This handbook provides detailed information regarding the academic policies and procedures pertinent to all Stanford Graduate School of Education Master’s students. Its purpose is to inform the students of the guidelines and milestones relevant to successful completion of their degree program, and is to be used in conjunction with the University Bulletin which describes Stanford graduate studies’ policies.

In the event any information presented in this handbook changes during the academic year, students will be notified by email.

The Academic Affairs office helps students and faculty interpret and follow the Stanford Graduate School of Education and Stanford University policies and procedures toward degree completion. The Masters Programs Officers Wesley Horng and Caroline Stasulat are the primary advisors of students on university and school academic and administrative policies.

Students are responsible to follow the university and school policies described in this handbook and in the Stanford Bulletin. This includes following deadlines, maintaining adequate grade point average, and units of registration.

We hope this handbook is of good use to you. We wish you a rewarding experience during your program at the Graduate School of Education.

Graduate School of Education Academic Affairs

Graduate School of Education Mission and Vision

Our Vision: We envision a world where all learners are prepared to thrive in a dynamic future.

Our Mission: We produce groundbreaking research, model programs and exceptional leaders to achieve accessible, equitable and effective education for all learners.

Office of Academic Affairs Mission

The Office of Academic Affairs manages the administrative functions related to degree programs, admissions, student services, academic Areas and programs, curriculum planning and faculty actions. To that end, the Office provides resources and support for policies, procedures, data analytics and decision-making regarding academic programs; student degree progress, student engagement and events; admissions, recruitment and financial aid; courses, enrollment and scheduling; faculty searches, appointments and promotions; postdoctoral scholars; adjunct and visitor appointments; and academic operations at the GSE.

The Honor Code is the university's statement on academic integrity written by students in 1921. It articulates university expectations of students and faculty in establishing and maintaining the highest standards in academic work.

The Honor Code below applies to cases filed on or after September 1, 2023. The Honor Code is an undertaking of the Stanford academic community, individually and collectively. Its purpose is to uphold a culture of academic honesty.

Students will support this culture of academic honesty by neither giving nor accepting unpermitted academic aid in any work that serves as a component of grading or evaluation, including assignments, examinations, and research.

Instructors will support this culture of academic honesty by providing clear guidance, both in their course syllabi and in response to student questions, on what constitutes permitted and unpermitted aid. Instructors will also not take unusual or unreasonable precautions to prevent academic dishonesty.

Students and instructors will also cultivate an environment conducive to academic integrity. While instructors alone set academic requirements, the Honor Code is a community undertaking that requires students and instructors to work together to ensure conditions that support academic integrity.

The Fundamental Standard has set the standard of conduct for students at Stanford since 1896. It states:

"Students at Stanford are expected to show both within and without the University such respect for order, morality, personal honor and the rights of others as is demanded of good citizens. Failure to do this will be sufficient cause for removal from the University."

Understanding the Fundamental Standard

Note: This content applies to cases filed May 2, 2023 or after. For cases in progress as of May 1, 2023, please see here.

The Fundamental Standard is an aspirational statement of Stanford's ideal community. The following principles elaborate its basic values today:

i. Students are expected to respect and uphold the rights and dignity of others regardless of personal characteristics or viewpoints.

ii. Students are expected to uphold the integrity of the university as a community of scholars in which free speech is available to all and intellectual honesty is demanded of all. Just because speech is protected does not mean that it is ethical or consistent with our values. It is important for us all to understand the complex interplay between protected speech and building an inclusive campus, so when issues of hateful speech arise, we can choose to engage in dialogue instead of censorship. For more information on the interplay between free speech and the Fundamental Standard, please visit Freedom of Speech and the Fundamental Standard.

iii. Students are expected to respect university policies as well as state and federal law.

