Martin School of Public Policy and Administration

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Overview

The Martin School offers particularly gifted and highly motivated students from the University of Kentucky, Georgetown College, and Morehead State University the opportunity and the challenge of integrating their undergraduate and graduate courses of study in a single continuous program culminating in both a Baccalaureate degree and a Master of Public Administration or Master of Health Administration. The University Scholars Program is designed for students with an interest in public service careers as policy analysts and administrators in public and non-profit organizations. The program allows the added benefit of allowing students to take graduate-level courses during the fourth year of their undergraduate program, thus reducing the overall amount of coursework.

The total number of hours for the combined programs may be up to 18 fewer hours than the total required for earning both the Bachelor's and Master's degrees separately. Undergraduates must meet all requirements for the Bachelor's degree as specified by their respective degree programs as well as all the requirements of the Graduate School and the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. The student's department chair and the Academic Policy Committee must approve students before they are permitted to enter the program.

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Admissions

Application to the program should be submitted at the end of the student's junior year in college. Applicants should have completed at least 90 credit hours of work or have senior standing in the semester when they are admitted to the program. The student's undergraduate grade point average must be at least 3.5 in the applicant's major field and at least 3.2 overall.

Students applying to the program are expected to submit all materials required of the Graduate School and the Martin School, including the following:

  • The standard Graduate School application form, which is available in the Graduate School Admissions Office or online
  • The appropriate Graduation Application Fee (International or Domestic)
  • Two official transcripts in sealed envelopes sent to the Graduate School directly from the Registrar of Georgetown College
  • Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Three letters of recommendation, including at least two from faculty members from their undergraduate institution
  • A one- to two-page letter stating why the student is interested in earning an MPA or MHA degree

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    Academic Procedures

    Students may take no more than 9 graduate credit hours per semester prior to the awarding of their Bachelor's degree except by recommendation of their Director of Graduate Studies and by the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School.

    Students must have an undergraduate advisor.

    The Director of Graduate Studies for the MPA or MHA Program serves as the advisor for the student's graduate work.

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    Tuition

    During the fourth year of study, students will pay tuition and fees to their undergraduate institution. In the fifth year of study, all students will pay all tuition and required fees to the University of Kentucky.

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    Financial Aid

    During the fifth year, financial assistance in the form of academic and minority fellowships, research assistantships, and tuition scholarships is available to qualified full-time students on a competitive basis through the Martin School. Students requesting financial assistance should inform the Director of Graduate Study of their interest by March 1 of the previous academic year.

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    For additional information, please contact:

    Sarah O. Lee, Student Services
    Martin School of Public Policy and Administration
    413 Patterson Office Tower
    University of Kentucky
    Lexington, KY 40506-0027
    Phone: (859) 257-5594
    Fax: (859) 323-1937
    Email: solee@uky.edu

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