Public Administration

Students applying for admission into the MPA program are divided into two applicant categories: in-career and pre-career. In-career applicants are those who, in an evaluation by the MPA director have demonstrated five years of experience in the public or related sector. Some of that experience must be managerial in nature. Pre-career students are all other applicants. All students applying to the MPA program must provide the following six items:

• A completed application for admission.
• Official transcripts showing all college/university coursework completed at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• At least two supportive letters from persons qualified to evaluate potential for successful performance in the MPA program.
• A narrative essay of 300 to 400 words stating academic and career goals, how the MPA program will enable attainment of those goals, and any additional information detailing relevant work experience.

In-career students applying for admission to the MPA program must submit the following items:

• A current r\xc3\xa9sum\xc3\xa9 documenting five years of work experience in the public or related sector.
• A portfolio of two to three work products (singular or team efforts) that demonstrate professional activities.

Pre-career students applying for admission to the MPA program must submit the following items:

• Official scores of the Graduate Record Examination general test. The GMAT or Miller Analogies Test can substitute for the GRE exams. The LSAT is not a suitable substitute.
• A writing sample of 10 to 12 pages (either a work product or an academic paper) or official scores on the GRE writing test.

The MPA program conforms to the general rules of all graduate programs at NKU. Specifically, all successful admission candidates to the MPA program must:

• Possess a bachelor\xc2\x92s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Hold a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher (on a scale of 4.0) for all college work.
• Demonstrate good potential for success in graduate professional study and public service.

An MPA alumni profile of admission materials demonstrated that the average student possessed a strong, well-written essay with clearly defined career goals, two quality letters of reference, undergraduate GPA and GRE scores that demonstrated the capability of strong graduate work. Applicants with strong potential who lack one admission item may be admitted provisionally for one semester only. Applicants demonstrating good potential but falling short of the MPA alumni profile may be admitted conditionally but typically must earn a GPA of 3.25 over the first nine hours of coursework in the MPA program.