Graduate Studies

General Information (excerpted from 2024-2025 Graduate Catalog)

PDF version of Graduate Catalog


About Western Illinois University

Since 1899, Western Illinois University has provided outstanding educational opportunities to individuals in west central Illinois and well beyond our region and state. WIU’s traditional residential campus in Macomb, Illinois, is the educational, cultural, and athletic center of the region, while the WIU-Quad Cities commuter branch campus in Moline, Illinois, is the only public university in the immediate Quad Cities region.

The WIU-Macomb campus offers a comprehensive slate of undergraduate and graduate programs, including a doctorate in education. The WIU-Quad Cities campus offers select undergraduate and graduate programs, including a doctorate in education and a doctorate in environmental sciences, at its metropolitan, commuter campus.

Employing an outstanding, diverse faculty and staff committed to multicultural and international education, Western Illinois University offers undergraduate and graduate programs of study to approximately 6,332 students from Illinois, across the nation, and around the world.

 Justice, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (JIDE) (wiu.edu/dei)

Western Illinois University fosters respect, equity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. WIU is committed to anti-racism, anti-oppression, equity, social justice, and diversity. We value inclusion as a core value and as an essential element of Western’s public service mission. WIU embraces individual uniqueness and a culture of inclusion that supports broad and specific diversity initiatives. Western believes in the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society as integral to the success of all individuals.

At WIU, we will:

  • Maintain a safe and secure environment for all members of our University communities.
  • Educate and empower students, staff, and faculty to be social justice advocates.
  • Provide curricula, programs, training, resources, and environments that reflect and strengthen the diversity of our communities, and to elevate cultural awareness and understanding.
  • Ensure fair, equitable, and inclusive access to University facilities, programs, resources, and services.
  • Create inclusive and equitable policies and practices.
  • Diversify the University’s workforce by assessing hiring practices to attract, retain, and develop talented staff and faculty from diverse backgrounds.
  • Address intergroup disparities through areas as representation, retention, learning outcomes, and graduation rates.
  • Create and maintain a University-wide diversity plan to ensure a continued commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, equity, social justice, and diversity.

 Recognitions & Accreditations

Because of WIU’s long-time support of veterans and active duty service members, the University has been recognized as a “Military Friendly School” by Viqtory/Military Friendly, achieving “Gold” status for 2022-23. Western ranked #2 in the United States for small public universities earning the Gold Top 10 status, and WIU is recognized as a “Best for Vets College” by Military Times magazine, ranking 24th out of 134 four-year institutions across the U.S. WIU is the only Illinois public institution in the top 50, and one of only two Illinois public institutions in the list of four-year schools.

Western Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The University’s teacher licensure programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. In addition, many of its departments and schools are accredited by professional agencies, including the following: ABET: Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International; Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions; Council on Social Work Education; Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council; National Association of School Psychologists; National Association of Schools of Art and Design; National Association of Schools of Music; and National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Western Illinois University is also approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). As such, the University’s distance learning program follows policies and standards that are overseen by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements and administered by four regional higher education compacts. For additional information, please visit nc-sara.org .

These external recognitions and peer-based accreditations showcase Western’s high academic standards, quality instruction, proven opportunities for job and graduate school placement, outstanding academic and residential facilities, exciting extracurricular activities, and institutional commitments to sustainability and affordability.

These recognitions also reinforce the unique mission and niche of Western Illinois University in the state’s public higher education system. Keeping focused on our vision, mission, and values is critical for continued student success and our progress, growth, and contributions to the state and beyond.

Higher Values in Higher Education

Our Vision

Western Illinois University will be the leader in educational quality, opportunity, and affordability among regional public universities.

 Our Mission

Western Illinois University empowers students, faculty, and staff to lead dynamic and diverse communities. We provide student-centered undergraduate and graduate programs characterized by innovative teaching, research, and service, grounded in interdisciplinary, regional and global perspectives. We engage our students in educational opportunities guided by a professional and diverse faculty and staff in collaboration with alumni and community partners.

