The admission processes for the School's dual BA/MPP program and its certificate programs are described on the School's website. Students generally apply to the dual BA/MPP program near the end of their sophomore year at the University of Maryland. To be admitted to a graduate certificate program, students must first be admitted either to a degree program on campus or as an Advanced Special Student (discussed near beginning of catalog).

Application Deadlines

	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Domestic Applicant Deadlines	For best admission and fellowship consideration, submit MPP, MPM-Policy, MEPP, and dual master's applications by December 15; final deadline is April 1 . Submit Executive MPM and joint BA/MPP applications by June 1 . For best admission and fellowship consideration, submit PhD (POSI) applications by January 7; final deadline is April 1 .	Submit MPP, MPM-Policy, MEPP, and dual master's applications by October 15 . Submit Executive MPM and joint BA/MPP applications by December 1 . The PhD program (POSI) does not admit applicants in the spring semester. .
International Applicants: Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials IMPORTANT:   International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas	February 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1	June 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants	May 1 If Domestic Deadline is after May 1	October 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials	May 15 If Domestic Deadline is after May 15	October 31 If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Application Requirements

1. GRE General required for all degree programs, except as noted below.
2. GMAT may be substituted for GRE General if applying to MPP/MBA.
3. LSAT may be substituted for GRE General if applying to MPP/JD.
4. GRE General not required for Policy MPM or Executive MPM if Undergraduate GPA is at least 3.0
5. 3 Letters of Recommendation
6. All original transcripts
7. Statement of purpose
8. Resume (MPM degree programs only, encouraged for others)
9. Writing Sample (PhD program only)

Degree Requirements

Public Policy/Management Graduate Certificates ()
The School of Public Policy offers several 12-18 credit graduate certificate programs for students in other degree programs on campus and professionals working in the policy arena who seek to enhance their understanding of policy analysis and management. See the School's website for available certificate programs and admission policies.

Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.)

The MPP is a 48-credit, 16-course professional degree combining a rigorous curriculum with practical experience. All students take six courses that cover the primary tools of policy analysis: micro-economics, statistics, political analysis, moral dimensions, management and leadership, and either financial analysis or macro-economics. Students then specialize in one of the School's five primary areas of expertise: environmental policy, international development, international security and economic policy, social policy, and management, finance, and leadership. Students can round out their coursework with either additional courses in their specialization or general policy/management electives.

Most MPP students take 4 courses per semester and finish the program in two years. Students may instead take 1-4 courses each semester and complete the degree in two-five years.

Between the first and second year, and/or during the academic year, most full-time students engage in internships in international, federal, state or local government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private firms that are engaged in the policy process. In addition to offering practical experiences and the opportunity to further develop skills acquired during the first year, these internships provide students with contacts and relationships useful for future projects and job placement.

About 80 students from a wide variety of undergraduate schools and majors, from all parts of the country, and from around the world enter the program each fall. The mean undergraduate grade point average of entering students is 3.6 and GRE scores average in the low to mid 600s.

Master's in Engineering and Public Policy (MEPP)
The Master's in Engineering and Public Policy (MEPP), offered jointly by the University's A. James Clark School of Engineering and School of Public Policy, creates leaders who understand the social context of their work, and policy analysts who have a real knowledge of engineering sciences.

The MEPP requires the completion of 39 credit hours, including four public policy core courses, four engineering courses selected to develop technical depth in the student's chosen policy area, three supportive electives, and a scholarly practicum internship with a major written report.

To be admitted into the MEPP program, students must hold a B.S. in engineering or a closely aligned technical degree and they must meet the admissions criteria for both the Maryland School of Public Policy and the A. James Clark School of Engineering.

MPP/MBA Dual Degree Program (MPP/MBA)
The University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business and the School of Public Policy (both located in Van Munching Hall) offer a joint program of studies leading to both the MPP and MBA degrees in less time (typically 5 or 6 semesters) and at less cost than if the degrees were obtained separately. Because some credits can be counted towards both degrees, students need only complete 39 (versus 54) credits in the business school and 33 (versus 48) credits in the policy school, thus saving 30 credits. Otherwise the requirements of both degree programs must be met.

Candidates must separately apply to the joint program in both the business school and the policy school. If admitted by only one program, the student may enroll in that program.

For further discussion of admission and degree requirements, students may consult each school's website.

Master of Public Management (MPM) - Policy Track (MPM)
The policy track of the Master of Public Management (MPM) program is a 36 credit degree program for professionals with at least 5 years of policy and management experience. The program is identical to the MPP program except that students take four fewer general electives and may substitute a policy or management elective for the capstone course required in the MPP program.

