Academic Information

The Credit / Point System

Like most other U.S. institutions, Teachers College follows a 'credit' / 'point' system in organizing its academic programs. That is, degree programs require satisfactory completion of a minimum number of coursework credits or points (in addition to other requirements, such as comprehensive examinations, a master's thesis or integrative project, a doctoral dissertation, etc.) in order to qualify for graduation.

Consult with your program to see how many coursework credits are required to qualify for your degree. Courses at Teachers College are usually taken for 1 to 3 credits, with 3 credits as the standard number of credits for a regular semester-long academic course. Full-time students take 9 credits of courses or the equivalent every semester.

More information regarding full time equivalency can be found on the Office of the Registrar website here. 

Courses may be taken for letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) or pass/fail. However, students should consult with their academic programs since courses taken as pass/fail may or may not be accepted for degree purposes. Also, many academic programs require a minimum grade (typically "B" or above) for certain courses if they are to be counted toward graduation.

Students who receive the letter grade of C- for 8 credits (or more) of coursework are considered in unsatisfactory academic standing and are dismissed from the College.  Students should consult the TC Academic Catalog following arrival to learn more about TC's grading and academic policy.

The Academic Year

The standard academic year is from September - May, divided into the Autumn (September - December) and Spring (January - May) semesters. Teachers College also offers two summer semesters, Summer A (mid-May - late June) and Summer B (early July - mid August).

Students register for courses at the beginning of each academic semester, but are allowed during the "Drop / Add" period (usually the first ten days of the semester) to change and make final course selections.

Consult the TC Academic Calendar for more information about the Academic Calendar, including semester beginning and starting dates, holidays, and academic deadlines.

Planning Your Course of Study

Newly-admitted students are strongly encouraged to research the websites of their academic programs prior to arriving and starting studies. Programs vary in the types of courses they require. Some programs are very flexible, allowing students a wide range of self-selection and choice, while other programs are very structured and follow tight sequences. Contact your program beforehand with any questions you may have.

Newly-admitted students will also have the opportunity during the  New Student Orientation to meet with an advisor to discuss academic course selection. Your advisor will also provide you with a PIN (identification number) which will allow you to register for courses. 

Full-time Study 

As a rule, international students in F or J status are required to pursue a full-time course of study throughout the academic year. At Teachers College, full-time study requires registration for 9 credits of coursework or the equivalent during the academic year (registration during the summer semesters is optional). More information can be found on the Office of the Registrar website here. 

Transfer Credits from Previous Graduate Work

If you are in a program leading to an EdM, EdD, or PhD, you may be able to receive credits for graduate courses taken at another school, thereby reducing the total number of courses you may need to do at Teachers College. Determination of transfer credits is done after you have enrolled in your TC degree program. Go to the Office of Admission to request a Transfer Credit Evaluation Form. Complete the form and submit it to the Office of Admission, to request an evaluation of your previous graduate school work. After the evaluation, it is up to your academic advisor to approve which credits will be accepted. You will be notified in writing once the final evaluation has been made.