Master of Public Affairs in Social and Economic Policy

The Master of Public Affairs is the first graduate public affairs program to blend academic theory with practical experience —preparing students to make an immediate impact in the world. The Master of Public Affairs program at the LBJ School is designed to prepare leaders with the skills and knowledge to effect meaningful change in government agencies, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.The School's mission is to develop leaders and ideas that will help our state, the nation and the international community address critical public policy challenges in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world. Drawing upon a world-renowned, multidisciplinary faculty, a diverse and talented group of master’s and Ph.D. students, a global network of alumni, and the resources of The University of Texas at Austin, one of the world's leading research universities, LBJ School graduates are uniquely qualified to shape public policy in the 21st century.The MPAff program is organized so that formal coursework in theory and relevant analytical skills are reinforced with ongoing opportunities for practical application. In order to enroll in the quantitative core sequence, an entering student must have completed either formal undergraduate coursework in calculus and statistics or passed the validation exam. A required internship between the first and second years provides direct contact with the operating realities of government, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations. Students may follow a general program of study or may choose to declare a specialization by focusing the scope of their second-year studies in one of seven policy areas. Students may enroll in the regular MPAff program on a full-time basis or on a part-time basis.Students can earn the Master of Public Affairs one of two ways: through a two-year, full time residential program in Austin or a 15-month track that includes living and working in DC during the final semester. Both programs provide a foundation for understanding the economic, political, analytical and management principles of policymaking. Students are equipped with the training on how to advance and administer effective solutions for a better world.

Students will be expected to have an understanding of descriptive statistics, probability and algebra before beginning coursework.Statement of PurposeTranscriptsThe GRE is optional for this cycle only and applicants may submit a GRE score if they feel it will strengthen their application. Three letters of recommendation are required as part of your application. We prefer one professional reference and one academic reference, while the third can be either professional or academic, depending on where you are in your career.RésuméThe Graduate School requires applicants to have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a comparable degree from a foreign academic institution.A grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or a comparable GPA in upper-division work—junior- and senior-level courses—and in any graduate work already completed is also required.