Frequently Asked Questions
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

In This Document

• Newly Accepted Graduate Students
• General Questions
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Masters Degree Admissions
• Doctoral Degree Admissions

General Questions

1. Tell me about Georgia State University. Our facts page should give you a good introduction. You may also want to look at our online map.

2. Tell me about the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies website offers an overview of our history and our mission.

3. What are the fees for classes? This information is maintained by the Office of Student Accounts.

Undergraduate Admissions

1. What is the application deadline? Undergraduate admissions uses a priority and a late application deadline. If you apply using the priority deadline for the term you are interested in, the undergraduate admissions office guarantees that your application will be processed for that term. If you use the late application deadline, your application will be processed for your desired term if at all possible. You can get more information at the Undergraduate Admissions Home Page.

2. Can I come down to campus for an information session about undergraduate admission? Yes, information sessions are held daily at 10:00 and 2:00. Reservations are not required. The information session lasts approximately 2 hours, and you may take a campus tour at the conclusion of the session. You can schedule a campus tour online. There is a Undergraduate Admissions page for undergraduate admissions that can give you further information.

3. What are the admission requirements if I am a freshman? What are the admission requirement if I am a transfer student? I want to have a good idea if I'll be admissible before I apply. A formula is used for freshman admission. Transfer admission depends on the number of hours you have completed. Please see the Undergraduate Admissions page for an outline of the admission requirements for both freshman and transfer students.

4. Are there any other categories of admission besides freshman and transfer? If you already have an undergraduate degree, you may apply as a post baccalaureate student. These students are taking undergraduate courses, but are not in a degree program. A transient student is a student who is attending another institution, and will attend Georgia State and transfer his/her courses back to his/her home institution. The Undergraduate Admissions page can tell you more.

5. If I am an international student, are there any special requirements? There are issues regarding English proficiency, proof of financial means to study at Georgia State and credential evaluation which differ from applications for U.S. citizens. The application deadlines to apply also differ from the deadlines for U.S. citizens. Go to the Office of International Services and Programs for more information.

6. I don't know if I qualify as a resident of Georgia, and I know my fees for classes will be higher if I don't qualify as a resident. What are the criteria? Check out the Regent's requirements for residency.

7. I think I need to talk with someone. How can I get in touch with the undergraduate admissions office? The office telephone number is 404-651-2365. Their office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 until 5:15, and from 9:30 to 5:15 on Tuesday and Friday.
   
   
8. How do I get additional on-line information concerning the degree programs? You can go to the home pages for the departments of Economics or Public Administration and Urban Studies. To find out more about the degree programs in our three majors, click on the following links: Economics (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science), Public Policy (Bachelor of Science), and Urban Policy Studies (Bachelor of Science).

Masters Degree and Graduate Certificate Admissions

1. What is the application deadline?

   (Note: Master's and graduate certificate programs do not admit new students summer semester.)

   Masters Application deadlines
   For Fall Semester entry: April 1
   For Spring Semester entry: October 1

   If the deadline is on a weekend or holiday, applications will be accepted until the next workday following the application deadlines.

2. How are admission decisions made? Each degree program has a graduate admissions committee which determines the eligibility of each person who applies for graduate-level admission. Admission decisions are competitive. Each applicant is evaluated individually and among the current group of candidates. In this evaluation, consideration is given to the applicant's academic record, scores on the graduate entrance test(s), educational background, educational objectives, narrative information, work experience, professional activities and character. These elements together must indicate a favorable prospect of success in graduate study for an offer of admission to be made. In making the decision, the committee must consider at all times the optimum number of students in the program.

3. Do you need a bachelors degree in a certain field to be admitted to specific masters programs? A bachelor's degree in any field of study from a regionally accredited college or university is accepted for all masters programs. There are no prerequisites which will be assigned to the MS or MPA degrees. If you are applying to the MA-EC degree and have not had principles of economics, these and/ or intermediate macro and microeconomics may be required in addition to the minimum course requirements.

4. Do you have an on-line graduate application? Yes. Go to our online application.

5. What is required for application to the masters programs? The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies requires self-managed applications to its graduate programs. This means that the applicant collects all required materials other than test scores and submits them at one time to the Office of Academic Assistance A notice acknowledging receipt of the completed application packet is sent to the applicant immediately upon receipt by the OAA. 
   
