ESF Academic Catalog
Admission Policies & Requirements

NOTE: The following information on admission to SUNY ESF is limited to specific policies and requirements necessary for inclusion in a catalog of record. 

For complete, current information on admission to ESF, visit our admission websites:

• www.esf.edu/admissions/undergraduate/ 
• www.esf.edu/graduate/prospective/admission.php
• www.esf.edu/international-education (undergraduate and graduate)

Student Status

Required Application Materials

Early Action First Year Admission for High School Seniors

Regular First Year Admission for High School Seniors

Guaranteed Transfer Option for High School Seniors

Regular Transfer Admission for College Students

College & University Transfer Credit

Policy for Students Transferring from Syracuse University to SUNY ESF

CLEP Requirements

COMPOSITION AND LITERATURE

Course	Score	ESF Equivalent	Credits Awarded	General Education Category
American Literature ALCLEP1 & ALCLEP2	50	EWP 190 and 290	6	Oral Communication,  Written Communication, and Humanities
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature ALCLEP1 & ALCLEP2	50	EWP 290 and Free Elective	6	Humanities
College Composition ENGCLE1 & ENGLE2	50	EWP 190 and Free Elective	6	Oral Communication and Written Communication
College Composition with Modular ENCCLE	50	EWP 190	3	Oral Communication and Written Communication
First Year College Composition COMCLE 1 & ECCLE2	50	EWP 190	3	Oral Communication and Written Communication
English Composition with or without Essay ECCLE1 & ECCLE2	50	EWP 190	3	Oral Communication and Written Communication
English Literature EL1CLEP & EL2CLEP	50	EWP 290 and Free Elective	6	Humanities
Humanities HUCLE1 & HUCLE2	50	Free electives	6	Humanities

 

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Course	Score	ESF Equivalent	Credits Awarded	General Education Category
French - Level 1	50	Gen ed elective or free elective	3	World Language
French - Level 2	59	Gen ed elective or free elective	3	World Language
German - Level 1	50	Gen ed elective or free elective	3	World Language
German - Level 2	60	Gen ed elective or free elective	3	World Language
Spanish - Level 1	50	Gen ed elective or free elective	3	World Language
Spanish - Level 2	63	Gen ed elective or free elective	3	World Language

 

HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Course	Score	ESF Equivalent	Credits Awarded	General Education Category
American Government	50	EST 221	3	Social Science
Introduction to Educational Psychology	50	Gen ed elective or free elective	3	Social Science
History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877	50	EST 202	3	US History and Civic Engagement
History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present	50	EST 201	3	US History and Civic Engagement
Human Growth and Development	50	Gen ed elective or free elective	3	Social Science
Principles of Macroeconomics	50	FOR 207	3	Social Science
Principles of Microeconomics	50	FOR 207	3	Social Science
Introductory Psychology	50	Gen ed elective or free elective	3	Social Science
Social Sciences and History	50	Gen ed elective and/or free elective	6	Social Science
Introductory Sociology	50	EST 203	3	Social Science
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648	50	Gen ed elective or free elective	3	World History and Global Awarness
Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present	50	Gen ed elective or free elective	3	World History and Global Awarness

 

SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

Course	Score	ESF Equivalent	Credits Awarded	General Education Category
College Algebra	50	APM 103	3	Quantitative Science
College Algebra – Trigonometry	50	APM 103	3	Quantitative Science
Calculus	50	APM 105	4	Quantitative Science
Natural Sciences	50	Free electives	6	Natural Science
Pre-calculus	50	APM 104	3	Quantitative Science

 

BUSINESS

Course	Score	ESF Equivalent	Credits Awarded	General Education Category
Principles of Accounting	50	FOR 205 and Free elective	6	N/A
Introductory Business Law	50	FOR 485	3	N/A
Financial Accounting	50	CME 151	3	N/A
Information Systems and Computer Applications	50	Free elective	3	N/A
Principles of Management	50	FOR 360	3	N/A
Principles of Marketing	50	Free elective	3	N/A

 

Ranger School Admission

The SUNY ESF Ranger School does not enroll first year students. Students complete their first year requirements at ESF’s Syracuse campus or at the college of their choice. They complete the sophomore year of their A.A.S. program in residence at The Ranger School campus. Candidates may apply for acceptance into these programs under the guaranteed transfer option while a senior in high school or as a regular transfer student.

High school students who wish to enroll in these programs should apply during their senior year to receive a guaranteed entry date one year later. Transfer students apply for sophomore year entry during the academic year prior to their intended fall semester entry at The Ranger School (spring admission is not available). For further information on The Ranger School, visit the website or refer to The Ranger School section of this catalog.

Educational Opportunity Program

Offered only to full-time students who are New York state residents, first year and transfer students who qualify, both academically and economically, may be eligible for the EOP program.

High school seniors who wish to apply for first year enrollment and EOP status at the College must file a SUNY application or The Common Application and indicate they want to be considered for EOP. In addition, they must submit a SUNY EOP Financial Information Form and a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), indicating ESF as a receiving institution.

