Master of Science in Education Program
Program Code: MSED-ED
Major Code: CUR

Elementary Education, Literacy and Educational Leadership Department

Accredited: Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) (formerly NCATE)

Bacon Hall 302, (716) 878-5916
elementaryeducation.buffalostate.edu/

Enrollment in all teacher education programs follows the guidelines for "Admission to Teacher Education Programs" found in this catalog.  Applicants who do not yet meet all admissions criteria should consult with the department.

Teachers with New York State initial teaching certification in childhood and/or early childhood education may apply for admission to the master’s program in curriculum and instruction. Students who successfully complete this master of science in education program will receive a college recommendation for Professional NYS Childhood and/or Professional Early Childhood Certification.

Candidates should consult the Teacher Certification website for current seminars and workshops. https://teachercertification.buffalostate.edu/seminars-and-workshops

Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor’s degree in early childhood and/or childhood education from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale).
2. A well-crafted statement addressing the following:
   1. Your strengths as a teacher.
   2. Professional challenge(s) you encountered during your first classroom teaching experiences or field experiences that you hope to address in your graduate work.
   3. How your graduate program can help you grow as a teacher. If you know which concentration you are selecting, please describe your reasons for selecting it.

      The statement will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

      • Organization
      • Conventions of language
      • Content

        Note: Please refer to the rubric provided with the application materials for the statement prompts and specific evaluation criteria.

3. Professional resume
4. Two letters of reference that attest to the applicant’s potential as a graduate student.  Please note that one references should be from a college professors/instructor. 

These are the minimum criteria for admission; satisfaction of these criteria does not guarantee admission to the program. In addition, all applicants should review the Admission to a Graduate Program section in this catalog.

Additional Admission Information

Each applicant will be evaluated in terms of his or her baccalaureate degree, academic performance, letters of recommendation, experiential background, and substance and quality of the personal statement. Please refer to the Graduate Admissions Committee rubric (attached to the supplemental application information) used for evaluating applications.

Program Requirements

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Prerequisites may be required for some courses. Other courses may be accepted through advisement only. Students who select the Gifted and Talented concentration do not need an elective to obtain the 33 required credits for completion of the program.

Literacy Concentration*

Early Childhood Concentration

Appropriate for those without Early Childhood Certification

Gifted/Talented Concentration

If you select this concentration and complete the other NYSED requirements for Gifted and Talented certification, Buffalo State will recommend you for certification.

Educational Technology Concentration

Educational Leadership Concentration