General Information
Program review is an integral part of the systematic review and improvement of academic offerings at Buffalo State. For non-accredited programs, Buffalo State conducts program review on a 5-year cycle. Accredited programs are reviewed according to the schedule set by their accrediting agencies. According to the SUNY Guide for the Evaluation of Undergraduate Programs,
"Program evaluation must be supported at the institutional level by creating a “culture of assessment” at all levels of the institution. Although often associated with accountability, program evaluation is a cooperative activity that requires energy and time to be done properly and have the greatest positive effect for all involved. The administration provides support by collaborating with the faculty, through governance, to establish clear roles and responsibilities for evaluation and assessment. These roles are shared across a broad spectrum of the institution and beyond, depending on the type of program. For example, a program that affects local schools would involve external constituencies as well as campus faculty, staff and administration. The idea of a “culture of evaluation” acknowledges the ongoing nature of assessment. Programs must be revisited regularly in order to continue to improve over time. Administration and faculty should collaborate to develop a multi-year schedule, procedural steps and timelines in order to enable ongoing program evaluation of every program on campus." (SUNY Guide for the Evaluation of Undergraduate Programs, 2012, p.6.).
Buffalo State provides quality undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, business, communication, education, health and human services, the sciences and technologies. Every department engages in major program assessment activities to measure and benchmark quality as part of either accreditation review or a 5 year internal/external review process. Both SUNY and Buffalo State provide guidelines for the 5 year review. This assessment review includes a self-study, external review and department response to the external review report. Upon completion, the Dean and department work together to implement agreed upon recommendations for improvement.
Assessment in major programs is guided by each program’s assessment plan. Student learning outcomes are available on academic department websites. Other materials such as assessment plans, curriculum maps, and assessment results/actions are available in Buffalo State's assessment management software, Planning and Self Study by Watermark. Reports detailing assessment activities/results/responses are included in department annual reports which are sent to Deans, Provost and AVP Institutional Effectiveness.
All assessment plans include:
- Clear delineation of programmatic student learning outcomes.
- A curriculum map of courses in each program that relate to and result in achievement of goals and objectives.
- Measures and criteria (standards) utilized in determining the degree to which students are achieving goals/objectives.
- Process/procedures for making changes suggested by assessment results.
- Realistic cyclic timetable for completing programmatic assessment.
Accredited Programs
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
- Art and Design, B.A.
- Art and Design, B.F.A.
- Conservation of Art & Cultural Heritage, M.A. & Conservation of Science & Imaging, M.S.
- Art Education, B.F.A.
- Art Education, M.S.Ed.
- Art Education, PBC
- Interior Design, B.F.A.
- Jewelry Arts, Undergraduate Certificate
- Fiber Arts, Undergraduate Certificate
- Digital Design and Fabrication, Undergraduate Certificate
Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
- Interior Design, B.F.A.
Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC)
- Forensic Chemistry B.S.
American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Chemistry, B.S.
Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)
- Journalism, B.A.
- Media Production, B.A.
- Public Relations and Advertising, B.A.
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) Certification Review
- Criminal Justice B.S.
- Criminal Justice M.S.
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
All Buffalo State Educator Preparation Programs (EPP) are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), now the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The programs listed below have additional accreditation through a Specialized Professional Association (SPA).
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
- Speech Language Pathology, M.S. Ed.
International Literacy Association (ILA)
- Literacy Specialist (Birth-Grade 12), M.S.Ed.
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
- Exceptional Education and Childhood Education, B.S. Ed.
- Special Education and Childhood Education, B.S.Ed.
- Special Education: Adolescence Program, M.S. Ed.
- Special Education: Early Childhood Program, M.S. Ed.
- Students w/ Disabilities (Grades 7-12) Generalist & Extension M.S. Ed.
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
- English Education (7-12), B.S.
- English English Education (5-12), B.S.
- English Education (7-12), UGCT
- English Education (5-12), UGCT
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
- Math Ed (7-12), B.S.
- Math Ed (5-12), B.S.
- Math Ed (7-12), PBC
- Math Ed (5-12), PBC
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
- Music Ed, M. Mus
- Music Ed Pk-12, B. Mus
National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)
- Physics Ed. 7-12 w/Alt. Cert., M.S.Ed.
- Science Education 7-12, M.S.Ed.
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
- Art Education, B.F.A.
- Art Education, PBC
- Art Education, M.S.Ed.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- Early Childhood and Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 6), B.S.
- Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2), B.S.
The remaining EPP programs are solely accredited by NCATE/CAEP:
- Curriculum and Instruction, M.S.Ed.
- Educational Leadership (SBL), C.A.S.
- Educational Leadership (SBL and SDL combined), C.A.S.
