FAQs

Is the GRE required?

No, it is optional for admissions for the Fall 2024 semester.  If you have taken the GRE and feel your scores can help you in admission, please include them. 

Is there guaranteed funding for the duration of the program?

The program tries to fund all full-time students, but that is not always possible.  Once students have begun receiving funding, they will receive that funding for 5 years, provided they are making progress toward their degrees.  

Is there an application fee waiver?

No, we do not offer an application fee waiver. You would need to contact the Graduate School about any potential fee waiver;, however it is not common for students to receive one.

Cost

Graduate_MainCampus_2324.pdf (charlotte.edu)

Funding for Graduate Education | The Graduate School | UNC Charlotte

Do I need to contact a professor before I apply?

No, you should research and have an idea of which faculty are working in your areas of interest, but it is not necessary to contact professors prior to admissions decisions.

Information about the interdisciplinary with other departments?

We draw on faculty expertise from several departments including; Economics, Sociology, Political Science and Public Administration, Data Science, Criminal Justice, Philosophy, Public Health and Geography.  We are always looking to expand our program based on the interests of our students.  

What is the online availability of classes?

Most courses meet in-person, but some classes may offer an online option as well.

What are the career paths for graduates?

Here is a list of what are Alumni are up to now:

EducationPrivateNon-profit
Division Director of Assessment & Institutional Effectiveness,Economist/Policy AnalystCharlotte Regional Business Alliance
Center for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies, College of Public Affairs and DevelopmentModel Validation Economic Development at Centralina Regional Council
Director of GuidanceClinical ResearchImmigration at Center for American Progress
Adjunct InstructorMarket AnalyticsHealth and Aging Researcher
Real Estate Development ProgramConsulting and Research at Tugboat InstituteData and Policy Analyst
Educator Recruitment and Support Researchindependent researcher working on public policy analysis, cybersecurity and criminal justice
School of Business and ManagementCenter for Policy and Public Management
Aspen Institute, Education & Society ProgramConsultant at private consulting group
Humana Healthcare Research, Inc./Office of the Chief Medical Officer
Knowledge, Impact and Strategy at Enterprise Community Partners

What time are courses offered?

The courses are offered in the evenings, normally after 5pm 

Does my master’s degree qualify me for this program?  

Here is a list of previous students’ masters degree fields:

Arts in HistoryMicrobiologyPublic Administration and Policy
Language Literacy and Specialized InstructionBusiness AdministrationHospital Engineering
International DevelopmentInternational Affairs and DiplomacyArchitectural Engineering
Public AdministrationPeace and Conflict StudiesEnglish Language and Literature
EconomicsUrban and Regional PlanningCriminal Justice
StatisticsEconomics in Quantitative EconomicsEuropean Economy and Business Law
Political ScienceUrban and Regional PlanningScience in Conflict Analysis and Resolution
Environmental SciencesInternational Economic RelationshipsConstruction and Facilities Engineering
Economic and Social Development of RegionsEthics and Applied PhilosophyPublic Health Nutrition
International COmmerce and PolicyDevelopment Evaluation and ManagementNonprofit Management
Finance & StrategyPublic HealthBusiness
Business and CorporateUrban Management and PolicyGlobal Sustainability
International Affairs and DiplomacySocial WorkDevelopment Studies
SociologyInternational Affairs, Concentration in African AffairsComputer Science
International AffairsUrban EngineeringPublic Administration-Emergency Management
Public Policy and AdministrationUrban PlanningAccounting
AccountancyMBA in Luxury Brand ManagementIndustrial Engineering-Futures Studies Engineering
LawHotel Management

To what degree does the program remain broad or focus on certain kinds of policy?

The first three semesters in the program are geared towards the core courses of economic policy, quantitative approaches to data analysis, research design, and theory. In later semesters, students will be able to work more specifically in their fields of interest through electives and independent study courses.

What do the full-time program and part-time commitments look like and how long does it take to graduate?

Full-time students take 9-10 credit hours per semester and can take anywhere from 4-9 years to complete the program. Part-time students take 3-6 credit hours per semester and usually take a bit longer to complete the degree. Nine years is the maximum amount of time that coursework will qualify for the degree. 

Do I need to take an English Proficiency Test if I am an international student currently studying in the United States?

No, nor do applicants coming from a country using English as the primary language. Please consult our Graduate School’s guidelines on English proficiency: https://gradadmissions.charlottewp.psapp.dev/admissions/international-applicants/english-language-proficiency

TOEL test and other English Proficiency testing

English Language Proficiency | Graduate Admissions | UNC Charlotte

i20 documentation process for International Students

Obtain a UNC Charlotte I-20 | International Student and Scholar Office | UNC Charlotte

Transcripts

https://gradadmissions.charlottewp.psapp.dev/apply/application-requirements/transcripts

Foreign university transcripts

Foreign university documents are not processed by the Admissions Office. Request a course-by-course credential evaluation to be submitted by any NACES accredited agency. https://admissions.charlottewp.psapp.dev/enroll/next-steps-checklists/admitted-international-students/