EIU Graduate School

Graduate School, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Office of International Students and Scholars, Office of Study Abroad

Ryan C. Hendrickson, Ph.D., Interim Dean
Robert W. Chesnut, Ph.D., Director of Research & Sponsored Programs
Austin Cheney, Ph.D., Interim Director of  International Students and Scholars
Kurt Olausen, Ed.D., Director for Study Abroad
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www.eiu.edu/graduate: The Graduate School at Eastern Illinois University, in consultation with the Council on Graduate Studies, establishes and monitors graduate education policies. The Graduate School also oversees the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, the Office of International Students and Scholars, the Office of Study Abroad and the University Tuition Waiver Programs. The Graduate School at Eastern Illinois University is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools, the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools, and the Illinois Association of Graduate Schools. Information on graduate programs, graduate admissions, graduate assistantships and other areas of graduate education may be obtained by contacting the Graduate School, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, 61920, 217/581-2220 or at the above listed web site.

Since 1951 Eastern Illinois University has provided graduate degree programs and graduate courses to support rigorous study and professional development for qualified candidates seeking advanced leadership and professional roles. Graduate education emerged to provide residents of the state and the region with opportunities for advanced study following the completion of the baccalaureate degree. Graduate education has evolved as an integral part of the University’s mission to foster the acquisition of new knowledge, expand expertise, offer a diversity of learning experiences, cultivate leadership roles, provide a global perspective, and support life-long learning. The University currently offers 36 graduate programs and 10 graduate certificate programs which provide advanced courses, research, interdisciplinary study, internships, field experiences, international exchanges, and study abroad options. Eastern Illinois University has an established reputation for excellence with its well-focused master’s and specialist’s degrees, and certificate programs.

Eastern Illinois University endorses the philosophy of the Council of Graduate Schools which states that the Graduate School has as its primary responsibility the advancement of learning through scholarly research and instruction and recognizes the achievement of this goal by the awarding of advanced degrees. The University also endorses the Council’s stated purposes of graduate education, which include the advancement of education and intellectual development, the production of new knowledge through research and creative activity, and the preservation and transmission of knowledge.

As a master’s comprehensive university, Eastern Illinois University is committed to graduate education. The master’s and specialist’s degree programs and graduate certificate programs enhance the quality of the University by attracting highly qualified graduate candidates whose scholarship contributes to the intellectual climate of the academy. Graduate and teaching assistantships add an additional dimension of expertise for the University’s teaching, research, and service mission. Graduate programs attract faculty with the unique expertise required to meet the criteria as regular, associate, and adjunct graduate faculty members.

The mission of graduate education at Eastern Illinois University is to provide superior graduate degree, certificate, and post-baccalaureate options designed for career specialization and advancement, certification and credentialing, professional and leadership development, and preparation for advanced scholarship. The mission includes:

• strengthening the quality, diversity, and internationalization of the University’s student body by attracting candidates who have the potential for academic and professional achievement;
• fostering advanced scholarship through a depth of content knowledge, critical thinking, problem solving, oral and written communication, application of technology, research/creative activity, and commitment to professional ethics;
• expanding the curriculum with rigorous advanced courses, curriculum, and options offered through lectures, laboratories, seminars, forums, practicum field experiences, internships, and partnerships with education, business, and industry;
• building and enhancing the excellence of the University’s undergraduate majors and options through mutual and reciprocal research/creative activity with graduate students and faculty; and
• developing opportunities for the discovery and application of knowledge with graduate faculty members who reflect the University’s teaching and mentoring priority and who have a record of research/creative activity and professional service.

Eastern Illinois University is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools, the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools, and the Illinois Association of Graduate Schools.

Eastern Illinois University is accredited through the specialist’s level by the Commission on Institutions of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education for the preparation of elementary and secondary teachers and school service personnel.

In the College of Arts and Humanities, the programs in art are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and those in music are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

In the College of Education and Professional Studies, the Master of Science Degree in Counseling is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

In the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, the MBA program is accredited by the AACSB, the International Association for Management Education. The Graduate Dietetic Internship within the dietetic option of the Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences is accredited by the American Dietetic Association.

