FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I apply for admission into a graduate program at Morningside College?
Every student in an endorsement or master's degree program, whether courses are taken on- or
off-campus, must apply for admission to graduate study at Morningside College. Applications are
available from the Graduate Web site. Students send the completed application,required writing sample, a copy of their current teaching license, official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work, and the application fee to the Graduate Office at Morningside College. Applicants are notified in writing regarding their admission status following action by the Education Department.
What admissions tests are required?
Morningside no longer requires the Miller Analogies test for Admission to Candidacy for the degree.
How do I register for classes?
Registration for courses varies both among locations and within locations. In some locations, registration for program courses is done directly through Morningside College; in other locations, registration is done through the AEA. Registration for Morningside online courses is done directlythrough Morningside College. Starting Fall 2008 all continuing students were able to register online. Course offerings are published in advance of each semester and the summer. Students should consult these publications for specific registration procedures.
What are VESi courses?
VESi courses are CD-ROM courses developed by Virtual Education Software, Inc., in Spokane,
Washington. These courses are available for Morningside graduate credit. For more information
about these courses, go to the VESi website at http://www.virtualeduc.com/morningside/.
Can I transfer credits from another institution?
Master's degree students may transfer 9 hours of approved graduate hours from another institution.
This credit must also fall within the seven-year time span. Students in endorsement programs
may use a combination of approved undergraduate and graduate credit and credit from various
institutions in their programs.
How do I do my internship?
Supervised internships are required in place of student teaching in all graduate endorsement programs. In most cases, graduate students complete the internship in their own classrooms. However, all coursework for a teaching endorsement must be completed before the internship may be done. Applications for supervised internships are due near the beginning of the semester prior to the semester during which the student wishes to do the internship. Submission of the application for an internship does not ensure approval to do the internship.
Is financial aid available for graduate work?
There is limited financial aid for graduate students. Students interested in applying for financial aid must:
1) be an admitted student in the Morningside College Graduate Program (prior to the start of the semester the student is requesting aid); 2) have completed a 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) www.fafsa.ed.gov and have it sent to Morningside College (Federal School Code 001879); 3) complete and return the Morningside College Financial Aid Application for Graduate Students; and 4) and register each term for a minimum of 6 hours of graduate credit at the Morningside tuition rate for most financial aid (exceptions include Federal TEACH Grant and some private loan assistance). All of these items must be completed in a timely manner in order for the Office of Student Financial Planning to disburse aid while the student is enrolled during each term. The Morningside Financial Aid Application must be submitted for each term for which financial aid is sought. Students seeking an Endorsement may only receive aid for classes required for that endorsement.
Contact Student Financial Planning at 1-800-831-0806, Ext. 5159, for information.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness Online Opportunities:
FFEL AND Direct Stafford Loan Cancellation for Teachers (up to $5,000 or $17,500)
Federal Perkins Loan Teacher Cancellation (up to 100%)
Iowa College Student Aid Commission Iowa Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness ProgramIowa Student Loan Teacher Education Loan Forgiveness Program
Federal TEACH Grant (Loan) Program
Will I be able to take the Lifelong Learning tax credit on my federal income tax form?Internal Revenue Service regulations specify that a tax credit of 20% of qualifying expenses
paid to qualifying institutions of higher learning may be taken on the individual’s federal tax
form. Morningside College meets the criteria for qualifying institutions, Area Education Agencies
do not. Therefore, tuition paid directly to Morningside (at the current Morningside rate) qualifies
for the tax credit. However, tuition payments made to AEAs (at a substantially lower tuition rate)
do not qualify for the tax credit. Students who have made tuition payments directly to Morningside
College will automatically be sent the required IRS statement 1098T in January for the previous
calendar year.
What is admission to candidacy?
Students must file a formal petition for admission to candidacy for a master's degree. This is not
required for students in endorsement-only programs. Formal admission to candidacy is based on a
review of the student's record following the completion of at least 18 hours of graduate work at
Morningside College including EDUC 501 Educational Research. Students must have a 3.0 GPA on this
work. Students must exhibit proficiency in oral and written English based on coursework and file
a program completion plan that includes a self-assessment and goal-setting statement. The application for admission to candidacy must be submitted to the Graduate Office by October 1 of the academic year in which the student plans to graduate.
How long do I have to complete a program?
Endorsement-only programs have no time limits. Master's degree programs must be completed
within a seven-year time span. Most students complete the master's degree program in 3.5 to
4 years.
Do I write a thesis?
Morningside's master's degree programs are non-thesis programs. However, there is a writing
requirement. In the course EDUC 501 Educational Research, students write a proposal for a piece
of action research that could be carried out in their own classroom, school, or district. Prior to
graduation with the master’s degree, students are required to implement that proposal and write a research report based on the results. This research report is submitted to the Graduate Office by March 1 of the school year in which the student plans to graduate and becomes part of the individual student’s graduate file.
What is APA style?
APA (American Psychological Association) style is a writing and publication form that has been
adopted by the Education Department at Morningside College as the standard for written work.
Copies of the APA manual are available for student use in the college library and in each AEA and
for purchase through the college bookstore. A brief stylesheet outlining form for citing references
is available from course instructors. It is the student's responsibility to become familiar with this
style and to use it in writing.
What are comprehensive exams?
At the completion of degree program coursework, students write comprehensive examinations. In the comprehensive exams the students reflect on their attainment of the graduate goals and their major field of study. All coursework must be completed and the student must be admitted to candidacy before the student is allowed to take the exams. The exams are sent to the student in early November and must be returned to the Graduate Office by February 1 of the school year in which the student plans to graduate. Students must pass the examination satisfactorily to be recommended for graduation.
What are the requirements for graduating with the master’s degree?
Students must complete program coursework with a B average (with no more than 6 hours of C),
have their research report accepted, and pass the comprehensive examination to be recommended for
graduation.
How do I get an official transcript?
Official transcripts may be requested from the Registrar’s Office for $5 each. There is an
additional charge for transcripts sent by overnight mail. A request for an official transcript must
be made in writing and signed by the owner, or a student may complete a transcript request
form in the Registrar’s office. An official transcript will be released only when financial obligations
for enrollment periods prior to the current period are paid in full. For more information, call the
Registrar’s office at 800-831-0806, ext. 5110.
How do I add a new endorsement to my teaching license?
When students have completed all of the required coursework for an endorsement, they
must fill out the State of Iowa Application for Licensure, attach the required fee, and return
the form to the Graduate Office. The certification/licensure officer approves the application and has it
sent to the State Board of Educational Examiners. The new license is sent directly to the student. These steps are provided in the Procedures for Updating Your License page from the Graduate Web site.
How do I get more information?
Call the local AEA or check the Morningside Web site (www.morningside.edu) and AEA Web sites
for specific information regarding scheduling during a particular semester. For other
information, call:
The Graduate Office:
Janice Petersen, Secretary712-274-5375 or 800-831-0806, x5375