Admissions & Enrollment
Admissions
Each year, we attract a large and varied pool of applicants who bring a wealth of experiences and organizational backgrounds to the program. Primary consideration for admission is given to previous academic record, work experiences, letters of reference, GRE scores, and the personal statement.
A strong applicant is one with a solid and consistent record of achievement in various domains, who is now cognizant of the value of obtaining a degree in Social-Organizational Psychology. The best applicants express an openness to learning about self, curiosity and interest in learning about others, analytical and critical thinking skills, an ability to synthesize complex information and apply it in real-world situations, a willingness to work in groups and to build a learning community, and a passion for understanding the connection between Social-Organizational Psychology and social justice.
Interested applicants must be committed to the academic training offered by the program, including a strong emphasis on the scientist-practitioner model that combines both theory and practice. Further, they must be prepared to bring their own lived experience into the classroom for analysis, and to take the theory and research from the classroom back to the workplace. Applicants are required to have work experience following the successful completion of undergraduate studies and prior to applying to the program. Two or more years of work experience is preferred. Applicants applying directly from undergraduate programs will not be considered for admission.
Our admissions process focuses on four areas:
- Intellectual capacity
- Fit to the Social-Organizational Psychology program
- Relevant background and experience
- Dedication and commitment to obtaining the MA degree
What advice do you have for prospective students?
Enrollment
Students in the M.A. program enroll as either part-time or full-time students. Part-time students usually take 1 to 2 classes per term and full-time students enroll in 4 classes per term. The full-time and part-time students are provided equal services and support, and there is no designation or differentiation between part-time and full-time students.
For the approximately 50% of our students who work full-time and take classes part-time, we offer many of our classes from 3-4:40pm, 5:10-6:50pm and 7:20-9:00 pm. We also have a few elective courses available during the weekends and via distance learning. In addition, we typically host networking events and colloquium speakers during the evenings.
Typically, full-time students complete their program in two academic years, and our part-time students complete their program in approximately three to four years. Please note, however, it is not possible to complete the 39-credit MA degree without taking a small number of classes in the late afternoon or early evening (3pm or 5:10pm time slots). Most students who work full-time are able to negotiate this with their employer to be able to finish their degree while continuing to work.
Credit for Previous Graduate Work
Selected core level 1 courses (see our Curriculum page) may be waived and substituted with other courses depending on the individual’s graduate study and work experience. Please note: if the waiver is granted, the student must select a replacement course. The M.A. program maintains a minimum of 39 credits to be taken at Teachers College, the College will not accept transfer credits from previous graduate work.
In order to waive out of a course and request a substitution course, the student is responsible for demonstrating that his/her previous graduate course work is redundant with material covered in the petitioned course. Although not a prerequisite, a significant number of our students complete graduate work prior to starting the Social-Organizational Psychology program. These areas include counseling psychology, developmental psychology, social work, law, business, public health, journalism, and education. The student must provide a variety of materials to establish that a redundancy exists.
Examples of relevant material include, but are not limited to, a combination of the following:
- Graduate transcript indicating that relevant course work was taken and that the student received a grade of B or higher in these courses;
- A syllabus or syllabi (i.e. more than a basic course description) indicating the topics covered in their previously taken course(s);
- Relevant thesis work;
- Serving as a teaching assistant for related courses;
- Serving as a research assistant for a professor working on topics related to the petitioned course.
A student interested in petitioning to waive out of a class should speak to the instructor of the course as well as their faculty advisor (Dr. Sarah Brazaitis or Dr. Gina Buontempo) to determine if the waiver is appropriate. Exemption from any course remains at the discretion of the faculty advisor.