APPLY
Apply to the MS in Social Policy Program
Admissions Requirements
The MSSP program at Penn values our students’ academic and professional experience from social policy-related sectors and fields. We believe that these experiences help students ground their studies and enrich discourse and learning in the classroom. In addition to a demonstrated interest in social policy, some form of policy experience is preferred. Therefore, we will consider your policy-related internships, professional background, and academic work in the application.
Applicants to the MSSP program are expected to have:
- A Bachelor’s degree and grade point average that reflects strong academic ability;
- A demonstrated interest in social policy, social issues, and/or social good-oriented policy;
- For international applicants whose first language is not English, TOEFL score (Institutional Code D698) of 100 or higher, IELTS score of 7.5 or higher, or Duolingo English Test score of 135 or higher taken within the last two years.
MSSP+DA Admissions Requirements
The MSSP+DA admissions criteria are the same as the criteria for the standard MSSP program; however, MSSP+DA applicants are expected to have taken at least one statistical analysis course and/or done statistical analysis work prior to application. No prior coding or programming experience is necessary. The required application essay should address the applicant’s particular interest in Data Analytics.
Applications must be made directly to the MSSP+DA certificate program. No variation or extension in the MSSP+DA is possible.
MSSP-only applicants should not expect to be able to transfer into the MSSP+DA program; interested applicants should apply to the MSSP+DA program.
Applicants to the MSSP+DA that do not fit MSSP+DA admissions requirements may be eligible for and accepted into the MSSP program.
Application Deadline
The early application deadline is December 1st.
The final application deadline is February 1st.
Applications, transcripts, and supporting materials (letters of recommendation and, if applicable, official English language proficiency test scores and evaluated transcripts) must be submitted through the online application system by the deadline for applications to be considered complete. Please note that official copies of test scores typically take 3-4 weeks to arrive, so schedule your English language proficiency exam accordingly.
Application Components
Online Application
Online Application
Your admissions process begins with submitting your application online. After creating an account to start your application, you will be able to return to your application as many times as you wish before submitting. You can track the status of your application, including the receipt of letters of recommendation and any other supplemental materials, at any time by logging into your account.
Resume
You must submit a resume as part of your online application.
Application Essay
All applicants are required to respond to several questions for their application essay.
Transcripts
Applicants must submit transcripts detailing all undergraduate and postgraduate study via the online application. This includes coursework conducted at an applicant’s degree-granting institution(s) as well as in study abroad programs and at institutions out of which an applicant may have transferred. Applicants should upload copies of their official transcripts (i.e. not screenshots from a student record or student grade system) that clearly display their name, dates of enrollment, the names of all courses in which they enrolled, and the credits and grades awarded for each class. Applicants should not mail hard copies of transcripts to the School for purposes of application review.
ATTENTION INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS:
Please be advised that transcripts reflecting more than two semesters of study at institutions based outside of the United States must be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by a third-party evaluation service such as WES or Educational Perspectives, or another NACES-accredited member. This applies even if the studies were conducted in English and even if the transcript is printed in English.
Applicants with these international transcripts should upload their university-issued transcripts into the online application and order their official, third-party evaluations sent to the School of Social Policy & Practice. Please note that these international transcripts cannot be considered official until they have been evaluated. Please allow for sufficient processing time as recommended by your chosen third-party evaluation service. Transcript evaluations are due to the Admissions Office by the application deadline.
Letters of Recommendation
It’s never too early to start preparing your application. Please note that all application materials become the property of the University of Pennsylvania and will not be returned. Remember to retain a personal copy of your application materials. Penn SP2 requires recommenders to submit letters of recommendation online. Please note that all letters must come directly from the letter writer’s email account. All recommendation letters will be verified to ensure that the proper protocol is followed.
Letters of Recommendation
Each application requires three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should be submitted directly to the online application.
Applicants are required to have two academic references and one employment or volunteer reference.
Test Scores
Applicants are not required to submit GRE scores.
