Teachers College at Columbia University Reviews

"I would not recommend this school to anyone. Most of the classes are jokes--with flimsy requirements. There is no question: Teachers College is a diploma mill. Teachers College will not prepare you for professional work in your field (as the school will make you question your reasons for wanting to be in that field to begin with). The majority of classes in my program were taught by shy graduate students who should not have been teaching other graduate students. Only two classes I took in an entire 38 credit degree program I found worthwhile. Instructors also try to indoctrinate you with their ideas. Courses are very "agenda" driven but, at the end of the day, even though TC maintains on paper a commitment to diversity and inclusion principles, few faculty and administrators at the school are actually capable of seeing students as individuals and respecting them for whatever differences they might have. I can recount far too many instances at this school where faculty just made blatant assumptions about me and my motivations for wanting to teach. The psychology department (which I was not part of) also offers a joke course of study involving mindfulness and spirituality--even though I was in education and not psychology, just the fact that TC would approve such a curriculum, in my opinion, denigrates the quality of the school as a whole. For students who want a "name-degree," TC is fine. But for capable students who want to do thoughtful and engaging graduate work, I suggest looking elsewhere."

"Don't get me wrong, some courses were great and very beneficial. In addition, a lot of the professors are great. However, the program is aimed to make money. For the school. One is forced to take courses that have no bearing on their future and complete busy work. A good 1/2 of the courses I did not learn a thing or did not learn anything beneficial. Instead it was a waste of money and time. Some teachers and courses are phenomenal, and some programs outside of this one are as well. However, save your money. Only about 4 or 5 courses are worth it. Look elsewhere for more in-depth and personalized instruction."

"To say the least, my experience at Teachers College, Columbia University (TCCU) exceeded my many expectations. I attended all courses on campus in amazing New York City, and graduated ahead of schedule with the help of supportive peers and faculty. While attending courses, I also had the opportunity to assist in clinical research with notable faculty members, which prepared me for future work in my chosen field. The numerous opportunities to select classes that were of interest to me added to my excitement for learning and allowed me the freedom to create a curriculum that best suited my passions. I would highly recommend TCCU's graduate program to any individual looking to accumulate more research experience and to prepare themselves for further graduate study."

"Teachers College, Columbia University is located in the heart of New York City. Its diverse community and excellent teachers stands out among other institutions. I am pursuing a Masters in Nutrition here and it was the only choice for my as it is an Ivy League School."

"Columbia University's program in organizational change leadership provides its students with the ability to impact systemic change efforts within their organizations. I intend to use what everything that I learn to positively impact societal change efforts."

"Truly grateful to be part of TC. The professors are wonderful and bring real life experiences to the classroom. Also, professors are always willing to help and provide career advice. The classes are small and enable students to participate and engage in the course material. The culture at TC is one of inclusiveness."

"This school has an incredible community culture. In my time there, students were championing causes they disagreed with, including Susan Furman's association with Pearson. I found that the people who put the most into their education typically got the most out of it; it's not worth it if you're not willing to work, but if you are, it's life-changing."

"On the one hand, it's a lovely and formative experience to study in NYC / on the Columbia campus (ripe with meaningful opportunities) - on the other hand, TC is grossly expensive, and the courses are often quite elementary. I recommend TC to the student that is seeking personal fulfillment (via living in NYC) in addition to nurturing a great passion and drive (toward education) that will help push through bouts of frustration with professors that are often extremely busy and research / publication driven."

"Amazing experience with brilliant faculty who are leaders in their fields"

"Awesome experience with great opportunities for learning."

"I found Teacher's College, Columbia University to be a great educational institute. Class selection was great and the teachers were always willing to answer student's questions during lectures and/or during office hours. Classroom size was just right for my needs."

"The reason I loved being at TC is that I got to work with H.G. who taught me about clinical interviewing, a technique I still use today in my work with children. I learned a lot in other classes too, but his class, more than anything shaped my thinking and work today."

"If you are passionate about Education and Human Development, you will find Teachers College to be the right place. Committed and excellent professors, research and career opportunities, community and diversity activities, a beautiful and safe campus in the best and most vibrant city of the world. If you believe in the power of Education, you will find your place at Teachers College."

"Teachers College at Columbia University is great institution with a focus on multicultural teaching. Each course enforces a racial/ethnic minority orientation. The ED.M. program in psychological counseling is perfect if you want to be a licensed therapist."

"It will afford me many opportunities after graduation."

"The program is unendingly interesting and I feel like I am learning from some extremely knowledgeable and competent professors. However, being that a Master's degree in psychology here is more of a stepping stone to further education and offers no licensing upon graduation, it is incredibly expensive. One sort of has to trust that the classes will improve the chance of acceptance into a great PhD. program. As it is, it's almost the cost of an undergraduate degree at a solid state school."

"The program really trains students to become teachers by learning from veteran teachers with rich experience in the field. The courses are mainly focused on learning how to teach the students effectively. Though, there are not much courses that only focus on the research and studies in education. Also, you can't ignore the expensive cost such as managing housing in NYC. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful program to prepare to be a well-educated secondary teacher."

"Studying at TC Columbia was certainly an honor and a pleasure. I loved being part of a school I found to be a community. I worked with professors who were really specialized and recognized in their fields, while remaining humble. I was able to work on topics that were quite advanced and I appreciate working with people who were very open-minded. The concerns I have are that this particular program did not lead to licensing and I feel like I did not have enough time to get the professors I would have liked to work with (lab work). Overall, it was a delightful experience."

"The Clinical Psychology Master of Arts program at Teachers College, Columbia University has far exceeded my expectations in preparation for a career in psychology research. The professors in the Global Mental Health and Trauma concentration are well-established in the field, with a wealth of publications, and provide their students with valuable insight about all the ups and downs of global mental health research. I am learning exactly what I came to graduate to school to learn, and far beyond. I have no doubt that I am receiving the exact type of training necessary to get into a reputable Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program."

"Teachers College leads a legacy of learning for leaders in adult learning and continuing education."