Apply to this Program

Application Deadlines

The program has two admissions deadlines. The first is an early admission deadline. Applications submitted between January 15 and May 15 will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Admission decisions are typically communicated 4-6 weeks after an application is complete.

Completed applications received after the program has reached capacity will be moved to the next available term for consideration.  Therefore applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all materials as early as possible. Notifications will be delivered through the online application system.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program is highly selective.  A U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a non-U.S. educational institution is required. No specific undergraduate major is recommended or required.

The Bioethics program can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.  Only international students enrolled in this program full-time qualify for a student visa.

Note: Applicants whose native language is not English or have not completed their undergraduate studies at an accredited US college or university are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting official scores either from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System). 

We strongly recommend submitting unofficial copies of your test results through the online application system at the time of application.  The Office of Admissions will use unofficial copies of test scores for admission consideration.  Candidates offered admission will later be required to supply official test results prior to enrollment.  At that time, official scores must be sent directly from either TOEFL or IELTS and are only valid for two years.  (Use school code 2594 to report TOEFL scores.)

Applicants taking the TOEFL must have a score of at least 100 on the Internet-based version (600 paper based).  Applicants taking the IELTS must receive a score of 7.0 or higher.

Graduates of Columbia's American Language Program (ALP), must achieve Level 10 in order to apply to a program at the School of Continuing Education.  Applicants who have achieved Level 10 are NOT required to take the TOEFL or IELTS.

Application Materials

1. Completed Online Application form.

2. $80.00 nonrefundable application fee ( U.S. currency) must accompany the online application.

3. Transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended. The rules and requirements for providing documentation for domestic vs. international transcripts are outlined below:

   Domestic Transcripts
   from institutions in the U.S. or Canada

   If your transcripts are from an institution in the U.S. or Canada, we strongly recommend submitting unofficial documents through the online application system at the time of application. Candidates offered admission will later be required to supply official documents prior to enrollment for verification before the offer is considered official.

   For those applicants who are offered admission, official transcripts must arrive in envelopes sealed by the issuing institutions certifying conferral of a bachelor's degree. Copies, opened or unsealed envelopes, unofficial printouts, or facsimiles will not be accepted. Many schools take a number of weeks to fulfill transcript requests; please plan accordingly. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to withdraw any offer of admission already made if there is a discrepancy between the self-reported transcript and the official transcript.

   International Transcripts
   from institutions outside the U.S. or Canada

   If your post-secondary credentials are from an institution outside the U.S. or Canada, the Office of Admission requires you to submit all post-secondary credentials (undergraduate and graduate) to World Education Services, Inc. (WES), a third party verification agency for a course-by-course evaluation.

   Instructions for using WES

   WES must complete a course-by-course evaluation of all post-secondary credentials. Please select the WES basic course-by-course evaluation (with GPA and course-levels) and request to have WES send your evaluation to Columbia University School of Continuing Education. The school can be found by searching Columbia University and then selecting School of Continuing Education. The evaluation provided to the School of Continuing Education becomes an official academic record and sole property of the School of Continuing Education upon its receipt.

   WES evaluations will be reviewed by the School of Continuing Education administrators and the determination of degree equivalency to U.S. degrees is at the discretion of the School of Continuing Education.

4. Professional résumé

5. Two letters of recommendation written by teachers or professional colleagues who are well positioned to comment on your intellectual strengths and professional promise.

   For Postbaccalaureate Premedical Studies Students only:
   Two letters of recommendation are required.  Letters from Columbia faculty are recommended, if feasible.  If not, letters from undergraduate professors, or other professional recommenders are acceptable.

6. Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test are required of those applicants who do not already have a graduate degree.  GRE school report code: 3602.  For complete information regarding the GRE go to www.ets.org.

   For Postbaccalaureate Premedical Studies Students only: If you have not taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), you must submit official SAT or ACT test scores.

7. Statement of academic purpose (500 to 750 words) addressing the following:

   • your purpose and interest in pursuing a degree in bioethics
   • how the degree program fits into your overall professional growth, focusing in particular on the connection between the program and your academic and/or professional experience
8. An admissions interview may be required.
    
9. Non-native speakers of English must fulfill additional application requirements.

Submitting the Application

1. Applicants are encouraged to submit all supporting application materials through the online application system.  Unofficial documents will be used for admission consideration.
    
2. Applications are not considered complete until all required materials listed in the Application Materials section above have been received. Only complete applications will be reviewed.
    
3. Applicants who are admitted to the program must submit all official documents to  the Office of Admissions before the offer is considered official.
    
4. All submitted materials should clearly bear the applicant's name and the name of the program to which he or she is applying.

Mailing Address and Contact Information

Bioethics Program
Office of Admissions
School of Continuing Education
203 Lewisohn Hall
2970 Broadway, Mail Code 4119
New York , NY 10027-6902
212-854-9666
Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM; Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM