MPP graduates will have a diverse set of skills for employment in all areas of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, and will benefit from the Hobby School's extensive network of contacts.

Recent employers of our MPP alumni include Air Alliance Houston, American International Group Inc., British Consulate General Houston, CHILDREN AT RISK, Drug Enforcement Agency, Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management, Harris County Budget Management, Harris County Public Health, Harris County District Attorney's Office, Houston-Galveston Area Council, Institute for Human Rights and Business, Invesco, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Office of Texas State Representative Mary Gonzalez, Office of U.S. Congressman Randy Weber, Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Texana Center, Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Legislative Budget Board, United Healthcare, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

The average starting salary of a MPP graduate will vary greatly by sector, geography, and work experience. For example, entry-level policy analysts average over $50,000, and executive positions can earn over $100,000.

Yes, the MPP program was accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration's Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation in 2022.

For complete details on how to apply, visit the MPP Admissions page and Graduate Certificates page.

Please visit the Graduate Costs & Financial Aid page for a useful calculator to estimate tuition and fees. Full-time students usually register for at least nine credit hours (three courses) per semester. Part-time students register for six or three credit hours (one or two courses) per semester.

The Spring 2024 priority deadline for domestic and international applicants is October 15, 2023. The Fall 2023 application deadline for international applicants is November 1, 2023, and for domestic applicants is December 1, 2023.

The Fall 2024 priority deadline for domestic and international applicants is March 1, 2024. The Fall 2024 application deadline for international applicants is June 15, 2024, and for domestic applicants is August 1, 2024.

The Hobby School Admissions Committee will not review any application until the entire application has been completed and submitted.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. The Hobby School Admissions Committee's goal is for the applicant to receive an admissions decision within two weeks of submitting a completed application.

The application fee for the MPP program is $50 for domestic student applicants and $80 for international student applicants. The application fee for the graduate certificate programs is $25.

Domestic applicants can receive an application fee waiver if they attend one of the Hobby School's virtual information sessions. International applicants aren't currently able to receive an application fee waiver for the Hobby School's graduate programs.

The MPP and graduate certificate programs offer admissions for the fall and spring semesters.

Submit your official transcripts via one of these options. Electronic transcripts is the preferred method for Texas academic institutions.

Submitting official transcripts ASAP in the application process is strongly recommended. Unofficial transcripts refer to anything not received directly from an academic institution. Registration is not allowed until official transcripts have been received and verified.

International transcripts and degree certificates must be sent to the UH Graduate School in envelopes sealed and stamped by the issuing university to be considered official. Electronic academic documents sent from international applicants will not be accepted.

For more information on submitting transcripts for international applicants, visit the UH Graduate School's Transcript Information page.

Do not mail or drop off your transcripts to the Hobby School.

Regular Mail Address	Express Mail Address	Electronic or Speede Transcript
University of Houston Graduate Admissions P.O. Box 3947 Houston, TX 77253-3947	University of Houston Graduate Admissions 5000 Gulf Freeway UH Technology Bridge Building No. 3, Rm. 170 Houston, TX 77204-2105	The fastest way to send your college transcripts is electronically. We strongly recommend that you inquire at your previous institution about this option. Within the State of Texas, transcripts may be sent from your previous institution as a "Speede" transcript. For non-Texas institutions, electronic transcripts can be delivered via secured email to gradschool@uh.edu from the academic institution.

The MPP application requires two letters of recommendation. The graduate certificate application does not.

Letters of recommendation are gathered electronically. Applicants will be asked to provide the e-mail addresses of two references. Recommenders will be notified via e-mail and provided instructions to upload their letter of recommendation in support of the applicant.

The Hobby School encourages applicants to select one recommender that is a professional reference and the other recommender as an academic reference. However, the recommenders can be both professional or academic.

The statement of purpose (or personal/goal statement) explains why the applicant wants to pursue a graduate program and why the applicant would be a good candidate for the program. This document should be between 1-2 pages.

As part of the MPP program, students are required to complete a specialization that is six hours, or typically two courses. This specialization and courses are selected by the student and approved by the Hobby School.

The Hobby School doesn't have a pre-selected list of specializations that must be used. Therefore, students are encouraged to find graduate-level elective courses throughout the university that fit their interests. The following are some examples of MPP students' specializations: Governmental Affairs, Health Policy, Higher Education Policy, Nonprofit Management, and Quantitative Methods.

The specialization won't specifically appear on students' diploma or transcripts. However, a record is kept by the Hobby School of all specializations, and students are encouraged to list their specialization on their resume.

Yes, we offer dual degree/accelerated pathway programs.

Dual degree programs allow students to complete two graduate degrees in less time. Accelerated pathway programs provide provide senior students permission to take a specified number of master’s level courses as electives toward completion of their bachelor’s degree. The students then apply to the relevant graduate program and if accepted, the previously completed graduate coursework during the senior year is counted as transfer credit toward the completion of the master’s degree.

For more information on these programs, visit Dual Degree Programs page.

Full-time students can complete the MPP program in approximately two years or four to five semesters. Part-time students can take three or more years. Dual degree/accelerated pathway programs will typically take at least a year longer to earn both degrees.

The graduate certificates are comprised of four courses, and designed to be completed in two semesters. However, it's possible that a student could complete all four courses to earn the graduate certificate in only one semester, but this isn't recommended.

No, and the Hobby School Admissions Committee considers not just an applicant's GPA, but also their previous academic institutions, major/minor, and time to complete their program. While there is no minimum GPA requirement for these programs, applicants will have a higher probability of admission with a higher GPA.

However, applicants that have a GPA below 3.0 can only be admitted on a conditional basis, which is a probationary status to closely monitor the student's progress.

