School Media Specialization: Admission

Please be certain to review all requirements as set forth by Syracuse University and the School of Information Studies.  Some programs may have differing requirements.  For the School of Information specific program requirements, please review the links in the School of Information section below.

Graduate Application Deadlines

Click here for information on graduate application deadlines.

Syracuse University Requirements

All applicants to graduate programs at Syracuse University must provide official documentation of having earned at least a U.S. bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent from another country, by the time they enroll at Syracuse. Some programs require a master’s degree. International applicants must have graduated from colleges or universities that are recognized by the national educational authorities of their home countries. Following are some specific guidelines for equivalents to a U.S. bachelor’s degree:

Canada: A three-year bachelor’s degree from Quebec or a four-year bachelor’s degree from the other provinces
Central and South America: A university degree requiring four years of study
France and other countries following the French system: A degree or diploma requiring four years of study after the baccalaureate (usually the maitrise)
Germany: Completion of the diplom
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal: A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a master’s degree in any other field
Other Asian countries: A university degree requiring four years of study
United Kingdom and countries following the British system: a bachelor’s degree with honors
Other European countries: A university degree requiring four years of study

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDY-  REQUIRED MATERIALS

1) Complete Graduate Application Instructions and Forms—The application form, itself, including answers to all questions and all required essays, must be mailed to:

Graduate Enrollment Management Center
Syracuse University
303 Bowne Hall
Syracuse, New York 13244
   USA

You will receive an e-mail or postcard from Syracuse University when your application has been received and processed.  

Go directly to the online application.

2) Non-refundable Application Fee—The application fee is $75.  Please include a check or money order payable to Syracuse University.  Please do not send cash.  Applicants wishing to apply to more than one program must file a separate application and application fee for each program. 

3) Academic Credentials—Two copies of records of all previous postsecondary education are required.  Contact the Registrar’s Office of each higher education institution that you have attended and have them send two copies of your transcripts to Syracuse University (one is for your departmental file and the other for your official admissions/Registrar file).  For your convenience, we have included a transcript request form that you can mail to your prior institutions to request your credentials.  Do not send transcripts for secondary schools as part of this application, unless indicated on the Program Requirements List.  All materials sent by mail should be addressed to the Graduate Enrollment Management Center, at the address noted above.  All offers of admission from Syracuse University are conditional pending our receipt of official academic credentials showing that a U.S. bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) has been conferred upon the applicant.  Failure to submit such degree-bearing credentials may result in revocation of the offer of admission or dismissal from a graduate program, should admission be granted.

4) Letters of Recommendation—Generally, the Graduate School requires three letters of recommendation unless otherwise noted in the Program Requirements List.  The School of Information Studies requires only two letters of recommendation for admission into the masters programs.  Confidential letters of recommendation should be sent to the Graduate Enrollment Management Center in sealed envelopes on which the recommender has signed across the seal.  If a confidential letter of recommendation is received in an envelope with a broken seal, it may disqualify the application.  For your convenience, we have included recommendation forms that you can mail to your recommender(s). 

5) Exam Scores—Exam requirements are noted on the Program Requirements List.  Please be aware that exam scores are not generally available until four to six weeks after the exam is administered.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that exam scores reach Syracuse by any applicable deadlines.  All scores for TOEFL, GRE and GMAT are reported to a central location at Syracuse University.  The institution code of 2823 should be used when requesting ETS (Educational Testing Services) send your scores electronically to
Syracuse University.  It is not necessary to request that scores be reported to more than one department.

* International applicants – Applicants who are citizens from the following English speaking countries are not required to submit TOEFL testing scores: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Trinidad & Tobago and the United Kingdom.
 
6) Financial Documents—International applicants who would need Syracuse University to issue them an I-20 form for a student visa must show sufficient funding for at least the first year of graduate study.  Acceptable evidence of adequate funding for privately sponsored applicants is certified current bank statements on official bank letterhead signed by an authorized bank official that indicates sufficient funds exist to meet at least first year expenses.  Government sponsored applicants must send a current, original or certified copy of the award letter which includes the U.S. dollar amount (per year) of the award.  All financial documents must be current – that is, effective dated within one year of the intended start of graduate study and written in English.  When sending documentation of adequate funding, please note that photocopies of financial documents are acceptable, and you may fax the documents to (315) 443-3423.  Be sure to write your name, date of birth, program name and application number (if known) on all documents you send us.

 To verify the status of you application you may contact Bridget Crary at bmcrary@syr.edu.