The University of Pennsylvania's International Master of Public Administration (IMPA) program has long been a very popular social science application choice for international students. As one of the Ivy League schools in the U.S., Penn enjoys a stellar reputation. Below is a detailed analysis of Penn's IMPA program.
University of Pennsylvania Introduction
First, let's introduce Penn. Situated in the cradle of the United States, Philadelphia—the sixth-largest city in the country—it is the third-largest economic hub on the East Coast after New York and Washington, D.C., and a city rich in history. However, some parts of Philadelphia have safety concerns, so if you plan to study and live here, don't take safety lightly. Penn is an Ivy League institution with exceptionally high international recognition, ranked 13th in the QS World University rankings in 2023.
Analysis of Penn's IMPA Program
IMPA (International Master of Public Administration)
International Master of Public Administration
This program belongs to Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS), housed within the School of Arts and Sciences, one of Penn's twelve schools. To clarify, the School of Arts and Sciences comprises three divisions, each with its own academic mission—CAS handles undergraduate education, the Graduate Division focuses on research-oriented master's and doctoral programs, and LPS is dedicated to lifelong education. In other words, LPS concentrates on passing on the Ivy League legacy to learners of all ages through general studies and practice-oriented, career-focused education.
Therefore, LPS is not equivalent to the School of Professional Studies (SPS) found at some other U.S. universities. It is more akin to NUS's SCALE College. Penn places many professional practice-oriented degrees under LPS for administration and admissions, while the faculty and degree-granting authority come from the respective schools and the School of Arts and Sciences. Moreover, the final diploma displays only the University of Pennsylvania degree, with no indication of the college.
It's also worth noting that every student in this program is assigned an academic and career advisor who meets with them regularly. The program also provides extracurricular experiences, including meetings with prominent leaders in government, business, academia, philanthropy, media, and other fields, as well as additional networking and social events.
Advantages of Penn's IMPA Program
IMPA allows students to earn their degree in just one year. As part of the Ivy League, Penn boasts an extensive alumni network. Additionally, the program is relatively friendly to Chinese students, and for the Fall 2023 intake, GRE/GMAT scores are not mandatory.
The program draws outstanding faculty from many of Penn's strong schools, such as nursing, law, economics, and other fields. Jointly designed and operated by Penn's College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS) and the Penn Fox Leadership International Center, it grants a University of Pennsylvania master's degree.
The program tends to recruit bilingual talent and has no requirement for full-time work experience. After graduation, students participating in summer practice projects have the opportunity to receive a $6,000 stipend. While instruction is in English, many course materials are in Chinese or Hindi.
Penn IMPA Curriculum
The program is one year long, costs approximately $64,324, and requires ten courses.
Curriculum:
Three intellectual framework courses—covering research on issues related to human well-being, cross-sector collaboration and interdisciplinary thinking, and competing theories and concepts of leadership effectiveness;
Four interdisciplinary foundation courses—Economic Reasoning (I-MPA 6020), Quantitative Reasoning (I-MPA 6030), Ethical Reasoning (I-MPA 6060), and Program Evaluation (I-MPA 6070);
Three advanced courses—completed individually, in groups, and as a whole class, focusing on personal leadership development, analysis of India's energy needs and economic development challenges, global aging and China's elderly care crisis, among others.
Penn IMPA Application Requirements
- GRE is optional (but a score of 325+ is more competitive);
- IELTS 7, TOEFL 100;
- The university explicitly states a preference for applicants with backgrounds in the following four areas:
1. Outstanding academic records in any field of undergraduate or graduate study (including liberal arts or business).
2. Evidence of a commitment to helping others through extracurricular activities, internships, or work experience.
3. A desire to pursue a successful career as an effective and ethical leader within institutional sectors (nonprofit, corporate, or government).
4. Proficiency in English and one or more of the following languages: Mandarin, Hindi, or Swahili.
Below are some Penn IMPA program offers for reference~
If you're interested in applying to Penn's IMPA program for graduate studies, feel free to scan the QR code below and start a one-on-one study abroad consultation today~
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