Program of Study for the Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School ; official general GRE or GMAT exam scores, unless waived.
To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School . In addition, the program faculty will give preference to applicants who meet or exceed the following: Undergraduate GPA > 3.00 and/or GRE/GMAT Verbal > 25th percentile and GRE/GMAT Quantitative > 25th percentile. Meeting this condition does not guarantee admission.
Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility: The standardized exam (GRE or GMAT) requirement may be waived for applicants who:
- Hold an undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher; OR
- Have five years of relevant work experience in a government or nonprofit agency; OR
- Completed 9 credit hours of graduate coursework at Appalachian State University or other accredited institution, with a grade of “B” or better, within the last five years.
Accelerated Admission Option: This program offers an accelerated admission option for undergraduate students currently enrolled at Appalachian State University.
Location: On Campus and Off Campus; Off-Campus cohorts begin periodically, and follow a part-time extended format.
Additional Information about Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility
Any standardized exam waiver for a graduate degree program at Appalachian State requires that applicants hold a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in their last earned degree (undergraduate or graduate; some programs have established higher GPA requirements). No exam waiver is automatic but will require review and approval by the Graduate School upon submission of a complete application. An approved waiver request does not guarantee acceptance into the program. A denied waiver request does not mean that a candidate is denied admission to the program, only that a standardized exam score is needed to more fully evaluate the application. Standardized test scores may be required for scholarship consideration.