Our Values

Academic Excellence: Central to our history is the commitment to teaching, to the individual learner, and to active involvement in the teaching-learning process. Western Illinois University's highly qualified and diverse faculty promotes critical thinking, engaged learning, research, and creativity in a challenging, supportive learning community. We are committed to student success in an academic environment that encourages lifelong development as learners, scholars, teachers, and mentors.

Educational Opportunity: Western Illinois University values educational opportunity and welcomes those who show promise and a willingness to work toward achieving academic excellence. We are committed to providing accessible, high-quality educational programs and financial support for our students.

Personal Growth: Western Illinois University values the development of the whole person. We are committed to providing opportunities for personal growth in a transformative educational environment that supports the development of wellness, ethical decision making, and personal responsibility in the global community.

Social Responsibility: Western Illinois University is committed to civic and community engagement, equity, social justice, and diversity and will maintain the highest standards of integrity in our work with others. We create an environment that fosters and promotes citizenship. We serve as a resource for and stimulus to educational, cultural, environmental, community, and economic development in our region and well beyond it for the public good.

Mission of the Graduate School

It is the primary goal of the School of Graduate Studies to facilitate, encourage, support, and coordinate excellence in graduate education at Western Illinois University. To achieve this goal, the Graduate Council and the Graduate Office, in concert with the provost, deans, department chairs, department graduate committee chairs, and graduate faculty, will oversee issues relating to policies, procedures, and academic standards in graduate education.

  Comments and Complaints

Participants in the Title IV Federal Financial Aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, are required to direct students to a state agency for assistance with unresolved complaints. Related regulations require all Title IV participating institutions, regardless of the origin of their state authorization to operate, to comply with state agency complaint process and to communicate such information publicly. Under Federal Rule 34 CFR §600.9 and §668.43(b), Title IV eligible institutions must make available to students or prospective students, upon request, a copy of the documents describing the institution’s accreditation and state authorization. The institution must provide its students or prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with the University, its accreditor, and the state.

Student and graduate comments and complaints are addressed separately for discrimination, ethics, police conduct, and/or all other institutional issues. University policy, procedure, and contact information for each type of complaint are described below.

All student complaints should first be addressed at the local level (the level at which the complaint arises). If it cannot be resolved at the local level, the complainant should express the complaint to the head of the academic department or administrative unit after referring to the University Organizational Chart ( wiu.edu/president/orgchart/ ) or the University Directory ( directory.wiu.edu ) to determine the appropriate contact. If the complaint is not resolved at this level, the following individual(s) should be contacted:

Discrimination-Ms. Joani Wilson, Director, Equal Opportunity and Access; Sherman Hall 312; (309) 298-1977; fax (309) 298-3455; email eoa-office@wiu.edu

Ethics -Ms. Victoria Smith, Ethics Officer/General Counsel Attorney; Sherman Hall 208; (309) 298-3070; email ethics@wiu.edu

Police Conduct-Mr. Derek J. Watts, Director, Office of Public Safety; Mowbray Hall; (309) 298-1949; fax (309) 298-2884; DJ-Watts@wiu.edu

Student Success/Macomb-Mr. Justin Schuch, Interim Vice President, Student Success; Sherman Hall 321; (309) 298-1814; fax (309) 298-2558; VPSS@wiu.edu

All Other/Macomb-Dr. Mark Mossman, Interim Provost and Academic Vice President; Sherman Hall 211; (309) 298-1066; fax (309) 298-2021; provost@wiu.edu

Quad Cities-Ms. Audrey Adamson, Executive Director, Outreach and Quad Cities Operations; 3420 QC Complex C; (309) 762-9481; anw-adamson@wiu.edu

State of Illinois: The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) maintains the master plan which guides development of the state’s system of public and private colleges and universities, and it maintains an online complaint system for registering institutional complaints at complaints.ibhe.org . This website includes step-by-step instructions and key information regarding the complaint process.

State of Iowa: Western Illinois University is certified by the State of Iowa to provide educational certificates and degree programs in Museum Studies and distance education in Iowa. In serving students from Iowa, the Iowa College Student Aid Commission maintains a system (information available at iowacollegeaid.gov/StudentComplaintForm ) to document concerns, questions, and complaints related to post-secondary educational institutions.

