Bush School of Government - Texas A&M University

Bush School of Government and Public Service

Founded in 1997, the Bush School of Government and Public Policy is guided by President George H.W. Bush’s philosophy that public service is a noble calling. By providing students with a rigorous curriculum, research, and student experience, the Bush School has been ranked in the top 12% of graduate public schools in the nation by U.S News and World Report.

What Is the Bush School?

The Bush School is part of Texas A&M University, home of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library, and offers graduate degrees and certificates in public policy, public service, and international affairs. By choosing a presidential library as the focal point of the school, the Bush Schools offers students access to a wealth of resources, research materials, and prolific guest speakers.

All of the academic programs integrate three components:

1. Carefully designed curriculum
2. Experiential learning
3. Self-study

Each of these elements reinforces and contributes to the others to develop and hone leadership skills in all students and to fuel a passion for continuous learning.

The Bush School Admissions Calendar

The Bush School accepts graduate students beginning in August for the following year’s fall term. There are no spring term admissions. The following are some of the deadlines for applications:

• Priority Deadline: January 15 (Decisions made by early March)
• Master of International Affairs (MIA): Early February
• Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA): May

Part of the application process to the Bush School is an in-person interview. Normally, invitations for these interviews are sent out in January, however, this may change from year to year. In addition, these deadlines should be used as guidelines. Please check with the school for specific deadlines.

Bush School of Government Address

The Bush School of Government and Public Policy is located in College Station, Texas, in the Robert H. and Judy Ley Allen Building of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. This is located on the Texas A&M University campus.

The Bush School address is:

• The Bush School of Government and Public Policy – Texas A&M
• 4220 TAMU
• College Station, TX 77843-4220

You can also contact them at 979-862-3469.

Tuition Costs at the Bush School of Government

The total estimates for tuition, fees, and cost of living is just over $24,000 a year for students who qualify as Texas state residents. This total may be higher for those who choose to live on or near campus and don’t qualify as Texas state residents.

For online students, this total cost may be less because of the opportunity to perform coursework without having to relocate, though students are expected to come to campus for one week each year if they are pursuing a masters degree. That may add additional fees and costs to the online tuition.

Does the Bush School Offer Financial Aid?

The Bush School understands the difficulties students may face trying to pay for school while pursuing their degree. As a result, the school offers a number of ways to help offset some of the costs of pursuing your degree. Some of these are:

• Bush School Scholarships
• Non-Resident Tuition Waivers
• Competitive, Nomination-Based, Selective Fellowships
• Graduate Assistantships
• Financial Loans

There may be additional opportunities for financial aid at the Bush School, such as part-time work either on-campus or in the community. Keep in mind that the school recommends that meeting application deadlines and presenting your strengths are essential when applying for financial assistance.

Bush School of Government and Public Service: Programs

The Bush School of Government and Public Policy offers a few graduate degree options for Texas A&M students. These include masters degrees, graduate certificates, and accelerated five-year combined bachelors and masters degree programs.

List of Programs

Masters Degree Programs at the Bush School:

• Master of International Affairs
• Master of Public Service and Administration

The Bush School at Texas A&M's accelerated bachelors / masters degree programs join the Bush School and other departments at Texas A&M to allow undergraduate students in a number of degree programs to enter the Bush School in their fourth year of study so that they may earn a bachelors degree and a masters degree in five years. 

These 5-year accelerated programs include:

• Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA):
  
  • Economics – MPSA, Public Policy Analysis track
  • Political Science – MPSA
  • Sociology – MPSA
  • Agriculture Economics – MPSA
• Masters of International Affairs (MIA):
  
  • Economics – MIA, IDEP track
  • International Studies – MIA

There are also a number of graduate certificates available through the Bush School. These are:

1. Advanced International Affairs
2. Homeland Security
3. Nonprofit Management
4. Public Management
5. National Security Affairs

Many of these graduate certificates are offered as either online or on-campus programs. Check with the school to find the perfect program for you and to choose the learning format that fits your schedule and lifestyle.

