Graduate Application Requirements

It is the applicant’s responsibility to gather supporting credentials and submit them to the admissions office. Applicants should apply using the online applications. Once all applications materials are received by the admissions office, the completed application will be sent to the School for Graduate Studies or the School of Nursing and Allied Health for additional follow-up and review.

On this page (scroll or link to the content):

• Master’s Degree Program Requirements (excluding Nursing)
• M.S. in Nursing (Education and Administration) Requirements
• College/University Transcripts from Non-U.S. Institutions
• International Graduate Applicants
• Advanced Certificates
• Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Programs
• How to Submit Official Transcripts
• Military Training and Experience

Related content (links open in new tab):

• Criteria for Admission Essays
  
• Graduate Application Review Periods
  
• Immunization Requirements
  
• Accessibility Resources and Services, Requesting Accommodations

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Master’s and Doctoral Degree Program Requirements (excluding Nursing)

A complete application consists of the following:

1. Online Application: (Once you submit the online application, your Supplemental Items list will populate and you will be able to upload documents and send your recommendation requests (if required).
   
2. Official transcripts: All official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from regionally accredited institutions must be submitted directly from the issuing institution to the admissions office. Transcripts from a non-U.S. institution must be evaluated by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). A course-by-course evaluation is required and reports must be submitted directly from an approved evaluation service to the admissions office at Empire State College to be considered official. Official transcripts should be mailed to: Admissions Office, SUNY Empire State College, 111 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 - Or electronic submission from college/university/evaluation service to Admissions@esc.edu. Empire State College graduates do not need to request a transcript.
3. Essays: Required essay(s) are specific to the degree program. Use our Criteria for Admission Essays (opens in a new tab) to assist you. The application review committee weighs the quality of your essays very heavily in their decision about whether you will be admitted to the program. The essays must be original to this application and responsive to the specific questions (they are not intended to be writing samples drawn from previous undergraduate or professional writing assignments). If you use any material from other sources/authors, you must include appropriate academic documentation and citation. Your essays may also be used in the process of advisement in your degree program.
4. Resume/CV: A resume/CV including previous experience, education and other achievements.
5. Recommendations: We require two (2) recommendations from appropriately qualified persons. Personal references are not acceptable. We provide an online recommendation link that is emailed to the recommenders once you submit your application online. The online recommendation must be used (we do not accept mailed letters of recommendation). Current Empire State College undergraduate students applying for a combined bachelor's/master's degree program must include their primary mentor as one of their recommenders.
6. Entrance Exams: Begining with the Fall 2022 term, entrance exams will no longer be required as a part of the admissions application process for our doctorate or master's degrees.
   
7. Teacher certification documentation: The M.Ed. in Adolescent Special Education (additional certification) requires that the applicant submit a copy of their active teaching license. Applicants to the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction must submit a copy of their active teaching license if they are completing the master’s degree for professional certification requirements.
8. English-language proficiency: Applicants for whom English is not the first language must submit proof of proficiency. The School for Graduate Studies will accept the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test scores taken within the last three years. You must score within the range of 79-94 on the TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) or 6.5-7 on the IELTS to be considered for admission to the Empire State College graduate degree programs. Applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution or from an institution where the instruction was given in English may be exempt. Due to COVID-19, the TOEFL is now being offered as a home test.
9. Transfer credit or previously earned graduate credit: If you are requesting acceptance of transfer credit from another graduate institution, or are a returning SUNY Empire graduate student hoping to utilize previously earned credit, please note that time limits do apply and you will not be able to include credit in your degree program that exceeds the time limit. For details, please consult the Graduate Catalog.
10. Orientation Fee of $50 (non-refundable) paid at the time of online application submission. If you possess a valid fee waiver code, you will enter that code in the payment screen within the online application.

M.S. in Nursing (Education and Administration) Requirements

1. Online Application
2. Application Essay of at least 500 words. Use our Criteria for Admission Essays (opens in a new tab) to assist you.
3. Official College Transcripts: All graduate applicants must have a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or above. An official transcript will be needed for each institution listed on the application, even if transfer credit from a previous institution is listed on another college transcript. See How to Submit Official Transcripts below.

College/University Transcripts from Non-U.S. Institutions

If you have completed a bachelor’s degree at a non-U.S. institution, you must have that credential evaluated by one of the following approved evaluation services:

• Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. (AES)
• Educational Credential Evaluators Inc. (ECE)
• Educational Perspectives (EP)
• World Education Services (WES).

Evaluation reports must be submitted directly from an approved evaluation service to the college. Copies of evaluations sent by the student will not be accepted.

4. Resume clearly demonstrating evidence of clinical practice as a registered nurse (minimum 1 year)
5. Orientation Fee of $50 (non-refundable) paid at the time of online application submission. If you possess a valid fee waiver code, you will enter that code in the payment screen within the online application.

International Graduate Applicants

International graduate students may apply and enroll, if accepted, to any of the online degree or certificate programs listed below.

