Application Requirement Tables

Application Requirements

Thank you for your interest in applying to a graduate program at the School of Public Affairs (SPA) at 猫咪社区app University. Applications for听Spring 2024 and Fall 2024听are now available. Master鈥檚 degree and graduate certificate program application files are evaluated on a rolling basis, while the doctoral admission process occurs once per year (Fall admission only). Before applying, carefully review the application file requirements. Below you will find tables that听denote the required application components*听by degree program. Application questions may be directed to听spaapp@american.edu.

Applicants are encouraged to register for an application coaching session on our Recruitment Events page (info sessions tab).听

*Although listed for only one graduate program, The Key Executive Leadership MPA, SPA may request to schedule an interview with any applicant in an effort to gather additional information in supplement to the requirements outlined in the tables below.

Master's Degrees(On-猫咪社区app)
Dual Degrees (On-猫咪社区app)
Master's Degrees (Online)
Combined Programs - AU undergraduates only (On-猫咪社区app)
Certificate Programs (On-猫咪社区app)
Ph.D. Programs (On-猫咪社区app)

Master's Degrees (On-猫咪社区app)

Masters (On-猫咪社区app)
Program	Personal Statement	Resume	Letters of Recommendation听	Unofficial Transcript(s)	Standardized Test(s)*	English Proficiency Test (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or DET)	Writing Sample	Interview
MA Political Science听	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	GRE Optional: See note below** 听	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only	听	听
MA Political Communication	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only	听	听
MS Data Science听	Required	听	听	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only	听	听
Master of Public Administration (MPA)	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only	听	听
Key Executive Leadership (MPA)	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only	Required	Required
Master of Public Policy (MPP)	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only	听	听
MS Justice, Law, & Criminology (JLC)	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	GRE Optional: See note below**	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only	听	听
MS Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy (THSP)	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	GRE Optional: See note below**	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only	听	听

*Optional means an applicant may submit an official standardized test score for consideration in an effort to strengthen their file.听

**听GRE Master鈥檚 Degree Program Notes:听The听MA Political Science听program does not currently require the GRE; however, students with GPAs below 3.1 who believe their GPA does not reflect their academic potential are encouraged to include a GRE test score in their application file.听The听MS JLC and MS THSP听programs do not currently require the GRE; however, students with GPAs below 3.0 who believe their GPA does not reflect their academic potential are encouraged to include a GRE test score in their application file.

Dual Degrees (On-猫咪社区app)

Dual Degrees (On-猫咪社区app)
Program	Reference
JD/Master of Public Policy	Applicants should refer to the听JD and Master of Public Policy page.
LLM/Master of Public Policy	Applicants should refer to the LLM and Master of Public Policy page.
JD/Master of Public Administration	Applicants should refer to JD and Master of Public Administration page.
LLM/Master of Public Administration	Applicants should refer to LLM and Master of Public Administration page.听
JD/MS Justice, Law & Criminology	Applicants should refer to JD and MS Justice, Law & Criminology page.听

Master's Degrees (Online)

Masters (Online)
Program	Personal Statement	Resume	Letters of Recommendation	Unofficial Transcript(s)	Standardized Test(s)*	English Proficiency Test (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or DET)
Master of Public Administration & Policy (MPAP)	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only
MS Counter-Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy (CTHSP)	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only

*Optional means an applicant may submit an official standardized test score for consideration in an effort to strengthen their file.听

Combined Programs (On-猫咪社区app)

猫咪社区app University undergraduates only. The GRE is waived for all Combined Program applicants. There is no English Proficiency Test (EPT) score required for international applicants.

Combined Programs (On-猫咪社区app)
Program	Personal Statement	Resume	Letters of Recommendation听	Unofficial Transcript	Terms of Agreement
BA/MA Political Science	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	Required
BA/MA Political Communication	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	Required
BA/MS Data Science	Required	听	听	Required	Required for Applied Public Affairs Track only
BA/Master of Public Administration (MPA)	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	Required
BA/Master of听Public Policy (MPP)	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	Required
BA/MS Justice, Law, & Criminology (JLC)	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	Required
BA/MS Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy (THSP)	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	Required

Certificate Programs (On-猫咪社区app)

Certificate Programs (On-猫咪社区app)
Program	Personal Statement	Resume	Letters of Recommendation	Unofficial Transcript(s)	Standardized Test(s)*	English Proficiency Test (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or DET)
Analytics & Management	Required	Required	听	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only
Cyber Policy & Management***	Required	Required	听	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only
Executive Leadership听	Required	Optional	听	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only
Leadership for Organizational Change	Required	Required	听	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only
Nonprofit Management	Required	Required	听	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only
Public Financial Management	Required	Required	听	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only
Public Management	Required	Required	听	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only
Public Policy Analysis	Required	Required	听	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only
Women, Policy & Political Leadership	Required	Required	Required: Two (2) letters	Required	GRE Optional	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only

*Optional means an applicant may submit an official standardized test score for consideration in an effort to strengthen their file.听

***Open to current or admitted THSP students only.

Ph.D. Programs (On-猫咪社区app)

Doctoral Programs (On-猫咪社区app)
Program	Personal Statement	Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)	Letters of Recommendation	Unofficial Transcript(s)	Graduate Record Examination (GRE)****	English Proficiency Test (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or DET)	Writing Sample
Ph.D. in Political Science	Required	Required	Required: Three (3) letters	Required	Required (Official Scores)	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only	Required
Ph.D. Public Administration & Policy	Required	Required	Required: Three (3) letters	Required	Required (Official Scores)	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only	Required
Ph.D. in Justice, Law, & Criminology	Required	Required	Required: Three (3) letters	Required	Required (Official Scores)	Required (Official Scores): International Applicants Only	Required

****No GRE waivers. Official scores required.

猫咪社区app