Potential examples of Fundamental Standard violations include but are not limited to the following:

• Physical assault
• Hate crimes
• Hazing
• Theft of property or services
• Threats
• Attempted or actual distribution of controlled substances
• Driving under the influence
• Intentional or reckless property damage, including vandalism
• Seeking a university benefit to which a student is not entitled
• Falsifying a document
• Impersonating another
• Defrauding the university or misusing university funds
• Computer-related violations (i.e., hacking, violations of the Computer and Network Usage Policy, etc.)
• Violations of Stanford’s Anti-Doxxing Policy
• Knowingly or recklessly exposing others to significant danger
• Other violations of university policies, directives, or applicable laws

Incidents of sexual violence, sexual harassment, or gender discrimination are addressed by, and should be reported to, the SHARE Title IX Office.

There is no standard penalty that applies to violations of the Fundamental Standard. Infractions have led to penalties ranging from formal warning and community service to expulsion. In each case, the nature and seriousness of the offense, the motivation underlying the offense, and precedent in similar cases are considered.

All faculty, staff, student employees, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows must sign the Stanford University Patent and Copyright Agreement (referred to as "SU-18"). For more information see: https://doresearch.stanford.edu/policies/research-policy-handbook/intell....

Programs Offered

Students in the Stanford Graduate School of Education pursue Master's degrees in the programs listed below. These programs are commonly referred to with the abbreviations noted in parentheses.

• Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education (CTE)
• Education Data Science (EDS)
• Individually Designed MA (for current Stanford doctoral students)
• International Comparative Education (ICE)
• International Education Policy Analysis (IEPA)
• Joint Degree with the Graduate School of Business (MA/MBA)
• Joint Degree with the Public Policy Program (MA/MPP)
• Joint Degree with the Stanford Law School (MA/JD)
• Learning Design and Technology (LDT)
• Policy, Organization and Leadership Studies (POLS)
• Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP)

Credentials Offered

The Graduate School of Education is authorized to recommend candidates who complete STEP for the California Preliminary Single Subject and Preliminary Multiple Subjects Teaching Credentials. For more information about STEP, please see https://ed.stanford.edu/step.

Coterminal Degree

All master's programs (except the Joint Degree with the Graduate School of Business and the Joint Degree with the Stanford Law School) accept coterminal students. Coterminal master's students fulfill the same Graduate School of Education program requirements as other master's students, but there are additional University unit and residency requirements for the coterminal degree. Coterminal students should refer to the Stanford Bulletin for complete policy information governing their degree status and requirements.

Coterminal students who have completed graduate coursework at Stanford in previous quarters and received approval to count those units toward the Master's degree in Education may be approved to take a reduced course load but may not drop below 8 units during Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters. While undergraduates are allowed to enroll in up to 20 units and coterminal students are allowed to enroll in up to 24 units by University standards, Master's programs in the Graduate School of Education limit the number of units in which a student may enroll to no more than 18. Coterminal students who wish to enroll in fewer units than required by their programs or more than 18 units during a given quarter should discuss their request with their Program Director and the Associate Director of Degree Programs by the preliminary study list deadline. Students in the coterminal graduate student group will be charged additional tuition for each unit above 18 units, if approved.

Changing Programs

Students are admitted to a specific program, but occasionally students may wish to change their program. Transfer into a new program is subject to the approval of the new program. Fulfillment of the new program's requirements may result in delay of degree completion beyond the typical timeframe.

Students who wish to change their program must submit a Program Transfer Application, available here or from the Associate Director of Degree Programs. Requests to transfer to a new Master's program must be approved by the student's faculty advisor, both the current and new programs' Program Directors, and the Associate Dean for Educational Affairs. 

Approval of transfer requests are granted on a case-by-case basis. In the review of the request, program directors, faculty advisors, and the Associate Dean will consider information provided by the student, the student's individual circumstance, and the capacity and resources available in the proposed transfer program. In all cases, approval of the request is at the discretion of the program directors and the Associate Dean for Educational Affairs.

