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Admissions Policy 

The Leadership and Community Engagement program takes a holistic approach to admissions. The admissions committee evaluates a wide range of factors that inform admission decisions based on the applicants’ potential success in our program. A low test score does not mean an automatic rejection if the applicant has strong letters of recommendation, or a high GPA does not mean automatic acceptance if the statement of purpose does not indicate personal, educational, or career goals that the program would be able to support and facilitate. As a program, we adhere strongly to the belief that a student’s undergraduate grades are not solid indicators of graduate level success. However, students admitted into the program with GPAs below 3.00 will be accepted with Conditional Acceptance (academic probation). If such students are not able to earn a GPA of at least 3.30 after taking their first 9 hours (3 courses), they are subject to being dismissed from the program. All students are expected to maintain a GPA of 3.00 of higher throughout their time in the program.

Admission Requirements

Please follow all the instructions very carefully. Only completed applications will be reviewed! Applying to the wrong category or uploading documents that do not satisfy the application requirements will be returned, and will delay the admissions process. All uploaded documents must be in PDF format! If you have any questions about applications, contact the program directly.  

Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é Application

• Complete and submit the application to the Graduate School .
• Domestic/Mexican students - $45, International students - $80
• Once you select your category from the options above, scroll down to Liberal Arts and choose "Leadership Studies/MA".
• Click on the semester for which you are applying.
• There is no application deadline for the Leadership and Community Engagement program.

Official Transcripts

• Order your official transcripts from the university where you received your undergraduate degree and have them mailed to:

The Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é of Texas at El Paso
Kelly Hall Room 215, Attn: Program Advisor
500 Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é
El Paso, TX 79968

• Transcripts must show the degree awarded. 
• Transcripts mailed to us from the applicants themselves will NOT be accepted as official transcripts! 
• We also accept e-scripts. E-scripts can be sent to us at jaaguilar20@utep.edu 
• Students who received their undergraduate degrees from UTEP do not need to order transcripts. 
• Please order your transcripts as soon as possible, you will NOT be able to register for courses until your transcripts have been received. 

Millers Analogy Test (MAT)

• Demonstrate academic achievement and potential as indicated by the results of the MAT exam. Applicants in the El Paso area can take the exam at UTEP by registering with the.
• $55 at UTEP, costs may vary depending on the test center or area where you take the exam.
• Prepare for the exam with the .
• We do not have a minimum score requirement. Scores lower than the 400 point average will be evaluated using the program's holistic admissions policy.
• Students who have taken other exams like the GRE or GMAT may be eligible to substitute those test scores in place of the MAT. Contact the program for more information. 

Statement of Purpose

• Address your educational and career goals, your reasons for pursuing an MLS degree, and how you believe it will benefit you in your professional life.
• The Statement of Purpose should demonstrate your potential to think, write and communicate at the graduate level. 
• Statements of Purpose must be:
  • 1-2 pages, single spaced
  • in Times New Roman, 12 point font
  • in structured essay format (introduction, body, conclusion)
  • written in formal, professional, or academic style 
  • in PDF format

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

• 1-2 pages
• PDF format

3 Letters of Recommendation

• We require 3 strong letters of recommendation from every applicant.
• 2 of the 3 letters must be academic letters of recommendation from professors to evaluate your ability to succeed in a graduate level program. The third letter can be a professional letter from a job supervisor or an internship coordinator (must be work related).
• Letters from coaches or other athletic directors may serve as a professional letter of recommendation, but do not count as an academic letter. 
• Letters from family members, friends, high school teachers/administrators, or members of the clergy are not acceptable.
• For  applicants who have been out of school for 2 years or more, we accept professional letters of recommendation. 
• Letters of Recommendation must contain:
  • Official letterhead of the university or institution from which the individual is writing
  • Must be signed by the individual
  • Must be in PDF format 
• Only letters that meet the above requirements will be accepted.

For International Students

• A score of 600 or higher on the TOEFL exam. 
• An in person or telephone interview.  

Application Decision

Under normal circumstances, an application decision should be expected within 8-10 business days once the complete application packet is submitted to the Graduate School. Please note that our admissions committee can not view any application until it is complete and submitted. 

Degree Plan

Required Courses 21 credit hours

1. MLS 5300: Contemporary Concepts of Leadership
2. MLS 5303: Applied Research Methods
3. MLS 5315: Organizational Theory and Behavior
4. MLS 5321: Leadership in Complex Organizations
5. MLS 5326: Leadership of Organizational Change
6. MLS 5331: Leadership Communications
7. MLS 5340: Team Based Leadership (Optional)
8. MLS 5351: Capstone - Ethics and Leadership 

Concentration Courses: 12 credit hours

Students can choose one of the following concentrations:

1. Communications
2. Intelligence and National Security Studies
3. Public Administration
4. Leadership and Community Engagement

Credit Transfer Policy

Program Policy: We accept no more than 9 credit hours (3 courses) of credit transfer to be used towards the 3 course concentration on the MA in Leadership Studies Degree Plan.

Military Transfer Credit may be possible. If you believe you may have credit eligible for transfer please send us a copy of your Joint Service Transcripts and we will conduct an evaluation to determine if any transfer credit is possible. Email jaaguilar20@utep.edu with any questions.