Financial Assistance
Financial aid is awarded on the basis of merit and need. Applicants who demonstrate financial need receive substantial tuition assistance from Colgate. All students are eligible for a graduate assistantship, and in addition, most students are eligible for loans from one or more sources. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be submitted to apply for financial assistance of any kind.

Students work 10 hours per week for 12 weeks if they are employed in the Fall or Spring terms and 10 hours per week for 6 weeks if they are employed in the Summer term. In most cases, the students assist faculty with research, although under very limited circumstances and with the explicit approval of the Chairperson of the Department of Educational Studies, they may also assist in some aspects of teaching; this is most often appropriate in science laboratories. The most important thing to consider when assigning work duties to graduate students is that the work enhances and enriches the students' educational experiences and that it brings them into significant professional contact with members of the faculty.

B. Master of Arts

Colgate University is certified by the State of New York to provide Master of Arts (M.A.) programs in the following areas of study: English, geology, history, philosophy, religion, psychology, sociology and anthropology.

Admission is coordinated by the Office of the Associate Dean of the Faculty and the appropriate department; applicants must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study to the appropriate department. A program of study is developed for each student based on his or her previous education, interests and goals, as well as the departmental offerings. Normally, the M.A. programs require eight Colgate course credits and the completion of a thesis demonstrating scholarly research and mastery of the field. All coursework and other requirements must be completed within five years of matriculation.

The M.A. programs at Colgate are best suited for students who do not desire or need the support of a large graduate school. It is for those few individuals who wish to take advantage of the expertise of Colgate faculty and the strengths of Colgate's academic programs.

C. Special Graduate Student Status

Colgate University uses the Special Graduate Student designation for college graduates who have been admitted to study in Colgate courses but who are not enrolled in the M.A. or M.A.T. programs. Admission is coordinated by the Office of the Associate Dean of the Faculty.

Individuals who wish to apply for Special Graduate status must complete an Application for Admission to Graduate Study and submit a transcript of their undergraduate work. In addition, they should submit a brief statement indicating their academic interests and goals. The application materials should be submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean of the Faculty:

Associate Dean of the Faculty
Colgate University
13 Oak Drive
Hamilton, New York 13346

Special Graduate Students in education should submit these materials to the Chair of the Department of Educational Studies:

Chair, Department of Educational Studies
Colgate University
13 Oak Drive
Hamilton, New York 13346