Advising

Master's students will work with their Program Director throughout the year in addition to a faculty advisor who is assigned to each student. The Program Director and advisor assist the student in planning a program of study. Students are encouraged to have at least 2 advising appointments during the course of their program and many students meet with their advisors once every quarter. Students are encouraged to look to any member of the Graduate School of Education faculty for additional advising or mentorship, regardless of the official advisor assigned. Either the student or the faculty may request a change in assignment for any reason. To change advisors, students submit the Change of Advisor Form available here or from the Associate Director of Degree Programs. The Program Director and the new advisor must both sign off on this form. Students typically select and initiate contact with a new advisor but in cases where this is not possible, the Program Director will assign a new advisor. The Associate Director of Degree Programs is available for questions regarding University academic policy and progress toward the degree.

Timetable For The Master's Degree

The Master's degree requires at least three quarters of full-time study. Students working toward advanced degrees at Stanford University must enroll for the three main quarters of each academic year (Autumn, Winter and Spring) from the time of matriculation until receipt of the degree. The ICE/IEAPA and LDT programs require an additional quarter of summer enrollment. EDS is a two-year program. Study at Stanford is on a full-time basis. The only exception to this requirement is for formally approved leaves of absence and for students admitted through the LDT Honors Co-op Program.

Below is a list of tasks and milestones master's students complete each quarter.

Autumn Quarter

• Meet with advisor and program director
• Plan initial program of study
• Submit preliminary Program Proposal
• EDS Internship (Year 2)
• ICE & IEPA Select topic for MA Paper

Winter Quarter

• Advisor meeting recommended - discuss progress and coursework selection
• Mid-year degree progress review
• CTE Select topic for MA Paper
• EDS Internship (Year 1 or 2)
• LDT Internship
• LDT Select topic for Master's project

Spring Quarter

• Meet with advisor and program director to finalize program of study
• Submit revised program proposal
• Meet with Director of Career Services to discuss job search
• Participate in annual commencement ceremony
• CTE Complete Master's Project and all coursework
• CTE Apply to Graduate on Axess/ Degree Conferral
• EDS Select topic for Capstone Project (Year 1)
• EDS Complete Capstone Project and all coursework (Year 2)
• EDS Apply to Graduate on Axess/Degree Conferral (Year 2)
• EDS Internship (Year 1 or 2)
• LDT Internship
• POLS Complete all coursework
• POLS Apply to Graduate on Axess/ Degree Conferral

Summer Quarter

• EDS Internship (Year 1)
• EDS Complete Capstone Project Proposal (Year 1)
• ICE & IEPA Complete MA Paper and all coursework
• ICE & IEPA Internship (optional)
• ICE & IEPA Apply to Graduate on Axess/Degree Conferral
• LDT Internship
• LDT Complete project, portfolio and coursework
• LDT Apply to Graduate on Axess/Degree Conferral

See Program-Specific Requirements for quarterly unit requirements.

Students are responsible to meet the University and School requirements described below throughout their program of study. Each student ensures that he or she is enrolled appropriately for degree conferral, and should direct any questions about requirements or policies to the Master's Programs Officer prior to the related deadlines.

Note: There are particular set of course requirements for Joint Degree students – please see the section on the Joint Degree with the Graduate School of Business and Joint Degree with the Stanford Law School for requirements.

University Requirements

Master's Program Proposal

2023-24 Due Dates:
Preliminary Program Proposal – Friday, October 6, 2023 (MA/MBA, MA/MPP, and POLS); Friday, November 10, 2023 (EDS, ICE/IEPA, and LDT) 
Final Program Proposal – Friday, April 12, 2024 (all programs*)
*EDS students will submit their final program proposals in fall quarter of the second year.

Students must meet all of the University, School and program requirements and follow all policies listed on the Program Proposal. Failure to fulfill any requirements will delay conferral of the Master's degree and further course enrollment. The Master's Programs Officer verifies the Program Proposal against the student's transcript, so the two documents must match exactly. Any changes from the initial course of study planned in the first quarter must be reflected on the revised program proposal.

Unit Requirements

The minimum course unit requirement for the Master's degree in CTE, LDT and POLS is 45 units taken in residence at Stanford. The minimum course unit requirement for the Master's degree in ICE and IEPA is 48 units taken in residence at Stanford. The minimum course unit requirement for the Master's degree in EDS is 51 units taken in residence at Stanford. Please refer to the joint degree sections of this handbook for the allowable combination of minimum units required to earn the MA/JD and the MA/MBA degrees.

