ADMISSIONS PROCESS & REQUIREMENTS
Radio, Video & Film Single Concentration, Graphic Design & Digital Media Arts Programs

Specs Howard School of Media Arts is an equal opportunity educational facility open to all persons, regardless of age, sex, race, creed or national origin. Applicants who feel uncomfortable working with persons of a different race, creed or nationality are encouraged not to enroll at Specs Howard School.

Application to the school’s programs is open to persons who have graduated from high school or who have obtained a GED equivalency. High school seniors who satisfy all other admissions requirements may register for Specs Howard programs, but their enrollment will be contingent upon receiving a high school diploma.

Prospective students interested in Specs Howard School should schedule an appointment with an Admissions Representative and do the following:

1. Contact the school. You may call us directly at 248-358-9000 or 866-61-SPECS or Apply Online to start the process. One of our admissions representatives will follow up with you to set up an admissions appointment and tour of the school. Applying online does not bypass any of the following steps. Both methods of contacting the school will lead you to step two.
2. Attend admissions appointment and take a tour of the Specs Howard School facilities. The admissions appointment allows you to inquire about our programs, employment opportunities, program schedules, calendars, policies, registration processes, and Career Services procedures.
3. Complete the entrance evaluation. The entrance evaluation consists of three parts but varies slightly depending on the program.
   • Radio, Video & Film (RVF) Single Concentration Program: : Prospective students must take a general aptitude test, a grammar test and a recorded speech sample. The testing procedure measures the applicant's general aptitude, grammar application and ability to speak without serious deficiencies, read written copy aloud and comprehend the type of writing regularly occurring in the broadcast industry.
   • Graphic Design & Digital Media Arts Programs: Prospective students must take a general aptitude test, a grammar test and a computer proficiency test.

   Applicants must obtain a passing score in all designated areas to be admitted to their respective program. An official under the supervision of the Director of Education scores this evaluation. Applicants who do not pass the entrance evaluation are informed of their areas of weakness. An applicant may be referred to an appropriate educational facility or private organization for possible remedial work. In the case of ambiguous test results, the Director of Education may meet individually with an applicant to review any unclear areas of the evaluation and, in certain cases, recommend that the evaluation be retaken. Entrance evaluation results for our programs are valid for one year. Applicants who pass the test but do not enroll in any Specs Howard programs must retake all parts of the exam in order to be considered for acceptance to any of our programs if a year or more has passed.

4. Apply for admission. All applicants are charged a $50.00 application fee following successful completion of the entrance evaluation. (Note: this fee is non-refundable after midnight of the third business day following the signing of the enrollment agreement.) Applicants must meet the admissions criteria and all applications for enrollment must be approved and accepted by a member of the acceptance committee. Specs Howard School is a private institution and reserves the right to deny admission to any individual who, in the judgment of the acceptance committee, does not possess the ability to be successful in the chosen program of study or who poses a threat to the educational environment.
5. Complete an enrollment agreement upon acceptance to Specs Howard School, in order to secure a seat in a class. Applicants may enroll at any time prior to the start date of any scheduled class, subject to availability. Each applicant’s Admissions Representative will explain the provisions of the enrollment agreement, admissions procedures, registration requirements, class openings and availability, and work to place the student in the class of his or her choice, pending availability.
6. Attend a student orientation scheduled approximately two weeks before the class start. Attendance at orientation is mandatory. If a student is unable to attend orientation, that student must notify his or her Admissions Representative. Failure to attend orientation without acceptable notification may result in loss of the assigned seat in class. Specs Howard School reserves the right to replace that student with the next student on the waiting list. Applicants must adhere to all requirements as described on the enrollment agreement.
   Students entering the Graphic Design (GFX) or Digital Media Arts (DMA) programs must have unrestricted internet access to support the requirements for the online portions of the curriculum. Each enrolled GFX and DMA student will receive an SHS-issued laptop computer as part of the SHARE (Specs Howard Access to Resources for Education) Program. These laptops include all necessary software to support in-class and online work. Upon completion of the program, GFX and DMA students have the option to purchase the laptop, according to SHARE guidelines. For more information, contact the SHS Business Office.

High School Diploma Validation Policy

All applicants enrolling in the Specs Howard School of Media Arts must be a High School Graduate or GED equivalency.

The validation is a High School Diploma, transcripts or GED. The Admissions Administrative Assistant verifies the graduation date and a copy of the document is placed in the student file. In a case of an unquestionable verification, the document is forwarded to the registrar offices to be check against an on-line diploma database and/or a phone call will be made to the institution in question.

A student may not begin a program without a valid High School diploma, transcript or GED equivalency in the student file.

ADMISSIONS PROCESS & REQUIREMENTS
Radio, Video & Film Dual Concentration Program

In order to transfer into the Radio, Video & Film (RVF) Dual Concentration Program, a student must be a graduate of the RVF Single Concentration Program.

However, applicants must pass a proficiency examination prior to entering their second area of concentration if they have not attended a class in six months or more. The purpose of this examination is to ensure that each applicant possesses the skills and proficiencies of a student who has completed the second marking period of the RVF Single Concentration Program and qualifies for admission to the alternate area of concentration under the current Specs Howard School education standards.

Applicants who do not pass the proficiency examination for the Radio, Video & Film Dual Concentration Program may be required to review appropriate material from the first two marking periods of the RVF Single Concentration Program. In some cases, the proficiency examination may be retaken at the discretion of the Director of Education.

Students who elect the RVF Dual Concentration Program will enter their second area of concentration (radio or video & film) upon having graduated from the RVF Single Concentration Program with the opposite area of concentration. These students must contact the Specs Howard School Education Department in order to transfer into the Dual Concentration program. Every effort will be made to place the student in the first available class in order to facilitate a minimum amount of interruption of the student's training; however, class space is subject to availability.

EMPLOYMENT LIMITATIONS

Specs Howard students come from diverse backgrounds and have widely different career aspirations and goals. Each student is a unique learner and person. While Specs Howard School of Media Arts makes every effort to assist each student in finding employment in their chosen field upon graduation, the school does not guarantee employment. Factors unique to each student, that can limit employment opportunities include, but are not limited to:

• Conviction of a felony or serious misdemeanor
• Physical condition or health issues that prevent or hinder employment
• Geographic limitations and inability to relocate
• Poor work history
• Poor language skills or communication barriers
• History of or contemporary substance abuse
• Personal Bankruptcy
• Other issues that raise doubts in the mind of an employer as to the suitability of a graduate to become an employee.

The Specs Howard School of Media Arts has a long and proud tradition of helping students enter and succeed in Media careers. Your unique situation may aid or hinder your career.

DISCLAIMER: Specs Howard School of Media Arts makes no promises or guarantees of employment. Due to unique factors and attributes of each student it is possible that even after successfully completing a Specs Howard School program, a student may not find employment. Students should consider their own unique “employability” prior to enrolling in any career school training program.

Students pursuing a diploma program at Specs Howard School must take the program in its entirety. No credit is granted for past experience or other academic activities. This policy ensures that all graduates have fulfilled the stated objectives of their respective programs and that minimum training levels can be reported to prospective employers.