Master of Public Administration General Admission Requirements

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

  1. North Georgia Graduate Admissions application and non-refundable application fee.
  2. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally-accredited institution and state a cumulative calculated grade point average.
  3. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or evidence of a graduate degree. Only those scores that are less than six years old will be considered.
  4. Three North Georgia recommendation forms.

In accordance with Board of Regents' policy, the following documents must be received two weeks prior to the first day of the term:

  1. North Georgia Immunization Certification form. Applicants seeking admission for an online program are required to submit the North Georgia Immunization Certificate form by checking the exemption for distance learning/online. If at any time students choose to take a class on the Dahlonega campus, or any other designated campus site, they are required to submit complete immunization documentation according to Board of Regents' policy.
  2. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the U.S.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission, individuals must:

  1. Hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally-accredited, four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with North Georgia Graduate Admission procedures.
  2. Have received an acceptable score on one of the appropriate entrance tests of at least 420 on the GMAT or 800 on the GRE (verbal and quantitative combined).
  3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

Provisional Admission

To qualify for provisional admission, individuals must:

  1. Hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally-accredited, four-year institution with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with North Georgia Graduate Admission procedures.
  2. Have received an acceptable score on one of the appropriate entrance tests of at least 340 on the GMAT or 700 on the GRE (verbal and quantitative combined).
  3. Meet all other program admission requirements.

Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than a cumulative total of 6-9 hours of graduate credit while enrolled with this status. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the completion of six hours.

Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade less than a B in any graduate public-administration course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the MPA program. Students who have been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply for admission by submitting a letter to the program coordinator after a period of one year from the date the student was removed. Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.

Non-Degree Admission

Individuals interested in taking graduate public-administration courses, but do not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as a non-degree graduate student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the program coordinator before enrolling in courses and may register for no more than a total of nine hours of graduate credit.

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

  1. North Georgia Graduate Admissions application and non-refundable application fee.
  2. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended with at least a 2.75 overall cumulative GPA in accordance with Graduate Admissions' procedures. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally-accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.75.
  3. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) of at least 800 (verbal and quantitative combined) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) of at least 420. Only those scores that are less than six years old will be considered.
  4. Three North Georgia recommendation forms.

In accordance with Board of Regents' policy, the following documents must be received two weeks prior to the first day of the term:

  1. North Georgia Immunization Certification form. Applicants seeking admission for an online program are required to submit the North Georgia Immunization Certificate form by checking the exemption for distance learning/online. If at any time students choose to take a class on the Dahlonega campus, or any other designated campus site, they are required to submit complete immunization documentation according to Board of Regents' policy.
  2. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the U.S.

Non-degree students wishing to apply for degree-seeking admission to the MPA program must notify the program coordinator, submit a new application, and meet all program admission requirements. All elective credit to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the MPA program coordinator.

Non-degree admitted students who earn a grade less than a B in any graduate public-administration course taken while holding a non-degree status will not be allowed to continue in the MPA program. Students who have been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply for admission by submitting a letter to the program coordinator after a period of one year from the date the student was removed. Non-degree admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.

Transient Student Admission

An individual currently enrolled at a regionally-accredited college or university as a graduate student in good standing may apply to North Georgia as a transient student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the program coordinator before enrolling in courses. Requests will be considered on a space-available basis.

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

  1. North Georgia Graduate Admissions application and non-refundable application fee.
  2. Letter of good standing or Transient Permission Form documenting that the student is not on academic probation or suspension or on disciplinary suspension at the student's home institution. The letter or form should state that the student is in good standing and should indicate the course(s) the student is being allowed to take at North Georgia.

In accordance with Board of Regents' policy, the following documents must be received two weeks prior to the first day of the term:

  1. North Georgia Immunization Certification form. Applicants seeking admission for an online program are required to submit the North Georgia Immunization Certificate form by checking the exemption for distance learning/online. If at any time students choose to take a class on the Dahlonega campus, or any other designated campus site, they are required to submit complete immunization documentation according to Board of Regents' policy.
  2. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the U.S.

Transient admission is for one term only. Individuals who wish to return to North Georgia as a transient student for a subsequent term must re-apply to North Georgia.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

A candidate whose application is denied because the graduate admission cumulative grade point average is below the minimum requirement for the program or because an acceptable test score for an appropriate entrance exam was not earned has the right to appeal the decision. Appeals must be made in written form to the Master of Public Administration Program, Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, Hansford Hall, North Georgia College & State University, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001.The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal. Students whose appeal is accepted will be admitted provisionally and are not eligible for financial aid while enrolled this status. Students may not appeal for regular admission.

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Master of Public Administration