Units earned at another institution do not count toward the minimum units required for the Master's degree at Stanford. However, previous coursework may be used to meet course requirements if equivalent studies have been pursued. (Note: Courses taken through Stanford's Exchange Scholar Program or the formal exchange program with U.C. Berkeley or U.C. San Francisco may count as part of Stanford's unit minimum.) Coterminal students who have completed graduate level work in the three quarters prior to beginning their Master's program, will be able to transfer those units toward their Master's requirements, with approval from the Master's Programs Officer and Program Director.

All students must adhere to the quarterly unit requirements in their programs (see program-specific requirements for detailed information). Please note that in order to be considered a full-time graduate student at Stanford, a minimum of 8 units of enrollment is required in Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters. The maximum units allowed are 18 per quarter.

NOTE: All courses applied to the master's degree must be in courses at or above the 100 level. At least 50% must be in courses at or above the 200 level. Courses numbered below 100 are intended for undergraduates only and do not count toward graduate degrees.

Grades

In every program, one-third of the total units must be taken for a letter grade. The only exceptions to this are the Joint Degree with the GSB (in this program, students must take 27 of the required 35 units for a letter grade) and the Joint Degree with the Stanford Law School (in this program, students are permitted to take all MA coursework for Credit/No Credit). All students must also maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average. For more detailed information on grading procedures, refer to the Stanford Bulletin. Before enrolling in an independent study, students should discuss the grading basis with the supervising faculty member. In some cases, where independent study credit is offered on both a letter and credit/no-credit basis, faculty may prefer one method over another. Please discuss this with the supervising faculty member prior to the University's change of grading basis deadline.

Minimal Progress

Students must register in 11 or more units per term and pass at least eight units per term. The only exceptions to the 11-unit requirement in a given quarter are in cases of designated quarters in the EDS, ICE/IEPA, and LDT programs (see Program-Specific Requirements). Students who are approved to register in fewer than 11 units in a given term must pass at least six units. The academic progress requirements for students also include registration and timely completion of department and program requirements, such as completion of the Master's Program Proposal and the Master's Project. Students who do not meet minimal progress each term are at risk of termination.

Degree Conferral

Students must apply for conferral of their master's degree by filing an Application to Graduate on Axess by the Registrar's quarterly deadline. The deadline for spring quarter is April 12, 2024; the deadline for summer quarter is August 2, 2024. Students must be registered in the term their degree is conferred. See the Stanford Bulletin for further policy information.

Time Limit for Completion of the Master's Degree

As stated in the Stanford Bulletin, "All requirements for a master's degree must be completed within three years after the student's first term of enrollment in the master's program (five years for Honors Cooperative students). Students pursuing a coterminal master's degree must complete their requirements within three years of their first quarter of graduate standing." See the Bulletin for further information.

Graduate School of Education Requirements

Courses

Required courses for master's degrees in the Graduate School of Education are listed on the appropriate page of the Master's Handbook. Students choose electives in consultation with their faculty advisor based on relevance to the degree program and the student's academic interests.

Students are required to take a minimum of 27 units in the Graduate School of Education. An individual program's requirements may exceed this amount. Appropriate graduate-level courses in other departments of the University (e.g., Anthropology, Linguistics or Psychology), may be used to reach the program's overall unit total. Students must consult with their Program Director and advisor when selecting courses outside the Graduate School of Education to fulfill unit requirements.

NOTE: English for Foreign Students (EFSLANG 600 level) and Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation courses cannot be applied to the master's degree.

The Master's Project

Some programs have a culminating project requirement for the Master's degree. Students will receive specific instructions from their Program Director and advisor on this requirement, which is generally due sometime in the last quarter of study. Upon completion of the Master's project, students will be required to submit a Project Submission form to the Master's Programs Officer. The form is available on the Graduate School of Education website.

