Experience
Life as a Gratz student.
Welcome to Gratz College. We are excited that you are interested in a private, nonprofit college with over 20 years of experience teaching online, to earn your degree and start your next chapter. When you choose Gratz, you will enroll in courses each term that follow your program's degree path. This is where you will engage with your professors and a community of peers who are working toward similar goals and share your interests. First time students can follow our Orientation to give you the tips and tools to navigate your journey.
Our stellar faculty will challenge and energize you to learn more, think deeper, and apply your knowledge to real life. While most of our students come from a variety of backgrounds and professions, all share a passion and feel a responsibility to repair the world.
Synchronous Learning Opportunities
At Gratz, we are known for our flexible online programs. Gratz understands the demands of working full-time while trying to earn a degree, and our online programs are designed accordingly. Because our courses are online, you can study anywhere or anytime as long as you have internet access. With the exception of our Hebrew language classes, all courses are asynchronous: this means there is no set day or time when you have to be at your computer to complete your work. However, our faculty and staff understand the value of connecting face-to-face and offer opportunities to interact synchronously in planned class sessions, scheduled meetings, "office hours", program and college-wide academic events, and library learning sessions. All Gratz students are welcome to participate in our in-person and virtual events and guest lectures, including those hosted by our partner institutions.
WATCH: Staci Margulis, Gratz student and career educator, describes her experience taking an online course for the first time.
Dissertation and Thesis Journey
Each program is based on a number of credits. Our schedule is conveniently broken up into 8-week terms. Your final paper or project will be the last requirement for you to earn your degree. For doctoral programs, you will move from student to doctoral candidate. The dissertation process goes from proposal, to acceptance, to defense. You will be assigned a dissertation chair to work with you during your research. The Library will assist you to collect, organize, and analyze your resources. Click here and here for a sample research topics from some our current doctoral students.
Commencement
After completion of the required credits, and for doctoral student, a successful defense with your committee, you have reached the home stretch. Your program director will make sure you are in good standing and recommend you to the Dean for graduation. Gratz holds our Commencement Ceremony each year as a hybrid event- in person and online. You – and as many people as you want to invite – can also stream the event live! Congratulations! We are happy you chose Gratz College to help you begin the next chapter of your professional life.
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Not only is the program rigorous, but being a smaller school, the staff very much cares about the students–creating opportunities for students to develop meaningful relationships with scholars in their field. ”
— Jason HenSley, Ph.D., graduate
I believe that we are lifelong learners. As a teacher, my studies at Gratz provided me with the most recent information in my field to help me improve as a teacher. The impact I can pass along to my coworkers and students is priceless.
— rebecca rice, m.ed. Graduate