StudyQA — Master: Economics and Education Policy Analysis — State University of New York at Buffalo

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Description Contents Requirements Funding

The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy in the University at Buffalo’s Graduate School of Education is partnering with the Department of Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences to offer a new master’s (MA) program in Economics and Education Policy Analysis (EEPA). Consistent with UB’s emphasis on innovation and interdisciplinarity, this new MA program allows you to explore the intersection between economics and education. This unique program aims to train future education leaders and scholars in using economic theory and econometric tools to solve real-world issues in education.

The field of education increasingly calls for data-informed decisions about resource allocation, educational practices, and policy development. Future education leaders and scholars will be asked to address complex issues in education that either have an economic dimension or that can be addressed using econometric tools. These tools can be applied to a variety of educational questions from student achievement and school reform to financial aid and student loan debt.

Our faculty’s strength in comparative education research makes us uniquely equipped to take an international approach — preparing students to respond to the needs of an increasingly global environment. The EEPA degree program is able to offer students from other countries a curriculum that is particularly relevant to them or to those wanting an international focus.

The Master of Arts in Economics and Education Policy Analysis curriculum gives students a firm grounding in economic theory, statistics, and educational policy while being practically oriented. Students will take courses from faculty in both Economics and Educational Leadership and Policy.

The master’s degree program is a 33-credit program consisting of 11 courses taken over three semesters starting in the fall semester (see Sample Course Sequence below). Five courses (15 credits) are taken in the Graduate School of Education and five courses (15 credits) are taken in Economics. In addition to core coursework, students may choose elective courses in Graduate Education and Economics according to their area of focus or professional interest.

This interdisciplinary program will train you:

to be skilled in data manipulation and analysis so that it leads to immediate gainful employment in schools and institutions that make use of evidence based decision making
to be practical in how you address real-world needs and solve education problems for students in K-12 and Higher Education contexts
to be clear in how you communicate those real-world solutions to the public
to be sophisticated in your application of theories and analytic techniques to education

Required for admission:

Unofficial undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts from all post secondary institutions attended. Applicants who are currently at UB or have studied at or graduated from UB do not need to request an official UB transcript. GSE's Office of Admissions can download and print the transcript.
GPA (minimum of 3.0 or above with some possible exceptions)
Three letters of recommendation (at least two from persons familiar with your academic skills and abilities). On the application you will be asked to provide contact information about each individual providing you a recommendation. Please note that your recommenders will receive the electronic request to provide a recommendation letter only after you "formally submit" the application.

All international applicants (unless exempted) must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. International students may demonstrate proficiency by submitting official test scores for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic). Regardless of the type of test, scores must be dated within two years of the time the application is reviewed by International Admissions at the University at Buffalo.

National Awards

Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships
Fulbright U.S. Student Program: Grants for Graduate Study, Research or English Teaching Assistantships Abroad
The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF)

University Awards