Application Instructions
Master of International Affairs & Public Health Combined Degree
The Bush School Admissions Office works with the School of Public Health Admissions Office to process applications for the Master of International Affairs-Master of Public Health (MIA-MPH) Combined Degree.
For application instructions and a checklist in PDF format, click the links below:
Application Deadlines
We admit students into the MIA-MPH combined degree program once per year, for fall entry only. Applications and all supporting materials (including recommendations) must be submitted/received by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will NOT be reviewed or considered for admission.
The application for Fall 2023 entry will open in mid-August with deadlines as follows:
- Priority MIA Funding Application Deadline – December 15, 2022
Applicants are strongly advised to submit all supporting documents and their application by the priority deadline to ensure their file is confirmed to be complete in time to be considered for all available Bush School funding. - Final Application Deadline* – February 1, 2023
Applications received after the priority funding deadline, but on or before the final application deadline, will still receive a competitive Bush School Scholarship for the last 1.5 years of the degree when the student is enrolled in the Bush School. However, nomination-based opportunities may no longer be available.
Additionally, the closer we are to the final deadline date, the busier the Bush School Admissions Office gets. Applicants may experience longer response times, which can be frustrating. We value an applicant’s time and want to ensure all documents are accounted for, questions can be answered, and issues can be dealt with before the submission window closes. Aim for the priority deadline if possible.
*Should the need arise and if space allows, we might extend the deadline to consider late applicants. However, this will not be determined until on or after the final application deadline.
The Bush School Admissions Office makes the final determination of when an application is complete. Even if the School of Public Health says your application in SOPHAS is complete, it may not be for us, as the system only checks for some of the required items (and does not reflect the status of your Supplemental MIA Application). The Bush School Admissions Office will email applicants using the email address entered on their MIA Supplemental Application to let them know of any missing items and/or when their application is complete. Please be patient and allow us at least 7-10 business days to process a submitted application and all support materials.
Overview of the Application Process
Applicants apply by submitting applications to both the MPH and MIA programs. To begin, applicants submit a SOPHAS application to the School of Public Health where they will be asked to answer questions and upload materials for the MPH program. Then, applicants submit an internal MIA Supplemental Application to the Bush School. While the MIA program will use most of the materials an applicant submits through the SOPHAS application, there are some additional MIA program-specific questions and materials an applicant is asked to submit via the MIA Supplemental Application.
Applicants must submit the following materials to complete their application by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will NOT be reviewed or considered for admission.
- SOPHAS Application (Opening in mid-August!)
- MIA Supplemental Application
- Résumé
- Personal Statement
- International Experience Essay
- Recommendations (3)
- Transcripts
- GRE/GMAT Scores (optional if cumulative GPA is 3.2 or above)
- Proof of English Proficiency (for citizens from non-English speaking countries)
To avoid confusion or delay in processing an application, please use the same spelling and name on all correspondence. Also, notify the Bush School Admissions Office and the School of Public Health of any changes to address and/or name.
For a detailed timeline of the admissions process, visit our Admissions Timeline page. To summarize:
- Early February – Completed applications are reviewed by the MIA Admissions Committee to determine who will be invited to interview during the next step in the MIA admissions process. App status updates and interview invitations for the MIA portion of the degree are sent via email.
- Month of February – MIA Interviews completed.
- February 24-25 – Those invited to interview are also encouraged/invited to attend the Bush School’s MIA Campus Visit Weekend.
- Early March – The MIA Admissions and Scholarship Committees meet to make final admissions and scholarship decisions for the MIA portion of the degree. The Bush School works with the School of Public Health to communicate final decisions for both programs.
- By March 15 – Admissions decisions and MIA scholarship offers are emailed to applicants.
- April 15 – Deadline to accept or decline offer.
