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What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

The M.P.A./J.D. program reduces the time of completion for both degree programs from five years to four.

Where will I take classes?

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

Fall:

  • Early deadline: February 15
  • Regular deadline: April 1
  • Late deadline: June 1

Spring: Does not admit

Summer: Does not admit

Master of Public Administration/Juris Doctor, M.P.A./J.D.

Georgia State University's College of Law and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies offer a joint Master of Public Administration/Juris Doctor degree. This joint program provides an opportunity to pursue studies in law, public affairs and public management concurrently. Students in the program use credit hours earned in one program to satisfy some or all of the elective course requirements for the other program, earning both degrees one to two terms earlier than would be required to earn each separately.

Program Details

Applicants must be separately admitted to both the J.D. and MPA programs and must request admission to the joint program. To apply to the College of Law, visit their website here: http://law.gsu.edu/admissions.

  1. Submitted Online Application. Online applications must be submitted by the deadline. Paper applications are not available.
  2. Application fee: A non-refundable fee of $50 is required for each application. This fee must be paid online by credit card.
  3. Goal statement: The goal statement is your means of presenting yourself to the Graduate Admissions Committee. You should submit a short, typed statement that answers the following:
    • What inspired you to pursue a degree and/or career in public service? Discuss any specific events, experiences (personal, academic, or professional), issue areas, or individuals that have influenced your decision.
    • How do you envision using a degree from the Andrew Young School to achieve your professional goals?
  4. Official GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores (Optional): The GRE of the Educational Testing Service is optional. However, the GRE is strongly recommended for any applicant whose undergraduate grade-point-average (UGPA) is below 3.0. If submitting GRE scores, official scores must be reported to institution code 5251 and received by GA State by the application deadline. More information can be found at our Admissions FAQ page or, to schedule the test, at www.gre.org.
  5. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) Academic scores (International applicants only): International applicants are required to submit official TOEFL or IELTS Academic scores.
  6. Three letters of recommendation: Letters should be submitted through the online application.
  7. Upload Transcripts from each post-secondary college/university attended:
    • Upload each transcript to the Academic History section of the online application before submitting your application or upload to your application status page under the Upload Materials section if your application has been submitted.
    • Review requirements for submitting transcripts here.
    • Failure to follow these requirements will delay your application processing.

The joint J.D. and MPA program is compressed of the following courses:

  • Required Core Courses (21 credit hours)
  • Electives (15 credit hours)
  • Internship or Practicum (3 credit hours)

View Curriculum Details

This joint degree is especially valuable to Georgia State graduates, given the university’s location in downtown Atlanta and proximity to numerous federal, state and local government agencies and to other private and nonprofit organizations with broad public affairs interests. The credibility of the joint degree nationally is evident through the many elite institutions that offer comparable programs.

Description

Careers

A joint MPA/J.D. enhances the employment opportunities for graduates of both programs by preparing students to meet the growing demands for lawyers with expertise in public management and for public administrators with legal expertise. Many recent law graduates are employed by government agencies, and others are employed by private and nonprofit sector organizations concerned with issues of public policy and public administration. Training in public administration is valuable to law graduates who seek this kind of employment. The field of public administration is also changing, with greater emphasis now on administrative law in M.P.A. curricula and greater attention to legal requirements in the training of public managers.

Contacts

Public Management and Policy
Phone: 404-413-0107
Fax: 404-413-0104

Office Location:
14 Marietta Street, NW, 3rd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303

Mailing address:
Department of Public Management and Policy
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3992
Atlanta, GA 30302-3992

Academic Assistance
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 404-413-0021

Office Location:
AYSPS Office of Academic Assistance
55 Park Place NE
Atlanta, GA 30303

Andrew Young School Logo55 Park Place NE
Atlanta, GA 30303

The information shared provides an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more, refer to the university catalogs.