Navigating Your Path: A Comprehensive Guide to UCLA's Master of Education Programs

UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies (Ed & IS) is consistently ranked among the top education programs in the nation. This article provides a detailed overview of the application process, requirements, and opportunities available within UCLA's Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs.

Application Essentials

To begin your journey, familiarize yourself with the UCLA application for graduate admission, which serves as the primary application for most programs, with exceptions such as the M.D. in Medicine, the J.D., S.J.D, and L.L.M. in Law, the D.D.S. in Dentistry, and M.B.A. and M.F.E. programs. Before submitting an application, carefully consider which program aligns best with your academic and professional aspirations.

Who Needs to Apply?

First-Time Applicants: If you are applying to UCLA as a graduate student for the first time, complete all sections of the application.
Previously Denied Applicants: If you have applied before but were not admitted, complete all sections of the application.
Admitted but Did Not Register: If you have been admitted within the last year but did not register, select "Renewal" from the "Application Type" dropdown menu. Submit only the application, along with any new or updated information. Note that after the first renewal, the application fee must be submitted with each subsequent application.
Former UCLA Graduate Students: If you have ever registered as a graduate student at UCLA, regardless of completion, complete all parts of the application.

Application Deadlines

It is imperative to consult the specific UCLA graduate program to which you are applying for its specific deadline. While some programs may consider applications received after the stated deadline, this is contingent upon enrollment limitations. Before submitting a late application, contact the program directly to learn whether it can be considered.

Application Fee and Waivers

The application fee varies: \$140 for international students, \$200 for specific programs like the Global Executive MBA for Asia Pacific, the Master of Financial Engineering, and the MS in Business Analytics, and \$155 for all other applicants.

UCLA offers application fee waivers to participants in several programs. To apply for a waiver, select the appropriate program under "Program Participation" in the Fee Waiver section of the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission:

American Political Science Association Ralph Bunche Summer Institute Scholars
California State University Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program
Florida A and M University Graduate Feeder Scholars Program (FAMU GFSPP)
Gates Millennium Scholars
GEM Scholar (deferral only)
Louis Stokes Alliances/California Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP/CAMP)
McNair Scholars
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program (MMUF)
Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC)
Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS)/Research Initiative For Science Enhancement (MBRS RISE)
National Institutes of Health Build/Prep applicant
PPIA (Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship Program)
STAR (UCLA) participants
Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR)
UC-HBCU Initiative participant
UC Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS)
UCLA Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)

Applicants may also be eligible for event-based waivers at designated conferences and recruitment events, potentially waiving the application fee for PhD and state-supported doctoral programs. Inquire about these opportunities at relevant events.

Required Application Materials

The UCLA Application for Graduate Admission requires the following uploads:

Transcripts (unofficial for application purposes)
Supplemental information
Department-specific material (portfolio, if required)
Statement of Purpose
Letters of Recommendation

Academic Requirements

Admission through the regular process requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable to a bachelor’s degree from the University of California. Additionally, an overall scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better is required, including any post-baccalaureate study.

Dean’s Special Action (DSA)

Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement may still be considered through the "Dean’s Special Action" (DSA) process. Departments can initiate this process at their discretion when other aspects of the applicant's file suggest readiness for graduate study. No additional action is required on the applicant's part.

Standardized Tests

GRE

GRE requirements vary by graduate program. Applicants must use the same personal information on the GRE application as on the UCLA graduate application to ensure scores match up electronically. Request that scores be sent to UCLA using the GRE institution code R4837.

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English Proficiency

Applicants may be required to prove their English proficiency, regardless of citizenship. The English proficiency requirement must be met regardless of citizenship. Information on the TOEFL and IELTS is available through Educational Testing Service (ETS) and IELTS International, respectively. Once official scores have been received by UCLA, they will appear as verified when you log into your application.

The Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement

Admissions committees seek to understand your voice, academic goals, personal experiences, and unique perspective through your essays. Your application must be truthful and reflect your own work. Essays that rely heavily, or entirely, on AI may be treated as academic dishonesty.

Statement of Purpose

Address the following questions in your Statement of Purpose:

What is your purpose in applying for graduate study in your specified degree program?
What experiences have prepared you for advanced study or research in this degree program? What relevant skills have you gained from these experiences?
Why is the UCLA graduate program to which you are applying the best place for you to pursue your academic goals?