SUNY Empire State College is unable to issue I-20s to students who require an F-1 student visa to come to the U.S. If you wish to live in the U.S. to study, please see other State University of New York options at www.suny.edu. If you have questions about your visa status or eligibility to study at SUNY Empire State College, email admissions at Admissions@esc.edu or call 800-847-3000

Transcripts from a non-U.S. institution must be evaluated by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).  A course-by-course evaluation is required and reports must be submitted directly from an approved evaluation service to the admissions office at Empire State College to be considered official. Official transcripts should be mailed to: Admissions Office, SUNY Empire State College, 111 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 - Or electronic submission from college/university/evaluation service to Admissions@esc.edu.

Applicants for whom English is not the first language must submit proof of proficiency. The School for Graduate Studies will accept the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test scores taken within the last three years. You must score within the range of 79-94 on the TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) or 6.5-7 on the IELTS to be considered for admission to the Empire State College graduate programs. Applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution or from an institution where the instruction was given in English may be exempt.

Canadian border commuter graduate students may also apply to any of the graduate programs that require attendance at weekend residencies.

For visa or international student questions, contact:

Erin Catone
Telephone: 518-587-2100, ext. 2231
Fax: 518-580-0287
Email: international@esc.edu

Advanced Certificates

A complete application consists of the following:

1. Online Application
2. Official transcripts: Official undergraduate transcript (bachelor's degree) must be submitted directly from the issuing institution to the admissions office. Transcripts from a non-U.S. institution must be evaluated by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). A course-by-course evaluation is required and reports must be submitted directly from an approved evaluation service to the admissions office at Empire State College to be considered official. Empire State College graduates do not need to request a transcript.
3. English-language proficiency: Applicants for whom English is not the first language must submit proof of proficiency. The School for Graduate Studies will accept TOEFL or IELTS test scores taken within the last three years. You must score within the range of 79-94 on the TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) or 6.5-7 on the IELTS to be considered for admission to the Empire State College advanced certificate programs. Applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution or from an institution where the instruction was given in English may be exempt.
4. Transfer credit or previously earned graduate credit: If you are requesting acceptance of transfer credit from another graduate institution, or are a returning SUNY Empire graduate student hoping to utilize previously earned credit, please note that time limits do apply and you will not be able to include credit in your degree program that exceeds the time limit. For details, please consult the Graduate Catalog.
5. Program Fee of $50 (non-refundable) paid at the time of online application submission. If you possess a valid fee waiver code, you will enter that code in the payment screen within the online application.

Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Programs

Admission into any of the combined programs is highly selective. Matriculated undergraduate students may apply to the combined program and will complete all of the application requirements for the master’s degree program. The admission application process includes a review of all course work completed and a minimum GPA of 3.2, two recommendations (one must be from his/her SUNY Empire State College undergraduate primary mentor), and application essays. Use our Criteria for Admission Essays (opens in a new tab) to assist you.

Students applying to the combined MA in Teaching (MAT) program will also require an interview with faculty.

A complete application consists of the following:

1. Online Application: (Once you submit the online application, your Supplemental Items list will populate and you will be able to upload documents and send your recommendation requests (if required).
2. Official transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all institutions must be submitted directly from the issuing institution to the admissions office. Transcripts from a non-U.S. institution must be evaluated by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Evaluation reports must be submitted directly from an approved evaluation service to the admissions office at Empire State College to be considered official. Empire State College graduates do not need to request a transcript.
3. Essays: Required essay(s) specific to the degree program. Use our Criteria for Admission Essays (opens in a new tab) to assist you. The application review committee weighs the quality of your essays very heavily in their decision about whether you will be admitted to the program. The essays must be original to this application and responsive to the specific questions (they are not intended to be writing samples drawn from previous undergraduate or professional writing assignments). If you use any material from other sources/authors, you must include appropriate academic documentation and citation. Your essays may also be used in the process of advisement in your degree program.
4. Resume: A resume including previous experience, education and other achievements.
5. Recommendations: Two recommendations from appropriately qualified persons are required. Personal references are not acceptable. The School for Graduate Studies online recommendation form (in the online application) must be used. Please note that one of the two recommendations must be from your current undergraduate primary mentor.
6. English-language proficiency: Applicants for whom English is not the first language must submit proof of proficiency as determined during the undergraduate admissions process.
7. Orientation Fee of $50 (non-refundable) paid at the time of online application submission. If you possess a valid fee waiver code, you will enter that code in the payment screen within the online application.
   

How to Submit Official Transcripts

Students must contact their previous college/university to request that an official transcript be sent directly to Empire State College. Empire State College partners with several electronic transcript providers to receive electronic academic transcripts. If your institution provides electronic transcripts, you may request to have your official transcripts sent electronically from your institution directly to SUNY Empire State College.

Official College/University Transcripts must be transmitted electronically through an electronic transcript provider or mailed directly from the issuing institution to:

Admissions Office
SUNY Empire State College
111 West Ave.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
admissions@esc.edu

Military Training and Experience

If you are currently or have previously service in the US military, please send an official copy of your military transcript (Joint Service Transcript, Community College of the Air Force or DD-214) to the Admissions office. Upon receipt, an evaluation of your training credit will be completed. The transfer of these military credits will be discussed with your mentor during the degree planning process. Military transcripts are free and should be sent electronically from the websites below.

Our Office of Veteran and Military Education is available to assist you throughout your studies at SUNY Empire State College. Contact us at military.programs@esc.edu or 518-587-2100 ext. 2779 if you have questions.