Graduate Admissions

The following Admissions, Enrollment and Academic Policies are accurate and current at the time by which this catalog was produced.

Admissions Policies

The supervision and conduct of graduate education is the responsibility of the Center for Graduate Studies. The overall administration of the program is delegated to the Director of the Center for Graduate Studies. College policies regarding graduate programs are developed in consultation with the Faculty Senate. The Graduate Affairs Committee serves in a recommendatory capacity to the Faculty Senate.

The admissions process at SUNY Potsdam is highly individualized. Each application is thoroughly evaluated to discover the wide variety of skills and talent sought in prospective graduate students. Applications are reviewed holistically, using criteria such as grade point average, personal statement and letters of recommendation.

For most programs, Potsdam operates on a rolling admission policy whereby applications are reviewed as soon as all required credentials have been received. Students are then informed of acceptance upon completion of the application review. See Additional Admission Information in this section for information on deadlines.

Refer to the subsequent pages of the catalog or online at potsdam.edu/admissions/graduate.

International Student Admission Requirements

English Language Proficiency

Graduate programs require students to engage in group discussions, class participation, and oral presentations. In order to be successful in our programs, students must possess a high proficiency in written and oral English. As such, applicants are required to submit on of the following test scores as demonstration of their English language proficiency. All applicants must request the testing center to send a current official score report to the Center for Graduate Studies. Applicants may also upload a copy of their unofficial score to their application to assist in matching scores and providing initial admissions decisions.Below are the current language exams we will accept and minimum score requirements:

1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): An overall score of 79 or higher is required on the Internet-based (iBT) exam. Older formats such as computer-based and paper-based equivalencies are213 and 550 respectively.Visit https://www.ets.org/toefl for additional information on this exam. SUNY Potsdam’s institutional code for score reports is 2545.
2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS): An overall score of 6.0 or higher with no less than 5.5 in any subsection. Visit ielts.org for additional information on this exam.
3. Cambridge English Exams (CEA/CEP): Two specific tests will be accepted (Cambridge English: Advanced or the Cambridge English: Proficiency). Minimum score requirement on either exam is169. Visit cambridgeenglish.org for additional information on this exam.
4. Pearson PTE Academic: Minimum acceptable score is 51.  Visit pearsonpte.com/test-takers/test/  to learn more about this exam.

5. Duolingo: Minimum acceptable score is 47.  Visit https://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants to learn more about this exam.

For additional information, contact the Center for Graduate Studies at 800-458-1142, ext. 1, 315-267-2165 or graduate@ potsdam.edu.

Equivalency to a U.S. Bachelor’s

Applicants who studied at colleges and universities outside the U.S. should have a degree or diploma that is the equivalent of aU.S.bachelor’s degree or higher. International credentials are assessed in terms of the educational pattern of the country, the type of institution attended, and the level of study completed before the expected date of enrollment at Potsdam. In general, the degree should represent a minimum of four years of college level study, which follows at least 12 years of schooling at the elementary and secondary level.

You may also submit a credential evaluation report to verify that your degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree (Credential evaluations are accepted by any organization that is recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Additional information may be found at naces. org). Additional general guidelines for equivalents to a U.S. bachelor’s degree can be found online in admissions web pages.

Application Submission Deadlines

Admissions for most graduate programs operate on a rolling basis as space is available after the following deadlines. Specific deadlines for some programs are listed below:

Crane School of Music Applicants

Enrollment entry is primarily in the summer or fall terms. The admission application and graduate assistantship applications must be submitted together by March 2 for students wishing to be considered for Graduate Assistantships or Scholarships in Music. For other students, application deadlines are:

Fall - May 1 Summer - May 1 Spring - Nov 15

See the Crane School of Music website for audition and admissions information.

