Admission Guidelines & Application Materials by Program

Accountancy (MS)

Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, 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 prerequisite undergraduate coursework in accounting, business law, statistics, economics, general business and computer science to prepare for the graduate level courses.

The College 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

  • Online Application for Graduate Admission with a $60 application fee
  • Official transcripts from colleges previously attended
  • Official GMAT score report * or approved GMAT waiver
  • One academic or professional recommendation: Share this link with your recommended for electronic submission.
  • Résumé

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

Advanced Technology (MS)

Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, all applicants to the MS Advanced Technology program must possess a baccalaureate degree with a major in engineering, engineering technology, or a closely related field.  Applicants from other fields will be considered on an individual basis and must complete appropriate prerequisite coursework OR demonstrate proficiency. Applicants must generally have an undergraduate average of B or better (a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale).

The GRE General test is not required, but may be used when applicants do not meet the admission criteria.

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

Applicants with deficiencies in any area may be required to take appropriate prerequisite coursework beyond the 30 graduate credit hours required for the MS program. Required prerequisite coursework will be identified at the time of admission and will be built into the student’s plan of study.

Application Materials Checklist

Computational Mathematical Modeling (CAS)

Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, applicants to the CAS Computational Mathematical Modeling 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 linear algebra, differential equations and multivariate calculus (calculus III) is required.

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

Application Materials Checklist

Computer and Information Science (MS)

Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, 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, 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 proof of English proficiency, the minimum GRE score requirement for admission consideration is a 153 on the quantitative section.

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/structures, calculus, and statistics/probability. 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. E-mail graduate@sunypoly.edu to request the waiver after the application has been submitted.

Cybersecurity: Network and Computer Security (MS)

Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, applicants to the MS Cybersecurity: 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. In addition, coursework or a demonstrated proficiency in each of the following areas is required: computing fundamentals, unix/linux programming, computer organization, networking of information systems, discrete math, calculus, and 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 proof of English proficiency, the minimum GRE score requirement for admission consideration is a 153 on the quantitative section.

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

Applicants with deficiencies in any area may be required to take appropriate prerequisite coursework beyond the 33 graduate credit hours required for the MS program. Required prerequisite 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.  Email graduate@sunypoly.edu to request the waiver after the application has been submitted.

Data Analysis (CAS)

Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, 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 and II, and a familiarity with matrix methods is required.

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

Application Materials Checklist

Forensic Accounting & Valuation (CAS)

Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, all applicants to the CAS Forensic Accounting & Valuation program must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college. Applicants without a baccalaureate degree in accounting will be required to complete prerequisite undergraduate coursework in accounting, business law, statistics, economics, general business and computer science to prepare for the graduate level courses.

The College 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

  • Online Application for Graduate Admission with a $60 application fee
  • Official transcripts from colleges previously attended
  • Official GMAT score report* or approved GMAT waiver
  • One academic or professional recommendation: Share this link with your recommender for electronic submission.
  • Résumé

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

Information Design and Technology (MS)

Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, 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-degree student.

Application Materials Checklist

  • Online Application for Graduate Admission with a $60 application fee
  • Official transcripts from colleges previously attended
  • Two academic or professional recommendations: Share this link with your recommenders for electronic submission.
  • Writing samples or a digital portfolio of design work*. Examples include: research paper, white paper, article, technical writing piece, graphic design work or web design work. All items must be submitted in PDF format or as web links to graduate@sunypoly.edu.
  • Educational Objective Statement
  • Résumé

*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 & PhD), Nanoscale Science (MS & PhD) & Nanobioscience (MS & PhD)

Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, 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

Nursing (MS & Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate)

Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education & Transformational Leadership in Nursing

Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, 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 & Transformational Leadership in Nursing Applicants:
Out-of-state applicants for the MS in Nursing Education and Transformational Leadership in Nursing programs must possess a current unrestricted license as a Registered Professional Nurse in their respective state.

International applicants for The MS in Nursing Education & Transformational Leadership in Nursing programs 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

Nursing (DNP & Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate)

Admission Guidelines
Applicants must possess a current unrestricted, unencumbered license as a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) in New York State or the state in which they reside/work. (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.)

 To be considered for matriculation in the Doctor of Nursing practice program potential candidates must:

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree or a master’s degree with a major in nursing from an accredited nursing program with a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).
  • Have completed a statistics course with a grade of C or better.
  • Have an active US RN license.
  • Have at least one year or longer work experience (2000 hrs) as a professional nurse by the start of the first semester of study.
  • Participate in a face-to-face interview with a member of the doctoral faculty.

Candidates holding a master’s degree with a major in nursing in addition to above criteria must:

  • Have an active NP license, if applicable.

International Applicants

International applicants must possess the equivalent of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing. (Foreign transcripts must be professionally translated and evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluations Service).

Application Materials Checklist

Technology Management (MBA)

Admission Guidelines
To be considered for admission, applicants to the MBA Technology Management program must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college.

The College 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

  • Online Application for Graduate Admission with a $60 application fee
  • Official transcripts from colleges previously attended
  • Official GMAT score report * or approved GMAT waiver
  • One academic or professional recommendation: Share this link with your recommender for electronic submission.
  • Résumé

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