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Contact Information
Sara Ziesenitza
Director of International Recruitment

1-315-859-4421
1-800-843-2655
1-315-859-4457 (fax)
International Admission

International Academics - FAQs



Does Hamilton offer an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program?
Hamilton does offer individualized ESOL tutoring for students who require extra help with their English. All Hamilton students are required to demonstrate English proficiency during the application process, but many need additional support when adjusting to Hamilton's communication-intensive environment. Tutoring is done in small settings and is customized to each student's unique needs.

Does Hamilton offer a major in engineering?
We do not offer a degree in Engineering, but we do offer five- or six-year, combined-degree programs with Columbia University, the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Washington University in St. Louis.
Hamilton also offers access to a combined plan at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. This program is on a 2-1-1-1 schedule. The student completes two years at Hamilton, the junior year as a visiting student at Dartmouth and returns to Hamilton to complete the senior year and to earn the A.B. The student then returns to Dartmouth to finish the second year of engineering studies and to receive a degree in engineering.
Admission to these programs in the traditional divisions of chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, and now many others such as biomedical, computer and environmental engineering, is based on obtaining a G.P.A. of 3.0, or a B average, and the positive recommendation of the Department of Physics. Various 4-2 plans lead to different degree options.

Does Hamilton offer a business major?
Hamilton does not offer a degree in Business, but we do offer a degree in Economics. This is one of our largest majors at Hamilton. The top three employment areas for Hamilton graduates are education/non-profit, science and technology, and finance. Our leading employers in New York City are Bank of New York, Bear Stearns, and Goldman Sachs. We also have a program where you can spend a semester doing internships and taking classes with Hamilton professors in New York City as well as Washington, D.C. Economics is a much broader major than business and prepares you for the world of management beyond an entry-level job. The reason that our students are prepared so well for their chosen career field is that their liberal arts education has prepared them to communicate not only in writing but also speaking.

Does Hamilton offer pre-professional advising?
In addition to the academic advising that Hamilton provides its students, the College also offers guidance for students who are interested in attending professional schools after graduation. Among the professions for which the College advises are: business, education, engineering, government service, health professions, and law.

What is your policy for awarding Advanced Placement and IB credit?
In order to receive A.P. credit, a student must take a departmentally approved Hamilton course and pass with the minimum grade stipulated by the department. Students must take one of the courses listed on the Advanced Placement Policies Web page as their first course in the department, unless otherwise designated. A student may not receive credit toward a degree solely on the basis of a score on an Advanced Placement Test.

IB credit is awarded only to students who complete the full IB program and receive the IB diploma. Unfortunately, students who only receive a certificate for completing one or several IB courses are not eligible to receive Hamilton credit for their IB work.

If you have more specific questions regarding transfer credit, please contact the Office of the Registrar at regofc@hamilton.edu.