Admission Guidelines & Application Materials by Program

Accountancy (MS)

Admission Guidelines
All applicants to the MS Accountancy program must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college. Applicants without a baccalaureate degree in accounting will be required to complete pre-requisite undergraduate coursework in accounting, business law, statistics, economics, general business and computer science to prepare for the graduate level courses.

The Department of Business Management follows the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) recommended admission guidelines:

A total of 1,000 points based on 200 x undergraduate GPA + GMAT Score. The minimum GMAT score required for admission consideration is 400.

Application Materials Checklist

*A GRE score can be submitted in lieu of a GMAT score.

Computer and Information Science (MS)

Admission Guidelines
All applicants to the MS Computer and Information Science program must possess a baccalaureate degree with a major in computer science or information systems from an accredited university or college. In addition, a background in mathematics including calculus, discrete mathematics and statistics/probability is required. Applicants must generally have an average of B or better (a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale).

A GRE General Test score is generally required for consideration. For international applicants requiring the TOEFL or IELTS, the minimum GRE score requirement for admissions consideration is a 153 on the quantitative section and a 140 on the verbal section of the exam.

Applicants not meeting the above admission criteria will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants without a CS or IS degree may be admitted conditionally but must demonstrate proficiency in the following subject areas: computer organization (machine structures), data structures, object-oriented programming, discrete math/discrete structures, calculus and statistics. This can be achieved in one of two ways:

  1. Submit undergraduate transcripts along with the SUNY Poly Application for Graduate Admission showing a B grade or higher in each subject area.
  2. Address the deficiencies by completing the appropriate designated bridge course (CS 500, 502, 503, 505) with a B grade or higher within the first 16 credit hours of SUNY Poly graduate work. Bridge courses are intended to provide students with fundamental knowledge in computer science as appropriate and serve to prepare students for advanced coursework. Bridge courses do not count toward the M.S. degree requirements.

Bridge Courses

  • CS 500 Discrete Structures
  • CS 502 Machine Structures
  • CS 503 Data Structures
  • CS 505 Object-Oriented Programming

Application Materials Checklist

* Applicants with a 3.0+ GPA may request a GRE waiver based on strong undergraduate academic performance and/or relevant professional experience.

Data Analysis (CAS)

Admission Guidelines
All applicants to the CAS Data Analysis program must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college with an average of B or better (a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale).  In addition, a background in mathematics including calculus I, II, III, and linear algebra/matrix methods is required.

Applicants not meeting the above admission criteria will be considered on an individual basis.

Application Materials Checklist

Information Design and Technology (MS)

Admission Guidelines
All applicants to the MS Information Design and Technology program must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college with an average of B or better (a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale). Lower GPAs will be considered if the student has a strong portfolio, related experience or does well as a non-matriculated student.

Application Materials Checklist

*A non-matriculated student who takes an IDT course and attains a 3.5 GPA or higher may not need to submit the writing samples/portfolio or letters of reference when applying to enter the program.

Nanoscale Engineering (MS) & Nanoscale Science (MS)

Admission Guidelines
All applicants to the MS Nanoscale Engineering or MS Nanoscale Science programs must possess a baccalaureate degree or equivalent with a major in the physical, chemical, biological, or computer sciences, mathematics, or engineering from an accredited university or college. A minimum GPA of 3.0 (out of a maximum of 4.0) is strongly recommended.

Submission of a GRE General Test score is highly recommended. Because CNSE evaluates all elements of an individual’s application, minimum required scores are not identified.

Application Materials Checklist

Network and Computer Security (MS)

Admission Guidelines
All applicants to the MS Network and Computer Security program must possess a baccalaureate degree with a major in network and computer security, computer science, computer information systems, electrical engineering, or a related field from an accredited university or college. Coursework or a demonstrated proficiency in each of the following areas is required: computing fundamentals, Unix programming, computer organization, networking of information systems, discrete math/finite math, calculus, probability/statistics. Applicants must generally have an average of B or better (a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale).

A GRE General Test score is generally required for consideration. For international applicants requiring the TOEFL or IELTS, the minimum GRE score requirement for admissions consideration is a 153 on the quantitative section and a 140 on the verbal section of the exam.

Applicants not meeting the above admission criteria will be considered on an individual basis.

Application Materials Checklist

* Applicants with a 3.0+ GPA may request a GRE waiver based on strong undergraduate academic performance and/or relevant professional experience.

Nursing (MS & CAS)

Family Nurse Practitioner & Nursing Education

Admission Guidelines
All applicants to the MS Nursing program must possess a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).

Applicants must possess a current unrestricted, unencumbered license as a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) in New York State. (The applicant is required to report all licenses/registrations in all jurisdictions and/or states in which a license/registration is or has ever been held, including any registrations through occupational licensing boards or emergency medical services that the applicant holds or has ever held. This includes any active or inactive licenses/registrations that have been encumbered, disciplined, sanctioned or terminated at the time of application to the graduate program.)

All applicants must demonstrate evidence of the equivalent of at least 2000 hours work experience as a RN, by the start of the first semester of study.

All applicants must demonstrate successful completion of an undergraduate course in basic statistics with a grade of C or better.

Family Nurse Practitioner Applicants only:
All applicants to the Masters of Science Nurse Practitioner programs must have completed an instructor observed lab/clinical based health assessment course with a grade of B or better, taken within 5 years of registering for NUR566/567 (Applicants whose health assessment course is either unapproved or does not meet the lab/clinical component will be required to take SUNY Poly’s undergraduate health assessment course (NUR 314) or graduate health assessment refresher course (NUR 514) in the summer prior to taking NUR 566/567. NUR 566/567 is taken in the first semester for all full-time students and taken in the third semester for all part-time students.)

Nursing Education Applicants only:
Out-of-state applicants for the MS in Nursing Education program must possess a current unrestricted license as a Registered Professional Nurse in their respective state.

International applicants for The MS in Nursing Education program only:
* International applicants must possess the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in nursing. (Foreign transcripts must be professionally translated and evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluations Service).
* International applicants must possess the equivalent of a current unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse in their respective country.

Application Materials Checklist

Technology Management (MBA)

Admission Guidelines
All applicants to the MBA Technology Management program must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college.

The Department of Business Management follows the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) recommended admissions guidelines:

A total of 1,000 points based on 200 x undergraduate GPA + GMAT Score. The minimum GMAT score required for admission consideration is 400.

Application Materials Checklist

* A GRE score can be submitted in lieu of a GMAT score

Telecommunications (MS)

Admission Guidelines
All applicants to the MS Telecommunications program must possess a baccalaureate degree with a major in telecommunications, engineering, engineering technology, computer science, or a related area from an accredited college or university. Applicants must generally have an average of B or better (a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale).

A GRE General Test score is generally required for consideration. For international applicants requiring the TOEFL or IELTS, the minimum GRE score requirement for admissions consideration is a 153 on the quantitative section and a 140 on the verbal section of the exam.

Applicants not meeting the above criteria will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants with deficiencies in calculus, statistics, data networking, computer programming, Linux/Unix, or discrete math may be required to take appropriate pre-requisite coursework beyond the 33 graduate credit hours required for the MS program. Required pre-requisite coursework will be identified at the time of admission and will be built into the student’s
plan of study.

Application Materials Checklist

* Applicants with a 3.0+ GPA may request a GRE waiver based on strong undergraduate academic performance and/or relevant professional experience.