Frequently Asked Questions

Admissions

  1. How do I apply to the MPA program?
  2. Can I apply before I finish my BA?
  3. Are there any prerequisite courses?
  4. What are the entry requirements?
  5. Is the GRE required?
  6. What about letters of recommendation?
  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. How do I apply to the MPA program?

    2. The simplest way is to apply online at CSU Mentor. You can also find information on graduate admissions. Your transcripts should be sent directly to admissions and records. If you are in the group for whom GRE scores, resumes or letters of recommendation are relevant these should be sent to Paul Peretz, Public Administration Coordinator, Public Administration Program, PO Box 6848, Cal State Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834-6848.

  2. Can I apply before I finish my BA?

    3. Yes you can but the BA must be in hand by the time you start graduate studies.

  3. Are there any prerequisite courses?

    4. The prerequisite courses are American Government, Statistics and either Micro-economics or Macro-economics. If you do not have one or more when you enter we allow you to finish them during your first year in the program.

  4. What are the entry requirements?

    5. We divide applicants into three groups. If you have a grade point average in your last 60 semester units over 2.75 (B-) and a grade point average over 3.25 (B+) in your major we normally admit you unconditionally. If you got over 2.75 in your last 60 units but less than 3.25 in your major we will usually admit you on probation, space permitting. If you are in this group and either have a combined GRE score over 1000 or have been working for four years in the public sector and submit your resume and two letters of recommendation we may choose to admit you unconditionally. If your GPA in the last 60 units is less than 2.75, we will not admit you.

  5. Is the GRE required?

    6. It is not required but a combined score over 1000 on the math and verbal will increase your chances of entering the program especially if you are in our probationary category (see above.)

  6. What about letters of recommendation?

    7. We normally like two letters of recommendation, though they are not essential if you are in our in our unconditional category. Ideally one would be from a former professor and one from a job supervisor, but we understand that this is not always possible. They should be sent to me at the address in question 1.

  7. Can I transfer from another Public Administration program?

    8. Usually you can and often we will give credit for courses taken elsewhere. But 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 2008 semester start October 1 and, as I write on March 7, the closing date is indeterminate. Given this I would advise applying as soon as possible on CSU Mentor.   We also admit for the Spring term beginning June 1 and usually ending October 15. In both Spring and Fall the closing date may be a little earlier or later. The best advice is to apply as early as possible.

  9. What if I am an international student?

    10. If you are an international student in addition to the other requirements you must have a score of 570 (paper) or 230 (computer based) on the TOEFL exam. 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 classes.