Experiential Learning at Buffalo State
Experiential learning refers to the process of gaining knowledge through direct experience—"learning by doing." Students involved in experiential learning activities apply knowledge and skills gained from traditional classroom learning to hands-on activities, often in real-world settings. Students can then apply new knowledge and skills gained from the experience back to their academic learning. The experiential learning activity often occurs outside of the traditional lecture classroom and is often accessed as part of a special program on campus. At other times, experiential learning is a required component of a course or a program and access is achieved through the faculty or academic department.
Experiential learning activities can take the form of special projects, directed research, immersion in a new culture, working in the community, special training, or gaining experience in a work setting.
This page is meant to serve as a portal to help students, faculty, and staff find hands-on learning opportunities.
Current Opportunities
Conferences and Travel
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Student Travel programs
Undergraduate Research Travel program GSA funding for graduate studentsFunds to assist students to travel to conferences to present research and scholarly findings. Graduate students may also travel for professional development opportunities.
Deadline: ongoing
Other
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Small Business Development Center
The Bengal Entrepreneurship Competition
This Buffalo State University Certificate Program, offered through the Greater Buffalo Small Business Development Center, provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the essential knowledge and tools to successfully start their own businesses. offers students the chance to win $4,500 in prizes for their businesses. Students can attend practice sessions to work on their pitch, gain new insights, and improve their skills. Students still in the planning stages of their business are welcome to participate as well.
Sessions will be held in Caudell Hall 110 on September 10, September 24, October 8, and October 22 from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
Questions can be sent to Olivia Harbol at Harbolo@buffalostate.edu.
Paid Internships
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Student application Career and Professional Education (CAPE)
Fall 2026 SUNY Internship Funding
SUNY has again made funds available for students pursuing fall 2026 internships. Each student is eligible to receive up to $1,000. This funding can be used for general living expenses, professional clothing, and transportation, as well as costs associated with housing or rent.
Students must submit applications by Friday, September 18, 2026.
Offices and Programs
Global Engagement
The Maurene Callahan Bouras Center for Global Engagement leads the charge for campus internationalization by providing immersive cultural experiences that impact students’ ability to respectfully engage with and learn from differences. At Buffalo State we are on the forefront of applying a social justice perspective to support and cultivate global citizenship. Our experiential learning programs for students include:
- Study-Away—both short-term, faculty led programs and longer study abroad experiences
- National Student Exchange
Community Partnerships and Engagement
Community Partnerships and Engagement form the core of the urban-engaged anchor mission of Buffalo State. Buffalo State builds and maintains numerous reciprocal community partnerships that promote equity; address community-identified priorities through research, volunteerism, teaching, and direct engagement; and provide experiential learning opportunities, such as service-learning, to our students.
Community Partnerships and Engagement
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate research is a student-faculty collaboration that is forged to examine, create, and share new knowledge or creative works. Undergraduate Research programs support research projects, travel , and fellowship awards for undergraduate students in all disciplines at all levels. Undergraduate Research also hosts the annual Student Research and Creativity Conference at Buffalo State for both undergraduate and graduate students wishing to share the results of their research, creative, or scholarly activities.
Undergraduate Research
Anne Frank Project
The Anne Frank Project utilizes story-based programming to provide powerful learning experiences for students, educators, businesses, and community organizations. The Anne Frank Project sponsors the Rwanda study away program, campus workshops, professional internships, student orientations, and social justice festivals.
The Anne Frank Project website
Internships
The Buffalo State University Career and Professional Education Center (CAPE) provides comprehensive services to matriculated undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, employers, and faculty/staff. An internship is a type of applied learning experience for which a student may earn academic credit in an agreed-upon, short-term, supervised workplace activity, which is often related to a student’s major field. The work can be full or part-time during the semester or summer, on- or off-campus, paid or unpaid. Career-related internships are usually completed in a student’s junior or senior year.
Internships at the CAPE website
Graduate Student Programs
Graduate academic programs often include an applied-learning requirement (e.g. thesis research, master's project, student teaching) as part of the degree requirements. The Graduate Student Association (GSA) offers funding to help offset the costs for these and other experiential learning opportunities at the graduate level. Funding is available for needed supplies, travel, and professional development opportunities.
Graduate Student Association (GSA) funding website