Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What semesters are students admitted to the program?
  2. How do I apply to the MPA program?
  3. Can I apply before I finish my BA?
  4. Are there any prerequisite courses?
  5. What are the entry requirements?
  6. How has the current financial crisis affected admissions?
  7. Can I transfer from another Public Administration program?
  8. When are the closing dates for applying to the program?
  9. What if I am an international student?

ADMISSIONS
  1. What semesters are students admitted to the program?

    2. Students are normally admitted in the Spring and the Fall. This year however Spring 2013 admissions have been cancelled, as they have at all the California State Universities so the earliest you can apply for is Fall 2013.

  2. How do I apply to the MPA program?

    3. The simplest way is to apply online at http://www.csumentor.edu/admissionapp/grad_apply.asp. You can also find information on graduate admissions at http://www.fullerton.edu/catalogprevious/catalog2003-2005/admissions_and_registration/gradadm.asp. An admissions checklist can be found here MPA graduate admissions checklist.

    In addition you are required to....

    Send transcripts to Admissions and Records: A set of transcripts from all universities and community colleges you have attended. These should be originals sent from the institution.

    Use the Admissions Checklist to confirm that transcripts and other required documents are sent to the Public Administration Coordinator: A set of transcripts from all universities and community colleges you have attended (can be unofficial but must be sent to the coordinator). Also required: a statement of purpose, a current resume and two letters of recommendation (if possible one from an immediate supervisor and one from a professor). GRE scores are not required, but should be sent to the department if you have them.  GRE scores can be sent to: Public Administration Coordinator, Public Administration Program, California State University, Fullerton, PO Box 6848, Fullerton, CA 92834-6848.

  3. Can I apply before I finish my BA?

    4. Yes, but the BA must completed by the time you start the graduate program.

  4. Are there any prerequisite courses?

    5. The prerequisite courses are American Government, Statistics and either Micro-economics or Macro-economics. IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD AMERICAN GOVERNMENT YOU MUST TAKE IT BEFORE TAKING ANY MPA COURSE. If you do not have the other prerequisite courses completed, we allow you to finish them during your first year in the program; they can be taken at CSUF, or any other accredited college or university. Prereqs do not show up on your graduate transcript

  5. What are the entry requirements?

    6. Our minimum requirement for GPA is a 2.75 in the last 60 semester units of your undergraduate degree. The average GPA of our accepted students is 3.5. For all students, we look at your grades in the last 60 units, how well you performed in your major, any experience in the public sector, your GRE scores (if supplied), and the quality of your written statement of purpose. The higher your grades, the less we will need to weigh your supporting documents.

  6. How has the current financial crisis affected admissions?

    7. The current crisis has made it more difficult to get into the program. The number of people applying has increased and the financial resources allocated to the program have decreased. As a result we anticipate that in the Fall of 2012 we will not be able to admit all qualified applicants. We will not know for certain how many we can admit until late Spring, when the budgetary allocations have been made. We will not be admitting any students for the Spring 2013 semester.

  7. Can I transfer from another Public Administration program?

    8. In most cases yes, and often we will give credit for courses taken elsewhere. However, 21 of the 39 units must be taken in our program.

  8. When are the closing dates for applying to the program?

    9. Admissions for the fall semester start October 1st and typically end by March 31st. We also admit for the spring term beginning August 1st and ending October 1st. In both spring and fall, the closing date may be flexible. The best advice is to apply as early as possible and check CSU Mentor for more details.

  9. What if I am an international student?

    10. If you are an international student, you must have a score of 570 (paper) or 230 (computer based) on the TOEFL exam, in addition to the other requirements. The TOEFL code for CSUF is 4589. Students who feel their English is not yet up to this level often do a semester in our English as a Foreign Language Program before commencing graduate classes. More information for international students can be found at http://www.fullerton.edu/admissions/ProspectiveStudent/International.asp