SOPHAS Application
The first step in applying to the MIA-MPH Combined Degree Program is to submit a SOPHAS application to the School of Public Health’s MPH program in one of these two concentrations:
- Health Policy and Management
App is listed under the following program names in SOPHAS:- “MPH HPM dual degree w/MIA – US” for domestic applicants
- “MPH HPM dual degree with MIA – INT” for international applicants
- Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences
App is listed under the following program names in SOPHAS:- “MPH HPM dual degree w/MIA – US” for domestic applicants
- “MPH HPM dual degree w/MIA – INT” for international applicants
Through the SOPHAS application, applicants answer all required questions, order transcripts and/or WES evaluations, order official English Language Proficiency test scores (if applicable), request recommendations, upload support materials (resume, personal statement, and other optional documents), and then pay a non-refundable application fee to submit.
The School of Public Health processes submitted SOPHAS applications and will notify applicants of any missing materials and/or to submit the MIA Supplemental Application. Visit the School of Public Health Admissions website for additional instructions.
MIA Supplemental Application
After submitting the SOPHAS application to the School of Public Health, fill out and submit the free MIA Supplemental application to the Bush School by deadlines indicated above.
While the Bush School will use most of the materials and information submitted through the SOPHAS application, there are some additional questions specific to the MIA program applicants will be asked to answer via the supplemental application. Additionally, applicants will be asked to upload their GRE or GMAT score reports (if required or desired), an international experience essay, a personal statement that address the MIA prompt (if the personal statement uploaded to the SOPHAS application does not), and/or a resume geared toward the MIA (if desired).
Résumé
Applicants upload a current résumé through their SOPHAS application, but if they would like to submit a MIA focused résumé that highlights their international experiences, language, and focus, we encourage them to upload it to the MIA Supplemental Application (linked above).
A Résumé Template is available for reference but should generally include:
- Name and Contact Information
- Education
- Undergraduate Institution; include month/year completed (or to complete)
- Degree earned, with major(s), minor(s)
- Cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale (if it helps, consider adding a last 60 hour or major GPA)
- List all bachelor/master/PhD degrees and certificates you will complete or are in-progress to complete
- Academic honors and awards
- Work/Internship Experience
- List all professional work or internship experiences (full-time, part-time and internships)
- Include military services and duties
- International Experience (if applicable)
- Related/Highlighted Coursework(optional)
- Applied Class Projects/Activities(optional)
- Skills and Certifications (optional)
- Language: List the language and current speaking level (beginner, intermediate, advanced, fluent). Optional for reading, writing levels
- Computer: List relevant software by name
- Security Clearance: Highlight any relevant clearances
- Leadership, Service, Organizations, and Honors
- Indicate the organization, position/role assumed, the duration/dates involved, and the time involved per week/month/semester
Personal Statement
Applicants are asked to upload a personal statement to the SOPHAS application. However, if that statement does not address items in the MIA prompt below, please upload one that does to the MIA Supplemental Application.
Statements should be typed in 11 pt font, spaced 1.5”, and address the following prompt. Include applicant name, the title “Personal Statement,” and page number on each page.
Prompt: In 750 words or less, please address the following topics in your personal statement:
- Your personal and professional goals for a career in international affairs and public health,
- What (including the people, places, internships, or events) inspired you to pursue a career related to international affairs,
- How obtaining the MIA-MPH degree will help you achieve your goals, and
- What value you bring to the MIA program specifically (including knowledge gained from meaningful experiences, education, or jobs you have had in the past).
International Experience Essay
An International Experience Essay is required for the MIA portion of the application process. The international experience essay is a place for applicants to convey their unique international experiences and influences and is in addition to the personal statement. Upload to the MIA Supplemental Application.
The essay should be typed in 11 pt font, spaced 1.5”, address the following prompt, and include applicant name, the title “International Experience Essay,” and page number on each page.
Prompt: In 750 words or less, tell us about the experiences that have influenced your interest in international affairs. We recognize that your experiences and opportunities may vary substantially from others, but we are looking for aspects of study abroad, living abroad, influential courses or readings, language interests, international news or events, cultural interactions, and more. Some repetition may occur from your statement, but this essay should have some new material too.
Recommendations (3)
Three recommendations (each consisting of a letter and brief evaluation) are required and must be received by the application deadline. Recommendations are requested and submitted through the applicant’s SOPHAS application. The Bush School and the School of Public Health will use the same recommendations.
