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:
| Education | Private | Non-profit |
| Division Director of Assessment & Institutional Effectiveness, | Economist/Policy Analyst | Charlotte Regional Business Alliance |
| Center for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies, College of Public Affairs and Development | Model Validation | Economic Development at Centralina Regional Council |
| Director of Guidance | Clinical Research | Immigration at Center for American Progress |
| Adjunct Instructor | Market Analytics | Health and Aging Researcher |
| Real Estate Development Program | Consulting and Research at Tugboat Institute | Data and Policy Analyst |
| Educator Recruitment and Support Research | independent researcher working on public policy analysis, cybersecurity and criminal justice | |
| School of Business and Management | Center for Policy and Public Management | |
| Aspen Institute, Education & Society Program | Consultant 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 History | Microbiology | Public Administration and Policy |
| Language Literacy and Specialized Instruction | Business Administration | Hospital Engineering |
| International Development | International Affairs and Diplomacy | Architectural Engineering |
| Public Administration | Peace and Conflict Studies | English Language and Literature |
| Economics | Urban and Regional Planning | Criminal Justice |
| Statistics | Economics in Quantitative Economics | European Economy and Business Law |
| Political Science | Urban and Regional Planning | Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution |
| Environmental Sciences | International Economic Relationships | Construction and Facilities Engineering |
| Economic and Social Development of Regions | Ethics and Applied Philosophy | Public Health Nutrition |
| International COmmerce and Policy | Development Evaluation and Management | Nonprofit Management |
| Finance & Strategy | Public Health | Business |
| Business and Corporate | Urban Management and Policy | Global Sustainability |
| International Affairs and Diplomacy | Social Work | Development Studies |
| Sociology | International Affairs, Concentration in African Affairs | Computer Science |
| International Affairs | Urban Engineering | Public Administration-Emergency Management |
| Public Policy and Administration | Urban Planning | Accounting |
| Accountancy | MBA in Luxury Brand Management | Industrial Engineering-Futures Studies Engineering |
| Law | Hotel 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.charlotte.edu/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.charlotte.edu/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.charlotte.edu/enroll/next-steps-checklists/admitted-international-students/