ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

 

Union Graduate College’s Office of Admissions and Registrar has a friendly and helpful staff waiting to assist students through the process of applying. We welcome applications from both full- and part-time applicants. The office, which is located in Lamont House, oversees all admissions, registration and graduation processes for students’ convenience. Please feel free to contact us at (518) 631-9900 with any questions.

 

General Requirements for Admissions

Evidence of intellectual achievement, motivation, and aptitude are required for admission to graduate programs. All students must have or be a candidate for an undergraduate degree from an accredited college before applying for graduate admissions status. A grade point average of “B” (3.0 cumulative index) or better in undergraduate work is expected for admission. The Admission Committees attempt to meet the desire of the Board of Trustees for broad geographic and socioeconomic distribution in the student body. We also accept students who will broaden the range of backgrounds and lifestyles within the College community.

 

Applications – Filing Dates:

Accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year:

  • Master of Arts in Teaching

  • Master of Science for Teachers

  • Computer Science

  • Electrical Engineering

  • Mechanical Engineering

  • Engineering & Management Systems

  • MBA

  • MBA in Healthcare Management

  • Clinical Leadership

  • Joint MBA programs with Albany Law School

  • Joint MBA/MS programs with Albany College of Pharmacy

  • Certificate Programs

 

March 1st Filing Date:

  • Master of Arts for Teaching (Full-time only)

 

June 1st Recommended Filing Date:

  • MS Bioethics

 

Union College Combined Degree – Required to file application by 10th term (fall Senior Year)*:

  • BS-BA/MAT (as early as 8th term)

  • BS/MS School of Engineering/Computer Science with Union College

            (as early as end of sophomore year)

  • Accelerated/5 year BS-BA/MBA (as early as end of sophomore year)

 

*Separate applications and admission decisions to each school are required.

 

Application Materials Required:

1.         Application first page

2.         Application fee of $60*

3.         All official college transcripts (Bioethics requires highest degree only)

4.         Three letters of recommendation (MAT requires two of the letters be academic)

5.         Testing (see testing section below in this section)

6.         Essay (see program application for essay instructions)

7.         Resume - current

8.         Interviews (required for the MAT and MST programs and strongly recommended         for all other programs)

 

After a completed application is received, applicants are notified within 4 weeks of a decision.

 

Once submitted, all application materials become the property of Union Graduate College and are not returnable.

 

*The application fee is waived for Union College students and alumni, and applicants to the Engineering and Computer Science programs through the Engineering Consortium (BPMI, KAPL, General Electric and Plug Power).

 

Application first page: This is available on line or from the Office of Admissions – (518) 631-9837.

 

Application Fee: $60 for all degree-seeking applicants. Union College students/alumni and those applying to the Engineering and Computer Science programs through the Engineering Consortium (BPMI, KAPL, Plug Power and General Electric) may waive the application fee. Non-degree students are not required to pay an application fee.

 

School Transcripts: The Bioethics program requires the official transcript from the highest degree earned. All other programs require official college transcripts from all institutions from which college credit has been earned (even if such credits have been transferred into another institution/degree).

 

Recommendations: Three recommendations are required for all programs. The MAT program requires that two of them be academic faculty familiar with the student’s academic ability.

 

Entrance Exams: The MBA programs require the GMAT (see more information below). For GMAT waivers see the Admissions Information section of this catalog. The Bioethics and MAT programs may request a standardized test. All other programs do not require entrance exams.

 

Essay: Required by all programs. Instructions for required essays can be found on the back of the specific program application.

 

Resume:  Submission of a current resume is required for all degree programs and certificates.

 

Interviews: Required by the MAT and MST program and recommended for all other programs.

 

Additional MAT Applicant Requirements

Applicants to the MAT program must have completed the equivalent of at least 30 semester hours in the liberal arts major area (English, foreign language, mathematics, science, social sciences) in which they seek certification.

 

Immunizations: All full-time (>1 course/term) students are required to submit immunization records prior to the start of classes (not prior to formal admission).  Part-time students are not required to submit the immunization records, but records will be required a student chooses to take more than 1 course at any time.  Students (including all Bioethics students) who will have contact with patients in a health facility require a more extensive set of forms. For specific instructions see the Registration Information section of this catalog.

