Buffalo State will offer a Doctor of Professional Studies (D.P.S.) in Creativity and Change Leadership, which will equip professionals with knowledge, principles, and tools to serve as effective change makers in their organizations and communities. This is the university’s first doctoral program.
The program, which will begin in fall 2026, will be offered fully online through synchronous distance education courses delivered in compressed seven-week terms. Students will complete 72 graduate-level credits in the areas of applied creativity, foundations in creativity studies, creativity and change leadership, creativity research, scholarship, and electives.
The SUNY Board of Trustees authorized Buffalo State to offer the doctoral program pending approval from the New York State Board of Regents and the governor. Following a successful academic review and regional canvass with no objections, the required master plan amendment and degree authorization were approved by both parties.
“From our early research in the late 1960s demonstrating that creativity is a trainable skill, to offering the world’s first master’s degree in creativity, the Center for Applied Imagination has consistently shaped the field of creativity studies,” said Gerard Puccio, SUNY Distinguished Professor and chair of the Creativity and Change Leadership Department. “Our roots extend back to Alex Osborn, advertising executive and creator of brainstorming, whose belief in the power of creative thinking continues to guide our mission today. Inspired by his legacy, our work has always focused on the real-world impact of creative thinking for professional success and quality of life.”