Master's Program Frequently Asked Questions
Important information to know about applying to SPEA
Specific questions may be directed to speaapps@indiana.edu or the Masters Program Office, 800.765.7755.
Are there any prerequisites for admission to your programs?
How do I submit my Personal Statement?
How can I check my application status?
What is the difference between need-based and merit-based aid?
How do I apply for SPEA merit aid?
What standardized tests are required for admission to SPEA?
What codes should I use to have my test scores sent to SPEA?
Do you have specific test score and GPA requirements for admission?
When will I be notified of an admission decision?
When does SPEA notify financial aid recipients of their award?
How are financial aid decisions made?
Do you offer spring admission to your programs?
On the application, how do I select the dual program (MPA/MSES)?
Are there any prerequisites for admission to your programs?
- MPA: There are no prerequisites to the MPA program. However, it is strongly recommended that applicants have one semester of statistics and college math (basic algebra).
- MSES: The MSES Admissions Committee looks for applicants to have an adequate background in quantitative and natural science subjects. As a minimum, an applicant must have completed at least one (1) semester of: calculus and chemistry with lab. Familiarity with concepts in biology/ecology, as well as statistics, is also desirable.
- MPA/MSES: Please see the above guidelines for each respective program.
How do I submit my Personal Statement?
There are two ways to fulfill the Personal Statement requirement.
1. Use the text box in the Departmental Questions form (Section III) to respond to the provided prompt. This is the prefered method.
2. Alternatively, you may leave the Personal Statement text box in the Departmental Questions form blank and upload your Statement through the eApp or email your Statement as a pdf attachment to speaapps@indiana.edu.
The typical length of the Personal Statement is 2 pages.
*Only one personal statement is required. You do not need to submit your statment multiple places.
Do I need to upload my Personal Statement and Resume to the University Graduate Application and submit them as part of the SPEA Departmental Questions?
No, it is only necessary to submit these documents one time. Please choose whichever method works best for you.
I am a US permanent resident or US citizen who completed my undergraduate education outside of the US. Do I need to complete anything additional for my application?
Permanent residents and US citizens who completed their undergraduate education outside of the US should fill out the domestic application. You are also required to fill out an additional form to accompany your transcripts. The form can be found here: http://admit.indiana.edu/doc/IUBSupIntlApp1.pdf.
Please send your official transcripts and this form directly to SPEA’s Masters Program Office (MPO) at 1315 E. 10th St. Bloomington, IN 47405.
How can I check my application status?
Indiana University recently transitioned to a new application system, the eApplication. At this time, there is not a system feature by which applicants may monitor their application status. Therefore, SPEA will make every effort to keep applicants apprised of their application status. In the meantime, you may contact SPEA’s Masters Program Office (MPO) at speaapps@indiana.edu for an update of your status. Please note, our office is receiving a high volume of application materials at this time. We appreciate your patience as it may take 2-4 weeks to process materials after they arrive. Our staff time-stamps all application materials the day they arrive.
What is the difference between need-based and merit-based aid?
SPEA allocates merit-based aid from our departmental budgets. Merit aid allocations are determined by ranking applicants within the applicant pool based on criteria that include: transcript substance, undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, work and/or other experiences. Need-based aid is processed by a separate office at Indiana University: the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). You may contact OSFA with questions regarding the need-based aid allocation process and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application process. Additionally, a timeline of what to expect after you file a FAFSA is available online.
How do I apply for SPEA merit aid?
When you apply for admission to SPEA, there is no separate merit aid application process. Instead, we ask that you mark the appropriate box(es) found within SPEA’s “Departmental Questions” section of your admissions application to indicate your interest in being considered for merit based aid.
SPEA’s merit awards are primarily for incoming students. Each award is guaranteed for two years, providing that criteria in the financial aid contract are met. Award decisions are made primarily through undergraduate GPA ranking and standardized test scores. Undergraduate curriculum, letters of recommendation, personal essay, and academic or professional achievements may also be considered.
What standardized tests are required for admission to SPEA?
- The GRE or GMAT is required for admission. If you are applying to a dual program with the School of Law, we will accept your LSAT score in place of the GRE. You must contact the School of Law to have them send your test scores to our office.
- If you are applying to a dual degree outside of SPEA (such as an MPA/MA or MPA/JD), you must submit applications to each school separately.
- International students whose native language is not English are also required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. SPEA baseline scores for consideration are 96 (TOEFL) or 7.0 (IELTS). If you have received a degree from a US institution, the TOEFL/IELTS requirement is waived.
- Please have your official GRE scores sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
- Institutional Code: #1324
What codes should I use to have my test scores sent to SPEA?
Please use insitutional code #1324 to have your GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and IELTS test scores sent to Indiana University.
Do you have specific test score and GPA requirements for admission?
We do not have defined GPA or GRE/GMAT requirements for admission consideration. The Admission Committee conducts a comprehensive review of each application file and seeks well-rounded students for admission to the SPEA master’s programs. SPEA baseline scores for Admission consideration are 96 (TOEFL) or 7.0 (IELTS).
When will I be notified of an admission decision?
SPEA’s admission season begins at the end of October. We have a rolling admission process. You will be notified as soon as your application file is under review. We will notify you by e-mail as soon as an admission decision has been reached, and we will follow this notification with a formal letter. We prioritize timely communication throughout our application process.
When does SPEA notify financial aid recipients of their award?
SPEA financial aid decisions are made separately from admission decisions. Therefore, admission letters are NOT accompanied by award offers. Once the priority deadline (February 1) has passed, we begin our award process. We strive to notify each recipient of his or her selection for an award in mid-March to early April.
How are financial aid decisions made?
All candidates who indicate on their applications that they wish to be considered for merit aid, and who meet the February 1st priority deadline, are included in the pool of potential merit aid recipients. Decisions are made based on how your overall credentials compare to those of other applicants in that current year.
We were able to offer financial aid to approximately 35% of our fall 2011 incoming class. A majority of awards offer partial fee remission and a stipend, accompanied by a teaching or graduate assistantship.
Do you offer spring admission to your programs?We accept applications to the MSES, dual programs with the MSES degree, and certificate programs for the spring semester. MPA applications are accepted by special permission from the MPA Faculty Program Director, but please know that a fall start is strongly suggested for the MPA program.
On the application, how do I select the dual program (MPA/MSES)?
To apply for the dual (MPA/MSES) program select "SPEA Grad Public Affairs" as your Academic Program. In the Academic Plan drop down menu, select "Environmental Management MPA/MSES."