Instructional Systems and Workforce Development
Department Head: Dr. Marty Bray
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Chien Yu
100 Industrial Education Building
Box 9730
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Telephone: 662-325-2281
Fax: 662-325-7599
E-mail: cyu@colled.msstate.edu
Master of Science in Instructional Technology (MSIT) Program Coordinator: Dr. Sang Joon Lee
Starkville and Online Campuses
259 IED Building
Telephone: 662-325-2281
E-mail: slee@colled.msstate.edu
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Program Coordinator: Dr. Mabel Okojie
214A IED Building
Telephone: 662-325-2281
E-mail: MOkojie@colled.msstate.edu
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Instructional Systems and Workforce Development Program Coordinator: Dr. James Adams
Starkville and Online Campuses
214B IED Building
Telephone: 662-325-2281
E-mail: JAdams@colled.msstate.edu
Veterans' Certificate Program Coordinator: Dr. James Adams
Distance Campus
256 IED Building
Telephone: 662-325-2281
E-mail: jadams@colled.msstate.edu
The Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development (ISWD) offers graduate coursework leading to master’s degrees in Technology (MST) and Instructional Technology (MSIT). The master’s programs are offered with a thesis option, requiring a minimum of 30 semester credit hours for the MST program and 33 semester credit hours for the MSIT program; the non-thesis option is also offered. The educational specialist degree may be earned with a major in Education and a concentration in Technology. A doctor of philosophy degree program in Instructional Systems and Workforce Development is also available. In addition, the department offers a Veterans' Certificate Program. For more information, contact the Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development.
Admission Criteria
Prerequisites for admission into the graduate program include all the general requirements of the Graduate School. International students must obtain a minimum TOEFL score of 550 PBT (79 iBT) or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5.
A student applying for admission into the Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development must submit the complete application packet to the Graduate School no later than:
| Applying For | Domestic Deadline | International Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Summer first 5-week | April 1 | March 1 |
| Summer second 5-week | April 1 | March 1 |
| Summer 10-week | April 1 | March 1 |
| Fall | July 1 | May 1 |
| Spring | November 1 | September 1 |
No applications are accepted after these deadlines for the respective admission semester.
A complete admission packet consists of the following items:
Ph.D. Program
1. Application to the graduate degree program
2. Three letters of recommendation (preferably from faculty and administrators who can comment about your scholarly ability)
3. Statement of purpose (a minimum of one page single-spaced). In the statement, please make sure to address the following.
- Describe the purpose of applying for the Ph.D. degree in this program area
- Identify your research interest
- Discuss your career goals
4. Official scores from all sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Applicants with a graduate GPA of 3.50 or higher on previous graduate work from an accredited institution may qualify for a waiver of the GRE/GMAT requirement.
5. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
6. A copy of professional résumé
Ph.D. applicants who pass the initial screening will be contacted for an online interview.
Master's and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Programs
1. Application to the graduate degree program
2. Three letters of recommendation (preferably from faculty and administrators who can comment about your scholarly ability)
3. Statement of purpose (a minimum of one page, single-spaced). In the statement, please make sure to address the following.
- Describe the purpose of applying for the degree in this program area
- Discuss your career goals
4. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Full admission to any departmental graduate program requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher from a four-year accredited institution or a minimum graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher on previous graduate work from an accredited institution.
Provisional Admission
If an applicant does not fully meet the requirements of the program, it may be possible for that student to be admitted provisionally. If admitted provisionally, the student must attain a 3.00 GPA on the first 9 hours of graduate courses at Mississippi State University after admission to the program. Courses with an S grade, transfer credits, or credits earned while in Unclassified status cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. If a 3.00 GPA is not attained, the student shall be dismissed from the graduate program.
Contingent Admission
A student may be admitted to departmental graduate programs with conditional requirements identified by the department (e.g., writing requirement). If a prospective student has met all admission requirements and is in the final semester of previous degree work, the student may be eligible for contingent admission. If the student is admitted contingently, s/he has to fully complete the conditional requirements no later than the third semester after admission to the program.
Readmission Criteria
The Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development requires that a student who has not been enrolled for three consecutive semesters must submit a readmission application that includes:
- Three letters of recommendation (if they are older than three years since the last application), and
- A revised statement of purpose that:
- describes the purpose of reapplying
- discusses the applicant's career goals
- explains how circumstances have changed making academic improvement a realistic goal
- identifies the applicant's research interest (Ph.D. students only).
Academic Performance
Unsatisfactory performance is defined as any of the following:
- Failure to maintain a B average in graduate courses attempted after admission to the program (i.e., program and non-program courses)
- A grade of U, D, or F in any one course
- More than 6 credit hours of C grades
- Failure of the preliminary/comprehensive examination
- Unsatisfactory evaluation of a thesis or dissertation
- Failure of the research defense
- Any other failure of a required component of one’s program of study
Any one of these or a combination will constitute the basis for review for possible dismissal. If unsatisfactory performance is determined, the graduate coordinator, the major professor, and the dean will review the student's record and determine a course of action: immediate dismissal or the establishment of a probationary period in which corrective action must take place. It is the major professor's responsibility to ensure that any student who has performed unsatisfactorily be recommended for termination from the degree program before the beginning of the subsequent semester.
Appeal of dismissal can be made by submitting a written appeal statement to the graduate coordinator and/or department head. If the dismissal, upon the student's appeal, is upheld by the graduate coordinator and/or department head, the student can then submit a written appeal to the Dean of the College of Education. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the Dean, he/she may choose to submit a final appeal of the dismissal to the Provost.
Accelerated Program
Highly qualified undergraduates at Mississippi State University are encouraged to apply to the Accelerated Program in ISWD. This program permits students to earn up to 9 hours of graduate-level coursework during the final year of undergraduate studies. Students take graduate-level courses and earn both undergraduate credit and graduate credit simultaneously. Upon completion of the graduate course(s), undergraduate credit is also awarded.
Students need to consult with a potential graduate advisor or the graduate coordinator in ISWD to ensure graduate credit could be applied to a program of study for the M.S. degree. Interested students should contact the graduate coordinator, Dr. Chien Yu, and consult Accelerated Programs for complete information.
In addition to the University requirements, the Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development also requires the following information from applicants:
- A minimum of 90 hours toward the bachelor's degree
- A statement of purpose (500-750 words, e.g., why applying for the program)