Contact the Graduate College and request an extension form if an extension is needed. You must take at least one course each year. If a calendar year elapses during which vou do not take a course, you will be dropped from the program and will be required to seek readmission to the program.
Transfer Credit
A minimum of 24 hours of your degree program must be comprised of WMU
courses. Therefore, you will be allowed to transfer up to 6 graduate
credits from other accredited graduate institutions, contingent on their
acceptance by the University auditor and the approval of your advisor.
Undergraduate
Credit in a Graduate Program
In certain instances,
you may include up to six semester hours of 300- or 400-level
courses in your graduate program of study. You must have
written permission form your advisor and from the graduate dean
prior to registering for such classes. Contact your advisor
for information on how to make this request.
Course Availability
At this time, masters
programs are offered through the main campus and four of Western's
regional centers: Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Southwest.
To-date, candidates have been able to complete their program through
these regional centers. While we will make every effort
to continue to offer the courses appropriate for this progrwn
through the regional centers, it may be necessary to come to the
main campus to complete your program requirements.
Graduate Teaching Assistants
The Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies typically hires 3-4 Graduate Teaching Assistants to assist faculty with teaching during the fall and spring Semesters.