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Master of Public Administration

VIA DISTANCE LEARNING

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants who wish to complete the M.P.A. via distance learning must satisfy the following requirements:

  1. Applicants must hold a bachelor degree with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 earned in undergraduate work. The degree may be in any academic field, and must have been conferred by an accredited college or university. Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts to the department during the application process. However, unconditional admission may only be granted if official transcripts from the applicant's undergraduate institution have been submitted and are on file with ISU's Graduate Admissions. Please note that while the minimum accepted GPA is 2.75, the average GPA of students accepted into the program is higher. Also note, however, that GPA is just one of several variables the M.P.A. admission committee considers when reviewing admission applications.
     
  2. Distance students applying for the M.P.A. should have some administrative or managerial experience in either the public sector or the nonprofit sector. (The experience requirement does not apply to students who plan to attend scheduled courses on campus in Terre Haute.) Prospective students usually must have at least a year's experience. However, applications from students currently employed and under certain other conditions will be accepted if they have less experience. Contact the M.P.A. director (below) for more information. The program may require evidence of experience as a part of the admissions process. Evidence may include letters of reference from past or present employers and colleagues.
     
  3. The Political Science Department regards a TOEFL of 600 (or the equivalent) as evidence of English proficiency from students whose first language is not English. Please note that this is higher than default standard 550 TOEFL required for admission to graduate study by ISU's graduate school. International students with undergraduate degrees from certain countries, or whose undergraduate study was done in English, may be exempt from the TOEFL requirement.

    International students who, in the opinion of the admissions committee, do not meet the program's minimum standards for spoken and written English, may choose to take intensive language training at the InterLink Language Center at Indiana State before entering the program The department may admit international students to the program provisionally, on the condition that they successfully complete English training at InterLink. Provisionally admitted students who fail to complete their InterLink programs successfully may not be admitted to M.P.A. study. Students who complete InterLink training will be enrolled in M.P.A. courses during the next semester or summer term after they complete InterLink.

Note:   Applicants who do not possess the public or nonprofit experience (listed above) required of all distance students are invited to complete the M.P.A Program on the Indiana State University campus, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. The on-campus M.P.A. Program enables students to satisfy the work experience requirement by completing a three-hour, semester-long internship at a site determined by the M.P.A. director. This internship option is open only to on-campus students.



Distance Education Students Residing Outside of Indiana:  Each of the states has its own approval processes for out-of-state institutions offering distance education.  While Indiana State University endeavors to offer all of its programs to as wide an audience as possible, all ISU distance education programs may not be available in all states.

The Catalog of Indiana State University is the document of authority for all students. The requirements given in the catalog supersede information issued by any academic department, program, college, or school. The University reserves the right to change the 
requirements at any time.



Last updated 26 January 2012