Graduation Review

At the beginning of the student's expected final quarter, the Master's Programs Officer will review each student's final program proposal and update the student on their progress toward fulfilling all degree requirements. It is each student's responsibility to resolve any issues pertaining to their course enrollment and complete any outstanding degree requirements in order to confer his or her degree.

Students are expected to plan their coursework for the academic year in the Autumn quarter by consulting with their advisor, program director, and Explore Courses/Axess. Questions about the time schedule may be directed to the Associate Director of Degree Programs and Faculty Affairs, Tommy Liu at liutommy@stanford.edu.

Cross-Listed Courses

There is no limit to the number of cross-listed courses that students may count toward the minimum number of Education units required for their program, except where limits are expressly placed for their particular program's requirements (for example, in the Joint Degree program with the GSB).

Non-STEP Student Enrollment in STEP Courses

STEP courses are designed specifically for students in that program. Their courses are closely integrated with one another and are typically linked to the student teaching experience. The exclusive focus of these courses on the professional preparation of teachers often makes them unsuitable for students in other programs at the Graduate School of Education. Students interested in taking STEP courses not designated "STEP only" in Explore Courses should contact the instructor of the course to determine if enrollment is possible.

Enrollment in Methodology Courses

In order to assist students with data collection and analysis for their Master's Projects, students will be required (or are highly encouraged) to enroll in a methodology class. Two methodology courses are most popular and are either required or highly recommended for the majority of Master's students in the Graduate School of Education: EDUC 200A, Introduction to Data Analysis and Interpretation, and EDUC 200B, Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods.

Students in the CTE and LDT programs are required to take either EDUC 200A or 200B to fulfill their program's Research Methods requirement.

Students in ICE/IEPA  are required to take two methodology courses from a pre-approved list, which includes EDUC 200A and 200B.

Students in POLS are required to take one methodology course from a pre-approved list, which includes EDUC 200A and EDUC 200B.

Since EDUC 200A and 200B are courses in high demand, enrollment in both of these courses is limited and registration in EDUC 200B is managed based on a priority list by program. A few additional notes:

• Both sections of EDUC 200A and 200B will have identical curriculum/course syllabi
• The EDUC 200A instructors will not prioritize by program. However, students in certain cohorts are likely to have a scheduling conflict with one of the two sections.
• EDUC 200B registration is based on a priority list by program (please see table below):

EDUC 200A: Introduction to Data Analysis and Interpretation

200B: Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

Axess - Student Portal

https://axess.stanford.edu

Axess is the Stanford University administrative system wherein most student business is conducted. Students may use Axess in order to:

• Add/Drop/Update/Confirm course enrollment
• Evaluate classes
• Review grades and request official transcripts
• Check registration status and any holds on account
• Apply for on-campus housing
• Verify subplan and view official advisor
• Update contact information
• View/Pay University bill with Stanford ePay
• Review and accept financial aid offers (such as loans)
• Apply to graduate

Enrolling in Classes

Students at Stanford use Axess to add/drop/update course enrollment (also known as filing or adjusting a study list). Registration deadlines are listed in the Academic Calendar and on Axess.

The first day of the quarter is the preliminary study list deadline. The Office of the Registrar requires students to be “at-status” at this time. This means graduate students should be enrolled in at least 8 units by the deadline in order to avoid the late study list fee of $200. Students anticipating a stipend or financial aid refund on the first day of the term should be at-status by the preliminary study list deadline posted in the Academic Calendar. Students have until the final study list deadline of each quarter to add/drop courses and adjust units on variable unit classes.

To Register for an Independent Study Course

To enroll in Directed Reading (EDUC 180) or Directed Research (EDUC 190), students should approach the faculty member they want to work with and propose a list of readings and/or papers they would like to study that quarter. If the faculty member agrees to supervise the independent study, the student and faculty member will work to determine the appropriate number of units and grading basis. Once all of this information is finalized, the student can enroll accordingly in Axess.

Course Assignments and Schedules

After officially enrolling in courses via Axess, students should check Canvas to see if the courses have websites with advanced course information. Professors may post assignments, announcements, and reading materials on this website.

