Elementary Education (RANK1)

Admission Requirements

Students may apply to the program by first going to the Graduate School website and completing the graduate application.

Admission requirements include the following credentials:

  • Official transcripts with a GPA of 2.75 in the bachelor's degree and a GPA of 3.0 in the master's degree.
  • Teaching certificate in Elementary Education and a master's degree/Rank II.
  • All applicants for whom English is a second language must also submit official TOEFL scores of 79 or higher on the internet-based test, 213 or higher on the computer-based test. English proficiency can also be met by submitting official IELTS scores of at least 6.5 overall band score from the academic module exam or official Duolingo overall score of 105.
  • Signed Professional Code of Ethics/Technology User Agreement.

Applicants who have attended a college or university outside of the United States are also required to submit an evaluation of their transcript through either WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Please note that transcript evaluations can sometimes take several weeks.

Please have transcripts sent to:

University of Louisville
Graduate School, Admissions

Houchens Building, Suite 105
Louisville, KY 40292


If transcripts are sent electronically, please have them sent to the following email: gradadm@louisville.edu.

Program Requirements

Rank I Program in Elementary Education Advanced Practitioner

(Teachers Who Have Earned a Master's Degree/Rank II)

Inquiry3
Select one of the following:
Education Research in P-12 Setting
Applied Statistics
Advocacy (Professional Leader)
Leadership3
Select one of the following courses:
Curriculum Theory
Using Assessment to Improve Student Achievement
Developing Collaborative Groups: Facilitating, Coaching and Mentoring
Creating Equitable & Reliable Learning Environments
Diversity3
Select one of the following courses:
Developing Cross-Cultural Competence: Teaching Students from Diverse Backgrounds
Teaching English Learners in the Classroom
Instructional Strategies for Diverse Learners
Literacy Learning and Cultural Differences
Area of Emphasis12-18
Elective0-6
Action (Problem Solver)3
Teacher Leadership in Practice
Minimum Total Hours30

Minimum of fifteen (15) credit hours in 600-level courses is required.

Up to fifteen (15) credit hours of graduate credit may be transferred to the Rank I program as long as the student will have completed 60 credit hours of approved graduate credit including a Masters degree at the end of the Rank I program.  Transfer credit must be officially accepted by the advisor, and final acceptance is dependent upon receipt of official transcripts.

In the Rank 1 program, at least fifteen (15) credit hours of new graduate coursework must be taken at the University of Louisville.

To complete the program, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required. No credit shall be accepted for a grade lower than a B-minus.

Midpoint Requirement

Candidates are required to submit a mid-program performance assessment at the completion of fifteen (15) credit hours of coursework. The faculty advisor will assess the candidate's performance assessment, which must be at the Exemplary or Target level. The performance assessment must address content, classroom environment, teaching, assessment, and reflection, and include an artifact (such as a video) to document professional learning.

Exit Requirements

Hallmark Assessment Task for EDAP 681 or equivalent project that demonstrates proficiency in the Kentucky Teacher Performance Standards.