FAQs

We held a virtual Open House on Monday, November 20, 2023. You can view it here.

To inquire about the Teachers College admissions process, please contact the Office of Admission.

To schedule a tour of Teachers College, please visit Office of Admission.

For information about Financial Aid, please visit Office of Financial Aid.

For information about Housing, please visit Office of Residential Services.

For information for students with disabilities, please visit Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities.

For information for international students, please visit Office of International Students and Scholars.

For inquiries related to the M.A. degree, please contact Meg McGuffin, mcm2293@tc.columbia.edu; for inquiries related to the Ed.M.,Ed.D., Ph.D. degrees, please contact G Capone, grc2129@tc.columbia.edu

To inquire further about the HPSE Internship Program, please contact Diana Chadi: db2725@tc.columbia.edu 

For general questions, please contact our Academic Secretary Lucy Tam: tam2@tc.columbia.edu

We held a virtual Open House on Monday, November 20, 2023. You can view it here.

If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact the MA Inquiries Coordinator, Meg McGuffin, mcm2293@tc.columbia.edu, or EDM, EDD, PHD Inquiries Coordinator, G Capone, grc2129@tc.columbia.edu

To find out more information on the Teachers College open houses and Teachers College tours, please visit Office of Admission.

The faculty members in our program cover a wide range of areas in the field of education. To learn more specifically about whether or not your interests are covered in our program, please look over the Faculty page .  Please also read through our Program Description, as this provides detail as to the mission and goals of each degree program.

This link takes you to the schedule of classes:

https://www.tc.columbia.edu/academics/courses/

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree requires a minimum of 32 points to complete the degree. The Master of Education (Ed.M) is an advanced degree for applicants who have professional experience and would like to further their learning and research into the field of higher education.  The Master of Education (Ed.M.) degree requires a minimum of 60 points to complete the degree.

Each degree program has its own set of requirements outlined in our program requirements.

Master of Arts (MA) Worksheet

Master of Education (EDM) Worksheet

Doctor of Education (EDD) Worksheet

Doctor of Philosophy (PHD) Worksheet

Our program currently only accepts applications for the Fall semester, but you may start taking classes in the Summer sessions prior the start of the Fall semester.  More information about applying to the program can be found here: 
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions/

The deadlines for applications are:
M.A.: Early deadline - January 15; Final deadline - April 1
Ed.M.: Early deadline - January 15; Final deadline - April 1
Ed.D.: December 1
Ph.D.: December 1

Yes. In previous years, approximately 75% of our M.A. students were enrolled as full-time students and held a 20-hour a week internship; while the other 25% of the M.A. students were enrolled as part-time students with full-time careers.  For Ed.M., Ed.D. and Ph.D. students, approximately 75% of the students enrolled in these degree levels worked full-time and took classes part-time; while the other 25% were full-time students.

Many of our classes are offered from 3:00pm - 4:40pm, 5:10pm - 6:50pm, and 7:20pm - 9:00pm to permit flexibility. Some classes are also offered during daytime hours. A few elective courses are also available during the weekends and via distance learning.  In addition, the program typically hosts networking events and colloquium speakers during the evenings to accommodate our part-time students.

Typically, full-time M.A. students complete their program within one academic year, and our part-time students complete the program at varying speeds. Full-time Ed.M. students tend to complete their program within two and a half academic years. There is no specific time frame for Ph.D. and Ed.D. students. Please note that these time frames are approximate and depend on each person's working situation, personal life, and financial situation.

Please contact the Student Housing Office for information about housing. They can be reached by phone at 212-678-3235, by email at housing@tc.columbia.edu, or online athttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/housing. We highly recommend that you return the housing application promptly if you would like to live in student housing. TC housing is very competitive.

Only students enrolled in the Ph.D., Ed.D. and Ed.M. programs in HPSE are eligible to transfer credit to TC.

Please refer to the Transfer Credit Guide.

To find out more about the experiences of HPSE students and alums, please check out our HPSE Newletter and Faces of HPSE.

No, there is no need to declare your enrollment status - there is no differentiation between the two groups, and both full-time and part-time students are provided with equal services and support.

Applications are available from the Teachers College Office of Admissions. Information and forms can be found at:
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions

The following are required materials for applying to the Higher and Postsecondary Education program:
1. Application for Admission & Fee
2. Statement of Purpose
3. Resume
4. Official Transcript(s)
5. Three Letters of Recommendation (for MA degree: one of which must be academic; for EdM, EdD and PhD degrees: two of which must be academic)
6. Academic Writing Sample (of 5-7 pages for MA applicants and 8-10 pages for EdM, EdD and PhD applicants)

Please visit the Teachers College Interactive Program Guide to find out more information of required materials.

For any questions related to applying to the Higher and Postsecondary Education program, please email the Office of Admission at admission@tc.columbia.edu

In determining the qualifications for admission, we use a contemporary model whereby a weakness in one area can be compensated for by strength in another area.  That is, we look at the entire profile of each applicant across a number of different areas.  Typically, a strong applicant is one with solid and consistent record of achievement across various domains.  In general, we focus on intellectual capacity, fit with the offerings of the Higher and Postsecondary Education program, relevant background and experience, and dedication and commitment to obtaining the degree.  In evaluating applications, we examine each of the required items for admission with careful review.  Our goal is to determine applicants' individual merits and potential contributions to the field as well as to the entering class.

