Program Admission

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Graduate School Application

After reviewing the admission requirements below, please select the appropriate application. The University is transitioning application platforms; pay close attention when selecting the application below.

• 2021-2022 Application (Winter 22)
• 2022-2023 Application (Summer 22, Fall 22, or Winter 23)  

The program you are applying to may not accept applicants every semester.

For additional information regarding the application process, please see Graduate Admissions or International Admissions.

Admission Requirements

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

A four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution. In addition, a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program, is required for full admission. Applicants who do not meet minimum admission requirements may be considered for conditional admission. See International Admissions for international applicant requirements.

Applicants must also meet the following program requirements:

• An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or 3.25 in the last half of the undergraduate program
• A 250-word description of the applicant’s academic and professional history and professional goals in public administration.
• One political science course in the fundamentals of American government, public law, state and local government, or public administration, with a C or better if taken as a part of a bachelor’s degree or a B or better if taken after the bachelor’s degree.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the program advisor before submitting their application if there are any questions about admission under the criteria above.

Conditional Admission

An applicant deficient in the above prerequisites may be granted admission on a conditional basis, subject to completing the prerequisite(s). 

Promising applicants with a minimum of five years of administrative experience that do not meet the GPA requirements for regular degree admission and who have a GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 may be granted conditional admission. Such applicants must contact the program advisor before submitting their application. Applicants will be granted degree admission after completing at least three courses, two of which must be required courses for the program, with a minimum grade of 3.0 (B) in each course.

Application Process

Qualified applicants will be admitted to Fall and Winter semesters on a rolling basis until the start of the term, but desired classes may not be available for students, and delays in securing official transcripts may also delay admission decisions. As noted above, separate applications must be filed for the MPA program and any certificate programs that a student may be interested in pursuing, even if done concurrently.

Department Information

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Political Science | Barbara Patrick, Ph.D., Department Head | 601 Pray-Harrold, 734.487.3113, bpatric1@emich.edu

Advisor Information

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Rose Jindal, MPA Coordinator, 601 Pray-Harrold, 734.487.3113, rsoliven@emich.edu

Degree Requirements: 39-42 hours

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The M.P.A. degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of the following: 

• All pre-service students without substantial work experience in public administration must complete a 15-week equivalent internship experience and enroll in PLSC 688 - Practicum in Public Affairs . The director of internships in the Political Science Department will work with students to identify and supervise an appropriate internship.
• The minimum acceptable grade in each of the nine required courses is a B. Students scoring less than a B may repeat a course once before being dismissed from the program. All students must have a B average overall to graduate.