In order for transfer students to participate in the program at the College, they must have been enrolled in or qualified for EOP, Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Search for Education Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) or similar program at their prior college. Therefore, students who are applying to ESF as high school seniors through the Guaranteed Transfer option should also apply for EOP, HEOP or SEEK at their lower-division college, and must enroll in or be qualified for such a program in order to continue in EOP at ESF.

All EOP applicants must file applications for undergraduate admission and financial aid as described in those two sections of this catalog.

Deferred Admission

Students accepted to ESF who wish to defer their enrollment for one or two semesters beyond their original entry term must make this request in writing directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students will receive written notification if their request has been approved.

Graduate Admission Policies & Requirements

• Graduate Admissions (complete, current information for prospective students)

Admission to Graduate School is conditional upon review and acceptance of an applicant's credentials by appropriate faculty members and upon the recommendation of the appropriate department chairperson or program director to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School.

Application Requirements

Submit securely via our online application.

• Transcripts
  Transcripts of an earned bachelor's degree from a recognized institution with an academic record showing at least a "B" average for junior and senior years of the baccalaureate program or for the master's program
• Application
  The graduate application
• Scores
  Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and for some degree programs, advanced test scores(institution code for official score reports:2530) GRE scores are not required for our certificate of advanced study programs or for the MPS in environmental leadership, justice and communication program. 
• Recommendations
  Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to your academic or professional skills. This should NOT include personal friends and family.  Only two letters are required for our certificate of advanced study programs.
• Resume
  A resume or CV
• Statement
  A statement of educational and professional goals
• Fee
  A nonrefundable $60(US) application fee

Students whose primary language is not English are also required to provide evidence of English language proficiency.

Applying for Admission

Faculty seek graduate students who are well prepared for rigorous study, responsive and receptive to constructive feedback, and a good fit with their programs. The most effective way for applicants to demonstrate these qualities is to communicate with faculty prior to applying and to understand the programs ESF has to offer. Therefore, individuals who are interested in applying for graduate study should contact ESF faculty to discuss degree programs and learn about specific opportunities for study and research at ESF. Faculty Web pages provide contact information and additional insights about ESF degree programs. We also encourage applicants to visit campus and meet with faculty and current graduate students.

Application Deadlines

While the following dates are particularly important for applicants wishing to be considered for fellowships, assistantships, and other forms of financial assistance, ESF will continue to accept and fully consider graduate applications beyond each of the noted deadlines:

Application Target Dates

 

Degree Level	Semester of Matriculation	Application Deadline for consideration for funding*	Application Deadline *
PhD & MS	Fall	January 15	April 30
PhD & MS	Spring	November 1	December 15
MPS, MF, MLA, Certificates	Fall	Rolling, preferred by April 30
MPS, MF, MLA, Certificates	Spring	Rolling, preferred by December 15

*Applications completed by these deadlines by these dates will normally receive decisions by mid-March for fall matriculation and by early December for spring matriculation.

Graduate Record Exam Subject Tests

Subject tests are recommended by the following programs:

Graduate Program	Subject Test
Environmental and forest chemistry	Chemistry - recommended
Biochemistry area of study within environmental and forest chemistry	Chemistry or Biology - recommended

Graduate Transfer Credit

Credit hours appropriate to the graduate degree in which a minimum grade of B was earned from an accredited institution can be transferred to the College, but grades and grade points cannot be transferred.

Master level program (MS, MPS, MF and MLA)

Master level programs have a minimum of 24 credit hours taken at ESF requirement.

Up to six credits of graduate coursework may be accepted toward completion of a master’s or doctoral degree as approved by the steering committee.

Students with an ESF undergraduate degree that earned ESF graduate coursework credit during their studies, may petition to have up to 9 of those credits applied to their master’s degree. i.e. no more than 9 graduate credits can be applied towards both undergraduate and graduate degrees from ESF. 

PhD programs

Up to six credits of graduate coursework from an accredited institution may be accepted toward completion of a doctoral degree as approved by the steering committee.

Up to 30 credits of graduate level coursework earned as part of a conferred master’s degree may be transferred (by petition) to a doctoral degree with approval of the steering committee.

Under no circumstances can the total number of transferred credits exceed 30 credits.

Certificate programs

A minimum of 90 percent of all credits applied to an ESF certificate of advanced study credential must be comprised of ESF credit. The certificate of advanced study is an official post-baccalaureate credential in New York State. However, it is not considered a degree program. Therefore, all credits satisfactorily completed for an ESF advanced certificate may also count toward a relevant ESF graduate degree.

 

All transfer credit will remain tentative until official, final transcripts are received. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that official, final transcripts are sent to and received by the College.

Part-time Study

Part-time study at the graduate level provides an excellent opportunity for working professionals to extend their educational credentials or broaden their general knowledge by enrolling for courses on a part-time basis. The M.P.S. or M.F. professional degrees are available for students who are initially matriculated on a part-time basis. Part-time students apply, matriculate and register through the same processes that all ESF graduate students complete. During any semester, students who enroll in part-time programs may register for the equivalent of full-time study, which is at least 12 credit hours. Part-time students are held to the policy for continuous registration, but not to the policy for time to degree (delimitation).