Applicants to all degree levels should discuss past educational preparation and professional goals in their personal statements, including their anticipated work (e.g. professional and/or research interest) within the degree program to which they are applying.  In addition to the general application documentation required, all applicants must submit an academic writing sample (e.g., class paper) that shows how they handle scholarly materials: such as data, ideas, concepts, theoretical perspectives.  Ed.M., Ed.D., and Ph.D. applicants should submit a paper written for a graduate level class.  Doctoral applicants should have a Master's degree in a relevant discipline or field of work experience in higher education.  Please review our requirements online at the Teachers College Areas of Study.

The GRE scores are not required for the Higher and Postsecondary Education for any of the degree levels (M.A., Ed.M., Ed.D., and Ph.D.). The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for all applicants who have received their undergraduate degree from an institution where the language of instruction is not English.

Please visit the Teachers College Guide to Admission:

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions/admission/

Generally speaking, the Teachers College Admissions Office notifies students who applied by the priority TC deadline at some point around mid-March. Applicants who met the final deadline tend to hear from the TC Admissions Office around early to late May.

TC Admissions Office has information regarding these deadlines on their website: 
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions/index.htm

Be sure to also check your online application page to get up-to-date information about the status of your application.

Applicants who apply to the Higher and Postsecondary Education Program may only apply for Fall Admissions.  We do not accept Spring or rolling Admissions.

For applicants planning to enroll in the 2024-2025 school year, the priority deadline for M.A. and Ed.M. applicants is January 15, 2024 and the final deadline is April 1, 2024.  The deadline for Ed.D. applicants is December 1, 2023.  The deadline for Ph.D. applicants is December 1, 2023. Applicants who wish to be considered for financial aid should apply by the priority deadline.

Please refer to the Teachers College Areas of Study for application deadlines.

Unfortunately, the College does not have a centralized application system that allows each individual office to monitor the status of incoming applications. Should you have a question on where your application is in the process or whether any materials are missing, please contact the Admissions Office directly at admission@tc.columbia.edu.

Deferrals are rarely granted. Applicants are expected to enroll in the term for which they were admitted.

The number of students we admit varies from year to year.  In recent years, we have had about 25-30 M.A. students, 5-10 Ed.M. students, and 0-4 Ed.D./Ph.D. students enter the program in September.  The numbers vary year to year, however.

The writing sample should be 5-7 pages for M.A. applicants and 8-10 pages for Ed.M., Ed.D., and Ph.D. applicants. It should demonstrate an applicant's academic writing skills and abilities, particularly with writing in the field/area of education.  Examples of a writing sample are: a research paper, submitted for a journal or conference, in which the applicant is the sole author; a paper for a prior course; or a newly written essay.

Speaking or meeting with faculty member in the program prior to applying will not promote an increased chance of acceptance for any applicant.  However, we do recommend that you acquaint yourself with the work of the faculty member with whom you wish to work with, especially if you are a Ed.M., Ed.D. or Ph.D. applicant.  Please review the Faculty page of this website to learn more about the work of the HPSE faculty members.

HPSE faculty members, staff, and the Inquiries Coordinator cannot review your CV, resume, and/or statement of purpose.  We encourage you to ask individuals who are familiar with your academic work, research, and work experience to review these documents for you.

The 2023 – 2024 tuition rate is $1,970 per credit/point. In addition, the college fee for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 is $508 per semester. This fee cannot be waived. These amounts do not include any additional services students may need such as health insurance.

Up-to-date information on tuition and fees is available here.

Office of Financial Aid email:  financialaid@tc.edu

Office of Financial Aid phone number: (212) 678 - 3714

Please contact the Office of Financial Aid:
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/studentaid

Contact one of the following offices/individuals:

For inquiries regarding graduate assistantships offered by the HPSE program, please contact the HPSE Internship Coordinator, Diana Chadi, db2725@tc.columbia.edu.

To find out more about Financial Aid opportunities, please visit the Financial Aid website:
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/studentaid

To find out more about on-campus jobs, please visit the Teachers College Human Resources website:
https://www.tc.columbia.edu/human-resources/

To find out more about Columbia University jobs and careers, please visit the Teachers College Career Services website:
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/careerservices/index.asp

The Higher Education program hosts a number of events for students to promote learning outside the classroom and foster a sense of community within the program. Every semester, we offer professional development and social opportunities. Programming and professional development events are announced via our program website and through our program listserv. All admitted students are added to our program listserv.

There are about 38 student organizations at Teachers College, representing various aspects of the school's diverse student body. In addition, the Office of Student Affairs organizes a range of activities on a regular basis, including workshops, social events, and networking opportunities.

For more information, please visit the Office of Graduate Student Life and Development’s website: 

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/office-of-student-affairs/

Graduate Writing Center

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/graduate-writing-center/

Computing Services

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/cis/

International Student Services
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/international/

Library
Informational workshops on library structure, library renovations, research skills, and technology is available via the library's website: 
http://library.tc.columbia.edu/

Teacher College students also have full access to the Columbia University and Barnard College library system.

Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities
Information is available via the website:
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/administration/ossd/

Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs
Information is available at:

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/diversity/

Office of the Registrar
Information is available at:

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/registrar/

Student Handbook
Information for new and current students about TC and its policies is available at:

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/student-handbook/