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Admissions

Owner: Enrollment Management

Admissions

About the Application Process

Teachers College is a graduate school of education. To be eligible for admission to any/all programs, applicants must hold, or be in the process of obtaining, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. International applicants must hold, or be in the process of obtaining, the equivalent of a 120-credit U.S. baccalaureate degree.

Teachers College reviews applications for Spring, Summer, and Fall entry. However, not all programs or degree levels are available for all entry terms.  Applications must be for an available entry term (based on program and degree level) in order to be considered for admission. Applicants may only have one active application at a time, and may only apply to one degree program per cycle. Also, please note that students may not be concurrently enrolled in another institution, including Columbia University, while enrolled at Teachers College and may not be concurrently enrolled in two different degree programs or areas of specialization at Teachers College.

A complete list of available programs, degrees, and entry terms can be found at www.tc.edu/programs.

All admission decisions are final. The official notification of all admission decisions comes directly from the Office of Admission. Specific details regarding an applicant's admission decision are confidential and not shared with anyone external to the admission committee.

Within a seven year timeframe, applicants may apply a maximum of three times without gaining admission. Following the third denial decision, and prior to the expiration of the seven year timeframe, any applications to TC created by the same applicant will be withdrawn by the Office of Admission.

How to Apply

The Teachers College application and admission requirements are available at www.tc.edu/apply.

The complete Teachers College application consists of the application form and supplemental materials, which vary depending on the program and degree.

Application Deadlines

Only complete applications will be eligible for review. An application is considered complete when all required application materials are received by the Office of Admission by the designated, posted deadline.

General deadlines are posted at www.tc.edu/programs.

Please note: Applications for programs  received after the posted deadline(s) may be considered on a space-available basis, but review is not guaranteed.

Some applicants and programs have different deadlines than the above. Refer to the Program Search page to verify your program deadline: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/academics/programs-search/

Return of Application Materials

Under no circumstances can any application materials submitted to the Office of Admission be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another college, university, or third party. All records submitted in support of an application for admission become property of Teachers College.

English Proficiency

If your native language is not English and you have not received a baccalaureate (undergraduate) degree from an institution where English was the sole official language of instruction, you must submit official scores from an accepted English proficiency exam. We accept the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).  In order to be considered official, scores must be sent directly from the testing administrator and have been taken within the past 2 years. 

Refer to the International Applicants page (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/how-to-apply/international-applicants/) for more information on score requirements and minimums. 

Official Transcripts and Course Evaluations

As part of the application for admission, applicants are required to submit transcripts reflecting all undergraduate and graduate coursework they have completed. For current requirements regarding transcript submission, visit the Office of Admission website at www.tc.edu/apply. Students who completed or are completing degrees outside of the United States will be required to submit an official course-by-course evaluation. Refer to the International Applicants page (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/admission/how-to-apply/international-applicants/) for more information. 

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized tests are required by some, but not all, Teachers College degree programs. Please consult the Programs Search page to see if your program requires test scores. The testing center must report official scores directly to the Office of Admission by the application deadline. Expired scores will not be accepted. For tests administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the assigned institution code for Teachers College is 2905. For more information, visit www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions/admission/instructions/degree-programs.

Decision Notification

The Office of Admission sends official admission decision notifications electronically. Once a decision has been made on your application, you will receive an email with instructions for viewing your decision, which will be available on your TC Pathway Portal.

Depositing

In order to ensure their place in a program, admitted students must submit a $300 U.S. non-refundable tuition deposit to Teachers College by the enrollment response deadline indicated in the admission notification.

Non-Degree Status

Non-degree status is available to applicants holding a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. International applicants must hold the equivalent of a 120-credit U.S. baccalaureate degree.

A non-degree student may take up to 16 points as long as the academic standards of the College are met. Once the 16 point maximum is met, the non-degree student must either:

  • Apply to and be admitted to a Teachers College degree program, or
  • Obtain approval from the Registrar for continued registration under non-degree status

Admission to non-degree status implies no commitment for admission to a degree, Advanced Certificate, or non-credit program. Should a non-degree student become a degree candidate, a maximum of 16 points (8 in the major field) taken in non-degree status may be applied toward a degree program, if approved by the program. 

Students with Disabilities

The Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID) ensures that programs and services at Teachers College are physically, programmatically, and attitudinally accessible to individuals with disabilities. Equal access is achieved through individualized responses addressing the needs of individuals with conditions including, but not limited to, vision, hearing, or mobility impairments; medical conditions; or learning disabilities that affect one or more academic activities. Students who seek accommodations should contact OASID directly. For more information, visit www.tc.columbia.edu/oasid.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

Teachers College (“TC” or the “College”) is committed to providing a working, learning and living environment free from discrimination and harassment and to fostering a vibrant, nurturing community founded upon the fundamental dignity and worth of all of its members. 

Consistent with this commitment, Teachers College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or partnership status, citizenship or immigration status, military status, disability, pregnancy, genetic predisposition or carrier status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other legally protected status in the administration of its admissions policies, educational policies, employment, scholarship, loan, and other College-administered programs; treatment, or in access to College programs or activities.

For more information on admission to Teachers College, see http://www.tc.edu/admissions/

Responsible Department: Enrollment Management  

Effective Date: September 2020

Last Updated: November 2023

 

 

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