Public Administration, MPA

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for the MPA graduate program, the applicant must meet these requirements:

Submit official transcripts from each college/university attended to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies at least 30 days before entering.
- ORGS requires prospective students to have an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and a 2.8 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
Complete the application available at applytexas.org. An application fee of $50 is required when applying.
Admission to the MPA program requires a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.8 for clear admission. If a student has below a 2.8 overall undergraduate GPA, the student may receive clear admission if they have a 3.0 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. Otherwise, probationary admission would apply.
Submit the following items to the MPA program director:
- A professional résumé
- Two letters of reference
- A 500- to 1,500-word essay describing professional and/or educational accomplishments and motivation to earn a professional MPA

Admission for Participants in Five-Year Overlap Program

Admission requirements vary for applicants who are participating in the five-year overlap program. For more information, contact the MPA program director.

Special Requirements for Students Transferring from Other Graduate Programs

Students seeking to enter the MPA program with clear admission from other graduate programs (whether at this institution or not) are generally required to have a graduate GPA of 3.0 with no grade below C in any graduate-level coursework for clear admission to the MPA program. If these conditions are met, transfer students will not have to take the GRE.

Program Requirements

The course of study requires 36 hours of coursework. Students have the option of completing a thesis or nonthesis track. Nonthesis-seeking MPA students are required to complete a written comprehensive examination successfully. This examination must be taken after a student has completed all courses or is enrolled and past the midterm in all courses.

Students wishing to register for any graduate courses offered in the Department of Government must be advised by the assigned faculty advisor or the MPA program director. The faculty advisor or the MPA program director will notify the department’s administrative assistant of the advised selections, who will permit the student to take the courses approved during advising. Self-registration is not available for graduate courses.