Admissions for EMPA and EMIR Programs
If you are a current professional with seven or more years of professional experience, you may be interested in Maxwell's Executive Master in Public Administration (EMPA) and Executive Master in International Relations (EMIR) programs.
Public service professionals working anywhere in the world with five or more years of managerial experience may also be interested in our Online EMPA program.
Coming from 15-20 countries, 45-50% of our students are international and they are experienced in all three sectors (private, public, non-governmental). Our students represent a balanced mix of genders and are generally between 30-55 years of age.
Admissions Criteria
To be considered for admission to the EMPA, EMIR, EMIR in DC and Online EMPA programs, applicants must:
Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
Have at least 7 years of work experience in a position with significant organizational responsibility, including managerial positions in the public or non-profit sectors or related public policy development (5 years for the online program)
Demonstrate fluency in English if you are from a non-English speaking country
There are no GRE or GMAT scores required to apply.
Applicants to the Online EMPA program must also show proof of proficiency in algebraic and geometric principles to enroll in some courses.
Visit our Online EMPA website for more information on admissions requirements and how to apply.
Application Deadlines
Our midcareer programs accept applications year-round. Apply by the following dates for priority consideration.
EMPA, EMIR, & EMIR in DC
July 1 for fall entry
November 1 for spring entry
EMPA Online
July 31 for fall September entry
November 6 for January entry
February 6 for March entry
May 8 for July entry
Only complete applications (including TOEFL or IELTS test scores, if applicable) will be reviewed for admission and financial aid. Students are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline for full consideration.
Application Materials
All TOEFL or IELTS test scores must be sent to Syracuse University from ETS. The code for the TOEFL exams is Syracuse University 2823.
GRE Scores are optional. The Admissions Committee reviews applications considering the unique characteristics and experience of each applicant. GRE scores are not required to apply; however, students with valid GRE scores are encouraged to submit them as part of their application. The school code for Syracuse University is 2823.
Visit our guidelines page for information about the application materials.
Transferring credits
Applicants may request transfer of up to 6 credits of graduate-level coursework completed at an accredited graduate institution. If you plan to transfer credits towards your EMPA degree you may start the process once you have been admitted to the program. If your decision to enroll in the program depends on the credit transfer, your advisor will be able to tell you if the transfer requests will be approved or not.
Where to Apply
EMPA, EMIR, & EMIR in DC
Apply online using our online application.
Supporting materials, such as transcripts and TOEFL scores, may be sent to:
Enrollment Management Processing Center
Syracuse University
Graduate Admissions Processing
621 Skytop Road
Suite 160
Syracuse, New York 13244
USA
Online EMPA
Apply online using our online application.
Supporting materials, such as transcripts and TOEFL scores, may be sent to:
Application Processing Services
ExecutiveMPA@Syracuse
7900 Harkins Road, Suite 501
Lanham, MD 20706