Out-of-State Distance Learning Students: Students enrolled in distance learning classes who live outside Illinois are protected by the State Authorization and Reciprocity Act (SARA) consumer protection provisions. These provisions require the investigation and resolution of allegations of dishonest or fraudulent activity, including the provision of false or misleading information. The SARA Student Complaints process and directions are available at https://www.nc-sara.org/student-complaints .

 Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosure

Under Federal rule 34 CFR §668.43(a).(5).(v), institutions of higher education must make institutional information regarding the academic programs of the institution readily available to enrolled and prospective students. This information includes, for an educational program which is designed to meet educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification that is required for employment in an occupation, or is advertised as meeting such requirements, information regarding whether completion of that program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements in a State for that occupation, including:

  • A list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification;

  • A list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum does not meet the State educational requirements for licensure or certification; and

  • A list of all States for which the institution has not made a determination that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification.

In accordance with this requirement, Western Illinois University provides its Professional Licensure Disclosure report at wiu.edu/provost/docs/ProfessionalLicensureDisclosureReport.pdf . Further, according to Federal rule 34 CFR §668.43(c), if the institution has made a determination that the program's curriculum does not meet the State educational requirements for licensure or certification in the State in which a prospective student is located, or if the institution has not made a determination regarding whether the program's curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification, the institution must provide notice to that effect to the student prior to the student’s enrollment in the program. If the institution makes a determination that a program's curriculum does not meet the State educational requirements for licensure or certification in a State in which a student who is currently enrolled in said program is located, the institution must provide notice to that effect to the student within 14 calendar days of making such determination.

Additionally, disclosures required above must be made directly to the student in writing, which may include through email or other electronic communication. The institution must make a determination regarding the State in which a student is located in accordance with the institution’s policies or procedures, which must be applied consistently to all students. The institution must make a determination regarding the State in which a student is located at the time of the student’s initial enrollment in an educational program and, if applicable, upon formal receipt of information from the student, in accordance with the institution's procedures, that the student’s location has changed to another State.

 Equal Opportunity and Access

Western Illinois University complies fully with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws, orders, and regulations. The University is committed to providing equal opportunity and an educational and work environment for its students, faculty, and staff that is free from discrimination based on sex, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other classes protected by state or federal law.

Further, the University is committed to a comprehensive Affirmative Action program that ensures access and equity in educational programs, activities, and employment.

The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access is responsible for administering and monitoring Western Illinois University’s Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action policies and procedures. Inquiries about or complaints alleging violation of the policies should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, 312 Sherman Hall, (309) 298-1977. The director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access also serves as the administrator for Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

 Religious Observance Policy

Consistent with Illinois Public Act 84-212, an act to prohibit public school districts and institutions of higher education from discriminating against students for observing religious holidays (effective August 26, 1985), Western Illinois University subscribes to the following policy and procedures:

Western Illinois University supports the concept of "Reasonable Accommodation of Religious Observances" in regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and other academic work requirements.

  1. A student who is unable because of the observance of a religious holiday to attend classes on a particular day or days or at a particular time of day shall be excused from taking any examination or any study or other academic work assignments on such days or times.
  2. Faculty and administrative personnel may require up to 5 calendar days advance notice of absences to observe religious holidays.
  3. It is the responsibility of the faculty and administrative personnel to make available to such students an equivalent opportunity to make up the examinations, study, or other academic work requirements which they missed due to such absences.
  4. It is the responsibility of all students who also are employees of the University to make arrangements to fulfill their obligations to the University in advance of their absence, and/or to utilize accrued leave (if applicable) during the absence.
  5. No fees or penalties may be imposed against the students who exercise such afforded opportunities. If a student believes she/he has been a victim of discrimination on grounds of religious observances, she/he may seek redress under the existing Discrimination Complaint Procedures.

A student who feels that he or she has been unreasonably denied an educational or employment benefit due to religious beliefs or practices should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access.

Western Illinois University’s full Reasonable Accommodation of Students’ and Employees’ Religious Observance Policy is available at wiu.edu/policies/religiousobserv.php .