In the College of Sciences, the Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology is recognized by the Council of Applied Master’s Programs in Psychology.

College of Arts and Humanities

Department of Art
     Master of Arts in Art
          Option in Art Education
          Option in Community Arts
Department of Communication Studies
     Master of Arts in Communication Studies
           Option in Communication Pedagogy
Department of English
     Master of Arts in English
           Certificate Program in Teaching of Writing
Department of History
     Master of Arts in History
          Option in Historical Administration
Department of Music
     Master of Arts in Music
          Music Education Concentration

College of Education and Professional Studies

Department of Educational Leadership
     Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership
     Specialist in Education in Educational Leadership
Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Level Education
     Master of Science in Education in Elementary Education
             Certificate Program in Reading Instruction
             Certificate Program in English as a Second Language Instruction
Department of Counseling and Student Development
     Master of Science in College Student Affairs
     Master of Science in Counseling
           Concentration in Clinical Counseling
           Concentration in School Counseling
Department of Health Studies
     Master of Science in Health Promotion and Leadership
Department of Secondary Education and Foundations
     Master of Science in Education for Master Teacher
Department of Special Education
     Master of Science in Education in Special Education
Department of Kinesiology and Sports Studies
     Master of Science in Kinesiology and Sports Studies

Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences

School of Business
     Master of Business Administration
School of Family and Consumer Sciences
     Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences
     Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics
     Master of Arts in Aging Studies
School of Technology
     Master of Science in Technology
     Certificate Programs in:
          Computer Technology
          Technology Security
          Quality Systems
          Work Performance Improvement
          Training and Development
     Master of Science in Sustainable Energy
     Master of Science in Cybersecurity
     Master of Science in Talent Development

College of Sciences

Department of Biological Sciences
     Master of Science in Biological Sciences
                Certificate Program in Geographic Information Sciences in Environmental Life Sciences   
     Master of Science in Natural Sciences
               Concentration in Biological Sciences
     Master of Science in Biochemistry/Biotechnology         
Department of Chemistry
     Master of Science in Chemistry
     Master of Science in Natural Sciences
               Concentration in Physical Sciences
Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences
     Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences
Department of Economics
     Master of Arts in Economics
Department of Geology/Geography
     Master of Science in Natural Sciences
                Concentration in Physical Sciences
     Professional Science Master’s in Geographic Information Sciences
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
     Master of Arts in Mathematics
          Option Elementary/Middle School Mathematics Education
          Option Secondary Mathematics Education
Department of Physics
     Master of Science in Natural Sciences
                Concentration in Physical Sciences
Department of Political Science
     Master of Arts in Political Science
                Option in Public Administration/Public Policy
                Certificate Program in Public Planning
Department of Psychology
     Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
     Master of Science in School Pyschology
     Specialist in School Psychology

The Council on Graduate Studies is the principle University council which recommends policy pertaining to graduate programs and graduate students. The Council is composed of two elected representatives from each college, one representative appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School and one graduate student representative elected by the Graduate Student Advisory Council.

The Graduate Student Advisory Council is composed of two graduate candidates from each graduate program. Graduate representatives are selected by their graduate programs to serve a one-year term. The mission of the Council is as follows:

• To elect a member of the Council to serve as a voting member of the Council on Graduate Studies
• To elect Council members to serve on various University committees to represent the views of graduate students
• To discuss, review and participate in decisions that impact graduate education
• To facilitate communication among graduate students, faculty, and staff
• To promote interaction among graduate students through programs, activities, and events 

Members of the Board administer the Outstanding Graduate Alumni Award that will be given annually to an Eastern graduate candidate. The award is funded with donations to the Eastern Illinois University Foundation generated through the Advisory Board’s philanthropy programs and award recipients are selected by the Advisory Board. The Board is also responsible for the annual Outstanding Graduate Alumni Program.

The Office of International Students and Scholars at Eastern Illinois University, in consultation with International Programs Advisory Council, establishes and monitors international education policies. The Office of International Students and Scholars recruits students and reviews applications to ensure that documents, visas, and immigration files meet the requirements in accordance with EIU admission policies and Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations pertaining to student status. The office provides arrival assistance, orientation, academic support, advisement, and social programs for the international student population.

