Programs of Study

Eastern Illinois University offers programs of study leading to the Specialist degree in educational administration and school psychology. Students may also pursue the Master of Business Administration. The following programs of study lead to the Master of Arts degree: art, clinical psychology, communication studies, communication studies with an option in community college pedagogy, economics, English, gerontology, history, history with a historical administration option, mathematics, mathematics with a mathematics education option, music, and political science. The following programs of study lead to the Master of Science degree: biological sciences, chemistry, college student affairs, communication disorders and sciences, counseling, family and consumer sciences (also with an option in dietetics), and technology. The University offers the Master of Science in natural sciences with areas of emphasis in biological sciences, chemistry, geology/geography, and physics. Programs of study leading to the Master of Science in Education include educational administration, elementary education, and special education. The University also offers certificate programs in accountancy, computer technology, quality systems, technology security, and work performance improvement. Students may also pursue post-baccalaureate teacher certification or non-degree professional development courses.

Research Facilities

Following a $22.5-million renovation and expansion completed in 2002, Booth Library's patrons are enjoying many new enhancements, including study tables wired for data and power; new group-study rooms; improved accessibility throughout the building, including an atrium staircase and three elevators; and browse-able media collections. The library collection consists of more than 926,000 cataloged volumes, approximately 1.3 million micro-texts, as well as maps, music scores, and pamphlets selected to support the University's educational mission. The government documents collection includes United States and Illinois State publications. Booth Library is also home to the Coles Ballenger Teachers' Center, which houses K-12 curriculum materials, an extensive juvenile collection, and a variety of non-print materials related to teachers and teaching. Leisure-time reading interests are served through materials from the general book, serial, and newspaper collections, as well as the latest bestsellers, films, and popular materials.

Booth Library's public catalog is available through I-Share Online, the statewide network of forty-five academic libraries. The reference collection consists of 55,000 volumes. Library Technology Services provides students with computer labs, media equipment, and non-print materials such as sound recordings and videotapes. Study carrels equipped for independent viewing and listening are provided, as are as group listening/viewing rooms.

Eastern provides several computer labs for student use. Individual departments also provide research facilities for graduate students.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is Eastern Illinois University's newest architectural landmark, designed by the internationally famous architect Antoine Predock. Predock is the winner of the 2006 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement and the 2007 Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum's Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Design.

This newly renovated and greatly expanded facility boasts several public arts venues: The Theatre which seats 300, the Black Box studio theatre, the 600-seat Dvorak Concert Hall, the 180-seat Recital Hall, the 150-seat Lecture Hall, and several corridor art galleries. The Doudna Fine Arts Center also houses EIU's departments of Art, Music and Theatre Arts, and the office of the Dean of Arts & Humanities.

But the Doudna Fine Arts Center is more than a facility. It is a full array of arts programming and special offerings for area schools. It is new and emerging artists as well as classical and time-honored idioms. It is high-tech and roots. It is inspiration, enjoyment, edification, and service. Programming includes the New and Emerging Artists Series, other series and performances, lectures, exhibitions, and related events.

Financial Assistance

There is a strong history at Eastern of graduate students working with faculty members on a variety of sponsored research projects. The Graduate School provides a series of competitive grant programs to promote and support graduate research. Programs include Graduate School Research/Creative Activity Awards, Williams Travel Awards, and Master's Thesis Awards.

Graduate assistantships are available in the areas of teaching and research for qualified graduate students. The Housing Department offers residential assistantships. Service assistantships are offered in a limited number of nonacademic offices. Completed assistantship applications should be submitted to the appropriate department by February 15. Individual departments may establish other deadlines. The assistantships include a tuition waiver scholarship and a monthly stipend for the contract period. Program and service fees are not waived as part of the tuition waiver scholarship. As an additional benefit, a summer tuition waiver scholarship is offered to graduate assistants. Students interested in assistantships should contact individual departments for specific details.

In addition to graduate assistantships, students may qualify for the Federal Work-Study Program, student employment, federal loans, and various private scholarships.

Cost of Study

Tuition for 2008-09 graduate study at Eastern Illinois University was $218.00 per credit hour for residents and $654.00 per credit hour for nonresidents. Fees per semester are $794.00 for all full-time students and $59.12 per hour for part-time students. The fees cover health and accident insurance and programs and services. The textbook rental fee is $9.95 for each semester hour for all students.

Living and Housing Costs

Housing for families and single graduate students is available at a cost of $1959 per semester for a 1½-room apartment, $2060 per semester for a two-room apartment, and $1833 per semester for a super-efficiency apartment. These apartments are designed to provide inexpensive living facilities for graduate students.

Student Groups

Total enrollment at Eastern Illinois University in fall 2008 was approximately 12,040 students. This number includes 1,780 graduate students. Graduate students are represented by the Graduate Student Advisory Council, an organization made up of student representatives from each program. A variety of activities are available for students at Eastern, including the use of the Student Recreation Center, which offers a fitness center, racquetball courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, an indoor track, and a swimming pool. Numerous outdoor courts, playing fields, and a jogging trail are also available.

Location

Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois, the county seat of Coles County, in east-central Illinois. The city has a population of approximately 20,000. Two state highways, 16 and 130, go through Charleston and provide access to Interstates 57 and 70. Amtrak service is available in Mattoon, which is approximately 10 miles from Charleston. The larger communities of Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, and Terre Haute are within 1 hour's driving distance.

The University

The University was established as Eastern Illinois State Normal School in 1895 by the Illinois General Assembly. In response to growth and change, the institution became Eastern Illinois State Teachers College in 1921, Eastern Illinois State College in 1947, and Eastern Illinois University in 1957. The campus is located on 320 acres and consists of seventy-two buildings, including twelve residence halls and seventeen apartment buildings. The University also owns wooded tracts near Charleston, which are used for nature study and life science research.

Applying

Domestic applicants submit an application, a $30 application fee, and transcripts verifying completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution approved by Eastern Illinois University. Additional requirements such as test scores (GRE, GMAT, MAT) and departmental applications may be required by some degree programs. Admission and assistantship applications are available on the Web at http://www.eiu.edu/~graduate/ or http://www.eiu.edu for electronic applications.