/College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Political Science

Admissions

Applying to the Master of Arts in Public Policy

 

Overview

Stony Brook University’s master’s program in Public Policy welcomes applications from emerging and established professionals, as well as recent graduates. This program is designed to build the expertise and leadership skills needed to excel in a variety of private, public, and non-profit sectors.

This program brings together a diverse and ambitious cohort of students with different experiences and backgrounds who enrich the community and advance the field. Students may pursue internships or thesis projects for their capstone experiences that prepare them for professional roles or further academic study.

Information on the MA in Public Policy can be found here.

We look forward to learning about you.

Application Deadlines

Fall
Domestic Applicants: July 15
International Applicants: May 1

Spring
Domestic Applicants: December 15
International Applicants: October 25

apply now

 

A man in a black suit stands with his back to the camera, facing three women who are standing at the front of a room, possibly during a presentation or Q&A session. The three women are standing in front of a large, blank projection screen; one wears a white sleeveless top and long denim skirt, the middle wears a grey t-shirt and light trousers, and the one on the right wears a black long-sleeved top and patterned pants. In the foreground, two other men are seated at a table, looking up toward the presenters. The background includes wood-paneled walls, an American flag, and a New York State flag.

Admissions Criteria

Admission is open to all qualified applicants, regardless of undergraduate major. The following criteria are required for admissions consideration:

  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited college or university or a foreign equivalent. This degree can be in any subject.
  • A minimum 3.0 grade point average in prior academic work. In exceptional cases, a GPA below 3.0 will be considered for conditional admission. The program considers the rigor and GPA trend of prior coursework, any post-undergraduate coursework, years of professional experience, quality of writing of the personal statement and essay, and strength of the letters of recommendation. Conditionally admitted students must achieve a 3.0 GPA after 6 credits of graduate work to continue in the program. 

GRE scores are waived for the 2026 admissions cycle. 

 

 

How to Apply

You'll need to gather the following materials and submit by the deadline date for the semester you wish to apply. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

You will need to submit unofficial and official transcripts.

Unofficial (uploaded by you)

You will be prompted to submit your unofficial transcripts in our application portal.

Official (sent from your institution)

You will need to request an official transcript from your previous institutions. An e-transcript sent directly from the Office of the Registrar at your institution is acceptable. E-transcript orders should be sent to gradadmissions@stonybrook.edu.

If you request to have a paper transcript, sent, please note that all physical mail is forwarded to an imaging service for digital conversion, therefore, receipt of physical mail may be delayed.

International Students

Please review the transcript information presented on the Graduate School's International Students page.

As part of your application, you will be prompted to upload a personal statement of 750–1,250 words that is a reflection of your ability to approach graduate-level work successfully, using creativity, critical thinking, analysis, and research. Your statement should address the following:

  • What motivates you to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy, and which policy areas or issues most inspire your interest?
  • How have your personal, academic or professional experiences prepared you for graduate study?
  • What do you propose to do with your Master's in Public Policy degree, professionally?

Your resume should include any relevant, previous, and current work experience. If you do not have any directly relevant work experience, please include relevant research, volunteer, or internship experience that demonstrates your interst in public policy.

These letters should be academic, but consideration will also be given to non-academic letters. Letters must be uploaded online by the recommender using the link which will be sent via email from the online application system.

Please do not email letters directly to the department, as they will not be accepted. Letters submitted by anyone other than the letter writer will also not be accepted.

Graduate Record Examination
GRE scores are waived for the 2026 admissions cycle.

Language Proficiency Tests
If your undergraduate education was conducted in a language other than English must also submit TOEFL/IELTS scores directly to Stony Brook (code 2548). Please visit Graduate Admissions for mimimum test score and language proficiency requirements. 

Permanent Residency
If applicable, you will need to provide appropriate proof of your status as a Permanent Resident.

There is a $100 non-refundable application fee, payable online by credit card .

Fee waivers:
The department does not issue fee waivers. Only applicants meeting the Graduate School fee waiver requirements will be granted waivers. Please see fee waiver instructions within the application. Details are available in the Graduate Catalog. 

Stony Brook University: Department of Political Science 3rd Annual Elections, Public Opinion, and Voting Behavior Conference in the DeVries Center.

 

Ready To Apply?

 

Have questions?

Contact us!
Email: PolSciMAadmissions@stonybrook.edu