Overview
Founded in 1926, Sarah Lawrence is a small liberal arts college for men and women. It is a lively community of students, scholars, and artists, nationally renowned for its unique academic structure, which combines small classes with individual student-faculty conferences.

Sarah Lawrence attracts students who seek a creative education and are eager to take responsibility for it. The College draws its 300 graduate students from forty-nine states and thirty-one countries.

The Location and Community
The College is situated in the Bronxville/Yonkers community of Bronxville in southern Westchester County, just 15 miles north of midtown Manhattan in New York City. Highways and a commuter railroad make it possible to reach the city in about 30 minutes, enabling students to take advantage of its social, cultural, and intellectual riches and its internship possibilities.

Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
Sarah Lawrence College has been a pioneer in several graduate fields, founding three outstanding programs in human genetics (genetic counseling), health advocacy, and women’s history that have served as models nationwide. The College also offers master’s degrees in areas where it has particular strength: creative writing, dance, theater, the art of teaching, and child development. The College believes in the importance of close and extensive collaboration with the faculty. Many of the graduate programs combine small seminar classes with individual student-faculty conferences. In all programs, opportunity for fieldwork is extensive and varied. Most graduate programs are for two years of full-time study and require 36 course credits. Part-time study may be arranged in all programs, with the exception of dance and theatre.

The Art of Teaching Program leads to a Master of Science degree and recommendation for New York State certification in early childhood (birth-grade 2), childhood (grades 1-6), or dual certification (birth-grade 6). Special features of the program include study of child development, observation, and documentation; empirical courses in curriculum planning, with emphasis on language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies; and integration of theory with fieldwork from the first semester. Field placements and student teaching under master teachers are offered at the Sarah Lawrence Early Childhood Center and public schools in Westchester County and New York City.

The Child Development Program leads to an M.A. and is for students who seek in-depth understanding of childhood functioning in the context of contemporary society. Study of theoretical perspectives and research in developmental psychology is integrated with fieldwork experience. The program is unique in its ongoing combination of theory and fieldwork. Graduates of the program are prepared for direct work with young children in a variety of settings, for teaching child development at an intermediate level, or for pursuing more advanced study in psychology and related fields. In fall 2003, Sarah Lawrence College began offering a dual degree (M.A./M.S.W.) with the New York University School of Social Work and its Child Development Master’s Program.

The Dance Program leads to an M.F.A. and is based on the premise that dance is a distinctive art form, calling for the integration of body, mind, and spirit. Daily modern and ballet technique classes are required of all graduate students. Basic physical skills, strength, and control are required for the central focus of the program, the creative use of the dance medium. The student is exposed to vital aspects of the art as a performer, creator, and observer, with music as an integral part. The curriculum centers on choreography, dance improvisation, music improvisation, composition, and the teaching of dance. The dance program offers dancers the opportunity to grow under the guidance of an excellent faculty made up of dancers and dance scholars with professional experience in the New York area and abroad.

The Human Genetics (Genetic Counseling) Program and the Health Advocacy Program, each leading to a master’s degree, train health professionals devoted to the health concerns of patients. The interdisciplinary curriculum in each program consists of 40 academic course credits and 600 hours of clinical work or other fieldwork. The location of Sarah Lawrence College in the metropolitan New York area offers a rich network of settings—hospitals, clinics, and community agencies—in which on-site supervised training enables students to integrate theoretical knowledge with practice. The faculty includes professionals and academicians drawn from health and medical disciplines. Small classes and close faculty-student interaction offer a productive and stimulating environment for professional growth. Both programs make use of invited speakers, professional workshops, and community involvement to enrich the learning experience and expose students to new developments in the field. A joint degree in human genetics and health advocacy (M.S./M.A.) is also offered.

The Writing Program leads to an M.F.A. This program offers an uncommon opportunity for students to develop as poets or creative nonfiction or fiction writers under the close attention of a nationally renowned faculty. At the center of the course of study are four successive seminars that students take during their two years in the program. In addition to the intensive student-faculty discussions in these seminars, students participate in individual conferences with faculty members every two weeks. This unique aspect of the Sarah Lawrence program provides further intensive scrutiny of students’ writing and helps them create the substantial body of work needed to fulfill the program’s requirements.

The Theatre Program leads to the M.F.A. and is based on the principle that learning comes through practical application, personal experience, and intensive workshops. Working with a faculty of New York City theater professionals, students explore playwriting, acting, directing, design, and technical work in small seminars, tutorials, and collaborative projects.

The Women’s History program, the first in the nation to offer graduate study in the field, emphasizes the combination of scholarship and activism. A joint degree program in women’s history and law is offered in cooperation with Pace University Law School.

Facilities & Resources
The College’s facilities include classrooms, laboratories, a computer center, and a state-of-the-art sports center; a modern library with 202,265 books and 880 periodicals, which is linked by computer to more than 6,000 other libraries; the Performing Arts Center, which consists of two theaters, a dance studio, and a concert hall; a music building, including a music library; a new Science Center; the Early Childhood Center; the Center for Graduate Studies; and the Center for Continuing Education.

Expenses and Aid
Tuition is $980 per course credit.

Financial Aid:
All graduate grants and loans are awarded based on financial need as determined by information provided on the Financial Aid PROFILE and the FAFSA. Applicants with financial need are considered for Sarah Lawrence College gift aid, Federal Perkins Loans, and Federal Stafford Student Loans. Sarah Lawrence College is unable to offer federal financial aid to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. However, international students may apply for Sarah Lawrence gift aid by filling out the PROFILE. International students are also advised to investigate other financing opportunities offered by their governments or through private institutions.

Housing/Living Expenses:
Off-campus single rooms in local homes are available for $300 to $500 per month; sharing an apartment ranges from $500 to $700 per month. The minimum cost for an off-campus apartment in the area is $700 per month. Housing information is available from the Student Affairs Office and the Graduate Studies Office.

How to Apply
Applicants for graduate studies must have received a B.A. or an equivalent degree from an accredited college or university and have at least a 3.0 grade point average. They should request information on the program that interests them at the address or telephone number below. Applicants are asked to complete an application form and to furnish transcripts of all undergraduate work and two letters of recommendation, preferably from former teachers. Personal interviews may be arranged with the program directors and with the Director of Graduate Studies. The creative writing and the performing arts programs require demonstration of the candidate’s ability. GRE scores are not required. Application deadlines vary according to program. The deadline for first consideration is February 1.

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