Doctoral Application Information

The School of Education has a rolling admissions policy. Once you submit all required materials and take all necessary steps to complete an application to your program of choice, the admissions committee will review your application and render an admissions decision. The doctoral program’s Signature and Higher Education pathways offer one start term: the fall semester, beginning in late August. The doctoral program’s Dissertation Completion pathway (“All But Dissertation” or “ABD”) has two options available: individualized advising and support, in select classes on the Manhattanville campus, with start terms in spring, summer, or fall; OR an online cohort with classes via synchronous online learning and extended weekend residency in July with a summer start term. The deadline to apply for the ABD online courses cohort is April 1, 2020. To be eligible for the doctoral program, you must have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from an accredited institution.

We have made some temporary changes to the application process during these unpredictable and unprecedented times of the coronavirus pandemic and accompanying restrictions. In particular, we understand it may be difficult for you to obtain official documents, such as transcripts or test score reports, in a timely manner. Please consult the information below for guidance.

Online application

Required Application Materials

Official transcripts
1. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
2. Request that each institution attended send an official e-transcript to edschool@mville.edu
3. If this is not an available option, we will accept an unofficial transcript from you during these trying times, e.g., a scan, screenshot, or photo of your transcript that you access on the institution's website or that you possess in paper form. If you proceed this way and you are otherwise eligible for acceptance into the program, it will be a provisional acceptance and you will still need to supply your official transcript at a later date.
1. Two letters of recommendation
  1. Letters should be written and submitted by professional or academic references.
  2. You may not submit your own letters of recommendation.
2. One letter of nomination
  1. Letter should be written on school letterhead.
  2. Nomination should appraise your accomplishments as a leader and provide details about the quality of leadership.
  3. You may not submit your own nomination letter.
  4. At this time, doctoral candidates may proceed with two of their three required letters. If you proceed this way and you are otherwise eligible for acceptance into the program, it will be a provisional acceptance and you will still need to have the third letter sent at a later date.
3. Writing sample, such as an article, position paper, memorandum, or essay.
4. Personal statement
  1. Approximately three to six pages.
  2. Discuss your leadership experiences, your strengths in the role of educational leader, your interest in the doctoral program, and what knowledge and skills you hope to develop in the program.
5. Resume
6. Standardized test of graduate admission
  1. A standardized test of graduate admission is required.
  2. Official score sent by the testing agency.
    1. GRE (ETS school code 2397).
    2. MAT (Pearson school code 1470)
  3. Please note that each application is reviewed holistically and test scores will not outweigh other indicators submitted with your application.
  4. Applicants may proceed without an official test score report, if necessary. The GRE will be offered in an at-home format beginning March 27, 2020. You are strongly encouraged to sit for the at-home test, and to send us your registration confirmation once you have it. Please click HERE for more information.If you proceed this way and you are otherwise eligible for acceptance into the program, it will be a provisional acceptance and you will still need to sit for the test at a later date and have the official score report sent.
7. Leadership Experience
  1. Demonstration of a record of leadership as an educator, leader, and/or manager/supervisor.
  2. Two years of administrative experience are strongly preferred.
8. Non-refundable application fee of $75.00
9. Submitted online application
10. Interview (upon completion of the application, an in-person interview with the doctoral admissions committee). At this time, interviews will be conducted via phone or video conference.

International Students: demonstrate English language proficiency.

1. English language exam.
  1. TOEFL iBT score of 110 or higher OR
  2. IELTS score of 8 or higher OR
  3. An equivalent exam result.
2. A certified translation and/or external evaluation of international credentials to determine equivalency of a United States bachelor’s and/or master's degree.

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredited Manhattanville College School of Education at the initial-licensure level. CAEP is the only recognized national accreditor for educator preparation. Manhattanville College School of Education has met rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by CAEP.