- English Education (7-12), M.S. Ed.
- Mathematics Education (7-12), M.S. Ed.
- Physics Education (7-12), MS. Ed.
- Physics Education (7-12), Alternative Cert Pathway, M.S.Ed.
- Science Education (7-12), M.S. Ed.
- Social Studies Education (7-12), M.S. Ed.
- Teaching Bilingual Exceptional Individuals, GRCT
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, GRCT
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc (ABET), Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC)
- Electrical Engineering Technology: Electronics, B.S.
- Electrical Engineering Technology: Smart Grid, B.S.
- Mechanical Engineering Technology, B.S.
Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering (ATMAE)
- Industrial Technology, B.S.
- Industrial Technology, M.S.
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
- Nutrition and Dietetics, B.S.
- Dietetics, B.S.
- Dietetics, M.S.
Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA), International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE)
- Hospitality Administration, B.S.
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
- Music, B.A.
- Music Ed, M. Mus
- Music Ed Pk-12, B. Mus
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
- Speech Language Pathology, M.S.
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Social Work, B.S.
National Association of Schools of Theater (NAST)
- Theater, B.A.
Program Reviews By Year
Communication Department
Communication Studies, B.A.
Journalism, B.A.
Media Production, B.A.
Public Relations and Advertising, B.A.
Sports Communication, Certificate
Adult Education Department
Adult Education, M.S.
Adult Education, Graduate Certificate
Human Resource Development, Graduate Certificate
Chemistry Department
Forensic Chemistry, B.S.
Computer Information Systems
Computer Information Systems, B.S.
Geography and Planning Department
Geographic Information Systems, Undergraduate Certificate
Mathematics Department
Statistics in Insurance, Undergraduate Certificate
Philosophy Department
Mathematical Logic, Undergraduate Certificate
Political Science Department
Political Science, B.A.
International Relations, B.A.
Public Management, Graduate Certificate
Arts and Humanities Dean's Office
Arts and Letters, B.A. - Self Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Biology Department - Self Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Biology, B.A.
Biology, M.A.
Economics and Finance Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Economics, B.A.
Economics, B.S.
Applied Economics, M.A.
English Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
English, B.A.
English, M.A.
Writing, B.A.
Health, Dietetics and Nutrition Department
Health and Wellness, B.S.
Television and Film Arts Department
Television and Film Arts, B.A. - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Mathematics Department
Applied Mathematics, B.S.
Mathematics, B.A.
Professional Applied and Computational Mathematics, M.S.
Anthropology Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Anthropology, B.A.
Chemistry Department
Chemistry, B.S.
Higher Education Administration
Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration, M.S. Self Study
Assessment in Student Affairs, Graduate Certificate
Modern and Classical Languages Department
Spanish, B.A.
World Language Advantage, Undergraduate Certificate
Philosophy Department
Philosophy, B.A.
Political Science Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management, M.P.A.
Theater Department
Theater, B.A.
Foundations of Theatrical Directing, Undergraduate Certificate
Business Department
Business Administration, B.S.
Center for Studies in Creativity
Creative Studies, M.S. - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Criminal Justice Department
Criminal Justice, B.S.
Earth Sciences Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Earth Science, B.S.
Geology, B.A.
History and Social Studies Education - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
History, B.A.
History, M.A.
Physics Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Physics, B.A.
Physics, B.S.
Physics 3+2 Engineering Option, B.S.
Criminal Justice Department
Criminal Justice, B.S. - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Geography and Planning Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Geography, B.A.
Environmental Geography, B.S.
Urban and Regional Planning, B.S.
Graduate Dean's Office - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Self-Study Appendix
Multidisciplinary Studies, M.A.
Multidisciplinary Studies, M.S.
Great Lakes Center - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Great Lakes Ecosystem Science, M.A.
Great Lakes Ecosystem Science, M.S.
Psychology Department - Self-Study Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Psychology B.A.
Psychology, B.S.
Sociology Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Sociology, B.A.
Social Work Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Self-Study Narrative Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3
Social Work, B.S.
Communication Department
Public Communication, B.A.
Computer Information Systems
Computer Information Systems, B.S.
Political Science Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Political Science, B.A.
International Relations, B.A.
Mathematics Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Applied Mathematics
B.S., Mathematics, B.A.
Professional Applied Computational Mathematics, M.S.
Adult Education Department
Adult Education, M.S.
Economics and Finance Department - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Economics, B.A., Economics
B.S., Applied Economics, M.A.
History and Social Studies Education Department
Museum Studies, M.A. - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Television and Film Arts Department
Television and Film Arts, B.A. - Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Arts and Humanities Dean's Office Self-Study, Reviewers' Report, Departmental Response
Arts and Letters, B.A.