Deferred Admission

Students accepted to graduate programs at ESF who wish to defer their enrollment beyond their original entry term must make this request in writing directly to the Graduate School.

Faculty as Students

Employees of the College who carry faculty status in accordance with SUNY ESF Faculty Bylaws and are at or above the rank of assistant professor or equivalent, may not enter into matriculated status at the College.

International Student Admission Policies & Requirements

• International Admissions (complete, current information for prospective international students)

In addition to the admission requirements that all prospective students must meet, non-Native English speaking international applicants must provide the following:

Standard	Undergraduate Admission Score (Minimum)	Graduate Admission Score (Minimum)
TOEFL (paper-based)	550	550
TOEFL (internet-based)	79	80 (with no individual component score < 17)
IELTS	Total: 6.0 (with no less than 5 in Writing)	Total: 6.0 (with no less than 5 in Writing)
Duolingo English Test (DET)	100	105
PTE Academic	53	53
STEP EIKEN	Grade pre-1	(University level) Grade 1
Syracuse University -  English Language Institute (ELI)	Successful completion of ELI "Level 4"	Successful completion of ELI "Level 4"
ELS	Successful completion of Level 112	Successful completion of Level 112
Previous college-level instruction in English	Completion of at least one three-credit English course at an institution where the language of instruction is in English. ESL courses will not count toward meeting this requirement.	Completion of at least two years of college (academic studies, not English language instruction) at an institution where the courses were taught in English. Successful completion of at least one semester at SUNY ESF
SAT	500 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing Score	N/A
ACT	22 Composite Score	N/A
Duolingo (DET)	(Minimum) = 100	(Minimum) = 105

Note: SUNY ESF accepts MyBest TOEFL scores for both undergraduate and graduate admissions.

1. Transcripts and international academic credentials—International applicants must provide complete translations into English of all transcripts required by the admissions application without any additions or deletions by the translators. Translations of documents by the applicant will not be accepted. Credential evaluator and translation services for academic documents may be found through the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
   • International freshman applicants are required to demonstrate the completion of a college preparatory secondary school program by submitting academic credentials translated into English. This evaluation must be completed by an approved international credentials evaluation agency.
   • International transfer applicants are required to submit a detailed course-by-course evaluation of all international academic credentials in English. This evaluation must be completed by an approved international credentials evaluation agency.
2. Copy of the passport should be submitted after the student accepts their offer of admission.

International Students Currently Attending an Educational Institution in the U.S.

In addition to the entrance requirements for other international students, international students who are currently enrolled at a U.S. educational institution must obtain permission (usually through a Transfer-In Form) from their current educational institution to transfer their SEVIS record to ESF. Students will also have to complete a SUNY ESF SEVIS Transfer-In Form (F-1 Students / J-1) so that ESF is aware of when your current institution will release your SEVIS record to ESF so that a new I-20 or DS-2019 can be issued for the ESF program of study. Additional information about transferring your SEVIS record to ESF is available online.

I-20 Issuance for International Students

An I-20, required for the F-1 student visa application, will be issued once a student has:

1. 1. Been officially admitted to ESF;
   2. Submitted adequate financial support documentation for at least one year of expenses at ESF;

In order to obtain an I-20 from ESF, a potential F-1 student must complete the "FSA-4 - Financial Statement" and submit credible documentary evidence that they have enough readily available funds to meet all expenses (tuition, fees, and living expenses) for the entire first year of study. (It is expected that barring unforeseen circumstances, students will have adequate funds available for each subsequent year of study from the same source or from one or more other specifically identified and reliable financial sources.)

Documentation of sufficient funding may come from any combination of dependable sources, including scholarships, assistantships, fellowships, sponsoring agencies, personal funds, or funds from a student's family. Documentation of scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships must be in the form of an official award letter from the school or sponsoring agency; documentation of personal or family funds should be on an official signed letter of support from the bank that includes the U.S. dollar amount of support and certified bank statements which indicate that the sponsor has sufficient funds to meet a student's first-year expenses at ESF (the bank statement does not have to show the full amount of the account), or in the form of a legally binding affidavit. The Form I-134, "Affidavit of Support," can be used to document support being provided by a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal permanent resident. Government-sponsored applicants should submit a certified copy of the award letter that includes the U.S. dollar amount of the award per year, the duration of the award and a list of expenses covered by the award.

1. Indicate your intention to enroll at ESF through your ESF Applicant Portal by submitting the required admissions deposit.
2. Submitted the New Undergraduate International Student Information Form.
3. Submitted a valid passport copy.

Once all of the above materials have been received, an I-20 will be issued and uploaded to the prospective international student admissions portal by the Office of International Education.

Health Insurance Requirement

ESF students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are required by SUNY policies to maintain comprehensive health insurance with medical evacuation and repatriation coverage for themselves (and their dependents in the United States) for the duration of their ESF program of study. International students are automatically enrolled in the SUNY Health Insurance Plan unless proof of comparable health insurance is provided to the Bursar's Office within 30 days of the start of each semester.