Admission

The online M.P.P. and M.P.A. programs have three opportunities to begin the program each year: fall, spring and summer. Courses are offered year-round.

We review applications on a rolling basis. There are benefits to applying before the priority deadlines, but you can submit your application any time before the final deadline.

Connect with an enrollment counselor by calling us toll-free at 855-741-1818 to learn more about the program and our admission process.

Application materials

Completed online application

It takes less than 10 minutes to start an application for our program, and your progress is automatically saved, allowing you to take your time and come back to the application when you are ready. Once the initial application has been submitted, you will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials.

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Application fee

There is a $75 application fee when you submit your application. However, this fee is waived for prospective students who submit their application by the priority deadline.

Undergraduate transcripts

We require official transcripts for all higher education institutions where the applicant has earned at least 9 credits, whether a degree was completed or not. Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded to the application for admission purposes.

All admitted applicants who decide to enroll at SMU will need to provide official transcripts before registering for courses. Official transcripts can be submitted electronically or in hard copy form. When sending an electronic transcript, please note that SMU will only accept electronic transcripts sent from the transferable institution via a secure means (e.g., Scrip-Safe, NSC).

We will not accept official electronic transcripts sent by students. Institutions can send electronic transcripts to gradappmaterials@smu.edu.

Hard copy transcripts must be sealed and sent by the applicant’s institution to the following address:

Resume

Your resume acts as a professional summary. It should highlight your past job experience, educational background (including any specific honors or awards), any research or publication contributions and your relevant skills and qualifications.

Two letters of recommendation

Slate, our application system, will send each reference a standard form to complete with the option to attach an open-format letter if desired.

The purpose of the recommendations is to give the admission committee an indication of your ability to succeed in the program. Choose recommenders who know you well and have evidence they can share about how you will succeed in an online master’s program. Ideally, applicants should submit at least one from an academic source, although this is not a strict requirement.

Personal statement

We want to understand why you are interested in this program. In around 500 words, use this opportunity to explain why you’ve decided to advance your policy education. You should describe your career goals and explain how this degree will help you achieve them. We also recommend that you demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the online learning environment and define strategies that you will use to actively engage with classmates and instructors.

Decision

Once we’ve received all application materials, our graduate admission board will review your application and email your decision to you within 10 business days.

Leave of absence policy

A leave of absence is a temporary leave from the University that may be necessary during an academic career. Students may elect to take leaves of absence for a variety of reasons, including:

• Medical reasons, including accident or illness
• Family crises or other personal situations that require an extended absence from school
• Financial issues that may take time to resolve
• Academic difficulties that may best be handled by taking time to refocus on college work

Typically, a leave of absence is for one term or one academic year. Students may extend a leave of absence by contacting their academic department representative. Learn more about our Leave of Absence Policy on our university enrollment page.

Withdrawal policy

If you need to withdraw from the University, you must contact your academic school of record or dean’s office. A student who officially cancels their enrollment or withdraws from the University is charged only a portion of tuition and fees based on the effective date of the cancellation or withdrawal. Learn more about our withdrawal policy on our Withdrawal/Cancellation Info page.