Resumed Education

General Information

Barnard welcomes inquiries from former students interested in resuming their studies. Such students generally fall into one of two categories: those who have graduated from Barnard or one of the other Sister schools and would like to take additional undergraduate courses (e.g., in order to fulfill premedical requirements); and those who wish to resume their studies toward the BA after having left Barnard five or more years ago without the degree. Students in both categories may study full or part time, and are eligible to make use of all regular services and facilities, including academic and career advising, the libraries, and the gyms.

Post-Baccalaureate Study

Barnard graduates who wish to enroll as post-baccalaureate students should see the Director of Post-Baccalaureate Study no later than about two months before the beginning of the semester in which they plan to enroll. Graduates of other Sister schools should write to the Director by April 1 for fall admission and by November 1 for spring admission. In the letter, non-Barnard grads should outline their goals and should include a transcript of their undergraduate record. At the initial meeting with all candidates, the Director, in addition to discussing the candidate’s goals and preparation, will go over relevant policies and procedures, which include the following:

Once admitted, post-baccalaureate students (PB's) must complete a brief form that will allow the College to enroll them. (The Director will usually give the form to the student in the initial meeting.) PB's must then fill out a copy of this form approximately two months before the start of every semester in which they wish to enroll (since the College of course cannot assume that PB's, like regular degree candidates, will remain continuously enrolled). Once they have submitted the form, PB's will in most respects be treated like regular undergraduates. They will receive a bill and will be expected to register and file their programs at the outset of the semester.

PB's generally have the same cross-registration privileges at Columbia that regular degree candidates have.

PB's will be subject to all of the academic policies that apply to regular undergraduates, e.g.: deadlines for registering, filing programs, dropping and pass/D/failing courses.

In general, PB's are not eligible for campus housing.

PB's are not eligible for Barnard financial aid, but may wish to inquire at the Financial Aid Office about the possibility of obtaining federal loans.

PB's, like all other Barnard students, must carry health insurance. If unable to present proof of coverage, they will be required to pay Barnard’s health insurance and Health Service fees. (See “Fees.”)

PB's receive a ten percent discount on tuition. (See "Fees.")

While many PB’s will undoubtedly need to consult the Health Professions Adviser, along with various faculty members, for academic advice, they are also encouraged to speak with the Director about any issues related to their studies at Barnard: course selection, academic policies and procedures, fees, financial aid, etc.

Resumed Baccalaureate Candidates

Barnard degree candidates who have been out of school for five years or more are strongly encouraged to contact the Director of Resumed Education to discuss the possibility of resuming and completing their studies. Students who have been out for a while often bring a mature and refreshed perspective to their studies, and the life experiences that they bring to the classroom often greatly enrich the learning experiences of their fellow students. The College accordingly wishes to support RB candidates wherever and in whatever ways possible.

Candidates may wish to make an initial inquiry via telephone or e-mail, after which the Director will typically need to take a few days to research the candidate's situation. Once the candidate and the Director have consulted informally, in most cases the Director will suggest that the candidate write a letter requesting readmission, which should include the following information: a brief description of the reasons for the candidate's departure from Barnard; a brief description of what she has been doing since leaving Barnard (and, in particular, a listing of any courses she may have taken at other institutions); a description of her reasons for wishing to resume her studies at this point. Candidates should be sure to forward transcripts of any college work they have done since leaving Barnard.

Once an RB applicant has been readmitted to the College, each semester she will fill out the same form that PB's fill out (see above), and will be subject to all regular academic policies. (See above. However, in certain cases, RB's may be subject to the degree requirements that were in place at the time of their original enrollment.)

While RB's will of course have faculty advisers in their major departments, they are urged to consult the Director on any and all matters pertaining to their enrollment at Barnard: course selection, degree requirements, academic policies and procedures, financial aid, fees, etc.

Fees, 2007-2008

Listed below are the fees most relevant to resumed education. For a comprehensive listing, and for an explanation of the College's policies regarding refunds, see the Barnard catalogue or website.

Readmission fee: $100 (non-refundable)

Tuition:

PB: $1017 per point
RB: $1130 per point

Health Service and Health Insurance: $504.50


Aaron Schneider
Senior Associate Dean of Studies and Director of Resumed Education
E-mail: aschneider@barnard.edu

Ani A. Bournoutian
Associate Dean of Studies
Health Professions Adviser
Director of Post-Baccalaureate Study
E-mail: abournoutian@barnard.edu