We offer programs across the fields of education, health, and psychology. To view our different programs, please visit our Programs Search page. You may search based on area of interest, department, or keyword. Click “Admission Information” to review a program's application requirements and deadlines, or visit the program’s website for details about faculty, courses, and outcomes.
May I request an Academic Catalog?You may view the most up-to-date Teachers College Academic Catalog online.
How do I request additional information about TC?Please fill out an inquiry form to receive information about TC, or email us at admission@tc.columbia.edu with questions.
Can I contact faculty members in my program of interest?You are encouraged to first contact the Office of Admission. Each faculty member at Teachers College has a different degree of availability to communicate with prospective students, but the Office of Admission can facilitate initial communication based on your program(s) of interest.
Who should I contact for specific information about the application process?Each academic department at Teachers College has admission representatives to guide prospective students through the application process. You can find each department's admission inbox here.
How do I find my program’s academic department?Visit our Programs Search page and search for your program. The department in which it is housed will be listed on the top of the program information card.
What financial aid options are available at Teachers College?To learn more about financial aid at TC, you may visit the Financial Aid website. We recommend reviewing their extensive FAQs for the most up-to-date information. You may contact the Office of Financial Aid with specific questions.
We offer on-campus and virtual tours. Please check our schedule to confirm availability and register to attend for either offering. If you're unable to join us for one of our organized tours, please feel free to view a recorded session.
May I observe classes at TC?Class observation opportunities can be challenging to schedule and are typically not allowed at TC. Please contact your program of interest directly to see if this may be possible.
How can I find on-campus events that are open to the public?Visit the Teachers College Events Calendar and filter for “General Public.”
What information sessions does my program conduct for prospective students?You can visit the Academic Program Events section of our Events page to view current program offerings. Academic Program Information Sessions are typically scheduled in the Fall.
I cannot make it to New York to visit TC’s campus. Do you offer online events?Yes! We offer virtual information sessions, virtual tours, academic webinars, workshops on crafting an application, and virtual sessions highlighting various aspects of student life at Teachers College. You can view our upcoming online events here or view a previously recorded session.
Does TC have admission events outside of New York City?While the majority of our programs are on-campus or virtual, TC does travel to some graduate fairs across the country. Check out our Events page for more information.
The length of time to degree completion varies by program, degree, credit requirements, fieldwork or internship requirements, and whether or not students are pursuing their degrees on a part-time or full-time basis. In general, with a full-time course load, a 32-credit M.A. program may be completed in one calendar year and a 60 credit Ed.M. in two calendar years. The length of time to complete a doctoral program can range from four to seven years. Factors determining length of study of a doctoral program include the number of previous graduate credits transferred into the program and the nature of student's research and dissertation.
Does TC offer distance or online learning?The majority of TC's programs must be completed through in-person courses, although there are a few options for fully online and hybrid programs. Please check the course schedule to confirm if a course is taught online. In addition, TC offers exclusively online degree and certificate programs. Please consult our Online Learning page for more information.
Does TC offer summer courses?Yes. Many classes at Teachers College can be taken in one of our two summer sessions. Please consult the course schedule to see if your desired courses are available in the summer.
When are classes held?This may vary by program. While the majority of classes are held in the evenings, there may be programs that require daytime classes. Please visit our Course Schedule Search page to review class schedules based on your program of interest.
May I apply to TC as a part-time student?Many programs at TC allow for part-time study but there are some that require full-time study. Please consult your program’s website to learn more about whether or not your program requires full-time study. Full-time study at TC is the equivalent of taking (at least) 9 points/credits within a given semester.
Students who require visa sponsorship in order to attend TC will be required to maintain full-time status, depending on the requirements of their visa. For more information, please consult the Office of International Students and Scholars website.
How do the Master of Arts (M.A.) and the Master of Education (Ed.M.) degrees differ?The Master of Arts requires the completion of a minimum of 30 points. The Master of Education requires a minimum of 60 points to complete the degree.
Depending on the academic program, the Ed.M. degree can sometimes be considered an advanced master’s degree, and applicants will often have professional experience and/or a previously completed master’s degree before applying.
How do the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees differ?The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree emphasizes broad preparation for advanced professional responsibilities through a program based upon extensive study in a specialized branch of the field of education or in an area of instruction. The Ed.D. usually requires a minimum of 75 points to complete the program. Please confirm on your program’s website how many credits are necessary to complete the degree.
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree emphasizes research and intensive specialization in an area of scholarship and is offered in selected fields of study at Teachers College. The Ph.D. usually requires a minimum of 75 points to complete the program. However, there are some programs, such as the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, that require a minimum of 95 points to complete the program. Please confirm on your program’s website how many credits are necessary to complete the degree.