Master of Public Service and Administration at the Bush School

The Bush School offers a Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) degree that is designed to develop principled leaders in the public and nonprofit sectors. The curriculum of this program provides students with general knowledge and analytical abilities in:

• Management
• Leadership
• Policy Analysis
• Research Methods

Plus, the MPSA degree at the Bush School is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration. In addition, the class sizes in this program are kept small to provide students with a close-knit learning community and to develop relationships with the renowned faculty.

Online Programs at the Bush School of Government

Online Masters Degree Programs:

Online Executive Master of Public Service and Administration. This Texas A&M online degree offered at the Bush School offers three different concentrations:

1. Homeland Security
2. Nonprofit Management
3. Public Management

In order to earn your online masters degree through Texas A&M, students are asked to attend one residency on-campus for one week every year. The masters degree culminates in a capstone project completed with industry and/ or government partners.

Online Graduate Certificates:

The online graduate certificates offered at the Bush School of Government are designed for students of various backgrounds. Some students are full-time professionals seeking additional credentials for possible career advancement. And others are graduate students looking to add a special note of certificate completion.

The online graduate certificates available are:

• Online Certificate in Advanced International Affairs
• Online Certificate in Homeland Security
• Online Certificate in Nonprofit Management
• Online Certificate in Public Management

Admissions Requirements at the Bush School

Each of the programs offered at the Bush School of Government and Public Policy have slightly different admissions requirements.

The admissions requirements for masters degree programs include:

• Texas A&M University Application
• Official Transcripts
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Professional Resume
• Test Scores (GRE or GMAT; TOEFL or IELTS for International applicants)

In addition to the requirements listed above, the master of international affairs (MIA) program also asks applicants to submit an international experience essay.

The admissions requirements for graduate certificates are slightly different and include:

• Texas Common Application
• Personal Statement
• GRE Scores (required if your GPA is under 3.0 overall or in the last 60 hours)
• Original Transcripts
• Resume

The specific admissions requirements for the Bush School may change from year to year, so be sure to review requirements or contact an enrollment specialist for specific requirements before submitting your application.

What Student Services Does the Bush School Offer?

In order to achieve its goal of developing leadership skills, the Bush School offers students a number of student services. Some of these are student organizations and clubs that focus on creating bonds that may help you network after earning your degree or certificate.

Some of the student organizations include:

• American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
• National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)
• Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA)

There are also a number of career interest groups available for current and former students to join. These six groups represent the primary career areas that graduates end up in and where former students have work experience. The Student Services Office maintains a list of former students who have experience in each of the groups and encourage both current and former students to use these networks when searching for employment.

The six career interest groups are:

1. Federal Government
2. International Economics and Development
3. Local Government
4. National Security
5. Non-Profit Organizations
6. State Government

These groups provide members with online job listings, desired KSAs (knowledge, skills, and abilities), and information about professional organizations for individuals in the various fields.

Bush School of Government Accreditations

The Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. In addition, the Master of International Affairs (MIA) program is one of only 35 full members of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs,  which brings together graduate schools specializing in international affairs dedicated to the improvement of the field.

Why Choose the Bush School of Government

The Bush School of Government and Public Policy is guided by the principle that public service is a noble calling. Plus, courses are designed to develop the leadership skills that many government agencies and private companies are looking for in new hires. It is located at the Presidential Library of the 41^st President, George H.W. Bush. Therefore, students also have access to resources and guest speakers that may not be available at other institutions.

Those factors, combined with notable faculty and rigorous curriculum, have led the Bush School to be given many awards and much recognition. Some of these include:

• Top 12% Public Affairs Programs by U.S. News and World Report
• Ranked 5^th among U.S. public institutions and 19^th overall for International Affairs programs by Foreign Policy, 2015
• Ranked 21^st among public universities for Masters of Public Affairs programs, U.S. News and World Report

These are just some of the honors and recognitions that have been bestowed on the Bush School. Find the perfect degree for you and apply today.