General Admission Requirements
Admission to graduate study is based on completion of the baccalaureate or equivalent degree at an accredited institution with an appropriate major and depth of undergraduate preparation. Some departments may accept students who have successfully earned a degree from an accredited institution with a different major, but this decision is made on an individual basis during the departmental review of the full application and all transcripts. Applicants with majors unrelated to their desired graduate degree programs are advised to complete at least 18 credit hours in the major for which they will apply. Interested persons should contact the appropriate department for questions about appropriate undergraduate preparation.
Students who apply for admission to programs leading to professional certification to teach in New York public schools must submit proof of appropriate initial certification to teach in New York public schools. The TESOL and M.A.T. in Adolescence Science Education (all tracks) programs do not require initial certification to teach in New York public schools; interested persons should see the appropriate program sections for details. Students with a bachelor's degree or equivalent who do not hold initial certification to teach in New York public schools may complete a second baccalaureate degree program to complete the requirement for admission to programs leading to professional certification to teach in New York public schools. The program generally takes five (5) full-time semesters to complete. Interested persons should visit the Graduate Studies website for more details.
International applicants are eligible to apply for admission to all programs, including those that lead to professional certification to teach in New York public schools. International applicants should note, however, that they will not be eligible for certification to teach in New York public schools. For more information, in certain cases, international students can get certification. Students should contact Graduate Studies at (716) 673-3808 or email graduate.studies@fredonia.edu.
All students who wish to take graduate courses and/or pursue an advanced degree or certificate must complete the application process. The online application is available 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week. The application may be accessed from the Graduate Studies home page (home.fredonia.edu/gradstudies).
For additional information, please see Graduate Admissions in the Admissions and Financial Aid section of the catalog.
International Graduate Application Requirements
In addition to the general application requirements, international applicants are required to submit additional materials in order to complete immigration paperwork necessary to study in the United States.
International applicants must submit the following additional materials, available on the Graduate Studies website (http://home.fredonia.edu/gradstudies):
- FSA-4 form: Financial Statement: All international applicants must submit evidence of full financial support for all expenses at Fredonia as a condition of being issued immigration documents for F-1 or J-1 status (i.e., the Certificate of Eligibility, form I-20AB or IAP-66). The FSA-4 form must be signed by both the applicant and the applicant's financial sponsor. The submitted form must contain an original signature.
- Proof of financial support: Applicants must submit an original bank statement from the financial sponsor verifying the available funds. Only original financial documentation with original signatures and seals will be accepted.
While an admission decision can be made without the financial documentation, the I-20 or DS-2019 forms cannot be issued until all documents are received.
Applicants must send the FSA-4 form and supporting documentation to the Assistant Director of International Student Services, S226A Williams Center, Fredonia, NY 14063 (or email to iss@fredonia.edu).
Persons who have further questions about these requirements should contact the Assistant Director of International Student Services iss@fredonia.edu.
- Individual departments/programs may have additional admissions requirements that must be met. Students should check the Graduate Studies website, degree program pages in this online University Catalog, and/or departmental websites.
Non-degree Study
Reasons for applying to become a non-matriculated (non-degree) student vary, but usually fall into the following categories:
- Personal or professional development: Those who have earned a master's degree or higher at Fredonia or elsewhere are welcome to apply for non-degree graduate study for the purpose of personal or professional development. A maximum of 9 credit hours is allowed, but may be waived.
- Pre-graduate preparation: Students who have earned a bachelor's degree and need to take graduate-level course work in order to bolster a weak undergraduate GPA or to prove capability for graduate-level work may apply for non-degree study and, if approved, take a maximum of 9 credit hours.
- Visiting graduate students: Graduate students who attend other schools and are interested in taking course work at Fredonia may apply for non-degree graduate study and, if approved, take a maximum of 9 credit hours.
To help maintain the quality of Fredonia's graduate programs and to ensure appropriate enrollment capacity, the university asks that applicants explain reasons for requesting non-matriculated admission and indicate from which department(s) desired classes are sought.
A maximum of 9 credit hours (6 credit hours of education course work) taken as a non-degree student is allowed. The credits may later be applied to a graduate degree program at Fredonia upon the student's request.
As a general rule, students taking graduate courses without pursuing a degree who decide to apply for a degree program must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 at the time they apply. Under unusual circumstances, chairpersons may accept students with a lower GPA into a degree program, but in that case, the students enter with conditional status, with one semester in which to improve their records.
Application Deadlines
All applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee of $75. The application fee is assessed when an applicant submits her/his application online, and applicants may choose to pay online using a credit or debit card, or electronic check.
Completed applications must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Office as follows:
Summer/Fall Admission
The application deadline is April 1. Applications will be accepted after April 1 and will incur an additional $25 late fee ($100 total). Late applications for fall admission to degree study will be accepted until August 10. Applications for non-degree study will be accepted until August 20. Applicants are advised to keep in mind that many department reviewers are off campus during the summer months; early application submission will facilitate a shorter waiting period.
Fall Admission: Speech Language-Pathology
The Speech Language-Pathology degree program is restricted to fall admission. The application deadline is February 1. ALL application materials must be received by this date and no late applications will be accepted.
Spring Admission
The application deadline is November 1. Applications will be accepted after November 1 and will incur an additional $25 late fee ($100 total). Late applications for spring admission to degree study will be accepted until January 10. Applications for non-degree study will be accepted until January 20. Applicants are advised to keep in mind that many department reviewers are off campus during the semester break; early application submission will facilitate a shorter waiting period.
At the discretion of the Graduate Studies Office and based on extenuating circumstances, a student whose application for degree study is incomplete may be offered non-matriculated admission until a final departmental admission decision has been reached. Non-degree students are permitted to take a maximum of 9 credit hours total and are not required to submit recommendation letters. Non-matriculated admission does not guarantee later acceptance into a degree program.
Application Requirements
In addition to completion of a baccalaureate or equivalent degree at an accredited institution, the following materials are required for an applicant to be considered for graduate study at Fredonia:
- The Graduate Application must be submitted online or hard copies of application materials must be mailed or delivered in person to the Graduate Studies Office.
- A non-refundable application fee of $75 must accompany applications submitted by published deadlines. Late applications incur a $25 late fee for a total fee of $100. The application fee may be paid by credit card or debit card, or electronic check.
- Applicants must submit a Statement of Intent, a one-page (minimum) essay explaining one's academic/professional/personal goals and how Fredonia is expected to help meet these goals. A strong statement of intent will also showcase an applicant's talents and experiences that make him/her an attractive candidate for graduate study at Fredonia. It is always a good idea for a trusted colleague, friend, or family member to proofread the statement of intent. A high-quality, grammatically correct statement is expected.
- A current résumé must accompany the graduate application.
- A minimum of two current letters of recommendation or three professional references are required (depending on degree program). Letters must have been written during the one year prior to application submission (six months is preferred). Letters must be written by individuals who can attest to the applicant's qualifications for advanced study. Each recommendation must include both a scholarly criteria rating and a narrative evaluation. For degree programs that lead to recommendation for teaching certification, one letter may be submitted by a teaching supervisor. If the applicant has been out of school for several years, letters from work supervisors may be acceptable. Recommendation letters for non-degree study are not required.
- Submission of official transcripts covering prior graduate as well as all undergraduate preparation from all institutions attended (except Fredonia) is required. Applicants who completed undergraduate studies at Fredonia are not required to submit transcripts.
For students in programs leading to professional certification to teach in the public schools of New York, proof of the appropriate initial or provisional certification is required.