Personal Statement

The Personal Statement provides an opportunity to share additional information that may aid the selection committee:

Are there educational, personal, cultural, economic, or social experiences, not described in your Statement of Purpose, that have shaped your academic journey? If so, how?
Describe challenge(s) or barriers that you have faced in your pursuit of higher education.

Letters of Recommendation

Ensure your recommenders submit their letters promptly. If a recommender is having trouble accessing the recommendation form, it may be due to a firewall at their institution. This is especially true of institutions in China.

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Application Review Process

Submitted application materials are reviewed by faculty admissions committees in each major program. These committees base their recommendations for admission upon a careful comparison of applications, which may take considerable time.

Admission Decisions and Deferrals

UCLA announces fall application decisions starting in February and continuing through the summer. Each program has a different review period that follows its admission deadline. While April 15th is often mentioned, it is not a deadline for graduate decision notification. The CGS Resolution date of April 15th refers to offers of admission with funding.

In most cases, UCLA does not offer deferrals for graduate admission. However, exceptions are made for:

Active Military Service: Admitted students with active military orders may request a deferral for the duration of their service.
Graduate Council-Approved Temporary Allowances: The Graduate Council may authorize programs to offer deferrals under specific circumstances.

Resources for Admitted Students

Upon admission, the conditions of admission and information and instructions concerning registration (via a link to the Statement of Intent to Register and a Statement of Legal Residence) will be included as part of the offer of admission letter, which can be printed out from the Division of Graduate Education site.

Housing and Parking

A variety of University and privately-owned housing options are available to UCLA graduate students. Student parking assignments are made on a need-based point system that considers factors such as class standing and commute distance.

Specific Programs within UCLA Ed & IS

Master of Arts in Education

The M.A. in Education is a one-year graduate-level program designed for educators, scholars, and practitioners who seek to deepen their understanding of teaching, learning, leadership, and educational systems. Students interested in preparing for a career in education and potentially pursuing a Ph.D. must complete nine (36 units) graduate (200-series) or upper division (100-series) courses for the degree; no specific upper division courses are necessary.

Master of Education in Student Affairs

The Student Affairs program is a one-year cohort-based M.Ed. program focused on preparing student affairs professionals for positions in public and private colleges and universities, as well as community colleges. The program concentrates on theory, practice, and research in Student Affairs in postsecondary education.

The Master of Education in Student Affairs is designed to provide early-career professionals with knowledge, skills, and a social justice perspective in the areas of student development theory, foundations of higher education, student affairs administration, research, and assessment. Students attend classes as a cohort on a full-time basis and participate in three quarters of directed internship.

MBA Programs at the Anderson School of Management

The John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management offers a variety of MBA programs, including full-time, part-time, and executive options.

Full-Time MBA Program

The full-time MBA program requires 94 units of coursework, including a management core, advanced electives, and a Capstone Project. Students with extensive academic or professional experience in Accounting, Economics, Finance, and Marketing may attempt to waive out of the equivalent core course by examination. A minimum one-quarter internship with a company in their proposed area of study is also required, typically completed during the summer between the first and second years. The full-time M.B.A. must be completed within two calendar years of admission.

Concurrent Degree Programs

The M.B.A. has concurrent degree programs designed to allow a student to complete two degrees with a limited number of overlapping units. These programs include:

M.B.A. and J.D. (Law)
M.B.A and M.D. (Medicine)
M.B.A and M.U.R.P. (Urban and Regional Planning)
M.B.A and M.P.H. (Public Health)
M.B.A. and M.P.P. (Public Policy)
M.B.A and M.A. (Latin American Studies)
M.B.A and M.S. (Computer Science)
M.B.A and M.L.I.S. (Library and Information Studies)

Additional Opportunities

UCLA Summer Sessions

The UCLA Summer Sessions offer approximately 500 undergraduate and graduate courses each summer.

UCLA Extension

You may take courses offered by UCLA Extension without formal admittance to UCLA.

Academic Standing and Disqualification

A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for various reasons, including failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00), failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree, and poor performance in core courses.

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