For a list of Stanford course offerings and course scheduling information, visit Explore Courses at http://explorecourses.stanford.edu. Tommy Liu maintains an electronic Visual Time Schedule available for students interested in viewing all GSE courses by day/time, which is updated regularly and can be found here. In addition, many Stanford course syllabi are available to students on https://syllabus.stanford.edu.

Full-Time Study

Master’s students are required by the University and the Graduate School of Education to register for and attend classes full-time during the academic year (Autumn – Spring). All students must register in at least 8 units each quarter (except Summer) unless noted otherwise.

The only exceptions to the above full-time policy are for the Honors Cooperative Program in LDT and accommodations approved by the Office of Accessible Education.

International students with F1 or J1 visas are required to maintain full-time student status (contact Bechtel International Center for assistance). Full-time student status is also required for the receipt or deferment of many student loans. This includes registering in at least 6 units in the summer quarter.

Assistantships

Students who identify and wish to accept research or teaching assistantships (that are greater than 25% time; i.e., 10 hours/week) must obtain prior approval from their Program Director. 

Leave of Absence

Students considering taking a leave of absence for one or more quarters should first discuss the matter with the Master's Programs Officer and their advisor and/or Program Director. If a valid reason exists and the Program Director and advisor support the decision, the student must file a Leave of Absence Form (which can be found in the Student eForms section of Axess under the Student tab) and apply within the University’s established deadlines. International students must also obtain approval from Bechtel International Center, and must maintain appropriate visa status at all times.

The maximum length of any leave is one year. In rare cases, a leave may be extended beyond one year. The total number of leave quarters may not exceed six. A leave of absence does not extend the three-year candidacy period. For students who are requesting a medical leave, the policies may differ slightly. Contact the Office of Accessible Education for further information.

Graduation Quarter

Registration is required for the term in which a student defends and/or submits a dissertation or has a degree conferred. Students who meet the following conditions are eligible to be assessed a special reduced tuition rate for the quarter in which they are receiving a degree:

• All course work, degree requirements, and residency requirements have been completed prior to the start of the requested Graduation Quarter.
• The student has formally applied to graduate.
• The student has only to submit the dissertation, project, or master's thesis by the deadline for submission in the term designated as the graduation quarter.
• The student has filed all necessary forms regarding graduation quarter before the first day of the term chosen as graduation quarter.

Students on graduation quarter are registered at Stanford and, therefore, have the rights and privileges of registered students. Only one graduation quarter may be requested for each degree program. There is a registration fee of $150 for the graduation quarter.

Students who do not complete all degree requirements by the end of the graduation quarter must re-register or apply for a leave of absence, provided their candidacy has not expired. Students must submit the Application for Extension of Candidacy or Master’s Program before their program expires in order to avoid having to apply for reinstatement. The form is available here.

Extended Study

Master’s students are required to complete their degree within the timeframe stipulated by their program. Students who need more time must submit an Extension of Study Application for Master’s Students with the Graduate School of Education. Extensions may be granted in extreme and unique circumstances and for a maximum of one year. Extensions will only be granted in cases of academic need. Students with an approved Extension of Study must maintain valid student status by registering according to University policy. 

Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR)

Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR) is a special registration status for graduate students finishing a thesis, project, or dissertation. To be eligible for TGR status, students must have completed the minimum residency unit requirement for their program and be enrolled in the appropriate TGR course by the deadline. Requests for TGR status may be made for upcoming or future, but not prior, quarters. Students with TGR status must register for the TGR Project, EDUC 801 course under their director's name as the instructor (this course requires no additional work). Students with TGR status may enroll in up to 3 units of course work at the special tuition rate. With certain restrictions, students may enroll in additional courses at the applicable unit rate, but they cannot be applied toward degree requirements (all degree requirements must be complete in order to earn TGR status). 

TGR registration status requests are reviewed and either granted or rejected by the Master's Programs Officer. TGR Forms must be submitted no later than the first day of the quarter in which TGR status is requested.

Registration Holds

Offices throughout the University can place holds on a student’s record for various reasons, such as unpaid bills and overdue library fees; these holds prevent a student from registering. The Graduate School of Education may place academic holds for reasons including: (1) the student completes less than six units in a quarter (considered minimal progress), (2) the student does not register in the required number of units, (3) the student does not submit the Master’s Program Proposal or other required forms by the stated deadlines, or (4) the student’s master’s program three-year time limit has expired and the student has not had an extension approved.

Reinstatement

Discontinued students wishing to reinstate should first consult with the Master's Programs Officer. If the student decides to petition, they must submit an Application for Reinstatement, available online here. The Associate Dean of Educational Affairs, in consultation with the Program Director and the Area Chair, makes the decision to approve or deny reinstatement. The School is not obligated to grant reinstatement.

Termination of Student Status

Each student is admitted to the master’s program in the Graduate School of Education with the expectation that he or she will receive the degree. However, the faculty has the right and obligation to terminate the student status of anyone whose academic performance or progress is deemed unsatisfactory. Before considering dismissal, the faculty will meet with the student to discuss his or her situation and how to correct deficiencies.

A faculty decision to terminate student status may be made as a result of inadequate academic progress or unethical professional conduct. The advisor, the Program Director, and other faculty will meet with the student before considering termination. A written summary of these discussions shall be sent to the student and the advisor and added to the student’s academic file. The summary will specify the deficiencies, the steps necessary to correct them, and the period of time that is allowed for their correction (warning period), which is normally a minimum of one academic quarter. At the end of the warning period, the student’s progress will be reviewed and the student will be notified of the proposed action. A final decision is made and the student will be notified in writing of his or her final status with the program by the Associate Dean of Educational Affairs.

Disputes or Grievances

In the case of disputes or grievances about any aspect of these guidelines or the programs in general, the case is to be brought to the attention of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and will be first investigated by her confidentially. If any party deems it necessary, the issue may be brought to the Associate Dean of Educational Affairs for consideration. A student may appeal directly to the Dean if a satisfactory resolution is not accomplished at the Assistant or Associate Dean’s level. The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and the Associate Dean of Educational Affairs are available resources to students regarding grievances and disputes. Outside of the school, the University Ombuds person is available at (650) 497-1542 or https://ombuds.stanford.edu/contact. Further grievance and dispute policy and procedures are described in the Stanford Bulletin.

The University Financial Aid Office handles federal and University loans. The Graduate School of Education's Academic Affairs office handles School tuition fellowships (offered at admission) and travel grants. Questions concerning student loans, loan deferments and other financial aid counseling can be addressed through the University's Graduate Financial Aid Office.

Eligibility to Receive Aid

All students receiving funding (loans, fellowships, etc.) must be registered full-time by the University's published quarterly deadlines in order for aid to be disbursed. This means all master's students should enroll in at least 8 units in Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters and 6 units in the Summer quarter in order to be eligible for aid in a given quarter (programs may require more units per quarter, see program requirements). If you intend to take a leave of absence, consult with your lender or the Financial Aid Office if you have loans, and with the Academic Affairs office to understand the implications of the leave on your financial award.

Outside Support

Students are encouraged to actively seek and apply for outside fellowships. Research and teaching assistantships in the Graduate School of Education are limited to doctoral students. However, students may arrange on their own for a research or teaching assistantship in another department at Stanford. Students should ensure that this outside work does not prevent them from keeping up with their program requirements. Students cannot reduce their full-time course load in order to work, except in the case of LDT students who enroll part-time through the Honors Co-op Program.

Paid Internships

Internships may be for pay or course credit, but not both for the same work. Programs that require students to complete an internship may provide additional possibilities for paid opportunities. See the Stanford EdCareers section for further details.

Additional Work

Graduate School of Education students may work for pay as "casual labor" at Stanford for up to eight hours a week, provided it does not adversely impact their academic program.

Travel Fellowships

The School provides travel fellowships to master's students for professional development opportunities. The fellowships are awarded for travel associated with paper presentations at conferences during the student's academic program at the Graduate School of Education. This program cannot support data-gathering expenses or travel expenses not associated with a conference presentation. The maximum award is $300 and students are limited to one travel fellowship per year. Students must provide proof of their participation in a conference and must be registered in the quarter in which funds are awarded. Submit your Travel Fellowship Request Form digitally.