 

International Applicants: The TOEFL is required for all programs unless the applicant has studied in an English-speaking university for a minimum of two years. The Admissions Committee may request a telephone interview. It is recommended that international applicants currently studying or living outside the United States who require an I-20 or DS-2019 submit their applications five months prior to the first term they plan to start their studies. A complete International Grade/Degree Evaluation is required of all transcripts.

 

Financial Aid Applications: A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for students applying for financial aid. Applicants should contact the Financial Aid office at Union College at (518) 388-6123. Specific program scholarships are listed in this catalog in the Financial Aid Section. Work study is also available to graduate students – applications are available in the graduate admissions office.  Students may also contact the Admissions and Registrar’s office for updates.

 

Admissions Office Hours: Weekdays 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, closed from 1:00 – 2:00 pm. The first week of each term the Office of Graduate Admissions and Registration has extended hours until 6:30 pm. For additional extended hours, consult the web site and term course listings.

 

Contact Information

•           Joanne Fitzgerald       (518) 631-9842

            Vice President for Enrollment Management

•           Rhonda Sheehan        (518) 631-9835

            Director of Admissions and Registrar

·              Diane Trzaskos          (518) 631-9837

            Coordinator of Admissions

 

Provisions of this publication are not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract between the student and Union Graduate College. Union Graduate College reserves the right to make changes in its course offerings, degree requirements, regulations and procedures, and fees and expenses as educational and financial considerations require.

 

Union Graduate College does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religious belief, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin. Union Graduate College’s policy of nondiscrimination extends to all areas of its operations, including but not limited to admissions, student aid, athletics, employment, and educational programs. All the rights,

privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded to all full-time matriculated students of Union Graduate College are accorded on a nondiscriminatory basis.

 

Union Graduate College is committed to assisting all members of its community in providing for their own safety and security. Information regarding campus security and personal safety, including topics such as crime prevention, campus safety law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, crime statistics for the most recent three-year period, and disciplinary procedures is available from the Director of Campus Safety of Union College at 807 Union Street, Schenectady, NY 12308. This information is also available from the Union College website:  www.union.edu/PUBLIC/SAFETY/CommunityReport.html

 

Testing

The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is required for applicants to the MBA programs.  Joint applicants from Union College or Siena College for the MBA program may waive the GMAT if their undergraduate grade point average is equal to or higher than a 3.4 cumulative average. For other colleges where we have 4–1 articulation agreements, the GMAT is not required for students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above.  Students with advanced degrees may request consideration for a GMAT waiver by writing to the Director of Admissions.

            GMAT Codes:             MBA Full-time 2PK-PN-57

                                                MBA Part-time            2PK-PN-66

                                                MBA Health FT           2PK-PN-52

                                                MBA Health PT           2PK-PN-50

           

Joint applicants from Albany Law School may waive the GMAT if they submit their LSAT and a college transcript with a calculus grade of “B-” or better.

 

Joint MS in Clinical Leadership with Albany College of Pharmacy applicants must submit the GMAT, MCAT or PCAT for admissions.

 

The GRE may be requested by the MAT program in specific instances.

 

The Bioethics admissions committee may also request a standardized test.

 

All other programs do not require entrance exams.

 

Joint Albany Law School students should request a copy of LSATs be sent from the Law School to Union Graduate College.

 

Deferment

Students may request a deferment of their admission for one year. The request is required in writing to the Director of Admissions and Registrar. Extensions beyond the one year deferment must be submitted in writing to the appropriate admissions committee through the Director of Admissions.

 

Course Load Status: Full/Part time

The Computer Science, Masters of Science for Teachers, Engineering and Management Administration, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, MBA, MBA in Healthcare  Administration and MS Clinical Leadership in Health Management programs can all be completed either full-time or part-time. The Bioethics program is a

part-time on-line program with a short on-campus component. The MAT full-time program is a one-year program, which begins in June.

 

The classification of a full-time student is based on a course load of two or more courses per term, with a minimum of six courses during the Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. In general, full-time students take three courses per term.

 

Full-time students in the MS and MA programs take three to four academic terms to complete and the MBA programs take two years to complete. Part-time students must complete program requirements within six years from the date of matriculation.

