Admissions

Admissions Policy

Admission to the College is based on academic potential without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender, race, color, creed, religion, veteran or military status, national origin, age, disability, familial status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, status as an ex-offender, arrest record, predisposing genetic characteristics or genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal or New York State law.   (Please see “Institutional Policies” for the College policy on accommodation of students with disabilities.)  Persons who desire application materials or wish to arrange for an interview and a tour should contact the Office of Admissions, Daemen College, 4380 Main Street, Amherst, New York 14226. Telephone: (716) 839-8225, admissions@daemen.edu.

Criteria for Graduate Student Admission

Applicants for admission must meet the following requirements:

1. All requirements specific to the student’s intended program of study (see departmental sections of this catalog for details).
2. Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent degree from a foreign university or college. (For details on the accelerated R.N. to M.S. program, see the Nursing Department section of this catalog.)
3. Letters of recommendation, as specified by the intended program of study, preferably including one from the last school attended.
4. A written statement describing educational objectives and areas of personal interest, and/or a resume summarizing professional  activities and continuing education, as specified by the intended program of study.
5. An on-site or telephone interview with the graduate program director/department chair, if required by the intended program of study.

International Students

International students for whom English is a non-native language must submit a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score.

Students who receive a score lower than the minimum requirement will be required to enroll in an Intensive English Program.

Daemen College will offer conditional admission to students who successfully complete level 112 at an ELS Language Center or to students who plan on writing the TOEFL or IELTS exam after completion of an IEP program.

Students who achieve the minimum requirement of a 77 or higher on the TOEFL or a 6.5 on the IELTS will enroll in academic course work.

Application Procedure for Degree-Seeking Graduate Students (including Applicants to Advanced Certificate Programs)

1. Graduate application materials may be obtained from the Office of Admissions, Daemen College.
2. Completed applications for admission should be returned to the Office of Admissions.  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis unless otherwise stated in departmental sections of this catalog.
3. To be complete the application must include all of the following:
   1. Application for Admission form.
   2. Nonrefundable application fee of $25.00. (The fee is waived for online applications or Daemen College graduates.)
   3. Copy of current certification or professional licensure if applicable (consult departmental policies).
   4. Students should request an official copy of transcripts of all college-level academic work, regardless of whether or not a degree was earned. (In the case of Daemen College graduates, a transcript will automatically be furnished to the Admissions office at no charge.)
   5. Official transcripts of graduate courses completed at other institutions should be submitted at the time of application, and will be evaluated for acceptability as transfer credit within the first semester by departmental faculty:
      1. Up to forty percent (40%) of Daemen graduate credits may be satisfied by transferring credits from another graduate program. Grades (and quality points) are not recorded for transferred credits. Any Credit for Learning from Life Experience (CLLE) or credit earned through Challenge Examination would be considered transfer credit for this purpose. Ordinarily, no more than eight graduate credits may be earned through challenge or CLLE.
      2. Transfer courses must have been taken within the previous seven years.
      3. No transfer credit will be awarded for a course in which a grade lower than B was received.
      4. Students who believe that their requests for transfer credit have been inappropriately denied may appeal to the Graduate Committee on Academic Standards.
   6. Any additional materials as required by program of study, such as letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume, standardized test scores.
4. The Application for Admission will be reviewed for completeness by each academic department. The student will be notified in writing if the application is incomplete. It is the responsibility of the applicant to assure that the application is complete.

Application for Non-Degree Status

Students wishing to enroll in a graduate class without matriculating in a graduate degree or certificate program may do so on a space-available basis with written consent of both the course instructor and the graduate program director. Non-matriculated students must fill out a Graduate Application and Registration Form, Non-Degree Status, available in departmental offices. Ordinarily, non-matriculated students may take a maximum of nine graduate credits at Daemen. To continue taking graduate courses, the student must apply for admission as a degree or certificate candidate and be accepted into the graduate program. Any exceptions to this policy are made by the Graduate Committee on Academic Standards.

Admission of Degree-Seeking Students to Graduate Study (including Advanced Certificate Programs)

1. The completed Application for Admission is reviewed by the graduate admissions coordinator and graduate program faculty, with the director of the program notifying the student in writing of the admission decision.
2. The acceptance letter will be accompanied by a packet of materials which should be read carefully.
   1. The Graduate Tuition Deposit Agreement reserves the student a seat in a subsequent semester. Tuition deposits will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and are not refundable. TUITION DEPOSIT:
      Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant – $500.00
      All other graduate programs – $200.00
   2. The Health Form should be filled out and returned to the Health Services Office as soon as possible, since registration  cannot be completed until this is done. All students taking four or more credits, whether full-time or part-time, must file the Daemen College Health Services Form prior to registering for classes. Failure to return the Health Form will result in delay of completing registration. If applicable, the student must also meet any health-related requirements specific to his/her graduate program.

Please note: As soon as the student remits the tuition deposit and is health compliant, he or she should contact the office of his/her graduate program to make an appointment to register for classes. Registration is carried out by individual appointment in the departmental office. At the time of registration, the student will be assigned an advisor.

Financial Aid

Information on eligibility for and availability of Financial Aid can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office (716-839-8254) and in the Financial Aid section of this catalog. In general, to be considered for financial aid, the student must be admitted to a graduate program and register for at least five credit hours.

Students are advised to check with their employers regarding the availability of tuition reimbursement for graduate coursework.

Alcohol and Drug Policy

The unlawful possession, use or distribution of alcohol and illegal drugs by students and employees on college property or while engaged in College activities off the College campus is prohibited. A complete description of the College’s Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy, pursuant to the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, is published in the Daemen College Student Handbook.