What is the GRE?
It is the Graduate Record Examination administered by ETS, which conducts an assortment of tests and services in several areas. The ETS Accelerate is a business venture with ETS collaborating with organizations, venture capitalists, tech entrepreneurs, and others to grow their business capabilities. The HiSET Exam is an assessment for out-of-school teens and adults to see if they possess the knowledge to earn a state-issued high school equivalency credential.
Before shying away from the standardized GRE, if required, you should be familiar with its components. According to ETS, you can retake the test and submit only the best scores on the sections to the graduate program’s admissions department. This feature may reduce the anxiety for individuals who shudder at the prospect of sitting for the GRE. You can also do practice tests FREE via PowerPrep Online at the ETS site.
The GRE does not allow the convenience of taking the test in the comfort of your home. A Prometric Test Center is the only place to sit for the computer-generated exam. As of July 2020, the cost of the test was $205 in the United States.
Do all schools require a GRE?
No, some colleges and universities do not require the test as part of the admission process. Many graduate arts programs, including theater, creative writing, fine arts, and culinary studies, forgo the test; for example, The Rhode Island School of Design and the California School of Arts do not need the GRE. Another exception is the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts with specified admissions requirements but no standardized test unless English is a second language. Applicants in this category must take English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests. Both administered by ETS.
Those attending graduate programs at business schools, social work, nursing, engineering, and more will need GRE scores. Some institutions state that standardized test scores are preferred, though not a prerequisite for acceptance. Drexel University publishes that it is desirable to submit a GRE, LSAT (Law School Admittance Test), MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), or GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) score.
Examples of No GRE Required
Choosing a graduate program is a personal decision. Do you want an online or campus format? Does the college need to be close to your residence? How selective is the admissions process? Does the curriculum suit your career goals? Many questions arise as you ponder a master’s degree in art education as you consider all the possibilities across the nation.
Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin, offers a 33-credit Master of Science in Art Education on campus. Two letters of recommendation, as well as a brief essay explaining why you want a master’s degree, are needed to apply, but no GRE.
Tufts University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences has a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), which does not require the GRE for students applying for the Fall of 2021. Candidates must meet other criteria, which are available on the school’s website. Worth noting is that the school does require an art portfolio for all art education applicants. According to the university, an enticing aspect of the residential program is that students can complete it within 12 months.
The New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human development has three master’s degrees in art education. These are:
Master of Arts in Art, Education, and Community Practice: The courses revolve around creating art to affect social change and justice.
Master of Arts – Teaching Art, Grades k-12, Initial Certification: Prepares graduates to teach in public and private schools through discussions of cultural theory, practice, and art education.
Master of Arts – Teachers of Art, Grades k-12, Professional Certification: Graduates obtain professional licensure after studying social justice, multiculturalism, contemporary art, and educational theories.
The first degree on the above list does not require a GRE. Considering the other two options above, students must submit a GRE or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) score. The MAT is a standardized test designed to measure one’s ability to recognize relationships between ideas. It also assesses your general knowledge of humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, and social sciences. As with the GRE, you take the test at one of the testing centers located at universities scattered across the United States. The MAT site has an extensive directory of locations by state.
Conclusion
Standardized tests can be intimidating, particularly under time constraints. However, a little research will reveal numerous learning institutions that have no GRE requirements. In some disciplines, the GRE is fading or held in less esteem than it once was. An article in Science in June 2017 addressed the question of whether GRE scores are an accurate predictor of grad school success. The University of North Carolina and Vanderbilt University concluded that GRE scores are “only moderate predictors of first semester grades.”
Additional Resources:
Easiest Online Master’s Degrees
Can I Study Two Different Areas in Most Master of Studio Arts Programs?
Do I Need to Have a BFA in Order to Apply for a Master of Studio Arts?
Are My Undergraduate Grades Very Relevant When Applying for a Master of Studio Arts Degree?
I love studying art but don’t have much talent in creating it. Is art education the degree for me?
What kind of items do I want to put in my portfolio for an art education degree program?
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