School of Public Policy Admission Requirements

Applications are reviewed after the close of each completion deadline (the application is reviewed ONLY once complete). Applications received after the final deadline will still be reviewed on a space-available basis. Due to visa processing restrictions, applications for non-US citizens not be accepted after June 1. (Note: Since the admission review process does not include an interview, submitted materials should be representative of the student's qualifications.)  

Two letters of recommendation are required. One academic reference and one professional reference are preferred. Letters of recommendation should come from the recommender either via sealed envelope to the address listed below or emailed from the recommender's work email directly to sppadmissions@pepperdine.edu.

For applicants who are applying under the Government Staffers fast-track, one of the two Letters of Recommendation must come from the head of the department or legislative office for which you work.

Two essays are required. One essay (1-2 pages) should address an ethical and moral dilemma faced by the applicant in recent years. Describe reactions and how the situation was resolved. The other essay (2-3 pages) should be a brief personal statement indicating interest in studying public policy, reason for choosing to apply to the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, and any other information that should be considered by the admission committee. (Note: since the admission process does not require an interview, the essays should be reflective of the type of leader and student the applicant is.) These essays can be either mailed to the Office of Admission using the address listed below or emailed directly to sppadmissions@pepperdine.edu.

A current resume or curriculum vitae should be included. While work experience is not required for entrance to the Master of Public Policy program, professional experience will be considered as part of the admission process and can greatly strengthen the applicant's profile as a candidate for admission.

Before matriculating as a student at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, all students must have a conferred bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited four-year college or university in any area of study. While the degree does not need to be conferred at the time of application submission/completion or admission, the applicant should be on the track to having a conferred degree at the time of matriculation for their intended term of enrollment.

For the purposes of application review, the School of Public Policy accepts untampered, unofficial transcripts from each college or university the applicant attended for academic credit. All transcripts and documents submitted become the property of the University and are not returnable.

Please have your transcripts sent to:

sppadmissions@pepperdine.edu

OR

Pepperdine University
School of Public Policy
Office of Admission
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263-7493

If accepted and at the time of matriculation, the School of Public Policy requires a final degree-conferred official transcript from the college or university that granted the degree, showing the baccalaureate degree posted and date awarded. Transcripts must be mailed or emailed directly by the registrar from the college or university that granted the undergraduate degree and must be sent to the School of Public Policy Office of Admission. All transcripts and documents submitted become the property of the University and are not returnable.

Please have your transcripts sent to:

sppadmissions@pepperdine.edu

OR

Pepperdine University
School of Public Policy
Office of Admission
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263-7493

All applicants who received or will receive their degree from a university outside of the US (unless the degree is from a university that is already regionally accredited within the US) are required to submit a detailed foreign transcript evaluation report from any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member, such as the International Education Research Foundation at ierf.org or the World Education Services, Inc., at wes.org.

A detailed foreign transcript evaluation report will contain the following:

• Foreign transcripts translated into English.
• A detailed course-by-course report with the grade point average calculated on a US 4.0 scale.
• A determination of US degree equivalency (regional accreditation equivalency is required)

If you attend school outside of the US and still need to complete your bachelor's degree at the time of application, we would need your current NACES member international transcript evaluation (please see above for requirements). Upon degree completion, you must provide an updated NACES member evaluation reflecting your final courses, final cumulative GPA equivalency, and US degree equivalency.

Please have the evaluation service, send your updated evaluation to SPPAdmissions@pepperdine.edu.

All Official Test Scores must be within five years of the application date.

Currently, the GRE/GMAT/LSAT requirements are OPTIONAL.

• Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
  (Note: When registering for the GRE test, applicants should use institution code 4630)
  OR
• Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
  (Note: When registering for the GMAT, applicants should use the school code 37B-Q9-63)
  OR
• Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)
  (Note: If not applying to the School of Law, please request your LSDAS report to be sent to the Office of Admission at the School of Public Policy)

Seaver graduates and current students are not required to send us a hard copy of your degree posted transcript.

Official Test Scores are waived for applicants graduating from Seaver College within the two years prior to the date of desired attendance at the School of Public Policy

International students must submit test scores from one of the below exams in addition to one of the exams listed above:

• Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  (Minimum required score of a 95 IBT)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores
  (Band score of 7.0 required).
• Duolingo English Test score of 125 and above required

The School of Public Policy stands committed to our founding principles in preparing the next generation of public leaders. Over the years, our most successful and dedicated students are those who have graduated from or participated in respected social science programs and/or like-minded co-curricular fellowships. To recognize the academic and professional rigor of these programs and fellowships, we've launched the Pepperdine Policy Partners Program—"P4"—making available a host of admission and program perks to associated applicants.  Review the P4 organizations and perks at the Pepperdine Policy Partners Program web page.