Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management, MPA

Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (4.0 scale), or a master’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale).

Applicants who hold a bachelor's degree, but do not meet either of the above criteria may be considered for admission upon a successful interview with the academic intake coordinator or if they attain a minimum quantitative and verbal score of 152 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or complete 6 credit hours of 500-level PAD courses (courses must be pre-approved by the academic intake coordinator) at SUNY Buffalo State as an accepted MPA pre-major student with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

2. Two letters of reference on the MPA admission form that attest to the applicant's academic performance or potential. Please note that at least one reference must be from a college professor or instructor. Those individuals who graduated from college more than five years ago can ask colleagues, supervisors, and individuals with whom they work on community or nonprofit endeavors (boards, etc.) to write on their behalf. The public administration admissions committee particularly seeks answers to the following questions: a. how long, and in what capacity have you known the applicant? b. Does the applicant have any special talents, abilities, or attributes that deserve mention? c. Do you have any concerns about this applicant that would impede success in graduate studies?

3. A letter of intent should describe: why the applicant wishes to pursue the MPA; how the applicant's academic training and job experience, if applicable, are linked; why the applicant is prepared for study in the MPA program; a list of the applicant's educational objectives; background in statistics and/or methodology, if any; interest and future career goals; and, the choice of track (nonprofit or public administration) in which to concentrate. The letter of intent will be evaluated as a writing sample according to organization conventions of language and content. With respect to experience in statistics and research methods, the MPA Admission Committee has been receiving a number of queries regarding their statistics/research methods background. A wide variety of majors are represented in the MPA program, many from the arts and humanities without either coursework or job experience in either of these fields. We ask students to explain their experience in their letter of intent to assist us in tailoring our PAD 680 Research Methods in Public Administration to the incoming class in fall.

Please indicate in the Letter of Intent if you are applying to the 17-month Cohort MPA Program.

4. A resume.

5. Applicants for whom English is a second language must submit a score of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as documentation of English language proficiency. Applicants with a minimum TOEFL score of 550 or higher on the paper exam or 79 on the Internet exam, or with an IELTS score of 6.0 or higher will be considered for admission. Information on the TOEFL can be found at toefl.org. Information on the IELTS can be found at ielts.org.

English as a Second Language Program International students who do not meet the language requirement can be admitted to Buffalo State's Intensive English Language Institute (IELI); students must complete required coursework in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program and take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as documentation of English language proficiency. The ESL program is a non-degree, non-credit bearing program designed to help students with varying levels of English proficiency through coursework, interaction with native speakers of English, and individualized language practice. Contact the department for more information.

6. In addition, all applicants should review the Admission to a Graduate Program section in the Graduate Catalog.

SUNY BUFFALO STATE UNDERGRADUATES - PLEASE NOTE - students who have earned a GPA of 3.0 or above in Buffalo State's Public Administration and Nonprofit Minor are guaranteed admission into the MPA program. Students satisfying this requirement must: 1) fill out the Graduate Studies Application, 2) pay the application fee, and 3) follow instructions for official transcripts. Reference letters and the letter of intent are waived. PLEASE NOTE IF A BUFFALO STATE STUDENT IS ADMITTED TO THE 4 + 1 PROGRAM, the application fee is waived.