Muskie School of Public Service

Admissions

The USM Graduate Catalog for the academic year in which a student matriculates outlines the requirements the student will need to fulfill in order to graduate. Please note all academic policies and procedures in this catalog as well as the specific program requirements. The current graduate catalog can be downloaded in its entirety or by individual section from the USM Office of Graduate Studies web page. Previous graduate catalogues have been archived and are available online.

Master's Degree Programs

Applications are accepted for the fall and spring semesters. Admission is granted to those students with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university who demonstrate evidence of commitment to public service and the ability to perform graduate studies successfully.

Applications are submitted to the USM Office of Graduate Studies. Applications should be received by February 1 (for fall matriculation) and December 1 (for spring matriculation).

Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space available basis.

The master's degree program application includes:

  1. An official USM graduate application, including a written statement of interest in a public affairs career.
  2. Official scores of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
  3. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and other graduate education.
  4. Three letters of recommendation.

Credit toward completion of degree requirements owing to previously completed graduate study may be granted in certain cases.

Certificate Programs

Applications to the certificate programs are accepted at any time and do not require official matriculation into the University. The application form is available on the Muskie School website under the individual certificate programs or from the Office of Student Affairs at the Muskie School.

Doctoral Program

The Muskie School is NOT accepting applications for Fall 2009 matriculation. The next possible matriculation date is in the fall of 2011.

The PhD Program in Public Policy admits students to study every other year, beginning in 2003. Students begin study in the fall and are expected to complete the policy core in three semesters.

Admission to the program is highly selective. A small number of applicants will be chosen for admission based on evidence of their capability to undertake studies at the doctoral level, their demonstrated readiness for doctoral studies, the match between the applicant's proposed field of advanced study and faculty research interests, and programmatic capacity. The following sections describe the admission criteria and the application review process. Persons interested in applying to the program are strongly encouraged to talk with the PhD program chair and Muskie School faculty prior to submitting their applications.

Applications

It is possible to either apply online or download an application from the USM Office of Graduate Studies.