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George Mason University

Virginia, Virginia, United States

Public Administration, MPA

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is designed for people who hold or aspire to hold leadership positions in organizations that participate in the development and implementation of public policy. The mission of the MPA program is to give graduate students the opportunity to build their knowledge of politics, public policy and management and to enhance their analytic, problem solving, and communication skills.

MPA students at Mason have the research and cultural resources of the Washington, D.C. area at their disposal. Government agencies representing all levels in the U.S. federal system are located close to the campus, as are the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution. Another benefit is the wide range of internship opportunities available in governmental and nonprofit organizations. The MPA Program regularly has internship invitations from national, state, and local government organizations, as well as from nonprofit organizations whose principal work is at the local, state, national, or international levels. Many of these internships are paid positions.

MPA courses are held at the Fairfax and the Arlington campuses during the week and on the weekend in an accelerated format.

Intakes

  • Jan
  • Aug

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Application Process

Visa Process
30 Days

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

George Mason University (GMU) offers strong potential for job opportunities for its graduates, evidenced by its career services that provide guidance on resume refinement, interview preparation, and employer connections. The university also boasts a high average employee salary compared to national averages for government and other university employees, suggesting potential for well-compensated careers upon graduation. 

Career Services and Resources
Professional Guidance:

GMU's career advisors offer support to students and graduates, helping them to refine resumes, prepare for interviews, and connect with potential employers. 
Employer Connections:
The university actively helps its students and graduates build networks with potential employers, enhancing their job prospects. 

PSW Opportunity

Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.

Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).

STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.

Contact our PSA counselor for more information

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study.
The GPA requirement may be higher for some graduate programs.
The university, at its discretion, may, in evaluating the meeting of this requirement, additionally consider the difficulty of the baccalaureate degree, relevant work experience, any/or other evidence of ability to succeed in graduate study.
For students with post-baccalaureate credits, a separate GPA is calculated for each institution.
For applicants whose initial post-secondary degree is an integrated master's degree or higher (no baccalaureate degree earned), the university, at its discretion, will evaluate those applicants based on that initial degree.

ACT = Not accepted

Duolingo English Test = 120

IELTS = 7.0 and 6.5 each subsection*  All CEC applicants 6.5 and no minimum subsection score required

Pearson Test of Academic English = 67

TOEFL = 88 and 20 each subsection* All CEC applicants 80 and no minimum subsection score