Guidelines for Non-Degree Admissions

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Last Updated: October 29, 2009

 

NON-DEGREE ADMISSIONS
Currently, the Department is accepting applications for non-degree study, under the following conditions:

1. Students who have graduated from our Department and who wish to take additional courses to fulfill particular teacher certification requirements (e.g., have completed the classroom track, and wish now to complete the requirements for a literacy specialist certificate) may apply to take specific courses. Applications may be made at any time of the year. Students admitted to non-degree to take these additional courses are assigned AVNs as soon as they are available (i.e., they are not subject to any delays). Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate students who have graduated from other institutions, or other departments/programs within UAlbany, who wish to complete requirements for a literacy specialist certificate.

2. Courses we offer to non-degree students are almost exclusively on-campus. There are occasionally--very occasionally--seats available in online courses, but these are very few and far between. If you are applying non-degree expecting to take online courses, or only able to take courses online, then you will almost certainly be disappointed. (If you wish to be considered for an online course, see here for details).

3. Students who have been denied admission to the master's program in Reading, are not eligible to apply for admission non-degree in Reading, nor can non-degree students continue to take courses if they apply to the master's program and are denied admission. This policy has been rescinded as of 3/25/09.

4. Students who wish to take courses in the Reading Department either before applying to a degree program, or simply to take graduate courses, may apply at any time to do so. There are several requirements:

    • Applications for non-degree study in the Department have to be reviewed and approved by the Graduate Admissions Office and/or the Reading Department (applicants have to meet the same requirements as candidates for degree programs (e.g., 3.0 minimum GPA, transcripts, written responses to Department questions, etc.), except that letters of reference are recommended but not required. (Students whose application folders are currently in the Reading Department, and who have not been denied for admission to a degree program, do not have to submit new applications). Applicants with a GPA of less than 3.0 should provide evidence of ability to undertake graduate study.
     
    • Non-degree students receive AVNs shortly after being admitted.
     
    • Although the University allows non-degree students to take an unlimited number of courses, only 12 credit hours can be applied to a Reading Department MS program if the student applies for and is accepted into a program. Further, only courses that fit the course distribution requirements of the program will be allowed to transfer. The Reading Department will NOT waive either of these requirements under any circumstances.
     
    • Non-degree students are accepted into Reading Department courses on a strictly first-come, first-served, space-available basis. No guarantees are made about availability of seats in any course.
     
    • Non-degree students are not permitted to take any course for which they do not have the prerequisite, even if there are seats available.

5. While successful completion of courses taken as a non-degree student can be submitted as evidence of preparation for graduate study when applying to a degree program, it does not automatically guarantee acceptance into a degree program. Non-degree students who have taken courses in the Reading Department compete on the same basis as students from other institutions for admission to our MS programs.

 

6. Before issuing an AVN# to a non-degree student, a signed memorandum of understanding has to be filed with the Department, agreeing to the terms under which non-degree study is permitted. No exceptions will be made to this condition. The memorandum can be mailed, faxed, hand-delivered, or submitted as a PDF attachment (MUST INCLUDE SIGNATURE). It cannot be emailed without a signature. (This provision does not apply to students who have graduated from our MS program and are returning to complete teacher certification requirements).

 

Inquiries about how to apply non-degree should be made to the Graduate Admissions Office.

 

Is there an advisor for non-degree students in the Reading Department?

Yes. Heidi Audino (haudino@albany.edu) is the Reading Department advisor for non-degree students. She can be reached via email, or by phone (518-442-3529), or in person in the PIE Center, ED-127, daily 8:30 - 4:30.

 

What courses can be taken non-degree?

As a non-degree student, you have some restrictions as to which courses you can take. To help you select appropriate courses, we've created course planning worksheets, one for non-degree students admitted to Reading, and a different one for students admitted to Education:

If you have been admitted non-degree (Reading Department), download a course planning sheet here.

If you have been admitted non-degree (Education), download a course planning sheet here.

NOTE: Competition for seats by matriculated students is keen, and you should expect that competition for the few remaining seats in Reading Department courses that are open to non-degree students is even keener. However, every semester, students' plans change, sometimes at the last minute, and there are frequently seats available in courses. If you're willing to be patient, and especially able to get registered for a course either very close to the start of a semester or even in the first week of on campus classes, you may find what you're looking for. Also, some courses routinely have more seats available than others, and you might get into one of these as soon as you are given your AVN#. Think of this in the same way as you do when booking a flight at the last-minute..