Funding Resources

The Office of Academic Affairs maintains an online page that lists external funding resources for graduate studies in education.

Cardinal Care and Health Insurance Subsidy

Cardinal Care is an annual enrollment insurance plan which includes coverage in summer quarter, whether the student is enrolled that quarter or not. The annual cost of this coverage will be charged over three quarters of the academic year (Autumn, Winter and Spring). Students enrolled in Cardinal Care will be covered during leaves of absence, breaks, and quarters in which they are not registered. The insurance carrier, Health Net of California, will provide the medical benefits and Managed Health Network will administer the mental health benefits.

Enrollment in Cardinal Care is a once-a-year event. In their first registered quarter of the academic year, students will decide whether or not to waive Cardinal Care coverage for that year. International students will be required to enroll in Cardinal Care, but may request an exception if they have an insurance plan with benefits that meet or exceed minimum standards set by the university.

The annual unsubsidized cost of the full Cardinal Care insurance premium for 2023-24, if enrollment begins in Autumn quarter, is $7,128 for single coverage. Stanford University will automatically pay a health insurance subsidy that covers part of the Cardinal Care premium for students who fall into one of categories below and who do not waive Cardinal Care coverage online via Axess.

Health insurance subsidy eligibility and amounts are determined by the criteria below:

• 100% subsidy for those with a Research of Teaching Assistantship of 25% (10 hours per week) or more, or fellowship providing non-tuition stipend at or above the minimum level for a 25% assistantship.
• 50% subsidy for those with a Research or Teaching Assistantship of less than 25%, or fellowship providing non-tuition stipend at or above the minimum level for a 10% assistantship.

For more information please visit the Vaden Health Center website.

Emergency and Additional Support Funding

Overview of Resources and Services

At the Graduate School of Education and across the broader campus, there are numerous career exploration and support services available including faculty, program directors, alumni, and Stanford EdCareers, the Stanford Graduate School of Education's career resources unit. The Career Education unit of Stanford EdCareers engages students and alumni in lifelong career exploration by connecting with the larger Stanford and education communities to create innovative learning opportunities that help individuals realize their personal career visions. 

Graduate School of Education students and alumni from all graduate programs have access to several career development resources.  These resources include:

EdCareers Resources

Stanford EdCareers provides Graduate School of Education students and alumni a variety of comprehensive free resources. To access these resources please visit our Career Education page.  From this page you may:

• Make appointments for career coaching sessions
• Subscribe to the Careers Newsletter
• Access the EdCareers Portal (log-in required)

All students are automatically granted access to the EdCareers Portal during the summer prior to arrival on campus. This system facilitates:

• Accessing employer profiles and job openings
• Managing internships

Individualized Career Counseling

The EdCareers Team is available to meet with GSE students to discuss their immediate career goals and facilitate their lifelong career management process.  Career coaching appointments may be scheduled by visiting the Meet Our Team page.

Other resources provided by the Stanford community include:

• Stanford EdCareers career preparation workshops and networking opportunities
• BEAM, Stanford Career Education: https://beam.stanford.edu.
• Stanford Vice Provost for Graduate Education (VPGE) professional development resources 

Internships

Internships are intended to give professional experience to help bridge to a new career upon graduation.  Students whose programs require an internship or practicum may potentially work off-campus in paid or unpaid internships, up to 10 hours per week, during the academic year. The role of the internship varies within each of the master's programs at the Graduate School of Education. A student's Program Director is most often the person who supervises internship units, although other faculty members may be appropriate.

Academic Affairs & Administration

Master's Program Directors

To view the forms, click here.

Important Stanford Websites

Academic Calendar (includes quarterly Enrollment and Registration deadlines)
https://studentservices.stanford.edu/calendar/academic-dates/stanford-academic-calendar-2023-24

GSE Listserves

Click here to view the list of emails.