Direct Admissions
Direct Admissions allows Buffalo State's graduating seniors to secure provisional admission before graduation in select graduate and advanced degree programs.
Hometown Advantage
Undergraduate student teachers who are not currently in an accelerated pathway with a 3.0 GPA are invited to use the Hometown Advantage to stay at Buffalo State for their graduate education program. New teachers must earn a master’s degree within five years to get professional certification.
Accelerated (4+1) Pathways
With its Accelerated (4+1) Pathways, Buffalo State offers motivated students a way to complete both a bachelor's and a master's degree in less time.
Direct Admissions
Direct Admissions allows Buffalo State's graduating seniors to secure provisional admission before graduation in select graduate and advanced degree programs.
Interested students must complete the form below before June 1st to indicate a primary and secondary graduate degree program of interest.
Students interested in a graduate program outside their current undergraduate major are encouraged to meet with the corresponding department to ensure fit and career-goal alignment.
Eligible students will receive a decision sometime in the Spring semester prior to their graduation which will indicate provisional admission to either your primary or secondary program of interest.
The provisional admissions letter will indicate the conditions of the student’s admission into the graduate program.
Requirements for full admission may include:
Student maintains an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above*
- Maintain an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above if interested in a degree program in Education**
- Maintain an undergraduate GPA of 2.9 or above if interested in the Forensic Science, M.S. program*
The ability to show proof of a conferred bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State University before starting graduate school.
Maintain good academic standing
Complete any additional conditions outlined in their conditional admissions letter, including any prerequisite coursework.
Completion of a free Graduate Admissions application before August 1.
Adult Education, Graduate Certificate
Art Education, Post-Bacc Teacher Certification*
Assessment in Higher Education, Graduate Certificate
Business and Marketing Education, Post-Bacc Teacher Certification*
Conflict Analysis and Resolution, MS
Creativity and Change Leadership, Graduate Certificate
Creativity and Change Leadership, MS
Data Science and Analytics, Graduate Certificate
Data Science and Analytics, MS
Great Lakes Environmental Science, MA
Great Lakes Environmental Science, MS
Higher Education & Student Affairs Administration, MS
Human Resource Development, Graduate Certificate
Mathematics Education (7-12), Post-Bacc Teacher Certification*
Mathematics Education (7-12, 5&6 extension), Post-Bacc Teacher Certification*
Public Admin in Public & Nonprofit Mgmt - International Public Mgmt, MPA
Public Admin in Public & Nonprofit Mgmt - Nonprofit Admin, MPA
Public Admin in Public & Nonprofit Mgmt - Public Admin, MPA
Public Management, Graduate Certificate
Social Studies Education (7-12), Post-Bacc Teacher Certification*
Social Studies Education (7-12, 5&6 extension), Post-Bacc Teacher Certification*
Special Education Early Childhood, MSED*
Students with Disabilities Generalist 7-12, MSED*
Technology Education, Post-Bacc Teacher Certification*
*Student maintains a 2.75 GPA.
*Student maintains a 3.0 GPA for all master’s degree programs in Education & other select programs
**Student maintains a 2.9 GPA for Forensic Science, M.S.
Hometown Advantage
Undergraduate student teachers who are not currently in an accelerated pathway with a 3.0 GPA are invited to use the Hometown Advantage to stay at Buffalo State for their graduate education program.
The benefits of taking advantage of the Hometown Advantage includes no application fee to apply. New teachers must earn a master’s degree within five years to get professional certification.
- Earned an undergraduate degree in an education program at Buffalo State University that led to initial certification
- Graduated from Buffalo State with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above.
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A completed graduate application to Buffalo State
-When completing your graduate application, respond 'yes' to the question: 'Are you part of the Hometown Advantage program?'
Accelerated Pathways
With its Accelerated Pathways, Buffalo State offers motivated students a way to complete both a bachelor's and a master's degree in less time.
SUNY Buffalo State's unique graduate programs provide students with more career options and the ability to advance quickly in their chosen field.
Our distinctive, accredited graduate degrees and certificate programs provide practical training and critical skills for advancement in today’s competitive job market.
Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate are billed at undergraduate tuition rates and subject to undergraduate financial aid guidelines.
The graduate application fee is waived for approved Accelerated pathways (4+1) students, plus, you'll benefit by saving on tuition, costs, and fees.
Accepted Accelerated (4+1) Pathways students are provided with seamless master's program entry and an accelerated course of study toward an advanced degree.
Buffalo State undergraduates get a head start by taking graduate-level courses during their senior year.
A maximum of 9 credit hours (divided between the first and second semesters) may be taken during the senior year.
Students commit to follow the curriculum (i.e., academic roadmap) detailed by the respective Accelerated (4+1) Pathway and must maintain academic eligibility, as outlined by the program's requirements.
1. Meet with your undergraduate adviser for approval. After receiving approval, complete the Accelerated 4+1 Pathway Application for your chosen degree.
2. Candidates are required to submit a statement indicating their intent to remain at Buffalo State through their undergraduate and graduate studies.
3. Students must submit the online graduate application during their final undergraduate semester to matriculate into beyond the pathway program.
You may apply as early as your first year, but generally no later than your sophomore year.
Applications must be submitted no later than the junior year of study and before a student will be permitted to enroll in eligible graduate courses.
Childhood Education/Exceptional Education
Early Childhood/Exceptional Education
Great Lakes Environmental Science
Health and Wellness and Adult Education
Higher Education & Student Affairs Administration
Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Public and Nonprofit Management
Special Education and Childhood Education and Early Childhood
Data Science & Analytics, M.S.
Data Science & Analytics in Multidisciplinary Studies, M.S.
Higher Education & Student Affairs Administration, M.S.
Public Administration in Public & Nonprofit Management, M.P.A.
*The Literacy Specialist, Early Admission Pathway is restricted to undergraduate students seeking a degree in any secondary education subject area.