General Admission Information and Timelines
The Ph.D. program is open to qualified individuals with a master's degree. Typically, at a minimum, an applicant should have earned at least a 3.2 GPA as an undergraduate and at least a 3.5 GPA for their graduate degree.
These are guidelines, and do not alone guarantee nor prohibit admission to the program in Public Administration and Public Policy (PAPP) program. The admissions committee considers the quality of previous academic work, letters of recommendation, scores on the TOEFL (for non-native English speakers), professional experience, and the fit between the student's educational objectives, faculty research interests and the specializations we offer. Applicants are encouraged, though not required, to submit GRE scores for evaluation. The committee welcomes additional evidence of strong analytical and verbal skills, creativity and commitment to the field of study.
Application Deadline
The program accepts new students in the spring of each year for enrollment in the fall. To allow time for the admissions committee to review your materials and process the admission decisions through the Graduate School, all required materials for admission should be received no later than February 5 for fall semester admission.
Application Process
Besides holding a master's degree, applicants also need to do the following to be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program:
- Apply online through the Auburn Graduate School
- Send the following materials directly to the AU Graduate School at the address below after you have applied online:
106 Hargis Hall
Auburn, AL 36849- Certified copies of transcripts from all post-secondary schools (undergraduate and graduate). Most international students will have to translate their transcripts and transform them into American Standards.
- TOEFL scores (international students only; however, international students holding an accredited American degree may not need TOEFL. For more information, please visit the AU Office of International Education.)
- The following materials should be submitted as part of the online application. In the event of any problems submitting, applicants should contact Ms. Belinda Marable at bhm0003@auburn.edu.
- Three letters of recommendation (at least two should be from previous professors if possible)
- A personal statement no longer than 1500 words (please describe yourself, the reasons you want to be a Ph.D. candidate, academic interests and areas of potential study)
- Current vitae (resume)
- A short writing sample or any publication. The program strongly prefers single-authored samples (where the applicant is the sole author).
- An admission is valid for one year. Admission can sometimes be deferred with the Admissions Committee's approval.
- Once all the materials are received, the application is sent to the program's Admissions Committee for consideration. Applicants generally receive a decision by early March. Any students with questions about the status of their materials or completed application should first check the online application portal for completion or missing documents, or contact Ms. Belinda Marable if you are still unclear. Students will receive written notification (email to the address on the online application) from the Graduate School. If a student is accepted into the PhD program, then the student will receive information from the department about beginning the program.
- Students should use the online application portal to accept or decline their admission offer once received.
We are also pleased to host a growing number of international students and military students. International students can obtain more information about campus and university requirements through the AU Office of International Education. Military students should contact the Ph.D. Director directly for information on accelerated timelines, which are commonly accommodated.