In addition to meeting all conditions required for admission of other students, as set forth below under either “Regular Admission Requirements” or “Conditional Admission Requirements,” international applicants must meet the following requirements:
Have official TOEFL score (KSU code number 1368) provided directly from the testing agency. TOEFL scores must be 525 or above. Students completing their undergraduate studies in the United States or at universities elsewhere where English is the principal language of instruction are exempt from submitting TOEFL scores.
Demonstrate, via Declaration of Certification of Finance, that sufficient funds are available to finance the planned course of study without causing undue hardship on the student.
A successful international applicant will be sent an official Letter of Acceptance and information pertaining to registration and enrollment. Upon receipt of the official Letter of Acceptance, a confirmation deposit of $3,500 U.S. dollars must be sent before the University will forward an Immigration Form (I-20) Certificate of Eligibility. This deposit will remain on account until the student graduates or withdraws from the University. However, a student may apply a maximum of 65% of the $3,500.00 deposit toward tuition and fees during the first semester of matriculation. International students are required to make payment in U.S. dollars.
The Master of Public Administration program admits only students whose preparation indicates potential for a high level of success. Applicants who hold earned bachelor's degrees from accredited institutions and have overall GPAs of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) receive Regular Admission based entirely on evidence of that undergraduate accomplishment. Applicants with GPAs of less than 3.0 may obtain Regular Admission by meeting BOTH Requirements A and B below. Requirement A ensures that all MPA students are likely to succeed in professional graduate study; Requirement B ensures that all students also have the potential for career success in the public service. Only applicants meeting both requirements can be admitted.
Admission Requirement A: Applicants must possess earned bachelor's degrees from accredited colleges or universities with minimum grade-point averages of 2.7. This information should be verifiable from applicants' official transcripts.
Admission Requirement B: Applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:
Have completed at least 24 hours of undergraduate work related to public administration. This information should be verifiable from applicants' official transcripts. For the purposes of this requirement, the following disciplines are considered related to public administration: public administration, political science, sociology, psychology, history, social work, criminal justice/police administration, computer science, international studies, economics, and business (all sub-fields).
considered related to public administration: public administration, political science, sociology, psychology, history, social work, criminal justice/police administration, computer science, international studies, economics, and business (all sub-fields).
Have been employed full time in a professional position by a governmental or non-profit organization for a period of at least two (2) years. This is normally verified using a letter from a past or present supervisor or employer, which may be one of the three letters of reference mentioned above. A “professional” position is either one which requires incumbents to have completed at least two years of college or a position which demonstrably requires exercise of substantial judgement, self-direction, analytical skills, or leadership. Applicants may supplement employer letters with additional documentation concerning the nature of their duties.
Submit a combined score of at least 1,100 (Verbal, Mathematical, and Analytical) on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or a score of at least 480 on the Graduate Management Test (GMAT).
Applicants who meet one of these three requirements are not required to submit documentation concerning the other two. For example, if an applicant's transcript indicates that he/she has completed 21 hours of coursework related to public administration (requirement 1), then the applicant need not necessarily submit a GRE score or an employer letter.
Upon recommendation of the faculty, the dean may grant Conditional Admission to applicants who have undergraduate GPAs of at least 2.4 and who meet all other requirements for Regular Admission. Such applicants must possess baccalaureate degrees and must meet Requirement B of the “Regular Admission Requirements.” As described above, Requirement B can be fulfilled using related coursework, professional experience, or a test score. Conditionally admitted students are subject to initial performance requirements more stringent than those imposed upon others, as described below under Probation and Dismissal.
To obtain non-degree graduate admission, each prospective student must submit a transcript indicating that he/she possesses an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Non-degree status is appropriate for students seeking to take courses purely for their own enrichment. If a non-degree student earns any graduate course grade below a “B” at Kentucky State University, his/her non-degree admission status will be terminated. If a non-degree student completes six hours of coursework at the University, that student's non-degree admission status