Does TC accept transfer credits?Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of TC’s Transfer Credit Coordinator and the student’s faculty advisor after admission and enrollment in a program. Visit the Transfer Credit Website for additional information, including the maximum number of credits that can be transferred in each degree. Please note that you must be accepted and enrolled in TC before your transfer credits may be evaluated. At that time, you can fill out a transfer credit application. Contact tctransfer@tc.columbia.edu for any questions.
Can I use undergraduate credit for graduate work?No, undergraduate credits may not be transferred for graduate credit.
Can I cross-register for classes at other divisions of Columbia?Yes. Matriculated degree students may cross-register for courses (that allow out-of-program students to enroll) in any graduate division at Columbia University, Union Theological Seminary, and Jewish Theological Seminary. Consultation with your departmental adviser is required prior to cross-registering.
Can I take classes as a non-degree student at TC?Yes, students may register for courses without being admitted to a degree program. They must first submit a Non-Degree Application. Admission to a non-degree program does not guarantee admission to a degree-granting program in the future. Non-degree students may take up to 16 credits in total. Only 8 of these credits may be credited toward the minimum requirements in the major field if admitted to a degree-program. For more information about applying for non-degree status, visit the Non-Degree Instructions page.
Can I be enrolled at TC and another institution at the same time?Students may not be enrolled concurrently in two different institutions and may not be in two different degree programs or areas of specializations at Teachers College or Columbia University. More information on the College's degree requirements can be found here.
You may apply to Teachers College online. This is the only application method.
May I apply to more than one program at a time?Applicants may only have one active application at a time, and may only apply to one degree program per cycle. Please note that not all programs or degree levels are available for all entry terms. Applicants may only apply for one available entry term for their program or degree level of interest.
Is there a minimum GPA required for admission?We practice a holistic review process at Teachers College, meaning our programs do not employ specific GPA minimum requirements. Instead, we are interested in balancing all components of an application equitably to understand why you may be the best candidate for this program at our institution.
What is the application fee?The application fee is $75. This fee is non-refundable.
Do you offer application fee waivers?Teachers College, Columbia University is a proud Yellow Ribbon School and we provide application fee waivers for U.S. Veterans.
We also offer application fee waivers to applicants who were formerly Pell eligible as well as full-time Teachers College employees and those who have participated in specific organizations affiliated with Teachers College (see the FAQ below for a listing of affiliated organizations). In order to obtain a waiver on this basis, you will be asked to indicate on your application that you are/have been a part of one of these organizations and provide the dates of participation. Please note that if you indicate membership in an affiliate organization, we reserve the right to contact the organization to confirm participation.
If the non-refundable application fee poses a financial hardship, a request for an application fee waiver can be submitted for review. Application fee waiver requests may only be submitted after an application for the current cycle has been started. Once your application for admission has been created, email admission@tc.columbia.edu with “Application Fee Waiver Request” in the subject line. Please note that you will be asked to provide supporting financial documentation demonstrating your need as part of your request for application fee waiver consideration. Teachers College is unable to refund any paid application fees, so we ask that you do not submit any payment until you receive a response pertaining to your waiver request.
Please note that all application fee waivers are subject to approval by the Office of Admission and if approved, are only valid for the current application cycle.
What specific organizations affiliated with Teachers College are eligible for an application fee waiver?
We offer application fee waivers to applicants who are either an alum or a current participant in one of the following organizations:
Applicants who have previously applied to Teachers College and now wish to re-apply may do so by submitting a new application for admission. While this application provides applicants the opportunity to use recommendations that were submitted as part of a previous application in the past three years, they are encouraged to consider whether it may be more appropriate to have different recommendations submitted, depending on the time elapsed or any differences in program.
If I am denied admission, can I re-apply to Teachers College multiple times?Within a seven year timeframe, applicants may apply to the same program 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.
What is a TC ID number?Your TC ID number is a unique eight-digit code that you will receive after submitting your application. This number should be used when submitting materials to the College or when contacting us with questions about your status as a student.
My address and/or name has changed. Who should I notify?If you are a prospective student, you may notify your program department's admission contact to update your records. If you are a current student, you may complete the Change of Name form with TC’s Office of the Registrar.
Are DACA recipients and undocumented students eligible for scholarship?Yes. If you are a DACA recipient or undocumented student, you may be considered for Teachers College institutional aid. Citizenship is not considered in the scholarship process or in the amount of aid for which a student is eligible.
DACA recipients and undocumented students are not eligible to apply for federal aid.