There’s never been a better time to invest in yourself—and a graduate degree from Siena can open doors to new career opportunities, higher earning potential, and a deeper sense of purpose in your work. Whether you're advancing in your current field or making a bold pivot, our master’s programs in business, education, and more are designed to move you forward with personalized support, practical skills, and real-world connections.
Apply to Graduate Programs
Application Requirements
Brief personal essay indicating the reason you are pursuing your chosen graduate program and your intended long-term goals (submitted online with your application). Need some tips?
MSW: Your statement of purpose should address the following:
How your values align with Siena University’s mission, Franciscan values, and the MSW program’s mission.
Your motivation for pursuing social work, including your career goals.
Your understanding of racism, privilege, and white supremacy, and how you will address these in your education and career.
Your readiness for the demands of graduate-level coursework.
Include employment history, certificate or licenses held, volunteer/extracurricular activities, leadership roles, honors/awards and education history (submitted online with your application).
Submitted by a previous faculty member at your bachelor’s degree granting institution, supervising teacher, or professional reference if you have been out of school for some time. (Recommenders are required to submit recommendations online - instructions included within the application):
AllEducation and Social Work graduate programs (degree, certificate, and non-degree options) require two Letters of Recommendation
All Business graduate degree programs require one Letter of Recommendation
Please note that a recommendation is not required for Business Advanced Certificate applicants.
Official Transcripts are required from all post-secondary institutions which you have earned college credit. Unofficial copies may be uploaded for the purpose of application review, but official copies are required prior to enrollment.
Also, if you earned your undergraduate degree outside of the United States, an evaluated transcript is required by a recognized member of The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.) Our preferred evaluators are World Education Services, Inc. or Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
Transcripts and evaluations should be emailed directly to our registrar at transcriptreceiving@siena.edu or mailed to the address below:
Siena University Registrar's Office 515 Loudon Road Loudonville, NY 12211
Official TOEFL, IELTS or DUOLINGO Test Scores are required from international students whose native language is not English. All English examination scores are considered valid up to two years after the testing date. Certificates of Instruction may be considered if English was the medium of instruction for undergraduate studies.
Siena University Registrar's Office 515 Loudon Road Loudonville, NY 12211
For business graduate degree programs, official GMAT scores are required if:
GPA is less than 2.75 from an AACSB-accredited undergraduate business program or GPA is less than 3.0 from a non-AACSB accredited undergraduate program.
Siena does not require the GRE for entrance to any graduate program.
WHY PURSUE A BUSINESS GRADUATE DEGREE
Advance Your Career Faster Gain the strategic thinking, leadership skills, and business acumen that position you for promotions and higher-level roles.
Increase Your Earning Potential A master’s in business often leads to higher salaries, bonuses, and long-term financial growth compared to only having an undergraduate degree.
Stay Local, Think Global Get a high-quality, nationally respected education right in the Capital Region, with global perspectives and transferable skills.
Why Pursue a Graduate Degree in Education
Deepen Your Impact in the Classroom Gain advanced knowledge, evidence-based strategies, and instructional tools that help you meet the diverse needs of today’s learners.
Earn Certifications and Credentials Siena’s graduate programs are designed to align with New York State certification requirements—helping you advance professionally with confidence.
Become a Leader in Your School or District Whether you want to become a mentor teacher, department chair, or instructional coach, a graduate degree prepares you to lead with vision and clarity.
Why Pursue a Graduate Degree in Social Work
Meet Licensure Requirements A master’s degree is the standard for becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), opening the door to more advanced roles and responsibilities.
Unlock Career Opportunities With an MSW, you can work in a wide range of settings—schools, hospitals, mental health agencies, nonprofits, policy organizations, and beyond.
Build Clinical & Advocacy Skills Gain the knowledge and tools to assess needs, develop treatment plans, provide counseling, and influence change at the individual and systemic levels.