 

Non-Matriculated Status

All programs allow non-matriculated students. This allows qualified students to start course work while completing the application. Contact the Office of Admission for specific qualifications. Part-time students may enroll in graduate courses as non-matriculated students before admission to a graduate program, provided they satisfy the course prerequisites and have a Bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.7 undergraduate grade point average. Applicants with undergraduate GPAs below 2.7 may petition the Admissions Committee to waive the 2.7 requirement for non-matriculated course work. There is a limit of two non-matriculated courses for the MAT. All other programs have a limit of three. Non-matriculated students are required to consult with a graduate program advisor before registration. All students must submit an application for graduate admission, unofficial college transcripts, and an application fee before registering for their first course. Official transcripts are required for the admissions decision. If applicants will be taking one course per term, they are asked to submit an immunization form within 30 days of registration, completed and signed by a physician. If applicants will be taking more than one course per term, the immunization form must be submitted before the start of classes, as required by New York State law. Before registering for their third course (for MAT program) / fourth course (for other programs), an admissions decision on the student’s complete application must be made.

 

Combined Union College and Union Graduate College Degree Programs

Union College undergraduate students with an excellent academic record may apply for a combined degree program with the Masters in Computer Science, Masters in Electrical Engineering, Masters in Mechanical Engineering, Masters of Arts in Teaching, Masters in Business Administration, or the MBA in Healthcare Management programs.

 

A cumulative average of 3.0 in undergraduate course work is expected (3.25 for MAT program). Acceptance into the program enables students to apply up to three graduate college courses for credit (depending on the major) in fulfillment of both undergraduate Union College and Union Graduate College graduate degree requirements. MAT students may apply between the beginning of their eighth term and the end of their senior year. All other program applicants are encouraged to apply their sophomore year and must apply for graduate admission no later than the end of the fall term of their senior year at Union College. Students are required to notify both Registrars that they are in a joint program.

 

International Students

All international students requiring an I-20 or DS2019 (formerly IAP-66) form are encouraged to submit their applications by April 1 for fall admission. For other terms they are encouraged to allow a minimum of five months to process all required paperwork. Applicants must also provide proof of financial independence and submit a score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL is required for all programs unless a student studied in an English-speaking university for a minimum of two years. A telephone interview may also be requested. A complete international grade/degree English evaluation is required for all transcripts.

 

Transfer Credit/Course Waivers

With the approval of the program advisor and/or transfer review committee, graduate work completed on a satisfactory level (minimum grade of “B-”) at other institutions may be counted toward a Graduate College degree if it contributes to the completion of degree requirements. Credits transfer in, but grades do not. Engineering, Computer Science and MAT programs may allow up to two transfer courses. Bioethics, MBA and Health MBA students may transfer up to three qualified courses. Transfer credits must come from courses not used for another degree and are within five years old.

 

Matriculated students interested in receiving credit for courses to be taken elsewhere are advised to obtain a permission form at the Office of Graduate Admissions and Registrar and acquire the necessary approval prior to registration at another school.

 

MBA and MBA in Healthcare program applicants may waive and/or transfer up to a maximum of eight full courses. A waiver is based on undergraduate course work. A form is available in the Admissions office which notes specific criteria. Upper level courses will be waived with a replacement. Waiver decisions are made by the Waiver Committee. Bioethics students may waive and/or transfer up to three courses. Matriculated students are notified at time of admission of pre-approved waivers and transfers. Students who want to appeal this decision and request a further review should contact the Director of Admissions and Registrar or their academic advisor. Course outlines and descriptions to complete these reviews may be required.

 

Intent to Enroll/Deposit

All programs require a response form and a $250 deposit to secure a place in the class. Once enrolled, the non-refundable deposit is applied to the student’s resource fee.  The fee covers guest speakers and lecturers for all programs, lab support, student government, student activities, all graduation fees and transcripts for life.

 

Academic Committee

The Academic Committee (AC) is responsible for recommending and applying graduate policy for the admission and academic performance of students. The Committee consists of faculty representatives, a student representative, the Registrar, Deans from the Graduate Schools, Vice President of Enrollment Management, and President of Union Graduate College. The AC reviews applications accepted by the graduate college’s Admissions Committee on which the Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below the 2.7 minimum requirement, and reviews petitions submitted by students with academic considerations. Students who wish to petition the AC with regard to grades, graduate status, or other matters must follow the procedures as listed in the Student Handbook.  The AC is also responsible for conduct hearings and recommendations to the President resulting from the hearings.

 

Advisory Services

Questions regarding admission to graduate programs should be directed to the Office of Graduate Admissions and Registrar. Faculty members are available by appointment and during posted office hours each term. All students must consult with their academic advisor before enrolling in courses.  A list of advisors can be found in the Program/Advisor section of the catalog.