MPA Admissions Process
The Master of Public Administration program accepts applications on a year-round basis. Students are admitted to the MPA program annually and begin their program of study each Fall term. Exceptions, although rare, may be considered upon request on a case-by-case basis for applicants with a compelling reason to begin their MPA program of study at other times during the academic year. Admissions decisions are made by a committee of MPA faculty and are based on the applicant's undergraduate grade point average, three letters of recommendation, and a 400-word essay that provides a statement of goals.
Completed MPA application materials are submitted to the WSU School of Graduate Studies. The School of Graduate Studies forwards a copy of the completed applicant's file to the MPA Program Director. The MPA Admissions Committee then reviews the applicant's file and renders an admissions decision. The admissions process is typically completed two to three weeks after the applicant's complete application file is received by the MPA program.
The preferred deadline for receiving MPA applications and supporting documents is June 30. However, completed applications received at least four weeks prior to the start of Fall quarter will receive full consideration.
MPA Admissions Criteria
Applicants must have earned a Bachelor degree prior to matriculation in the MPA program. Students who earned an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 may be granted regular admission. Those with an undergraduate GPA lower than 3.0 but at least 2.7 may be granted conditional admissions status.
Promising MPA applicants who do not meet the requirements for regular or conditional admission to the MPA program may be granted non-degree status by the WSU School of Graduate Studies. Non-degree status does not guarantee future admission to the MPA program. MPA applicants in non-degree status must be accepted by the WSU School of Graduate Studies and complete 12 credit hours of approved MPA coursework with a minimum grade of at least 3.0 (B) in each course. When students in non-degree status meet these requirements, they should re-apply for admission to the MPA program.
These admissions criteria provide an opportunity to admit students who have a strong record of academic performance as well as those students whose past academic performance may not accurately reflect their capacity to succeed in graduate studies. However, for all students, the MPA program incorporates a rigorous set of standards and expectations that demand high levels of commitment and performance to successfully complete the degree requirements.
MPA Application Materials
Prospective MPA students may obtain application materials in several ways. Requests to have an MPA information packet sent via US mail may be made by contacting the Department of Urban Affairs and Geography by telephone at (937)-775-4451 or by sending a request for program information and application materials via email to the MPA Program Director.
Applicants may electronically submit an application to the MPA program via the WSU School of Graduate Studies online application process.
The following documents are required to apply to the MPA program:
- WSU Application for Admission to Graduate Status form;
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended (except WSU);
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic achievements and/or ability to meet the rigorous requirements of graduate studies; and
- A 400-word essay that describes the applicant’s personal and professional goals and explains how the MPA degree will advance these goals.
MPA applicants are not required to take a standardized admissions test such as the GRE or GMAT. However, applicants who have taken such standardized tests may choose to submit their scores as additional evidence of their academic preparation for graduate school.
Additional information and policies may be found on the WSU School of Graduate Studies website.
International students will find useful information on the WSU University Center for International Education website.