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Prospective Applicants

Graduate admissions at the University of Georgia is a collaborative process involving the Graduate School and the graduate faculty of the University of Georgia. The graduate coordinator for the Department of Public Administration and Policy, Dr. Andrew Whitford, serves as a liaison between the department and the Graduate School.

To be considered for admission to the MPA program, students must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate potential for excellence in the study of public administration. MPA students come from diverse backgrounds and fields of study. Visit the MPA student profiles for more information.

To be considered for admission to the PhD program, students must hold a master's degree from an accredited college or university. Please visit the PhD Student profiles for more information on current students. Please contact us if you have any questions.

  • VISITATION DAY

    A Visitation Day for The University of Georgia’s Master’s program of Public Administration will be held on Friday, March 29, from 8:00am – 5:00pm.  Admitted students and applicants are invited to attend. Dr. Andrew Whitford, Director of the MPA Program, will discuss the curriculum and answer questions. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet faculty and current students as well as learn more about the eight specialization tracks offered. Click Here to see a tentative agenda.

    The deadline to register is FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2013. Please fill out a reservation form and email to Lisa Sperling.

     

    FALL OPEN HOUSE

    An Open House for The University of Georgia's Master of Public Administration program will be held in October at the Athens and Gwinnett Campuses.

    - Athens Campus:      Friday, October 5, 2012 from 1:00pm - 4:15pm

    - Gwinnett Campus:   Saturday, October 6, 2012 from 8:00am - 11:15am

    The deadline to register is MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012. Please fill out a reservation form and email to Lisa Sperling.

  • Please send application materials to the correct offices. Misdirected application materials will slow the application process. Do not mail videotapes, newspapers, or other media about yourself to the department. The stated application materials will suffice.

    Students interested in the MPA/JD program must apply separately to both programs and meet the admissions requirements for each. For more information about applying to the School of Law, please visit Law School admissions.

    1. Complete the online application.

    Complete the online application located at the UGA Graduate School website and pay the required application fee, which is $75 for domestic applicants and $100 for international applicants

    2. Send the materials listed below to the UGA Graduate School:

    Office of Graduate Admissions
    The University of Georgia
    320 E. Clayton Street
    Suite 400
    Athens, GA 30602-4401

    Allow 10-14 days for receipt and processing of these materials by the Graduate School Admissions Office, which are then forwarded to the department.
    • Official Transcripts - Send 2 official transcripts from all institutions attended even if no degree was conferred and/or credits are listed on other transcripts.
    • Official Test Scores (GRE/TOEFL/IELTS) - The GRE is required of all applicants. The average GRE score for incoming MPA students for fall 2012 was approximately 310; however, the GRE score is only one of several factors considered for admissions.Equally important are an applicant's personal statement and other application materials.
      • Beginning with MPA applications for Spring 2014, we will require score reports from the Personal Potential Index (PPI) exam, administered by ETS. For more information, visit the ETS website at http://www.ets.org/ppi.
    • If an institutional code is required for score reporting for the computer-based Graduate Record Exam, list code 5813. Otherwise, select "The University of Georgia" and then "Public Affairs" when asked where scores should be sent.
    • International Applicants - additional requirements can be found on the Graduate School website.

    3. Send remaining materials to the Department's Admissions Office: 

    Department of Public Administration and Policy
    Attn: Admissions Office
    204 Baldwin Hall
    The University of Georgia
    Athens, GA 30602-1615
    • Supplemental Application [DOWNLOAD PDF]
    • Statement of Purpose - The statement of purpose is your opportunity to communicate to us how this program fits with your future plans. You should use this document to convey why this area of study and specifically this program are a good fit with your career and educational goals. You should also highlight your relevant experience and preparation for this program.
    • Resume
    • Letters of Recommendation - Complete electronically, via the online application, or download the form to mail paper letters. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
      • Three academic letters are required.
      • If you are applying for a degree-seeking program, the application cannot be submitted unless you list the e-mail addresses of three recommenders on the application form. If you would rather submit paper letters to the department, you will need to list your name and e-mail three times in the boxes on the online application that ask for your recommenders. That way, only you will receive the electronic letter of recommendation requests, which you may delete.

  • Domestic Applicants
    Fall Semester—July 1
    Spring Semester November—15

    International Applicants
    Fall Semester—April 15
    Spring Semester—October 15

    The deadline for students applying for assistantships is February 1.

  • Our department will be visiting several colleges, universities, and agencies in the fall.  Additionally, if you would like to meet with us to discuss applying to the Department of Public Administration and Policy at the University of Georgia, please complete a visitation form and e-mail it to sperling@uga.edu.

    Fall 2012 Recruitment Schedule

    Open House (Athens Campus)             Friday, October 5th

    Open House (Gwinnett Campus)          Saturday, October 6th

    Idealist.Org (Miami, FL)                      Thursday, November 1st

  • MPA Recruitment Coordinator, Lisa Sperling gives advice on best admission practices and general information about the MPA program for prospective applicants. To see her full interview, please visit BusinessDegreesOnline.com.