The Master of Public Policy and Master of Public Administration programs admission process involves careful review of each applicant's background, experience and goals. We accept applications on a rolling basis, with a priority and final application deadline for both terms. Having a complete application submitted on or before the priority deadline will guarantee you an admission decision within two weeks and make you eligible for our largest scholarship.
Fall Priority Deadline: March 1
The final application deadline for Fall 2022 is July 18
Spring Priority Deadline: November 1
The final application deadline for Spring 2023 is December 9
We encourage all interested applicants to apply as early as possible and submit all application materials prior to the priority deadline. Any exceptions should be cleared with the Public Policy Programs department, and applicants will be admitted on a space available basis. For questions about the admissions cycle, contact our Graduate Admissions Counselor.
The following application materials are required for admission.
Bachelor's Degree
Applicants must have earned their bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
Transcripts
Official transcripts for all course work taken after high school are required to complete your application. Official transcripts must be sent directly to GradCAS. Detailed instructions can be found at Sending Official Transcripts to GradCAS. Please do not send transcripts to University of the Pacific.
Unofficial transcripts may be used for admission review purposes. We encourage all applicants to upload any unofficial transcripts to their application to speed up the review process. Please note that official transcripts will still be required to complete your application and must be submitted by the first day of class.
Personal Statement (three to five double-spaced pages)
A personal statement that describes your interest in public service and addresses the following:
- Your purpose in pursuing the MPA or MPP degree at Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law
- A general sense of what you hope to achieve with your degree after graduating
Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
Your recommenders will be required to submit their recommendations in the GradCAS system. Two letters are required, but you may submit up to four. Letters of recommendation should be from anyone who can speak to your professional skills and your ability to succeed at the graduate level.
Resume
A current resume which includes all relevant professional experience.
Additional Requirements for International Applicants
How to Apply
Prospective students apply to either the MPA or MPP program by using the link below to access the GradCAS application. When you get to the GradCAS page, follow these steps to start working on your application:
- Select the term you are seeking admission.
- Create an account on GradCAS.
- When you first sign into your account, go the Add Program tab at the top of the page. To quickly find our program, type in “Public Administration” or “Public Policy” and scroll to the bottom of the page.
- Press the + symbol next to the program name to add the program to your application. You will see a green checkmark that confirms your selected program has been added to your GradCAS application.
- Press the My Application tab to return to the main application page to start working on your application.
