MPA Admission Requirements

Steps to Apply to the MPA

Applicants must submit the following directly to the UA Little Rock Graduate School:

Applicants must submit the following directly to the MPA Coordinator: Dr. Joe Giammo at  jdgiammo@ualr.edu or Dr. Derek Slagle at drslagle@ualr.edu

  • Written statement of educational and career goals
  • Resume
  • At least two letters of recommendation

Admission Requirements

Regular admission may be granted to applicants who have achieved the following:

  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale) or a 3.0 in the last 60 hours. Work in other graduate or professional programs will be considered in making admission decisions.
  • A one-page written statement of educational and career goals (required)
  • Resume (required)
  • Two letters of recommendation (required)

Conditional Admission may be granted to applicants who have achieved the following:

  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 to 2.9 (4.0 scale). Work in other graduate or professional programs will be considered in making admission decisions
  • A one-page written statement of educational and career goals (required)
  • Resume (required)
  • Two letters of recommendation (required)

Special Conditional Admission: Applicants with a GPA between 2.5 to 2.6 but who demonstrate extraordinary potential for professional achievement may petition the MPA Graduate Coordinator for special consideration if they satisfy the following criteria:

  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 to 2.6 (4.0 scale) or a 3.0 in the last 30 hours. Work in other graduate or professional programs will be considered in making admission decisions.
  • A minimum of three years of verified professional work experience in public service or nonprofit
  • A one-page written statement of educational and career goals (required)
  • Resume (required)
  • Two letters of recommendation (required)
  • Personal interview with MPA Graduate Admissions Committee if requested by MPA Graduate Coordinator.

Application Deadlines

Applicants to the MPA program are accepted each semester (fall, spring, and summer). While there is no official deadline, applications do need to be processed and reviewed. It is recommended that students have their applications completed at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester.