Master of Public Administration (MPA)

The Master of Public Administration program is designed to serve students who are currently employed in a public-service organization or are contemplating a new career in public and human services. The MPA program is intended to be challenging, but also flexible enough to accommodate the schedules of both full-time and part-time students.

Applications from prospective graduate students are welcome year ‘round. A student accepted into the program may begin to pursue graduate study in any semester, provided that work begins within 12 months of the student’s offer of admission to the MPA Program.

 Contact Us

Graduate Admissions Procedures

When all application materials required to make an admission decision have been received by the Office of Graduate Admissions, notification will be sent to the applicant and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program.

Upon review, a letter from the MPA program will be sent to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.

General Admissions Requirements for Master of Public Administration

1. Graduate admissions application.
2. $40 application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education previously attended. You do not need to request offiical transcripts if you graduated from North Georgia. International transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation done an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate degree and a cumulative gpa of at least a 2.50 (4.0 scale).
4. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Only those scores that are less than six years old will be considered. You are exempt from entrance test requirement if you hold a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
5. Three completed recommendation forms.
6. North Georgia Immuniation Certification form, in accordance with Board of Regents policy. Former returning North Georgia students are required to meet new immunization requirements since last attending.

Students who have not submitted all of the above documentation prior to the first day of the term will have a hold placed on their accounts and will not be allowed to register for subsequent terms until all documentation has been received.

Application materials are kept for one year for incomplete files and for three years for individuals who complete an application and are accepted, but do not enroll.

Regular Admission Requirements

1. Baccalaureate from a regionally accredited four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with North Georgia Graduate Admission procedures.
2. Appropriate entrance tests of at least 
   420 on the GMAT or
   800 on the GRE (verbal & quantitative combined)
   Only entrance test scores less than six years old will be considered.
3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

Provisional Admission Requirements 

1. Baccalaureate from a regionally accredited four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with North Georgia Graduate Admission procedures.
2. Appropriate entrance test score of at least
   340 on the GMAT or
   700 on the GRE (verbal & quantitative combined)
   Only entrance test scores less than six years old will be considered.
3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

• Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than a cumulative total of 6-9 hours of graduate credit while enrolled with this status.
• Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the completion of 6 hours.
• Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade less than a B in any graduate public-administration course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the MPA program.
• Students who have been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply for admission by submitting a letter to the MPA program coordinator after a period of one year from the date the student was removed.
• Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.

Non-Degree Admission

Individuals interested in taking graduate public-administration courses, but do not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as a non-degree graduate student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the MPA program coordinator before enrolling in courses and may register for no more than a total of 9 hours of graduate credit.

Application Checklist for Non-Degree Admission

1. Graduate admissions application.
2. $40 application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. Transcripts must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.75.
4. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) of at least 800 (v & q combined) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) of at least 420. Only those scores that are less than six years old will be considered.
5. Three completed recommendation forms.
6. North Georgia Immunization Certification form, in accordance with Board of Regents policy. Former returning North Georgia students are required to meet any new immunization requirements since last attending.

• Non-degree students wishing to apply for degree-seeking admission to the MPA program must notify the program coordinator, submit a new application, and meet all program admission requirements.
• Elective credit to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the MPA program coordinator.
• Non-degree admitted students who earn a grade less than a B in any graduate public-administration course taken while holding a non-degree status will not be allowed to continue in the MPA program.
• Students who have been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply for admission by submitting a letter to the MPA program coordinator after a period of one year from the date the student was removed.
• Non-degree admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.

Transient Student Admission

An individual currently enrolled at a regionally accredited college or university as a graduate student in good standing may apply to North Georgia as a transient student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the MPA program coordinator before enrolling in courses. Requests will be considered on a space-available basis.

Appliciton Checklist for Transient Student Admission

1. Graduate admissions application.

2. $40 application fee.
3. North Georgia Immunization Certificate form, in accordance with Board of Regents policy. Former North Georgia students are required to meet any new immunization requirements since last attending.
4. Letter of good standing or Transient Permission Form documenting that the student is not on academic probation or suspension or on disciplinary suspension at his or her home institution.  The letter or form should state that the student is in good standing and should indicate the course(s) the student is being allowed to take at North Georgia.

Transient admission is for one term only. Individuals who wish to return to North Georgia as a transient student for a subsequent term must re-apply to North Georgia.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

A candidate whose application is denied because the graduate admission cumulative grade point average is below the minimum requirement for the program or because an acceptable test score for an appropriate entrance exam was not earned has the right to appeal the decision. Appeals must be made in written form to the

Master of Public Administration Program
Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice
West Main Hall, North Georgia College & State University
Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001

The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal. Students whose appeal is accepted will be admitted provisionally. Provisionally admitted students are not eligible Students may not appeal for regular admission.