Graduate » MS and MA » FAQs
What is the length of the program?
What is the estimated cost of the program?
Is there any funding of financial aid for Masters students?
What is the Job Outlook for students?
What can I expect to make after I graduate?
What are my housing options?
What’s it like in Buffalo, NY?
What about the computing facilities?
Who should I contact if I need assistance or have questions about the program?
When can I begin the program?
You can apply to the M.A. or M.S. program for Fall or Spring semester. All applications are considered on a rolling admissions basis until admission capacity is reached. You can apply to the either program as early as one year in advance before enrolling. Domestic students have time to apply to the program a few weeks before the semester they wish to begin the program (provided there is space available).
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION!!!
International Students are encouraged to apply early enough to allow time for the I-20 Process. This process can take anywhere from 1 to 4 months depending on the country you are coming from. Therefore, you should get your application materials in as soon as possible, even if it is a year in advance. Processing an I-20 takes a lot of time and if you wish to begin classes, you should give plenty of time to submit your application materials. If you want to insure your I-20 will be processed, please submit all application materials as soon as you can.
Below you will see why the process takes so long (THE I-20 PROCESS):
- Applicant submits ALL application materials to Assistant Director of M.A. Program
- Assistant Director of M.A. Program submits application materials to International Admissions (2 to 6 weeks)
- Application goes into a database in Washington, DC
- From there, the student is entered into another database
- Afterwards, the I-20 is requested from Washington, DC by UB International Admissions. The student is then given a SEVIS ID#, and the I-20 is sent back to UB (Another 4 to 6 weeks to process packet)
- UB International Admissons sends the I-20 packet to the student
- International admissions then issues the Admissions packet which includes: I-20 acceptance, the Certificate of VISA Eligibility, information about International Orientation, on-campus housing, international student clubs, and health insurance
- Upon receiving the official Admission Packet, student should make arrangements to register for International Student Orientation, apply for your student VISA, and arrange to come to Buffalo, New York.
Should you need assistance or more information on the I-20 and/or VISA process, please visit International Admissions: http://wings.buffalo.edu/intadmit/
What is the length of the program?
M.A. Program
The M.A. program is 30 credits and can be completed no earlier than 1 year. Some students complete the M.A in 1 year, some in 1 1/2 years, and others complete it in 2 years. It depends if a student is completing the program on a full-time or part-time basis.
M.A. & Advanced Certificate
The M.A. & Advanced Certificate program is 45 credits and can be completed no earlier than 1 1/2 years. Some students complete the M.A & Advanced Certificate in 1 1/2 years, some in 2 years, and others complete it in 2 1/2 years. It depends if a student is completing the program on a full-time or part-time basis.
M.S. Program
From the time a student begins coursework, 1 1/2 to 2 years. For students currently in the program, 1 to 1 1/2 years from now.
What is the estimated cost of the program?
Please see the Student Response Center website for a detailed cost of attendance: http://src.buffalo.edu/financialaid/gradcost.shtml
Is there any funding of financial aid for Masters students?
Please visit our seperate webpage dedicated to more fully explaining funding and financial aid options.
What is the Job Outlook for students?
The following is from the '06-'07 United States Department of Labor Report:
Economists held about 13,000 jobs in 2004. Government employed 58 percent of economists, in a wide range of government agencies, with 34 percent in Federal government and 24 percent in State and local government. The U.S. Departments of Labor, Agriculture, and State are the largest Federal employers of economists. The remaining jobs were spread throughout private industry, particularly in scientific research and development services and management, scientific, and technical consulting services. A number of economists combine a full-time job in government, academia, or business with part-time or consulting work in another setting.
Employment of economists is concentrated in large cities. Some work abroad for companies with major international operations, for U.S. Government agencies, and for international organizations, such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and United Nations. Individuals with a background in economics should have job opportunities, although some of these opportunities will be in related occupations. As firms increasingly employ workers to perform more specialized tasks, the best opportunities for individuals with backgrounds in economics are expected to be in positions that have titles other than economist. Some examples of job titles often held by those with an economics background are financial analyst, market analyst, public policy consultant, researcher or research assistant, and econometrician.
Opportunities for economists should be best in private industry, especially in scientific research and development, and consulting firms, as more companies contract out for economic research services. Rising demand for economists should stem from the growing complexity of the global economy, competition, and increased reliance on quantitative methods for analyzing and forecasting business, sales, and other economic trends.
A master’s or Ph.D. degree, coupled with a strong background in economic theory, mathematics, statistics, and econometrics, provides the basis for acquiring any specialty within the economics field. Economists who are skilled in quantitative techniques and their application to economic modeling and forecasting, and who also have good communications skills, should have the best job opportunities.
Please see these webpages for other information on job outlook:
What can I expect to make after I graduate?