Admission Review Process

The overall admission process is structured as follows: once a candidate has submitted all of the required application materials, the Center for Graduate Studies will forward the materials to the appropriate School and academic department for an admission decision.The Graduate Admissions Committee of the selected program of study reviews the candidate’s application and forwards a recommendation back to the Center for Graduate Studies.

Appeals of Graduate Admission Decisions

School of Arts and Sciences or School of Education and Professional Studies

Applicants to programs in the School of Arts and Sciences or School of Education and Professional Studies may request reconsideration of an admission decision by submitting an appeal letter to the Chair of the Department, indicating the basis on which the appeal is made (e.g., records of performance, supporting letters, papers, evidence, etc.). Requests must be filed within 30 calendar days of the date of the action being appealed. Each appeal is considered strictly on its particular merits. Exceptions will be allowed only for unusual or extenuating circumstances.

The Crane School of Music

Applicants to The Crane School of Music may request reconsideration of an admission decision by contacting the Associate Dean of the Crane School of Music in writing within 30 days of the date of the admissions letter. Letters of appeal must include specific information as to why the decision should be reviewed. Each appeal is considered strictly on its particular merits. Exceptions will be allowed only for unusual or extenuating circumstances.

For all other programs, applicants should contact the Center for Graduate Studies.

Graduate Admission Classifications

Degree Seeking Students

Matriculated students have completed the Graduate application and have had their credentials reviewed by the Center for Graduate Studies and the appropriate academic area. The student has been accepted as a degree candidate in a particular curriculum, and has indicated their intent to enroll. Candidates are considered matriculated until they graduate or are dismissed.

Matriculated students will be granted one of two enrollment statuses:

1. Conditional Admission - Applicants must successfully meet all conditions to their admission to be granted full admission and the ability for their degree to be awarded. Granted to qualified applicants who do not yet meet certain admission requirements; e.g.,undergraduate content-core.
2. Full Admission - Granted to applicants who have satisfied all admission requirements.

Non-degree Seeking Students

Students who have an interest in graduate study but who have not yet applied for admission into a master’s degree program may with approval enroll as non-matriculated at SUNY Potsdam. A maximum of six (6) semester hours may be taken under a non-matriculated graduate status with departmental approval. In some cases, a student may be approved for additional course work as a non-matriculated student by special permission of the Dean and by signing the Lifelong Learning Agreement. However, only six (6) credits may be transferred into a degree program upon approval.

Non-matriculated admission requirements:

1. Meet the minimum grade point average for admission to graduate study.
2. Submit an official undergraduate transcript confirming the receipt/conferral of a bachelor’s degree; (or anticipated prior to the intended enrollment)
3. Submit the Non-Matriculated Graduate Student Application

Deferred Admission

Students admitted to the College who elect not to enter in the semester for which they are admitted may request that admission be deferred. Request for deferral may be granted for a maximum of one year-two consecutive academic semesters. Application files will be held in inactive status during periods of deferral and will be reactivated without payment of additional application fees. Students who wish to defer must also submit a tuition deposit to hold their spot in the future term. After one year has passed, applicants will be required to submit a new application.

Proof of Bachelor’s Policy

All graduate students granted conditional admission with the outstanding requirement of providing proof of a conferred bachelor’s degree (or U.S. Equivalent) will have up to the Friday before the start of classes to furnish an official transcript conferring said degree. Failure to do so will result in dis-enrollment from the college in the form of a withdrawal (this withdrawal will also follow the college’s financial liability schedule). This does not prohibit the student from applying for re-admission in future terms once proof can be met. In some cases, with prior approval by the Director of Graduate Studies a letter from the student’s undergraduate registrar may serve as a temporary document should the conferral policies of the college overlap with admission and enrollment at SUNY Potsdam. Students pursuing financial aid will be required to provide proof of undergraduate degree before aid could be certified and disbursed. Additionally, all required documentation must be submitted and reviewed prior to or during the academic year (summer, fall, spring) for which it is intended; aid cannot be process retroactively for a previous aid year.