Frequently Asked Questions

Master of Science (MS)

What is the cost of the MS program? The cost of the program can be found on the distance education website . The cost of the program can be offset by the use of credit vouchers accrued by your district for hosting student teachers and interns.
What kinds of financial aid are available? For financial aid please contact the financial aid department at (800) 452-8639 or (541) 962-3550 or visit their website.
How many credits can I transfer from other universities? You are allowed to transfer approximately 15 credits from other universities. These must be reviewed by the education faculty for their appropriateness.
How many credits can I take before I am admitted to the program? You may take 8 credits or less per term for a total of 15 graduate credits before you are admitted to the program.
Are any of the courses on campus? The Master of Science coursework may be offered on the LaGrande, Ontario and Bend campuses, usually during the summers. However, it is offered throughout the school year using distance education.
How long is the MS program? Most students will follow a three year program to complete the degree.
What GPA do I need for admittance to the program? You must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the last 60 hours completed in either Upper Division or Graduate courses.
What is the structure of the degree? The degree consists of 45 graduate quarter credits, comprised of a research core, a cognate and electives.
What is a cognate? Students select a course of study called a “Cognate.” The cognate is a 15-credit block of courses that the student uses to fulfill an emphasis area that is specific to each individual student.
What cognates are available? We currently offer the Literacy, Curriculum and Instruction, and Physical Education and Health cognates as well as the ESOL, Special Education, and Reading Endorsements.

NOTE: Students seeking an “endorsement” to add to an existing license must take all courses approved for the endorsement program and may use that endorsement as one or more of their cognates within the MS program. In some cases, endorsement programs are more than the 15-credit cognate.
What GRE scores are considered “passing” for admission to the MS program? You need to pass the GRE with a minimum score of 1000 combined score, (e.g. 500 in the Verbal section, 500 in the Quantitative scoring) and a minimum of 4.5 on the analytical writing. Please see our website for further clarification.
What is the price of the General Test?The General Test is:
* U.S. $130 for individuals testing in the United States, U.S. Territories, and Puerto Rico.
* U.S. $175 for individuals testing in China (including Hong Kong), Korea, and TaiwanU.S.* $140 for
* U.S. $160 for individuals testing in all other locations .
How is the General Test administered? The General Test is given year-round as a computer-based test in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. Paper-based General Tests are offered where computer-based testing is not available.
How does the computer-based General Test work? The verbal and quantitative reasoning sections of the General Test adapt to the answers you provide. These sections are designed so that, at the start of the test, you are presented with test questions of middle difficulty. As you answer each question, the computer scores it and uses that information, as well as your responses to preceding questions and information about the test design, to determine the next question. As long as you answer correctly, you will typically be given questions of increased difficulty. When you respond incorrectly, you will typically be given less difficult questions.
Because the computer scores each question before selecting the next one, you must answer each question when it is presented. Once you answer a question and move on to another, you cannot go back and change your answer. The computer has already incorporated both your answer and the requirements of the test design into its selection of your next question.
Where can I find more information for the GRE General test? The website for the test is: http://www.ets.org/gre
Where can I take the test? The GRE is now offered on-campus at EOU at certain times of the year. After June 7, 2006 you can take the computer-based test here, most times of the year. Please contact our Testing Services. For those who are not located in the La Grande area, you can take the test at any of the Prometric test sites and at some universities, which the information can be found at http://etsis4.ets.org/tcenter/
How long does the GRE take?Computer-Based General Test AW: 75-minute section--2 writing tasks: Present Your Perspective on an Issue--45 minutes Analyze an Argument--30 minutes V: 30-minute section--30 questions Q: 45-minute section--28 questions