Statement of Purpose for Graduate Programs
The purpose of graduate education is to provide educational opportunities at the graduate and advanced studies level which are appropriate to the overall mission and resources of the College and which meet the needs of area residents and those individuals outside of this region who come here for graduate study.
The goal of the graduate programs is to offer quality instruction, resources, and services which will promote the personal and professional development of its students. Within this context, the programs encourage students to adopt certain intellectual ideals: that the creative process in whatever field should be valued; that scholars commit themselves to a free exchange of knowledge; and that knowledge and truth must be pursued for their own sake.
Further, the graduate programs attempt to foster in their students the following professional attitudes: that one assumes the responsibility for one’s own continued education; that one deals with colleagues and faculty members with honesty and openness; that one commits oneself to lifelong education; and that one pursues educational goals with diligence and dedication.
Diversified programs of credit courses, degree programs, and special professional training programs offer individuals of all ages an opportunity to continue their education as a means of professional advancement and personal development. Through the graduate programs, Elmira College offers a wide selection of courses which serves the specific needs of:
- Teachers seeking a degree or advanced study in order to build upon their earlier education and experience, examine theory and pedagogy, quantitative and qualitative research, and their application to and influence on student learning.
- Employees of businesses, industries, and human service agencies, as well as individuals who wish to obtain an advanced certificate or to take courses for professional advancement.
- Individuals who are not seeking a degree but want to further explore some field of study for purposes of personal or professional enrichment.
Programs Available to Graduate Students
After each field is the Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) code number.
Master of Science in Education
Master of Science
Graduate Advanced Certificate
Distance Learning Complaint Process
The Elmira College Master of Science in Education program is approved by New York State to participate in the National Council for State Authorized Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). Out-of-state students (individuals residing in another state while completing a course at Elmira College) wishing to complete coursework through distance learning, should be advised that Elmira College is legally authorized to provide post-secondary educational instruction and our program is comparable to those in member states, districts, and territories. This voluntary agreement indicates that Elmira College’s post-secondary distance education program is based on interstate standards and regulations.
Complaint process for out-of-state students - Elmira College is committed to resolving formal student complains through internal processes and procedures. Students are expected to utilize these procedures to address complaints in a timely manner so the College can resolve responsively. Information regarding our internal complaint procedures, can be found in the Student Consumer Information section. Students should follow the internal institutional procedures outlined below to engage New York State / NC-SARA.
Examples of issues that impact consumer protection include, but are not limited to recruitment or marketing materials; job placement data; tuition, fee, or financial information; information pertaining to admission requirements; institutional accreditation; and information regarding the transfer of course credits to other institutions.
In the event the internal complaint process does not end with a resolution, the student should follow the SARA student complaint process below. Students may also contact the SARA State Portal Entity by contacting Andrea Richards, Supervisor of Higher Education Programs, (518) 474-1551, IHEauthorize@nysed.gov, or at: New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12234.
Procedure for failing complaints - Elmira College is committed to investigating consumer protection concerns raised by students in distance learning courses, including but not limited to truthfulness in advertising and accuracy of data related to course offerings, job placements, tuition, fees, and financial aid.
Students should initiate complaints with the Graduate and Professional Studies Advisor at graduate@elmira.edu or (607) 735-1719, who will provide appropriate procedural steps or make suggestions to assist the student to resolve the complaint, which may including advising the student to express their complaint in an email to the Director of Graduate and Professional Studies at arittenberger@elmira.edu in a written statement describing the nature of the complaint. The Director will either make a decision that is communicated in writing, or forward the complaint to an appropriate individual, college official, or committee. Information from other individuals involved with the complaint may be requested if necessary. The outcome will be documented and communicated to the student.
In the event the complaint is filed against the Director of Graduate and Professional Studies, the complaint should be submitted directly to the Provost at pireland@elmira.edu or (607) 735-1804.
Admission to Graduate Study (Matriculation)
Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution recognized by the Council on Higher Education (CHEA). A minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.700 is required for applicants seeking admission to the Master of Science in General Management. Candidates for the Master of Science in Education: Adolescence Education, the Master of Science in Education: General Education, and the Master of Science in Education: Literacy are required to have a 3.0 cumulative GPA in their undergraduate coursework to be admitted to the program. Additionally, candidates for the M.S. Education: Adolescence Education program are required to have completed an approved content major, such as Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Social Studies/History, or a related field.
For non-native English speakers, TOEFL (internet-based) scores are required. The minimum score for admission to graduate programs is 80, with no section score below 20.
All potential graduate students must be accepted for graduate studies prior to registering for courses. Interested applicants should contact the Office of Continuing Education and Graduate Studies for an initial interview with a graduate advisor. After consultation with an advisor, interested applicants may submit an online application by visiting https://apply.elmira.edu/apply/, creating a new user account, and responding to all prompts in the online application template. There is no fee to apply for graduate admission.
The following application materials should be submitted via the online portal no later than two weeks before the first day of the term in which the applicant wishes to start:
- Completed Online Application.
- Official transcripts from each institution previously attended for undergraduate-level study. (In some instances, official transcripts from graduate-level study may be required.)
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Documentation of provisional or initial teacher certification (MSED Literacy candidates only).
Decisions regarding acceptance are made once all application materials are received. Upon acceptance, students need to email the Office of Continuing Education and Graduate Studies to confirm their intent to begin the program in their term of preference. No enrollment deposit is required.
Full-Time Status
With the exception of the M.S. Education: Adolescence Education 7-12 program, which is a cohort model with an accelerated progression cycle, Elmira College’s graduate programs are designed for part-time study. However, MSED students who plan to be full-time should enroll in at least nine (9) credits for each of the asynchronous terms. MS in General Management students wishing to be full-time would enroll in at least nine (9) credits in the Fall and Winter terms and in at least six (6) credits in the Spring and Summer terms.
Degree Requirements
All students must complete the required number of credit hours of a registered program of graduate study (33 for the Master of Science in Management and the Master of Science in Education: Adolescence Education; 30-33 for the Master of Science in Education: General Education and the Master of Science in Education: Literacy), while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.000. All credit hours counted for the degree must be completed within a seven-year time frame.
Residency Requirement
The MSED programs are approved as NYSED distance education programs and, thus, all courses will be offered in an asynchronous online format. Courses in the MS in General Management program consist of in-person and blended courses. Candidates in that program must complete a minimum of 50% of every course in-person on the Elmira College campus.
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