For international students whose first language is not English, we require official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores taken in the last two years. Minimum scores are:
- TOEFL: 100 on the Internet-based (iBT) TOEFL
- IELTS: Overall Band Score of 7.5
- Duolingo English Test: Overall Score of 135
TOEFL scores should be sent to Institutional Code D698 and Department Code 99.
To submit IELTS scores, request an official copy of your standardized test scores to be sent directly to our office using the IELTS E-Delivery Account Name: University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice. Confirm that you have selected the correct department by verifying that the associated address is for the account is 3701 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6216.
Duolingo English Test scores should be sent to the University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice. No application ID is needed.
Admissions Interview
Video Interview
All students will be asked to complete a recorded video interview prior to submitting the application. You will be asked to record your answer to four questions and will have time to both practice recording and prepare for the questions prior to recording your video interview. We would advise planning to spend approximately 20 minutes distraction-free to complete the recorded video interview process.
You will need to complete the interview portion of the application in either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. You can complete the interview on any laptop or desktop with a functioning webcam and microphone.
Additional Interviews
On occasion, applicants will be asked to interview after application submission. Although there is little preparation needed for the interview, you may want to consider the following:
- Review your responses to the video interview prompts;
- Be on time (sign into Zoom a few minutes early);
- Dress professionally (wear what you feel is appropriate for a job interview);
- Relax and be yourself.
Deposit
Upon notification of acceptance for admission to the University, you are required to submit a nonrefundable $300 to reserve your spot in the class. The deposit due date is provided with the offer of admission. The deposit will be credited to your account upon matriculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between social policy & public administration?
Social policy graduates are engaged in global, federal, state, and local government policy arenas. Their policy, research, and substantive skills are also in demand for policy creation, implementation, and evaluation in nonprofit, philanthropic, and research organizations.
Public administration graduates tend to work predominantly in local government policy settings or in policy positions within nonprofit organizations.
What is the difference between social policy and public policy?
Social policy is a subset of public policy that focuses on solving social problems such as economic and educational inequality, health disparities, and other similar problems through policy. As such, social policy initiatives and outcomes actively attend to social issues of equity, equality, and adequacy.
Public policy may or may not be as focused on social problems and social issues.
What is the difference between social policy and macro social work?
Social policy is centrally focused on social change processes through policy work in multiple levels of government or in other types of organizations as noted above. Macro social work more frequently addresses social change via an emphasis on policies, practices, and procedures within human service organizations.
What sets Penn’s MSSP program apart from other policy programs?
Penn’s one-year MSSP program is intensive, comprehensive, and practical. Penn’s MSSP graduates are in high demand in governmental and non-governmental policy settings because of these program components:
- Intensive emphasis on research and evaluation skills, quantitative and qualitative reasoning;
- Active instruction in oral and written communications skills by communications experts;
- Elective opportunities in Schools across the University of Pennsylvania;
- Opportunity to integrate global options within the School of Social Policy & Practice, across the University of Pennsylvania, and through exchanges with other universities;
- The policy internship, which provides real-world policy work experience;
- Highly individualized advising and attention; and
- Supportive and broad-based MSSP, SP2, and Penn alumni networks.
Who makes admission decisions?
Once the application is complete (including the interview), the Admissions Committee makes all admission decisions. The completed application file, i.e., transcripts, experience, letters of recommendation, application statement, and resume, is reviewed.
How many courses do you take each semester?
Full-time MSSP students take five courses a semester for two semesters. Full-time MSSP+DA students take four courses a semester for three semesters. Each class in SP2 meets one day a week. The Capstone Seminar takes place during the Spring Semester and Summer Session I. The MSSP Policy Internship generally takes place during Summer Session I, while the MSSP+DA Policy Internship usually takes place during Spring Session II.
What is the grading system at the Penn School of Social Policy and Practice (SP2)?
SP2 uses the system of letter grade evaluation that is used by other M.A. and PhD programs at the University. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above is required for MSSP graduation.
Does the School provide academic advising?
Yes. Each student is assigned an advisor who helps the student make the maximum use of the School and University’s resources for a rich academic experience.
How are Social Policy Internships arranged?
Information about the social policy internship component of the MSSP degree can be found on our internship webpage.
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