Admission Requirements

Getting Started

Please visit the Office of Graduate Studies website www.fgcu.edu/graduate or contact Graduate Studies at 239-590-7988 or graduate@fgcu.edu for an application for admission and additional information about the application process.

Program Admission Requirements

Admission to the Program

Applicants for admission to the MPA program are expected to meet or exceed the following requirements:

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning;
2. Completion of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) within the last five years;
3. One of the following:
   • (Combined score of GRE quantitative and verbal sections) + (GPA for the last 60 semester hours attempted at the upper division undergraduate level X 200) must equal or exceed 1600; or
   • (MAT percentile rank for intended major) + (GPA for the last 60 semester hours attempted at the upper division undergraduate level X 18) must equal or exceed 100;
4. Completion of 15 hours of undergraduate coursework in the social sciences or business, including 3 hours in quantitative skills;
5. International applicants for whom English is a second language are required to submit a score of 550 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Required application materials consist of the following:

1. A complete FGCU Graduate Application (LINK);
2. One official transcript from each baccalaureate and/or graduate institution attended;
3. One official copy of test scores from either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogy Test (MAT) taken within the last five years;
4. A complete Division of Public Affairs Supplemental Application Form (LINK);
5. Three completed reference rating forms/letters of recommendation from persons qualified to judge the applicant's academic and professional potential (LINK);
6. An Immunization History Form (except for Distance Students who will not be on campus either for classes or for research during their period of study);
7. A Letter of Application/Statement of Career Goals, no more than two pages in length, that briefly discusses any or all of the following: the influences that led you to the selection of FGCU's MPA Program, career goals, relevant work and/or academic experience, and volunteer activity in the community.

Student Handbook

Download copy of the MPA Student Handbook (.pdf)

Special Note for Prospective Distance MPA Applicants

Students who have less than one year of full-time professional work experience in the public or not-for-profit sectors will be required to complete the MPA program's core courses (with the exception of PAD 6961, Capstone Project) by attending two to four classes conducted on the FGCU campus. These courses will be offered during the evening or on weekends. Check the course schedule on Gulfline for the times and dates of the on-campus classes. These students also must complete a 3-credit MPA internship (PAD 6940). The MPA Admissions Committee will determine whether or not an applicant's work experience satisfies these requirements.

Advising

Following admission to the program, all MPA students are assigned a faculty advisor. The MPA faculty advisor assists students with individual academic program planning, selection of areas of concentration, and choice of electives. The student's MPA faculty advisor may also work jointly with other faculty in and outside the Division of Public Affairs on courses related to the student's concentration area. Students who wish to have a particular faculty member serve as their regular advisor may make this request with the division chair.

Courses via Distance Education

 The Division of Public Affairs offers the majority of its courses in an Internet-based format enabling many students to complete all their degree requirements via distance learning. Courses incorporate Internet technology such as listservs, web boards and chat rooms, in some cases supplemented by optional discussion sessions held on the FGCU campus. Students may register for one or more courses per semester, selecting from the distance courses scheduled each term. Eligibility requirements include adequate home computer system and Internet service capacities for completing Internet based coursework.