I live far away from
Saratoga Springs. Can I pursue a MALS degree from a distance?
Our students live all over the world—from New York
to Ohio to California to Greece to Saudi Arabia—and work
with their advisors and faculty by email, telephone, and surface
mail. All of our students take at least two of their courses
in traditional graduate classrooms—often at schools near
their homes, but sometimes at other universities where they’ve
found a faculty member with whom they especially want to study.
When can I apply?
Students may apply at any time throughout the year. Students
matriculate in the program in either January or July each year
with the required introductory seminar.
Do I have to take the GREs
in order to apply?
We don’t require the GREs, because they don't measure
the qualities that contribute most substantially toward success
in the MALS program: dedication, intelligence, passion, flexibility
of mind, and intellectual courage.
I graduated from college
a number of years ago, and I’m no longer in contact
with my former professors. May I ask professional colleagues—or
friends who know me well—to write letters of recommendation
for me?
Skidmore’s master’s program is designed for adults
who may have been out of school for awhile, and many of our
candidates ask for references from non-academic sources. Letters
of reference should address the qualities it takes to flourish
in this program: the ability to collaborate in the design of
one’s own concentration, the self-discipline to work independently,
and the intellectual power to read, write, and think at the
graduate level.
I’ve taken several
courses toward a degree that I never completed, and a few
classes at the community college level. Should I include those
transcripts in my application?
Yes. The admissions committee requires transcripts of all completed
undergraduate and graduate coursework, whether or not it contributed
toward a degree.
How many credits can I transfer
into the program?
When deciding whether to assign students credit for prior graduate
coursework, the Admissions Committee considers whether that
coursework will significantly contribute to the focus of the
work the student plans to do in his or her MALS program. There
is no limit to the amount of relevant coursework that can be
transferred in to a student’s program; however, students
must complete at least 24 credits of new coursework while enrolled
at Skidmore.
TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
How
much does the program cost?
Studying part-time, students take an average of three years
to complete the program’s 30 credits, and it costs those
students approximately $9,000 per year. Because the program’s
flexibility enables each student to move at his or her own pace,
the cost varies depending on how many courses a student takes
during any given enrollment year and how quickly he or she completes
the program’s overall requirements.
The program’s fees consist of two basic costs: an annual
tuition fee and a per-course fee. Students pay the tuition fee
each year they are enrolled, and then pay for each course they
take. If those courses are independent studies or internships,
the fees for these courses are paid directly to the MALS Program.
If they are in-class courses taken at other universities, students
pay those other institutions directly—and do not pay any
extra fee to the MALS Program. Click here
for more detailed information on financial information.
Do
you offer financial aid?
All of our students are eligible for financial aid, and approximately
40% of our students receive some form of support. Aid comes
in subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans as well as scholarships
offered to both new and continuing students.
If you’re still looking for answers to your questions,
give us a call at 518-580-5480 or send us an e-mail.
Creative Thought Matters.
Master of Arts Program
Skidmore College ·
815 North Broadway · Saratoga Springs, NY · 12866 mals@skidmore.edu · 518-580-5480
