Queens College was founded in 1937 as "The College of the Future,” an independent public institution serving the Borough of Queens. Since its inception, Queens College has dedicated itself to excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, and we are known for our fine and performing arts and for educating many of the region’s teachers. Queens College has always been dedicated to the idea that a first-rate education should be accessible to talented people of all backgrounds and financial means. Civic engagement and service to the community has also been an ongoing commitment. President Klapper adopted the motto that is still in use today, “Discimus ut serviamus”, which translates to “We learn so that we may serve.” These themes resonate throughout Queens College’s history, from its long history of educating teachers and other education professionals, to the involvement of Queens College’s faculty, staff, and students in the Civil Rights movement, to its current mission, values and strategic goals. Queens College seeks to prepare students to serve as innovative leaders in a diverse world that they will make more equitable and inclusive.
We are proud to be a City University of New York campus entrusted with the mission of teaching on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Our graduate division has an excellent reputation for offering exceptional quality, diversity, and affordability. Our master’s programs are highly rated by Washington Monthly, and we are considered a Top Public Regional University by U.S. News and World Report. Queens College is consistently ranked a best-value institution by Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, and the Princeton Review. Among returning students, our outstanding record of admitting and offering extensive services to veterans is recognized by U.S. News and World Report and Victory Media. As of fall 2018, we enrolled over 3,100 graduate students, of whom about 14 percent attend full time, and 86 percent attend part time.
Whether you are considering graduate study as part of a career plan or for the pure pleasure of learning, Queens College has a program to fit your needs. We offer over 100 master’s degrees, 64 advanced certificates in over 50 disciplines, and 27 accelerated master’s programs which allow students to begin graduate studies while still completing their baccalaureate. Queens College faculty hold appointments at the CUNY Graduate Center, and participate in over 20 PhD programs. As a center for scientific research as well as creative activities, the college is equipped with state-of-the-art science laboratories and world class performance facilities that serve hundreds of graduate students who are pursuing their research at Queens under the supervision of our faculty. Several of our graduate programs are offered fully online.
Queens College faculty are successful in securing external grants from federal funders such as the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. Our Education faculty are awarded funding from New York State and City Departments of Education. In addition, Queens College faculty receive significant funding from the City University of New York. Because we are a federally designated Minority Serving Institution, Queens College receives federal funding under Title III and Title V to support programming for our students. Over 90 percent of our faculty possess doctorates or the highest degrees in their fields. The college has 13 distinguished professors who have been recognized for their exceptional records of scholarly accomplishment and who teach and/or do research with graduate students.
Graduate education thrives in the college’s environment of open scholarly exchange. Our students acquire first-rate research and professional skills and, what is most important, the necessary intellectual and critical skills to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
On behalf of President Frank H. Wu, I welcome you to the Graduate Programs at Queens College!
Patricia L. Price, PhD
Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs