How to Apply

Graduate Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (4.0 scale). Admission is competitive; not all qualified applicants are admitted.
2. Certification in early childhood special education, childhood special education, or adolescence special education. Applicants with certification in early childhood education, childhood education, or adolescence education must meet additional special education certification requirements once enrolled.
3. Employment or other experience relevant to the graduate course of study.
4. A written statement describing the applicant’s philosophy of education and relevant experiences in the field. This statement must adhere to standard written English.
5. Faculty review.
6. Completion of a special application (available from the department or download from www.buffalostate.edu/graduateschool/supplementalforms.xml).
7. The ability to speak English and Spanish, and an oral interview (for teaching bilingual exceptional individuals program applicants only).

In addition, all applicants should review the “Admission to a Graduate Program” section in the graduate catalog.

Successful completion of the undergraduate program in exceptional education at Buffalo State is not a guarantee of admission to a graduate program. A point system based on the above criteria is used to evaluate applicants. Applicants with the highest point totals are admitted to the program each admission period. Only students admitted to the major (as majors or premajors) may take courses other than EXE 500.

Premajor Status: Students may not apply for premajor status. They apply to the graduate program, and the department decides if they are accepted to the program as majors or premajors. Premajors may enroll, by advisement, in two EXE courses at the 500 level (e.g., EXE 500, EXE 501) only. Premajors may not register for courses identified as “majors only” during the preregistration period. Student teaching and other fieldwork experiences are closed to premajors. There is no waiting list for admission to the Exceptional Education Department. Premajors apply for admission as majors by submitting a change of major form to the Graduate Studies and Research Office during or after the completion of two EXE courses. Premajors are not guaranteed admission to the program.