Admissions, Graduate Admissions

You want a graduate program that fits your life. You also want professors who know you, classmates you can learn from, and a community that supports your goals.

At Siena University, online and hybrid graduate programs offer opportunities for both flexibility and connection. Whether you’re joining class from home or spending part of your week on campus, the relationships you build are part of your education.

Explore Siena’s graduate programs to find an option that fits your goals.

Which Siena graduate programs offer online or hybrid options?

Siena’s graduate programs offer a range of learning formats, with options that vary by program. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) can be completed online, in person, or through a hybrid format. The Master of Science in Business Analytics offers evening and hybrid courses, while the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction and Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MAT ESOL) offer fully online study.

These programs create different ways to fit graduate education into your life. They also provide opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from other professionals, and build relationships throughout your coursework.

That balance of flexibility and connection shaped the graduate experience of Olivia Grecco ’26, a full-time teacher in Siena’s MAT TESOL program.

Can you feel connected in an online graduate program?

For Olivia, the answer was yes. Asynchronous coursework made it possible to pursue her graduate education while continuing to teach. Finding a collaborative learning environment was equally important. 

“As a full-time teacher, an asynchronous program was truly one of my only pathways, but I am collaborative in nature and value interacting with others, especially in professional and educational settings. It can be hard to achieve that while fully online.”

At Siena, she found opportunities to connect through consistent group and class discussions, occasional Zoom meetings for important program updates, and an engaging “About Me” assignment at the beginning of each course.

Those activities helped students get to know one another and brought their individual experiences into the learning process.

“The MAT TESOL Program fostered and maintained an authentic community that I feel proud to belong to, and can truly say made a difference in my rich learning experiences here at Siena.”

Her experience shows how an online graduate program can make room for both independent work and meaningful interaction.

What is the difference between live online and asynchronous graduate classes?

Live online classes meet at scheduled times, while asynchronous coursework allows students to participate on their own schedules within course deadlines. Understanding that difference can help you choose a program that fits how you work and learn.

Siena’s online MBA classes are live and interactive. Students join professors and classmates in real time to ask questions, discuss ideas, and work through business challenges. Case studies and collaborative projects connect coursework to decisions professionals face in the workplace.

Siena’s MAT ESOL program offers online, asynchronous coursework. As Olivia describes, students build connections through discussions and activities that allow them to contribute at different times.

Both approaches create opportunities to learn alongside others. The rhythm of your week—and how those conversations happen—will look different.

How do faculty and classmates shape your graduate experience?

Graduate students bring professional experiences, interests, and perspectives that can deepen a class discussion. A fellow teacher may introduce a different approach to a classroom challenge. A business professional may explain how a concept applies in another industry.

Faculty help connect those perspectives to your coursework and goals. Siena’s MBA professors bring industry experience and professional insight to their teaching. In the online MA in Curriculum and Instruction, educators explore research and select coursework aligned with their teaching interests under faculty guidance.

These exchanges can help you apply what you’re learning, consider new approaches, and build relationships with people who share your professional interests.

How do you choose an online or hybrid graduate program?

Look beyond whether a program is labeled online or hybrid. Ask questions that help you picture your experience:

  • When do classes meet? Confirm whether coursework is live, asynchronous, or a combination.

  • How will I connect with faculty? Ask about feedback, opportunities to meet, and guidance throughout the program.

  • How will I collaborate with classmates? Learn about discussions, shared assignments, and group projects.

  • Are there in-person requirements? Check for campus meetings, fieldwork, student teaching, or other required experiences.

  • Can I study full time or part time? Discuss how the available pathways fit your responsibilities and timeline.

At Siena University, choosing a graduate program means considering both what you want to study and how you want to experience it. No matter what graduate program you are exploring, our Graduate Admissions team can help you understand your options.