Public Policy, MPP

Admission Requirements

Consideration for admission to the MPP program is open to all individuals with a bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university that meets the admission requirements of Binghamton University’s Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions. All students applying to the MPP program must submit:

An online application and application fee through the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions, including:

• Official transcripts from each college or university that you have attended
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Two letters of recommendation
• Personal Statement

*Please note that GRE scores are not required but will be considered if submitted

Each applicant is evaluated based on their academic performance (i.e GPA), letters of recommendation, personal statement and work experience. The admissions committee can deny admission if an applicant’s letters of recommendation and/or personal statement are below an acceptable level.When evaluating the letters of recommendation, the Admissions Committee looks for evidence of academic achievement, community involvement and personal characteristics that suggest the applicant has the capacity to foster an institutional culture that advances democratic administration, governance, and policy. In the personal statement, the committee assesses the student’s commitment to public and/or nonprofit management and policy as well as writing abilities. Significant work experience (5 or more years in the public or nonprofit sector) can earn applicants a positive adjustment to their admissions scores; the lack of work experience does not result in a penalty.

Additionally, international students are required to provide necessary materials, as outlined by the Exclusively Online Programs website.The Department of Public Administration and Policy accepts the minimum Proof of English Proficiency requirements outlined by the university. Proof of English Proficiency Waivers follow the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions policy and requests are sent to their office for review.

Those wishing to be considered for a graduate assistantship must have their applications in by February 1 for fall semesters, and October 15 for spring semesters; applications received after this deadline are considered on a rolling basis/space available basis or are deferred until the next semester.

Guaranteed Admission

Guaranteed admission for some SUNY graduates is designed to accommodate the strongest applicants from seven of the most competitive SUNY schools. The program is open to students who hold a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.5 or higher from:

• Binghamton University
• University at Albany
• University at Buffalo
• State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• State University of New York at Geneseo
• State University of New York at New Paltz
• Stony Brook University

Students who meet these requirements and apply by the stated deadlines are guaranteed admission into the MPP program.

Program Requirements

The MPP Program is a 36-credit hour program including:

Nine core courses (36 credits) where students develop and apply a public service perspective throughout the policy process, demonstrating analytical and technical expertise while effectively communicating with professional audiences locally and globally

Our MPP Program, which involves courses taken in a fall, spring, and summer sequence, typically takes full-time students one year to complete. It can also be completed on a part time basis which would take two or three years, depending on the number of classes per semester taken. 

Additional Information About the Program

Academic Advising

All new students are assigned a faculty advisor in August before the fall semester starts. Faculty advisors assist students in planning their curriculum and provide additional academic counseling as needed. 

Grading Policies 

Students who earn a grade of B- or below in any core (required) course must repeat that course and earn a grade of B or better. Students who fail to earn a B or better grade the second time they take a core (required) course will be recommended to the Graduate School for severance from the MPP program. Students who fail to earn a 3.0 GPA in the first 12 credits will be placed on academic probation, and may be recommended to the Graduate School for severance from the program if the GPA is not above a 3.0 after the first 24 credits in the program. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to graduate.

Financial Assistance 

Each year the Provost’s Office allocates funds for graduate assistantships to the College of Community and Public Affairs. The stipend level is a fixed amount, and the department will determine whether assistants will qualify for a tuition scholarship. Funding for these positions is provided by the state of New York, and is therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty and change from year to year. Currently, graduate assistants qualify for health insurance coverage. Students may receive assistantships for a semester or an academic year. Students are also encouraged to apply for the Clifford D. Clark Diversity Fellowships for Graduate Students if eligible.

Graduate assistants must be in good academic standing at all times. Graduate assistants in the Department of Public Administration and Policy assist faculty in their research activities and may support other department initiatives. The activities include but are not limited to: conducting literature reviews; securing funding for research; collecting, organizing and analyzing data; and writing research papers and reports. Because of their close association with department faculty, their fellow students will perceive graduate assistants to be leaders within the program. Therefore, graduate assistants are expected to attend all department and CCPA-sponsored activities such as lectures, colloquia and social events, and will actively support the DPAP Graduate Student Organization. Their faculty supervisor may assign other duties. At the discretion of the admissions committee, it (or a subcommittee) may interview applicants to determine who will receive new assistantships.

For more information on the Master of Public Policy MPP program, please refer to the Public Administration and Policy website. To apply to the MPP program, please visit the University Admissions website.