MPA Admission Requirements

Admissions requirements for the Master of Public Administration program:

(go to the MPA Apply page for application info):

Note: the GRE is not required for MPA admission.

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
   Note: A student may be admitted provisionally pending completion of the bachelor's degree. The applicant must submit an official transcript showing the conferring of the bachelor's degree before obtaining regular admission status needed to enroll in the core programs.
   
2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 for the last 90 quarter-hours (or equivalent) of work toward a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
   Note: The college is able to make a few exceptions to this rule. Prospective students who do not meet this requirement, but who are otherwise well qualified, are encouraged to apply to the program as early as possible.
   
3. Evidence of writing, analytical and general communication skills of high quality and at a level appropriate for graduate study (the Admissions Committee reviews your application materials to look for evidence of these skills.)
4. Completion of four (4) quarter credits of statistics which fulfills our statistics prerequisite requirement. Beginning with students admitted for Fall 2012, this requirement must be completed within the past three (3) years prior to the Fall of admission and before admitted students are permitted to begin the first year of the MPA program in the Fall.  For example, if you are applying for Fall 2012 admission, you must have completed a statistics course that meets our prerequisite requirement sometime during the period between the beginning of Fall 2009 and the end of Summer 2012. We accept applications from people who have not met the statistics requirement: we admit these students conditionally, but we must receive evidence that the statistics prerequisite is satisfied before Fall classes begin.
   
   Most undergraduate programs and courses at Evergreen that grant four credits of statistics will enable students to meet this prerequisite. Several statistics courses are typically offered during Evergreen's Summer Session. Basic statistics courses offered at many other colleges will also meet the requirement. Please see our statistics prerequisite page for more specific information about the statistics prerequisite requirement, including a list of Evergreen courses and courses offered elsewhere that meet the requirement.
   
   An applicant with considerable work experience using descriptive and inferential statistics may request a waiver of the statistics prerequisite requirement. Consult the statistics prerequisite page for details.

Applicants with limited professional experience

The MPA program at Evergreen admits applicants with varying levels and types of professional experience. Some applicants may need to expand their public sector work experience in order to better understand the field, and to be more competitive candidates for future jobs. If an applicant has not done full-time work, for a year or more, with significant responsibility in public or non-profit administration or in a public policy area, then the applicant will be required to complete an internship before graduating from the program.  This internship is minimally one quarter credit hour and involves part-time work with an agency or organization in the public or non-profit sector for one quarter. The Admissions Committee will determine whether an applicant will be required to do an internship, and will include this requirement in the letter of admission. Internship credit will count toward the MPA degree as part of a student's elective credits. Additional information about internships will be available during orientation.

International applicants

International applicants must provide evidence of English proficiency by scoring a minimum of 250 on the computerized version, or 600 on the written version, of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International applicants with previous study in the U.S. may ask to have the TOEFL requirement waived. The TOEFL requirement may be waived for international applicants who have completed a bachelor's degree (or higher) at an accredited college or university in the U.S. with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 90 quarter/60 semester credits.

In addition, international applicants must provide a completed financial statement demonstrating evidence of having at least $27,000 (USD) to pay normal expenses for one year at Evergreen. International applicants must contact the Office of Admissions for more information about international student application procedures.

Request information

If you are interested in the Tribal Governance Concentration, please contact Puanani Nihoa, Student Services Assistant MPA Tribal cohort, at (360) 867-6202. For information about either the Public and Non Profit Administration concentration or the Public Policy concentration, please contact Randee Gibbons, Assistant MPA Director- General cohort, at (360) 867-6554.