Admissions

Students who have completed work for a Bachelor’s degree from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accreditation association may apply for admission to graduate work.

Admission to a graduate degree program at Oswego is limited to those students whose formal applications and credentials receive a favorable recommendation for admission from the appropriate departmental admission committee and are approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Applicants will receive notification on their application from the Graduate Office. Admission procedures for graduate degree applicants are outlined below.

Application forms for admission to a graduate degree program are available from the Graduate Office, 606 Culkin Hall, 315-312-3152 or by email to gradoff@oswego.edu. If requesting by email, please include the program packet you wish to receive and your mailing address.

1. Each graduate program utilizes a separate graduate application packet that is program-specific and self-managed by the applicant. The applicant is responsible for submitting the completed application and all required components, including official transcripts, recommendations, and test scores to the Graduate Office, 602 Culkin Hall, by the appropriate departmental deadline. Please note: A nonrefundable $50.00 application fee is required. (If a student is applying to more than one program, an application and additional $50 payment must be made for each program.) Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the department for review.
2. Transcripts. Applicants must request an official transcript from each school attended for all previous undergraduate and graduate work. NOTE: Failure to report all previous college attendance on your application is considered to be academic dishonesty. Discovery of such dishonesty will result in no transfer of credit and can result in suspension from SUNY Oswego.
3. References. For most programs, two recommendation letters from persons acquainted with the applicant must be submitted to the Graduate Office. However, certain programs require three recommendation letters. Please consult the table in the Admissions section of this catalog and check your application packet for instructions for the number of letters you must submit. The forms and instructions provided in the admission packet for submittal of letters of recommendation are for the applicant’s convenient use. However, for particular programs, letters of support from persons other than instructors may be more pertinent for the applicant’s application support. In such instances, letters of recommendation when submitted on the official business letterhead of the author are acceptable.
4. Standardized Test Scores. All applicants for graduate degree programs should consult the table in the Admissions section of this catalog to determine the standardized test scores required.
   
   Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) scores older than five years will not be accepted for admission review purposes for any program.
   
   Oswego is a National test center for the GRE Subject Tests. Please refer to the exam booklets for specific dates. Applications for the exams must be submitted one month in advance of the exam date. GRE and GMAT information is available from the Graduate Office or the Office of Career Services.
    
5. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 560 (paper-based), 220 (computer- based) or 183 (Internet based) is needed. Information on this test is available from Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540.
6. New York State Teacher Certification Examination (NYSTCE). For persons seeking teacher certification: a score satisfactory to the Commissioner of Education must be attained on the NYSTCE in order to qualify for certification in the State of New York.
7. Additional Requirements. In certain instances, applicants may be required to submit additional material for consideration. Some departments require a personal interview. Applicants will be notified of requirements by the specific department.

Graduate students who wish to take graduate or undergraduate courses without entering a degree program may be admitted as non-degree students. Non-degree applicants must submit a non-degree application form and an official transcript showing evidence of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college to the Graduate Office before they will be permitted to register for graduate level courses. In non-degree study, students must meet all course prerequisites. It is important for the non-degree student to know that no more than nine hours of work completed prior-to-admission to a degree program may be requested as transfer credit for application to the degree program upon admittance to such program. This total of nine hours would include any off-campus prior-to-admission course work. No more than six hours may be transferred from other institutions into a degree program at Oswego. Therefore, if a student is contemplating eventually entering a degree program, the student should seek advice from the appropriate department as soon as possible.

Table of Requirements for Admission to Graduate Degree Programs