Office of International Programs – The University of Alabama College of Education

History of the Office of International Programs

The College of Education has provided educational opportunities to American-sponsored overseas schools through the Office of International Programs since 1966. Since its beginning, the International Programs at the College of Education has contributed to this effort by providing qualified students an affordable opportunity to continue their studies abroad for becoming successful educators. Programs have included on-site courses for professional development and graduate credit, graduate degree programs, fieldwork, technical services, and consultation.

Thousands of teachers and administrators have earned graduate degrees through the Office of International Programs. Beneﬁts of enrollment include career advancement, professional growth, higher salaries, meeting SACS-COC requirements for accreditation, expansion of networking, and great opportunities to grow professionally.

Degree Programs

Courses are 4 weeks long. Each course is specifically designed for elementary and secondary education graduate students. All courses represent the same rigor as taught on campus in the College of Education.

All degree-seeking students must 1) complete the program within eighteen consecutive semesters (fall, spring, summer) from the date of admission; 2) pass a comprehensive examination and/or Portfolio; and 3) transfer approved master’s-level courses from another regionally accredited institution, when applicable. With the approval of the student’s department and the dean of the Graduate School, 12 hours or 25% of the degree program, whichever is greater, may be transferred from another institution.

All credit toward the master’s degree, including transfer credit, must have been earned during the six years (18 fall, spring, and summer semesters) immediately preceding the date on which the degree is to be awarded.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for regular admission to an International Programs graduate program in the College of Education, a student must satisfy both of the following admission requirements:

An entrance examination score of at least 300 on the revised Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or a score no lower than the 50th percentile on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 semester hours in a degree program, or a 3.0 or higher GPA in a completed graduate degree program.
An applicant whose credentials do not meet the above requirements may be considered for conditional admission, if the following minimum requirement is satisfied: An entrance examination score no lower than the 40th percentile on the MAT or no lower than 295 on the GRE and an undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

Note: A graduate student removes the condition by earning an average of “B” or better in the first 12 semester hours of graduate-level work completed and by satisfying any other conditions specified by the College of Education at the time of admission. Failure to remove the condition within the first 12 hours of graduate work will result in the student’s being dropped from the program. A student who satisfies the condition will assume automatically the status of a regularly admitted graduate student.

Admission Procedure

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission, only that students will be reviewed for admission. Applications are reviewed by departmental screening committees with consideration given to such factors as academic and professional backgrounds, test scores, personal traits, professional goals and aspirations, and other factors that pertain to the ability to complete the program successfully and continue a productive career. The Graduate School makes final admissions decisions based on departmental recommendations and the Graduate School’s review of applications. The Graduate School will notify you in writing of admission approval or denial.

You can enroll in The University of Alabama’s Graduate School as either a non-degree graduate student for the first semester or as a degree-seeking graduate student. A student may enroll for one semester only as a non-degree student in the College of Education. By entering as a non-degree student, this can provide additional time during the first semester to apply for degree seeking status. Both options lead to successfully earning a Master of Arts in Elementary or Secondary Education.

First-semester, Non-Degree Seeking Application Requirements

Electronically submit a non-degree seeking application form online at graduate.ua.edu; and
Submit an unofficial copy of transcripts and degree certificates/diplomas with translations to the Graduate School.

Degree-Seeking Application Requirements

Electronically submit a degree-seeking application form online at graduate.ua.edu;
Submit official, certified transcripts and degree certificates/diplomas in the native language with official, literal, word-for-word English translations directly from the issuing institution to the Graduate School. Documents must bear original signatures and seals of the issuing institution. Notarized documents are not accepted.
Submit GRE or MAT test score directly from the test company to the Graduate School; and
Submit a statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation online at graduate.ua.edu.

Locations and Projects

Elementary and Secondary Master’s Degree Programs

Bogota, Colombia
Mexico City, Mexico
Quito, Ecuador

Special Education Master’s Degree Program

Bogota, Colombia

Educational Leadership Master’s Degree Program

Bogota, Colombia

On-going China Collaborations

Beijing Normal University
China Normal University
Nanjing Normal University
Shanghai Normal University Tianhua College, China

Fulbright Scholars from COE

Dr. Angela Benson
Dr. Phil Bishop
Dr. Joy J. Burnham
Dr. Cory Callahan
Dr. Randall E. Schumacker
Dr. Steve Thoma

Visiting Scholars from in 2016-2020

University Vienna, Austria
Federal Institute of Education of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Shanghai Normal University, China
Nanjing Normal University, China
Kerala University, India
Bautista Medical Center University, Paraguay
Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey

International Travel – COE Faculty

Austria
China
Columbia
Cuba
Italy
Lebanon
Mexico
Portugal
Spain
Switzerland
Thailand

Dean’s Matching Program

China (Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai)
Portugal (Lisbon, Porto)
Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia)
Poland (Cieszyn)

Study Abroad Programs: Sponsored by UA Education Abroad

Arleene Breaux – Ed Leadership
Joy Burnham – Counselor Education
Holly Swain – Elementary Education

OIP Advisory Committee

Joy Burnham (OIP) – Chair
Cory Callahan (C&I)
Alison Hooper (C&I)
Michael Lawson (ESPRMC)
Kagenda Mutua (SPEMA)
Roxanne Mitchell (ELPTS)
Steven Yates (Library and Information Studies)
Liza Wilson (Dean’s Office) – Ex-Officio

For more information, please contact Dr. Joy Burnham, Director, or Suzanne Gibson, Program Specialist.