Based on SOPHAS requirements, at least one recommendation must be an academic reference from a higher education institution and another from a professional reference. The academic reference must come from one of the applicant’s course instructors who can attest to the applicant’s capability to pursue graduate school. The remaining letter may be professional or academic.
Transcripts
The following is required depending on where the college(s) you attended is located. Required for all colleges attended, regardless if coursework was transferred from one college to another.
- For U.S. and English-speaking Canadian colleges: Order official transcripts through the SOPHAS application ➡ Academic History quadrant ➡ Colleges Attended section. Add the college(s) you attended. Then, press the ‘Order’ link for each college.
- For all other colleges located outside of the U.S. and non-English speaking Canadian colleges: Request a World Education Services (WES) course-by-course (ICAP) evaluation and U.S. equivalency determination through the SOPHAS application ➡ Academic History quadrant ➡ Colleges Attended section. Add the college(s) you attended. Then, press the ‘Order’ link for each college.
GRE/GMAT
While GRE/GMAT scores may not be required to apply to the School of Public Health, they may be for the Bush School’s MIA portion of the combined MIA-MPH application process. Using the cumulative GPA (out of a 4.0 scale) as listed on the transcript issuing the degree (bachelor, master, PhD), GRE/GMAT scores are:
- Optional for those with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better. We do NOT round up! (a 3.18 is below a 3.2)
- Encouraged for those who feel their test scores could complement a strong file or offset concerns such as a low GPA, lack of experience in the field, or if grades/experience do not reflect current abilities. When deciding if scores will help or hinder your application, consider our previous years’ average GRE score of a (308).
- Required for those with a cumulative GPA below a 3.2.
We prefer the GRE over the GMAT. To be valid, scores must be within five years of the date the application is submitted. The GRE or GMAT exam should be scheduled and taken at least 3 weeks prior to the application deadline.
Official scores are only needed for international applicants who wish to provide Proof of English Proficiency via their GRE/GMAT score. See section below for instructions on submitting Proof of English Proficiency.
Proof of English Proficiency
(for citizens from non-English speaking countries)
Official English language proficiency (ELP) test scores are required for most international applicants. Citizens of certain English speaking countries are exempt from this requirement. Refer to the list on the Texas A&M International Graduate Admissions website.
If an applicant’s country of citizenship is not on the exempted list of countries, the applicant is required to demonstrate Proof of English Proficiency in one of the following ways:
- GRE/GMAT: Score at least 153 on the GRE verbal section (or 22 on GMAT verbal) from a test date within five years of applying. Submit official scores to GRE code 7841.
- TOEFL iBT: Earn a TOEFL score of at least 95 i-BT from a test date within two years of applying; the Bush School prefers a 100+ i-BT. MyBest TOEFL Scores are not accepted. Submit official scores to school code 5688.
- TOEFL Essentials: Earn an overall band score of 10 (or higher) from a test date within two years of applying. Submit official scores to school code 6003.
- IELTS: Score an IELTS overall band score of 7.0 or higher from a test date within two years of applying. Submit official scores to Texas A&M University (College Station and Galveston).
- Alternative Verification: Complete all four years of a bachelor’s degree or higher (masters is typically two years) at an accredited university located in the US.
Applicants are advised to test at least two months before the application deadline. Test scores can take anywhere from two to six weeks to be processed, depending on the test. Applications missing the required proof of English proficiency will not be reviewed or considered for admission.
Contact Information: Bush School Admissions
Questions about the MIA or the MIA portion of the application process should be directed to Ashlee Treadway or Kathryn Meyer in the Bush School Admissions Office. Our contact information:
Phone: 979-862-3476
Email: bushschoolapplications@tamu.edu
Address:
Bush School Admissions
Texas A&M University
2129 Allen Bldg / 4220 TAMU
Office #2022 and 2023
College Station, TX 77843
Contact Information: School of Public Health
If you have any questions about your SOPHAS or MPH portion of the application or application process, please contact the School of Public Health. Their contact information is below:
Phone: 979.436.9356
Email: SPH-GSS@tamu.edu
Address:
Reynolds Medical Sciences Building, Suite 154
1114 TAMU
206 Olsen Blvd., College Station, Texas 77843
All documents on this page are in PDF format. To view documents, you must have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.