No, there aren't any required prerequisite courses needed for admission into the MPP and graduate certificate programs.

However, students would especially benefit from previous courses in economics, mathematics, philosophy, and writing.

In addition, the Hobby School offers non-mandatory Pre-MPP/Graduate Certificate Review Sessions prior to the start of all fall semesters that review important concepts to help students be better prepared.

Beginning Spring 2023, the GRE is waived for all applicants with a 3.3 or higher undergraduate GPA or if an applicant has completed a master's or doctoral degree.

Although there are no minimum GRE scores, the typical well-qualified student scores at least 152 on the verbal reasoning (approximately 52nd percentile), 150 on the quantitative reasoning (approximately 33rd percentile), and 4.0 on the analytical writing (approximately 54th percentile) sections. GRE scores will only be counted if the exam was completed within the previous five years of the application.

GRE scores should be sent directly from Educational Testing Services (ETS) to UH (GRE Code: R6870). Your application will not be processed without GRE scores if they are required. GRE scores older than five years will not be accepted.

International applicants will also have to satisfy English language proficiency requirements, which might include taking an approved test. For more specific information about the English language proficiency requirements, visit the English Language Proficiency Requirement page.

Yes, although applicants aren't required to submit GRE test scores if they qualify for a GRE waiver, they can still be submitted. GRE scores that are considered "good" may help an application or increase scholarship funding. However, GRE scores that are considered "bad" may do the opposite. Therefore, the applicant should take this into consideration prior to submitting GRE test scores if they aren't required.

While the MPP program requires the GRE besides the exceptions listed above, there are no tests required for admission into the graduate certificate programs.

International applicants will also have to satisfy English language proficiency requirements, which might include taking an approved test. For more specific information about the English language proficiency requirements, visit the English Language Proficiency Requirement page.

All graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, must demonstrate proficiency in English to obtain admission to the graduate programs.

The most common way is for an applicant to earn a bachelor's degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or at an institution at which English is the medium of instruction in the following countries: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada (except the Province of Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Ghana, Gilbraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, Micronesia (Federated States of Micronesai), Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Helena, South Africa, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales), United States, Virgin Islands, and Zimbabwe).

The other methods are achieving minimum scores on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)/IELTS (International English Language Testing Service)/Duolingo English Test, or Level 6 completion of UH's Language and Culture Center.

For more specific information about the English language proficiency requirements, visit the English Language Proficiency Requirement page.

For more information on program costs, please visit the Graduate Tuition & Fees page. The MPP is 39 credit hours, and the average student takes 9 credit hours per semester. The graduate certificates are 12 credit hours, and the average student takes 6 credit hours per semester.

Each semester, eligible students currently receive up to a $3,000 Hobby School Excellence Scholarship. The Hobby School Excellence Scholarship is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. In addition, other scholarships, grants, and loans are available via the UH Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Graduate certificate students aren't eligible for Hobby School scholarships or federal financial aid.

For more information, please visit the Financial Aid page.

No, the MPP and graduate certificate classes cannot currently be completed entirely online.

While a few classes are typically offered online throughout the program, the vast majority of the Hobby School's classes are currently face-to-face.

In order to accommodate working students, required classes are offered in the evenings, Monday through Thursday from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. However, some required classes have sections that are offered online or in non-evenings. Specialization elective classes can be held on different days and times.

Visit the Courses & Enrollment page for detailed instructions on how to register, steps to enroll, and more.

Most classes are held in Bates Law (BL), Teaching Unit 2 (TU2), and nearby buildings. Specialization elective classes can be held in different campus buildings.

Yes, as long as the job is related to public policy, it can be used for the MPP's internship requirement. However, the POLC 6391 Public Policy Internship course and related assignments would still need to be completed. The use of a current job is subject to approval by the Director of Graduate Studies. In addition, the Hobby School will assist students in finding possible internships if they aren't currently working. 

Hobby School MPP students have held a variety of internships that includes government offices, non-profit organizations and even private companies. Some recent examples include the Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement, City of Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, City of Conroe Office of Finance & Administration, City of Houston Mayor’s Office, City of League City Public Library, Fort Bend County Public Health, Harris County Office of Intergovernmental and Global Affairs, The Metropolitan Organization; and the National Diversity Council.

Possibly. With approval from the Director of Graduate Studies, students can transfer up to nine graduate credit hours from another university if they have not already completed that graduate program. Students will not receive transfer credit from a completed program. In addition, students will be required to submit syllabi and possibly coursework for the Hobby School to evaluate the potential for transfer credit.

Visit the UH Graduate Catalog's Academic Calendar.

Log into your student account via AccessUH, click on the "Navigate" icon, and follow the steps to request a face-to-face, phone, Teams, or Zoom meeting.

For more information and troubleshooting, please review the UH Quick Start Guide for Advising Appointments.

The minimum graduate GPA to complete the MPP or graduate certificate is 3.0. Students that have a GPA below 3.0 will not be approved for graduation, and will be required to take additional courses to sufficiently raise the GPA and then will need to reapply to graduate.

For more information, visit the Hobby School Commencement page.

Please contact Scott Mason (smason@uh.edu; 713-743-5572).

Bates Building/Bates Law (BL) and Teaching Unit 2 (TU2) are located in the old UH Law Center complex near the new John M. O'Quinn Law Building and the Elgin Street Parking Garage. Classrooms are located in both the Bates Building and Teaching Unit 2.

In Bates Building, faculty offices are on the First Floor and Second Floor; the Office of the Dean is Room 104; Business Operations is Room 101; Information Technology is Room 19; Student Lounge is Room 105; Student Services is Room 5; and the Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant Room is Room 205.

In Teaching Unit 2, Communications and Marketing is Room 102.

For more information, please visit the Hobby School's Visitor Information page.