Kinesiology & Recreation - Applied Community & Economic Development
Overview
The Applied Community and Economic Development (ACED) sequence is an interdisciplinary program that enables those who are passionate about social change through service to take their careers to the next level. The sequence is designed for returned Peace Corps Volunteers and students with other development experiences (e.g., AmeriCorps, nonprofit work). The Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development coordinates these programs for Fellows, who spend an intense year on campus followed by 11-month paid professional practice. ACED sequence students have a graduate assistantship in the fall and spring semesters on campus prior to field work. Students pursuing this sequence receive a solid and relevant educational opportunity to pursue careers in community and economic development in the United States and around the world.
Point of Pride
Illinois State’s ACED Fellows Program provides an AmeriCorps Education Award premium match. Ours was the first Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows Program in community and economic development in the U.S.
Advising
Beverly Beyer
(309) 438-7090
Stevenson 435
How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to a master's program must:
- have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year
- present official transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. Transcripts can be emailed from the university to Admissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Office of Admissions, 201 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 2200, Normal, IL 61790-2200
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
A student applying to this program must:
- have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for either the last 60 hours of their undergraduate coursework or 9+ hours of coursework in a master's program.
- have successfully completed an undergraduate economics class. Students who do not meet this requirement may still be admitted into the program, but they will be expected to take this course prior to beginning graduate study.
- upload into the online application system a current resume.
- upload into the online application system a two-page statement of purpose describing why they would like to be in the kinesiology and recreation - applied community & economic development graduate sequence at Illinois State University.
- upload into the online application system a sample of their academic writing.
- submit names and e-mail addresses of three references for letters of recommendation within the online application.
- submit one of the following directly to Stevenson Center:
- Letter of Service (Applied Community & Economic Development Fellows Program)
- Official Description of Service (Peace Corps Fellows Program)
- complete the graduate assistantship application and the teaching preferences form available through the School of Kinesiology and Recreation. Only applicants selected for both admission and the graduate assistantship are admitted to the ACED sequence.
Applicants who submit all materials according to the posted instructions and by the posted deadlines, and whose materials indicate potential for success in their chosen program, will complete a required interview (by phone or in person).
Interested individuals may apply to only one of the Applied Community and Economic Development programs at a time.
Application Deadlines
- Fall (August) Term — February 1
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistantship Information
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,
- be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
- be in good-standing
- be qualified to teach in the School of KNR Active For Life program
- be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).
Benefits
Graduate assistants receive
- monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
- a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
- a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment
Costs & Funding
See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from continuous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.