Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of questions most frequently asked by prospective Towson University graduate
students about the Instructional Technology (ISTC) Graduate Program. If, after reviewing our
website and this page you cannot find the answer to your question, please feel free to contact
Dr. David Wizer
, Instructional Technology Graduate Program Director.
Application Process
General Program Information
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Application Process
What are the deadlines for applying to the program?
The Instructional Technology programs at Towson University have a rolling admissions process. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Application to Masters programs begin by applying to the Towson University Graduate College
(
available online
) (see the masters program
admissions page for more details).
Application to the Ed.D. program involves two parts:
(see the Ed.D. admissions page for more details).
1. Completion of the Graduate College Application.
a) Application Form (
available online
)
b) Payment of Application Fee
c) Send undergraduate and graduate transcripts
d) Complete GRE exam (and TOEFL, if necessary)
2. Completion of the Ed.D. Program Application (as described below)
a) Letter of Application
b) Letters of Recommendation
c) Academic Writing Sample
d) Digital Portfolio
Do I need to take the GRE or another graduate school admissions test?
Students applying to the ISTC Masters program at Towson University are not required to submit
GRE or other test scores with their application.
Students applying to the ISTC Ed.D. program at Towson University are required to submit GRE
or other test scores with their application.
Are there any prerequisites for the ISTC program?
All graduate students in the ISTC program at Towson must have an undergraduate degree from
an accredited university.
Track I - No prerequisites are required.
Track II - 9 credits in education and 9 credits in school library media are considered
prerequisites.
Track III - There is one 3 credit course (ISTC 301/501).
Ed.D. - There are 6 courses or equivalents required.
General Program Information
How long has the ISTC program been in operation?
The ISTC graduate programs at Towson University have been around for over 30 years.
What percentage of the graduate students are enrolled full-time?
Approximately 15% of ISTC graduate students attend full-time. Most ISTC graduate students
have full-time employment in public education or private industry.
How long does it take to complete the Masters program?
Most of the part-time students are able to complete the program in three to five years. Often
part-time students in the ISTC program at Towson University enroll in 12 credits per year and
are able to complete the entire program of 36 credits plus prerequisites in 3 and a half years.
What type of computer and software should I have for the ISTC program?
Every new graduate student is expected to own or have regular access to a Windows (Windows
98 or higher) or Mac (OS 8 or higher) computer. The software required is MS Office as well as
Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer.
Are internships part of the Towson University ISTC program?
Track I has the option of doing an internship for an elective course. Track II has a graduate
practicum in ISTC where students are partnered with a school for a semester. Track III has a
required internship where students create an instructional technology project in an educational
training setting.
Internships can be arranged with the help of the program director and can be with schools, other
educational institutions, or companies.
For the internship here are some general guidelines prior to starting. We would suggest the
following elements for consideration and completion.
The student-
1. writes their objectives and intended outcomes for the internship in a proposal form.
2. keeps a log of their activities in blocks of time.
3. is prepared to demonstrate their products from the internship.
4. is able to complete some type of summary document.
*For 3 credits the student needs to complete 90+ hours of work on the project.
Overall, the experience should be practical, varied, meaningful and challenging. We try to do all
we can to insure the student has an experience with depth and some diversity of training and
media activities.
Are there graduate assistantships available in the ISTC department?
There are 3 graduate assistantships in the ISTC department. One assists with administrative
and web design and maintenance, one assists with the multimedia assistive technology lab,
and one assists with the Maryland Technology academy. They are year-long assistantships. Students must first apply through Towson's Graduate School.
Does the Towson University ISTC program offer any off-campus courses or programs?
Yes, Towson university currently offers programs in Harford County at the HEAT Center (in
Educational Technology). We are completing (in summer 2001) a certification only program
with Salisbury State College in School Library Media. We do deliver some ISTC courses as
part of a M.Ed. Program in Education at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center.