The following data is from the '06- '07 United States Department of Labor Report:
Median annual wage and salary earnings of economists were $72,780 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $53,650 and $96,240. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,040, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $129,170.
The Federal Government recognizes education and experience in certifying applicants for entry-level positions. The starting salary for economists having a bachelor’s degree was about $24,667 a year in 2005; however, those with superior academic records could begin at $30,567. Those having a master’s degree could qualify for positions at an annual salary of $37,390. Those with a Ph.D. could begin at $45,239, while some individuals with experience and an advanced degree could start at $54,221. Starting salaries were slightly higher in selected geographical areas where the prevailing local pay was higher. The average annual salary for economists employed by the Federal Government was $89,441 a year in 2005.
CNN Money has a statistic on what an Economics degree is worth.
Specific statisitics on graduates from the University at Buffalo M.A. Program are being collected. For more information on the types of jobs and places of employment for our graduates, please go to our ALUMNI page.
What are my housing options?
Please visit our seperate webpage dedicated to more fully explaining our housing options.
What’s it like in Buffalo, NY?
Buffalo, NY is located in Western New York, approximately 6 driving hours from New York City, 2 hours from Toronto, Canada, and 3 hours from Cleveland, OH.
USA Today named Buffalo the winner of its 2001 "City with a Heart" contest, based on a reader poll in which dozens of Buffalonians wrote in with anecdotes illustrating why their hometown was the nation's "friendliest city." (2/12/01) Long-time residents of the town that has been known since the early 20th century as "the City of Good Neighbors" were proud and gratified-but not surprised.
As reported in Money magazine, an annual study conducted by the Morgan Quitno Press research company has named the Town of Amherst (home of UB's North Campus) the "safest city in America" three times in the past four years.
The Buffalo/Niagara region lies directly in the middle of the Northeastern Trade Corridor running from Chicago to Boston, and is within comfortable driving distance of Toronto, Ontario. Buffalo is also a border city, located minutes from Niagara Falls, and within clear view of Ontario, Canada.
The flagship university in the SUNY-System and the largest public university in New York State, the University at Buffalo lies at the heart of a rich and diverse educational community. Buffalo is truly a "college-town" in feel and in function: Western New York's 30 higher-education institutions attract over 100,000 college students per year.
While most famous for its winters, Buffalo boasts four distinct seasons, each remarkable in its own right. Lake Erie is responsible for far more than producing lake-effect snow: it also is a major site of water-recreation in the spring and summer, and one of the area's chief natural beauties year-round.With a pleasant, temperate climate, and the "highest percentage of summer sunshine of any region in New York State," Buffalo's spring and summer months richly deserve the widespread notoriety its winters have attracted.
For more information on the Buffalo region, please check out these websites:
http://www.buffalo.com
http://buffalo.com/calendar/
http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/Home
www.buffalorising.com
http://www.buffalocvb.org/Attractions_0.html
http://www.nfta.com/airport/ (airport)
http://www.buffalonews.com
http://www.artvoice.com
What about the computing facilities?
UB is Wired!
We are commited to offering our students the best in integrated technology resources. Computers are here to stay, and as a graduate with strong computer skills, you will get that competitive edge in the job market - no matter what your major. At UB, we invest in technology because we want our graduates ready for a wired world.
UB delivers state-of-the-art computing capabilities to students in class, in labs, in residence halls, at the library, and even off campus. At UB you have 24 hour, fingertip access to a number of online campus services through MyUB, your personal portal to the UB web. This gives you the luxury to spend time thinking and learning rather than chasing down information. Even if it's 2 a.m., at UB you can access an online library article, e-mail a friend, or check out a web-based course assignment.
What about wireless networking?
Connect to the Internet without wires in our Wireless Internet Zones. All you need are a wireless network card and a laptop computer or PocketPC handheld device.
Wireless access is available in many locations on the North and South campuses.
To use UB Wireless, you must authenticate with Virtual Private Network (VPN) client software. VPN client software secures your connection to the network; data transmitted to and from your computer is encrypted.
Clients not currently supported by VPN software must authenticate via the OpenPort firewall.
UB Wireless Access use must follow all UB computing policies, including the Open Port Policy.
Where can I get more information about computers at UB?
http://ubit.buffalo.edu/
http://www.buffalo.edu/iconnect/
http://www.ubmicro.buffalo.edu/index.shtml
Who should I contact if I need assistance or have questions about the program?
Matt Blum is the Assistant Director of the Masters programs. He is responsible for recruiting students from around the world, answering program questions, processing applications, and advising our Masters Economics students. He serves as chief information resource to our Masters students. If you have any questions about the Master programs, Matt can be reached by telephone or e-mail or by personal appointment. Please feel free to contact him at ecoma@buffalo.edu or call 716-645-2121 x-431