MPA Admissions

Applications to the online Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program are accepted year round and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Prospective students are encouraged to apply now! The MPA Program’s admission considerations include the following:

  1. Graduate Admissions Application: The Graduate Studies Application is an institutional application required by SHSU. Students must provide biographical and educational information relevant to determining State of Texas residency.
  2. Application Fee: An application fee is required for all applications to graduate programs at SHSU.
  3. Transcripts: Transcripts that document all prior degrees. Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts for review by the admissions committee. However, under university policy, admission decisions are contingent upon receipt of official transcripts.
  4. A current resume or curriculum vitae.
  5. A writing sample of scholarly or professional work.
  6. A statement of interest that summarizes the applicant’s professional goals, why they want an MPA degree from SHSU, how an MPA degree will help the applicant obtain their professional goals, and how the applicant’s personal and professional experiences have prepared them for the MPA program. The statement should be between one and two single-spaced pages.
  7. Names and contact information for at least two individual references who can speak to applicant’s academic and professional potential.
  8. Applicants who do not possess a graduate degree from an accredited institution, are expected to have earned a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 from the accredited institution granting the undergraduate degree.
  9. Applicants who do not possess a graduate degree or have an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 may submit additional information as evidence of their academic and professional potential. Additional information may include, but is not limited to: a narrative that provides an explanation for the applicant’s low GPA and why the GPA is not indicative of the applicant’s academic and professional potential or GRE scores from the last two years.

Applicants must submit all application materials by the relevant deadline. A holistic review of each applicant’s file will then be completed with admission to the MPA program offered to applicants on a competitive basis. Additional information about the application process can be found on the MPA FAQ page.