Texas A&M University, Bush School of Government and Public Service

 

Guided by the vision of the 41st president of the United States, “that a successful life, by definition, includes service to others,” the master’s degree programs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service are designed for people who decide to devote a significant portion of their lives to improving the well-being of others through public and civic action.

“With George H.W. Bush’s life as a model, Bush School alumni use what they’ve learned to take on challenges ranging from global nonprofit work, to coordinating scholarships for women in Afghanistan, to serving in local, state, and national governments all over the world,” says Dr. Frank Ashley, senior associate dean for academic affairs and a senior professor.

The Bush School offers a two-year Master of International Affairs (MIA) and Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA), as well as an online Executive Master of Public Service and Administration (EMPSA). The newest program is the one-year Master of International Policy (MIP), for students with at least six years of experience in, or pertaining to, international affairs.

Also new is the Bush School’s Albritton Center for Grand Strategy, opened in 2018. Bridging the gap between academic and policy worlds, the center aims to promote new thinking about grand strategy for the United States. The goal is to train a new generation of public servants engaged in the debate over national interests and the best means to protect them. The center is led by Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Kim Field, a former deputy assistant secretary of state.

The center joins other Bush School units that give students the chance to engage with top researchers: the Program on Women, Peace, and Security; the Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy; the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs; the Institute for Science, Technology, and Public Policy; and the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy.

Successful applicants to the Bush School bring ideas for contributing to the international community and the nation. Candidates typically have a few years of experience, whether through travel, internships, volunteering, study or living abroad, or working in career-related fields.

“Conveying their ideas effectively through their essays and in a required interview are also important, as faculty are looking for maturity, an international perspective, and an ability to express themselves clearly and confidently,” says Kathryn Meyer, director of admissions and recruitment.

This year, the school is making the GRE optional in its MIA program if a student has a GPA of at least 3.2. The move follows a similar optional exemption implemented last year in the MIP program, which allows more experienced students to waive the test with certain criteria. “The waiver expands our holistic review efforts even more, by eliminating potential obstacles for many of our interested prospects,” Meyer says.

Graduate Degree Program Options
• Master of International Affairs (MIA)
• Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA)
• Master of International Policy (MIP)
• Executive Master of Public Service and Administration (EMPSA) (online only)

Deadlines
Priority Application for Fall 2020: January 15, 2020, for MIA and MPSA; April 15, 2020, for MIP
Application for Spring 2020 (for EMPSA): December 2, 2019, for US applicants; November 4, 2019, for international applicants
Financial Aid for Fall 2020: January 15, 2020, for MIA and MPSA
Financial Aid for Spring 2020 (for EMPSA): December 1, 2019

Standardized Exam Scores: All candidates for the MPSA and EMPSA, and those applying for the MIA who have a GPA below a 3.2, or those applying for the MIP who have a GPA below 3.0, must submit a GRE (or GMAT) test score. Non-native English speakers may have to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score if they do not meet exemptions. 

Recommendation Letters: Three required for MIA, MPSA, and EMPSA; two required for MIP

Application Checklist:
For MIA, MPSA, and MIP: http://bush.tamu.edu/admissions/degree 
For EMPSA: http://bush.tamu.edu/empsa/admissions

Visit the Request Info page to receive more information.