International Students at US Institutions: Are We Ready for Them?

Göktuğ Morçölgxm27@psu.edu

Presentation at the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration Annual Conference, Washington,

DC., October 2013

Enrollment Trends In Graduate Programs

There is a general upward trend in graduate enrollments in the US institutions.

– This trend is projected to continue

Source: The Conditions of Education (National Center for Education Statistics)

(2010 findings) http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/tables/table-gfs-1.asp

Enrollment Trends by International Students• There is an upward seminal trend in enrolments, with some fluctuations

over the years.

Source: Institute of International Education, “Open doors; Fast facts”

International student trends: the U.S. & Others

4/17

Source: Nurifumi Miyokawa Dissertation, PSU

Applications and Offers of Admission: International Students

Source: Council of Graduate Schools, 2012 Admissions Survey

Applications by International Students by Country & Region

Source: Council of Graduate Schools, 2012 Admissions Survey

Applications by International Students by Region of the US

Source: Council of Graduate Schools, 2012 Admissions Survey

Enrollment Trends by International Students in PA/PA Programs

Source: NASPAA Study 2007-2008: International Enrollments in PA/PP Programs

Source: Council of Graduate Schools, 2012 Admissions Survey

2007-20082002-2003 2007-2008

Total # Stud. % Int. Stud. % Int. Stud.

MPA/MPP Programs (n= 109) 15,733 7.10% 8.70%

PhD Programs (n= 35) 1,769 19.20% 20.60%

International Enrollments in MPA/MPP Programs by Country

2002-2003 2007-2008

Source: NASPAA Study 2007-2008

Source: Council of Graduate Schools, 2012 Admissions Survey

International Enrollments in PhD Programs in PA/PP by Country

2002-2003 2007-2008

Source: NASPAA Study 2007-2008

Source: Council of Graduate Schools, 2012 Admissions Survey

Enrollment Trends by International Students ( A Summary)

• The applications, admissions, and enrollments by international students in the US institutions have increased consistently in the last few decades. – Despite the growing competition by other countries.

China, S. Korea, and India lead the countries with the largest numbers of students at US institutions in recent years. There were some increases in the numbers of students

from Mexico, Brazil, and the Middle East.

Enrollment Trends by International Students ( A Summary)

• There have been similar trends in the MPA/MPP and PhD programs in PA/PP. – PhD programs gained larger percentages of international

students compared to MPA/MPP programs.

• A similar group of countries lead the enrollments in MPA/MPP programs and PhD programs in PA/PP.

Challenges

• Most international students in PA/PP programs have difficulty grasping the basics of American Government.– They need remedial courses

• Programs also need to develop comparative administration and or policy courses to make themselves more relevant.

• Research orientation– Many students from Asia come with high quantitative

analytical skills. How to make best use of this?

Comparative Public Administration Courses

Google Search Results for “Comparative Public Administration Syllabus” (Only the universities in North America)

Only three active graduate courses

Florida State PAD 4936 Spr 2013

Florida State PAD 4937 Spr 2012

American U PUAD 608 Spr 2012

U North Florida PAD 6836 Sum 2011

U N Carolina Wilmington PLS 561 Fall 2010

Indiana U V575 ?

Austin Peay St U @ Ft. Campbell PM 4090 ?

Northern Illinois U PSPA571 ?

Comparative Public Policy Courses

Google Search Results for “Comparative Public Policy Syllabus”(Only the universities in North America)

Only seven active(?) graduate courses

Political scientists seem to be more interested in teaching

comparative courses.

Rutgers 790-318- Fall 2103SUNY Albany POS/PUB 350 Fall 2012Gettysburg College POL 304.A Fall 2012Western Carolina U PA 693 Fall 2012WESTERN MICHIGAN Pol Sci 6460 Spr 2012U Toronto at Scarborough POLD64H Fall 2011U Virginia PLCP 4150 Spr 2011U Toronto POL2318H Fall 2010Kent State U POL6/7050 Spr 2010U Wisconsin-Milwaukee Pol Sci 976 Fall 2009

Georgetown U. PPOL-519 Fall 2009James Madison U POSC 347 Spr 2007Stetson PE 335 Spr 2001Temple U Pol Sci 2255 ? Washington State University ? ?U Waterloo PSCI 438 ?

Are we ready?• American government• Comparative courses• Analytical methods

I would like to hear your insights.

Thank you.