Henry W. Bloch School of Management

You may apply to and begin the M.P.A. program in any semester. Our priority deadlines are the following:

• Fall: August 1
• Spring: December 1
• Summer: May 1

You are encouraged to apply by the priority deadlines, but we do offer rolling admissions. However, if your completed application is not received by a semester’s priority deadline we cannot guarantee admission for that semester.

Admission to the M.P.A. program is selective. A completed application includes all of the following:

UMKC application, plus application fee.

Official transcripts* (one copy) from all colleges/universities attended, sent to:
UMKC Office of Admissions
120 Administrative Center
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499

*You must have completed a bachelor’s or first level professional degree from a regionally accredited institution.

An official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score.

• While the GRE is preferred, our admissions committee will also consider scores from the GMAT, LSAT and PCAT exams. Your test score cannot be more than five years old at the time of admission to the program. Scores will be considered official if deemed official by the UMKC office originally receiving the score.
  * see Admission Requirements section below for more information.
• If you have a prior master’s degree, you will be asked to provide a GRE, GMAT, LSAT or PCAT score. The five-year time limit does not apply if you have earned a prior master’s degree at the time of admission to the program.

A current resume. This can be submitted via email.

A one-page goal statement that describes your career plans, why you desire to attend UMKC, and why you want to obtain the M.P.A. This should be your own original writing. Any quote used should be properly attributed to the author. This can be submitted via email. Please make sure to include your name on all documents.

Information about your current employment (part time/full time, and related travel commitments). This should be included in the goal statement. Please make sure to include your name on all documents.

International students should start the process with UMKC’s International Student Affairs Office.

• If you are not exempt from the TOEFL requirement (see the list on the ISAO web site), a minimum TOEFL score of 550 paper/213 computer/79-80 internet is required. An IELTS score of 6.0 or higher will be considered in lieu of the TOEFL.
• TOEFL waivers are not granted.

The following admissions requirements will be in place through summer 2013.

New requirements will apply to students applying for admission for the fall 2013 semester and beyond.

• Achieve a total of 190 points using the formula GRE Verbal Percentile + GRE Quantitative Percentile + GRE Analytical Writing Percentile + [(Cumulative UG GPA (on 4.0 scale) - 2.0) x 50]; scores in each section of the GRE must be at or above the 10th percentile.
• Test scores must be less than five years old at the time of consideration for admission.
• Faculty will also consider LSAT and PCAT scores. Exam scores must be at or above the 50th percentile in each section of the test. These scores must also be less than five years old at the time of consideration for admission.
• Applicants with a prior master's degree will be asked to provide an admission test score (GRE, GMAT, LSAT or PCAT). The five-year time limit will not apply to these scores. Additionally, unofficial score results will be accepted.

Bloch School reviews completed applications in the order received and will inform you of admission committee decisions in writing, mailed to your address. You should allow two-four weeks from when the completed application is received by Bloch until there is a decision from the committee.

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The following admission requirements will be effective for students applying for admission for the fall 2013 semester and beyond:

• Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.5 or higher (on a 4 point scale), will be waived from the GRE and will qualify for automatic admission to the program.
• Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average below 3.5 will be required to complete the GRE. A total of 190 points must be achieved using the formula GRE Verbal Percentile + GRE Quantitative Percentile + GRE Analytical Writing Percentile + [(Cumulative UG GPA (on 4.0 scale) - 2.0) x 50]; scores in each section of the GRE must be at or above the 10th percentile. Test scores must be less than five years old at the time of consideration for admission.
• Faculty will also consider LSAT and PCAT scores. Exam scores must be at or above the 50th percentile in each section of the test. These scores must also be less than five years old at the time of consideration for admission.
• Applicants with a prior master's degree will be asked to provide an admission test score (GRE, GMAT, LSAT or PCAT). The five-year time limit will not apply to these scores. Additionally, unofficial score results will be accepted.
• Applicants with a prior master's degree who are unable to provide an admission test score, but have a 3.5 cumulative undergraduate GPA will be automatically admitted to the program. Those with a prior master's degree, no graduate admission exam score and a grade point averages below 3.5 can petition for admission by exception by sending a request to blochadvising@umkc.edu.
• Completed application packets must be received no later than the Monday that falls two weeks prior to the start of the semester in order to be considered for admission for that term.

Bloch School reviews completed applications in the order received and will inform you of admission committee decisions in writing, mailed to your address. You should allow two-four weeks from when the completed application is received by Bloch until there is a decision from the committee.

Letters of recommendation: None are required as part of the application process.

Financial aid/scholarships: In order to be given financial aid/scholarships, you must be admitted to UMKC as a degree-seeking student. The priority deadline for financial aid is February 1, which means you should apply early in order to be considered for the best possible aid package.

Transfer credit: We will accept up to six (6) credit hours applicable to your program completed with distinction at an accredited institution. An official transcript must be supplied. All transfer credit is approved by your academic advisor during your first semester.

Tuition: The UMKC Metro Rate (in-state tuition) is available to graduate students who are residents of the following Kansas counties: Atchison, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Osage, Shawnee and Wyandotte. Part-time domestic students in the traditional M.P.A. program (which means one class (three credit hours) to two classes (six credit hours) in fall and spring semesters, and one class in summer semester), you will pay in-state tuition regardless of your residency.* View the UMKC tuition and fee schedule.
*International students should consult UMKC’s International Student Affairs Office regarding tuition and fees.

* In place through admission for summer 2013 only

• If your undergraduate cumulative grade point average is 3.25 or above, but you have not taken the GRE, you may be admitted provisionally for one semester. Provisionally admitted students are restricted to certain core M.P.A. classes and are limited to a maximum of nine hours of coursework. (Your cumulative GPA includes all attempts at all undergraduate coursework.)
• You must supply a written statement with your application notifying the admissions committee of your intent to apply provisionally.
• Normal admission requirements for the M.P.A. must still be met even if provisional admission is granted. Provisional admission does not change the M.P.A. admission requirements, it merely allows you additional time to take the GRE. If you take the GRE after the recommended dates, your registration for subsequent semesters, as well as progress toward your degree, may be delayed.
• The GRE exam should be completed prior to the fourth week of the semester to ensure receipt of official scores before the end of the term. Students provisionally admitted in summer should plan to take the exam within the first two weeks of the term.
• If you do not meet the above admission requirements, you may be considered for admission due to exceptional circumstances. You must provide written supporting evidence with your application. Provisional admission is very competitive due to the limited number of students who can be admitted in this fashion.

The B.A. (Urban Studies)/M.P.A. Program
Students obtaining a B.A. in Urban Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at UMKC may pursue early admission to the master’s degree program in public administration and obtain a master’s degree in one additional year. The program allows students to utilize some of the M.P.A. courses to satisfy Urban Studies requirements, thereby reducing the number of courses needed to complete both degrees. Students interested in this option should contact Dr. David Renz in the Bloch School.

The B.B.A./M.P.A. Program
Students completing the bachelor of business administration at UMKC may complete their M.P.A. degree in one additional year (three semesters). For more information about this option, contact the Bloch School Student Services Office. Please note that this program is available to UMKC undergraduate students only, and must be started while you are still working on your undergraduate degree.