Courses are offered throughout the day, but it is possible to complete the program by taking only courses beginning no earlier than 4:15pm. Students usually finish the program in three years by taking two courses each fall and spring semester, but can finish in as early as one year by taking up to four courses each semester and during the summer.

BA/MPP Dual Degree Program (BA/MPP)
The dual B.A./MPP program enables some of the better performing students pursuing an undergraduate major through the University's College of Behavioral and Social Sciences to earn both their BA and their master's degree in public policy in five years or less by counting up to 18 credits of their public policy graduate courses towards both degrees, thus significantly reducing both the time and cost of earning both degrees. Otherwise the requirements of both degree programs must be met.

Most students apply to the program at the end of their sophomore year to be part of the program as of their junior year. For further discussion of admission and degree requirements, students may consult each school's website.

MPP/MS in Conservation Biology (MPP/MS)
As environmental problems become more scientifically and politically complex, employers and researchers in the environmental analysis and policy fields are increasingly looking to hire graduates who are well-grounded in the natural and life sciences, the workings of the public, private and non-government sectors, and the key policy analysis tools and concepts. The University of Maryland College of Chemical and Life Sciences and the School of Public Policy offer a joint program of studies leading to both the MPP and the Master of Science in Sustainable Development & Conservation Biology in less time and at less cost than if the degrees were obtained separately. Because they can double-count some credits taken in one program towards the other program, students complete a total of 60 credits in the joint program versus 48 in the policy school and 39 in the M.S. program, thus saving 27 credits. Otherwise the requirements of both degree programs must be met.

Candidates must separately apply to the joint program in both the law school and the policy school. If admitted by only one program, the student may enroll in that program.

For further discussion of admission and degree requirements, students may consult each school's website.

Executive Master's in Public Management (MPM) (MPM)
The Executive Master's in Public Management degree consists of 30 credits of prescribed courses in the arts of public management and policy analysis. Students move through the program as members of a cohort at a designated site, often off-campus, convenient to most members of the cohort. To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must have at least five years of professional public management/policy experience. Additional information on the curriculum and admissions policies of this program are available on the School's website.

MPP/JD Dual Degree Program (MPP/JD)
The University of Maryland School of Law (located in Baltimore) and the School of Public Policy offer a joint program of studies leading to both the MPP and JD degrees, in less time (often four years) and at less cost than if the degrees were obtained separately. Because they can double-count 9 credits taken at each school towards the other school, students complete 75 (versus 84) credits at the law school and 39 (versus 48) credits in the policy school, thus saving 18 credits. Otherwise the requirements of both degree programs must be met.

Candidates must separately apply to the joint program in both the law school and the policy school. If admitted by only one program, the student may enroll in that program.

For further discussion of admission and degree requirements, students may consult each school's website.

Ph.D. in Policy Studies (Ph.D.)
The Ph.D. in Policy Studies program enables students to develop in-depth knowledge of the field and to conduct cutting-edge research on public policy and management issues. Students are required to successfully complete at least 24 credits of appropriate coursework, including two required research methods courses. In addition, students must take 12 credits of dissertation research. Students are required to pass exams in the basic disciplines of public policy and two field exams, usually with both a written and oral component, in broad topics relevant to their proposed thesis topics. They then develop and defend a dissertation prospectus followed by the dissertation itself.

The Ph.D. in Policy Studies is principally directed at students who have a master's degree in public policy or a related field, such as economics, statistics, education or international relations, from a program comparable in quality and content to one of the School's own master's programs. Students may apply while in the final year of such a program. Applications will also be considered from recent college graduates without a master's degree who have an outstanding academic record.

Most students will be required to maintain full-time status through completion of the course work leading up to their exams and thesis proposal; this typically requires two to three years. Some students will be admitted on a part-time basis with an agreed schedule to ensure timely completion. A faculty member at the School must agree to serve as the Ph.D. applicant's academic sponsor at the time of admission into the program. To facilitate the selection of a sponsor, applicants should include, as part of their application, a description of the general areas in which they want to study and write their dissertation.

Financial Assistance

The School has financial aid available in the form of fellowships, graduate assistantships, and employment. All qualified applicants meeting appropriate deadlines are considered.

Contact Information

Office of Student Affairs
2101 Van Munching Hall
MD  20742
Telephone: (301) 405-6331
Fax: (301) 403-4675
policy-applications@umd.edu

http://www.publicpolicy.umd.edu/

current URL: http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog/programs/printable.cfm?CODE=184

Copyright 2001 University of Maryland