The Office of Study Abroad, in consultation with the International Programs Advisory Council, establishes and monitors policies and procedures for credit-bearing activities and programs that take place outside of the United States. The Office of Study Abroad is dedicated to providing EIU students with affordable, high quality international academic opportunities that allow them to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for leadership in an interdependent world. A resource center and full range of comprehensive services are available for students seeking to integrate an international experience into their studies at Eastern Illinois University. Campus-wide events and weekly information meetings are offered to provide additional information.

The International Education Council is composed of faculty representatives who provide advice to the Office of International Students and Scholars regarding issues and policies related to international education. The Council reviews and evaluates proposals for international exchanges, encourages both faculty and student educational exchanges, and promotes International Students and Scholars’ calendar of events on campus.

The Association of International Students (AIS) is an EIU recognized student organization open to both international and domestic students. AIS exists to promote cultural awareness on campus and to provide social activities to integrate international students into the campus and local community. Two faculty members serve each year as faculty advisors to this globally significant campus organization. 

The Study Abroad Society is the registered student organization for study abroad. Members consist of students who are planning to go abroad, students who have returned from studying abroad, and students from other countries around the world. All students with an interest in study abroad are encouraged to join the society to develop friendships around the world.

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs facilitates application, negotiations, and procurement of state-appropriated and external research and public service grants by University personnel, while helping to insure compliance with University, state and federal regulations. The Office provides various technical services to assist faculty in completing proposal applications and is also responsible for reporting submission and funding of proposals to University, state, and federal sources. In addition, the Office also administers state-appropriated funds designated by the University as faculty research grants. Many of these grants provide faculty members an opportunity to pursue research interests and develop ideas which serve as the basis for external proposals. Information on grants and other forms of funding may be obtained by contacting the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs , Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, 61920, 217/581-2125.

 Council on Faculty Research Awards were developed to support faculty research and creative activity during the academic year. Competition guidelines are published annually by the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs . Twelve to fifteen awards are funded annually and provide operational, equipment, travel, and student help resources to promote research and creative activity. Faculty who receive Council on Faculty Research Awards are honored during an annual honors ceremony.

 Summer Research Awards were developed to support faculty research and creative activity during the summer. Competition guidelines are published annually by the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs . Twenty to twenty-five awards are funded annually and provide faculty a stipend during the summer term to promote research and creative activity. Faculty who receive Summer Research Awards are recognized during an annual recognition ceremony.

The Council on Faculty Research (CFR) is composed of nine representatives from the faculty who have an established record of research/creative activity. Council members are selected to insure representation of diverse areas of research and creative activity. The Council members encourage faculty to apply for CFR and Summer Research Grants. Council members review the grant proposals and recommend proposals for funding.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee ensure that all vertebrate animals used in teaching and research are provided humane care and treatment. The IACUC regularly reviews the University’s program for humane care and use of animals and inspects the University’s animal care facilities. The Committee also reviews all research and teaching activities involving the use of vertebrate animals prior to the conducting of those activities. The Committee is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School and is composed of faculty members with experience in the ethical treatment of animals in research and teaching, a veterinarian, and a member who is not affiliated with the University.

Institutional Review Board

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) assures the protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects participating in research. The IRB reviews all research involving human subjects prior to the conducting of any research. The Board is appointed to three year terms by the Dean of the Graduate School and is composed of faculty members representing both scientific and non-scientific concerns, with at least one member from each college, and at least one member who is not affiliated with the University.

The Graduate School serves as the administrative unit responsible for overall monitoring of the university tuition and fee waiver programs. Mandatory waiver programs are mandated by state statute and are directly administered by offices or agencies external to the University. The Office of Financial Aid on the EIU campus serves as the liaison between the external office of authority and the University. Discretionary waiver programs are administered by offices on the University campus. Typically, applications and information pertaining to discretionary waiver programs are available by contacting the specific office of authority. The official list of programs in which the University participates and the individual offices that administer the waiver programs are available on the Graduate School web site.