 Student Right-to-Know

Information complying with the Federal Student Right-to-Know legislation, including the Campus Safety and Security Act (Clery Law), is available in the Office of Public Safety and University Communications, Marketing and Media Relations. The information contains campus crime statistics and graduation rates at Western Illinois University and is also available at wiu.edu/clery.

 Administrative Organization

Graduate degree programs are administered by academic departments in four colleges. College deans report to the provost and academic vice president, who has responsibility for all academic programs and personnel at the University. The administration of graduate education is centered in the Office of the Provost under the leadership of the associate provost and academic vice president. In addition to the provost, four other vice presidents administer the areas of student success; enrollment management; finance and administration; and Quad Cities campus operations. The president reports to the Western Illinois University's Board of Trustees for the operation and general welfare of the University.

The School of Graduate Studies is the coordinating agency for the University’s graduate programs. It maintains records related to admission (domestic and international), graduate assistantships, and completion of degree requirements, and works closely with members of the graduate faculty, academic departments, and college deans. The School of Graduate Studies is administered by the associate provost and director of graduate studies, who reports to the provost and academic vice president. The School of Graduate Studies is responsible for implementing the policies, procedures, and academic standards established by the Graduate Council, a representative body elected by full members of the graduate faculty. Any deviation from graduate academic regulations must be approved by the Graduate Council. The Council may determine, at any time, a student’s eligibility to continue graduate studies at Western Illinois University.

 Academic Colleges

Graduate programming and coursework are offered in four academic colleges and other areas as indicated below:

College of Arts and Sciences

African American Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Community Development and Planning, English, Environmental Science: Large River Ecosystems, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Geology, GIS Analysis, GIScience and Geoenvironment, History, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Teaching Mathematics, and Women’s Studies

College of Business and Technology

Accountancy,Applied Statistics and Decision Analytics, Agriculture, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Computer Science, Engineering Technology, Instructional Design and Technology, Quantitative Economics, and Supply Chain Management

College of Education and Human Services

Alternative Teacher Licensure; College Student Personnel; Counseling; Curriculum and Instruction; Educational Leadership; Educational Studies; Event Planning and Management; Health Services Administration; Hospitality; Kinesiology; Public Health; Reading; Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration;  Special Education; Sport Management; and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

College of Fine Arts and Communication

Art, Broadcasting and Journalism, Communication, Museum Studies, Music, Music Therapy, Speech Pathology, and Theatre

Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs

Community and Economic Development

Office of the Provost

Emergency Management, Public Safety Administration, Police Executive Administration

 Trustees of the University

Carin Stutz, Chicago (Chair)
Polly Radosh, Good Hope (Vice Chair)
Cody Cornell, Columbia (Secretary, Student Member)
Kirk Dillard, Hinsdale
Kisha M. J. Lang, Maywood
Erika Lowe Mullins, Chicago
Doug Shaw, Peoria
Derek Wise, Venice

 Officers of the University

Interim President: Dr. Kristi S. Mindrup
Interim Provost and Academic Vice President: Dr. Mark A. Mossman

Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. James A. Schmidt
Dean, College of Business and Technology: Dr. Craig A. Conrad
Interim Dean, College of Education and Human Services: Dr. Eric C. Sheffield
Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication: Mr. William T. "Billy" Clow
Dean, University Libraries: Dr. Hector J. Maymi-Sugranes
Dean, Centennial Honors College: Dr. Lorette S. Oden
Dean, Innovation and Economic Development: Dr. Christopher D. Merrett

Intermi Vice President for Student Success: Mr. Justin L. Schuch
Acting Administrator in Charge, Finance and Administration: Mr. John W. Smith
Vice President for Advancement, Alumni Relations, and Athletics: Ms. Clare A. Thompson
Interim Assistant Vice President for University Communications and Marketing: Ms. Alisha A. Looney
Interim Associate Provost and Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Christopher A. Pynes

 Graduate Council, Academic Year 2024-2025

P.K. Babu, professor, Physics (Vice Chair)
Roberta Di Carmine, professor, English
Niyazi Ekici, associate professor, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration
Todd Lough, professor, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration
Jim McQuillan, professor, Computer Sciences (Chair)
Gina Yi, assistant professor, Music
Chunying Zhao, professor, Computer Sciences
Danyang Zhao, assistant professor, Communication