   •Tips for applying online
   
   •Application checklist
   
   Please click on the degree that interests you for more information about the degree requirements:
   • Master of Arts in Economics
   • Master of Arts in Economics - Policy Track
   • Master of Public Administration
   • Master of Public Administration/Juris Doctor
   • Master of Science in Urban Policy Studies
     

6. I haven't taken the entrance test. Is there a trial or temporary admission I can have until I take the test? There is no provision for temporary or trial admission pending completion of the application process. A person can apply who has not received his/her undergraduate degree at the time of application. If the person is admitted, the transcript showing that the undergraduate degree was received prior to beginning the graduate program must be received during the individual's first semester of enrollment.

7. How do I get additional information on the GRE examination? For additional information on the GRE, you can call 1-800-GRE-CALL or go to their web page. To have your GRE score report sent to the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, the code number is 5251.

8. If I am an international student, are there any special requirements? If you are a nonnative speaker of English, or don't have a degree from a U.S. institution, official scores on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Second language) are required. The code to have your test score sent to Georgia State is 5251. In addition, if you are applying for a student visa, the Georgia State University Financial Statement Form and financial documentation is required.

9. How do I apply as a transient applicant? Students enrolled in a graduate program at another institution may take graduate courses in the school. A maximum of 9 semester hours may be taken as a transient student unless approval for additional hours is requested from the student's home institution. The following application materials are needed:
   1. the university application form;
   2. the $50.00 application fee;
   3. a Certification of Good Standing completed by the home institution.

10. I want to take graduate classes as a nondegree student. What do I have to do to be admitted? A nondegree student must meet the same admission criteria as a degree seeking student. The admissions test, the GRE, is required. International students will not be admitted in a nondegree status.

11. I don't know if I qualify as a resident of Georgia, and I know my fees for classes will be higher if I don't qualify as a resident. What are the criteria?  Check out the Regent's requirements for residency.

12. I have attended another graduate program. How many hours can I transfer into your program? You may transfer a maximum of 6 semester hours into our graduate programs. You must provide the course syllabus, and we will have the relevant faculty review for course equivalency.

13. How do I get a graduate catalog from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies? The Graduate Catalog is available online at the Georgia State Registrar's page. We do not mail catalogs; however, you may call us at 404-413-0021 or use the online request form to receive additional information.

14. How do I get additional on-line information concerning the degree programs? You can go to the home pages for the departments of Economics or Public Administration and Urban Studies.

Doctoral Programs

1. What is the application deadline to the doctoral programs? The doctoral programs only admit students once a year, for the fall semester.

   Doctoral Application Deadlines

2. How are admission decisions made? Each degree program has a doctoral admissions committee that determines the eligibility of each person who applies for the doctoral program. Admission decisions are competitive. Each applicant is evaluated individually and among the current group of candidates. In this evaluation, consideration is given tot he applicant's academic record, scores on the graduate entrance test(s), educational background, educational objectives, narrative information, work experience, professional activities and character. These elements together must indicate a favorable prospect of success in doctoral study for an offer of admission to be made. In making the decision, the committee must consider at all times the optimum number of students in the program. This could result in the denial or deferral of otherwise qualified applicants.

3. Can I be admitted to the doctoral program without a masters degree? You do not have to have a masters degree to be admitted into the doctoral program. However, if you are applying to the public policy program and do not have a public administration or policy masters, coursework equivalent to a masters core would be assigned in addition to the doctoral degree requirements.

4. Do you have an on-line application? Yes. Go to our online application.

5. When is the admission decision made? The admissions committee for each program typically reviews the entire applicant pool at the same time. Decisions are made by mid-April, and the accepted applicant is asked to make a commitment at the time the acceptance and assistantship (if awarded) offer is made.

6. Is the program a full-time program? The Ph.D. program in economics is a full-time program. The Ph.D. in public policy requires full-time attendance for one year (two consecutive semesters).

7. What material is required to complete an application?

   See application instructions for AYSPS graduate programs (masters level and doctoral).

8. How do I get additional information on the GRE examination? For additional information on the GRE, you can call 1-800-GRE-CALL or go to their web page. To have your GRE score report sent to the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, the code number is 5251.

9. If I am an international student, are there any special requirements? If you are a nonnative speaker of English, or don't have a degree from a U.S. institution, official scores on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Second Language) are required. The code to have your score sent to Georgia State is 5251. In addition, if you are applying for a student visa, the Georgia State University Financial Affidavit and financial documentation is required.

10. How do I get a graduate catalog from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies? The Graduate Catalog is available online at theGeorgia State Registrar's page. We do not mail catalogs; however, you may call us at 404-413-0021 or use the online request form to receive additional information.

11. How can I get additional information on-line concerning the doctoral degree programs? Visit the home pages for the Ph.D. in Economics or the Ph.D. in Public Policy.