Application and Information
Applicants for the Master of Arts must have a bachelor's degree, although not necessarily in political science or sociology.
Graduate Admissions
There is no fee to apply online!
U.S. citizens and permanent residents
(Green Card holders)
Apply Now
International applicants
(NOT a U.S. citizen or permanent resident)
Apply Now
Recommendations
Print and complete the appropriate portion of this Recommendation Form, give it to your references, and ask them to submit it with their letter of recommendation.
There is no fee to apply on line. Other required application materials are described below on this page.
Click here to register to receive additional information from the Duquesne University and the Policy Center over the coming weeks.
Required Application Materials
All application materials are to be sent to:
Duquesne University
McAnulty College of Liberal Arts
Graduate School Office
215 College Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
- Two of each official transcripts from all post-secondary schools you have attended
- Three letters of recommendation: Click here to print and complete the appropriate portion of the required Recommendation Form (pdf), give it to your references, and ask them to submit it with their letter of recommendation.
- Personal essay, describing how studying in the Policy Center fits with your background, interests and aspirations
- Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) general test scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical). Subject test scores are not required. The Policy Center will consider the GRE as only one factor among many.
- For international students, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required.
Application Deadlines
All application materials, including letters of recommendation, must reach the Policy Center by August 1 for consideration for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester.
Students who wish to be considered for financial assistance, such as graduate assistantships and Peace Corps Fellowships, should have their applications complete by April 1 for the fall semester and by November 1 for the spring semester.
Be sure to meet all the requirements as soon as possible so as to avoid the problems of an incomplete application at deadline time. It is your responsibility to verify that your file is complete by the dates specified. If you have any doubt you are welcome to write or call (412-396-1780 or 412-396-6485).
Application Review Process
When an applicant's file is complete, it is evaluated individually by the faculty members on the Admissions Committee. The membership of this committee changes annually. After each member has evaluated all of the pending applications, the committee meets as a whole, pools the individual evaluations and selects the highest rated applicants for admission. The committee's decision is final.