Admission Process and Review

ADMISSION PROCESS

The application process varies depending on the track for which the learner ultimately applies. To begin, a potential candidate clicks on the “apply” button on the certification page. From there, all candidates complete an online application form and submit the $50 application fee. This fee is credited to the program tuition should the applicant be accepted. If not accepted, the fee may be credited to another course.

After submitting the application and fee, candidates are sent to a brief, 11- question multiple choice quiz. The results from this quiz will determine if an applicant is best suited for Interactive or Independent Study. Based on the applicant’s quiz results, they will be given two options. If you scored Independent Study, you’ll be taken to an enrollment page which allows you to immediately submit your initial tuition payment, or you may bypass this and select an option to interview for the Interactive cohort (in case you disagree with the results). If you scored Interactive, you’ll be taken to a page to schedule an interview to ensure this program is the right fit for your goals. All interviews will be held Monday-Thursday each week that enrollment is open. 

Acceptance is based on rolling admissions policy throughout the enrollment season. Each week of enrollment, decision letters are sent at 9AM ET each Friday for that week’s interviewed applicants. The IAS certification and professional development is designed for practicing educators. Individuals with background knowledge in education and arts integration will have the most success in the certification program and professional development opportunities with IAS. The principal aim of the Admissions Policy of IAS is to offer admission to students of the highest potential as arts integration specialists, irrespective of social, racial, religious and financial considerations. Selection is based on a comprehensive review of all information presented in the application, including the applicant’s background in education, arts integration and a live video-chat interview. All applications are reviewed twice, in their entirety, by professionally trained arts integration specialists from the IAS organization. 

After independently reviewing and analyzing an application, the reviewer determines a comprehensive score that is the basis upon which the student is ultimately admitted or denied. 

Scores are based on the following: There are a total of 100 spaces available for the live online certification program. There are an additional 300 spaces available for the independent version of the certification program. Both versions require an application. In addition, the Executive Director of Academic Affairs conducts multiple checks for consistency and completeness throughout the review process. While this evaluation process is based on human judgments rather than a system that quantifies factors and incorporates them into a Component Available Points numerical formula, the extensive reviewer training, comprehensive reading of files, as well as other monitoring procedures, ensure that the process is highly reliable. 

ADMISSION REVIEW 

The admission review reflects the readers’ thoughtful consideration of the full spectrum of the applicant’s qualifications, based on all evidence provided in the application, and viewed in the context of the applicant’s academic and personal circumstances and the overall strength of the IAS applicant pool. Using a broad concept of merit, readers employ the following criteria which carry no pre-assigned weights: 

• The applicant’s full record of achievement in undergraduate, graduate or doctoral work as indicated on the resume. 
• Personal qualities of the applicant, including leadership ability, character, motivation, tenacity, initiative, originality, creativity, intellectual independence, responsibility, insight, maturity, and demonstrated interest in arts integration and STEAM. These qualities may not be reflected in traditional measures of academic achievement. They may be found elsewhere in the application and judged by the reader as positive indicators of the student’s ability to succeed at IAS and beyond. 
• Likely contributions to the intellectual and cultural vitality of the program. In addition to a broad range of intellectual interests and achievements, consideration will be given to evidence of an applicant’s ability and desire to contribute to a certification program that values cultural, socioeconomic, and intellectual diversity. This includes the likelihood that the student would make meaningful and unique contributions to intellectual and social interchanges with faculty and fellow students, both during and after the certification program. 
• Other evidence of achievement. This criterion will recognize exemplary, sustained achievement in any field of intellectual or creative endeavor; accomplishments in the performing arts and athletics; employment; leadership in school or community organizations or activities; and community service. 

Once students are admitted, we ensure that they’re given the academic, personal and, where appropriate, financial support necessary for successful completion of their professional development program at IAS. Once students have applied then the considerations detailed above takes absolute precedence. We won’t introduce targets or quotas for people from specific backgrounds as we feel very strongly that applicants should be admitted on academic merit and potential to succeed in their chosen course.