Apply to the Trent Lott Leadership Institute and the Public Policy Leadership Degree Program
Candidates undergo a holistic and selective admission process to assess their readiness for the program's rigorous academic standards.
Applying as an Incoming Freshman
To be considered for admission to the Trent Lott Leadership Institute and the Public Policy Leadership degree program as an incoming freshman, you must:
- Apply to the University through The University of Mississippi Undergraduate Application.
- Once admitted to the University, apply to Lott/PPL through the Competitive Academic Programs Applications.
Apply to UM Apply to Lott/PPL
Application Deadline
Applying as a Transfer or Current Undergraduate Student
The Accelerated Policy & Leadership Studies (APLS) Program is a specialized track within the Department of Public Policy Leadership. Offered through a partnership between the University of Mississippi’s Trent Lott Leadership Institute and the College of Liberal Arts, this program is designed for students who have already completed most of their general education requirements.
- Participants can finish the Public Policy Leadership major in just two years, gaining advanced training in leadership and policy in an accelerated format.
To be considered for admission to the APLS program/major in Public Policy Leadership as a transfer or current undergraduate student at the University of Mississippi:
- Transfer students should apply to the University through The University of Mississippi Undergraduate Application.
- Once admitted to the University, apply to Lott/PPL through the Application to the Accelerated Policy & Leadership Studies Program.
Apply to UM Apply to APLS
Accelerated Policy & Leadership Studies (APLS) Program Details
- PPL 101: Foundations of Public Policy Leadership
- (if Fall Start): Either
- PPL 210: Quantitative Analysis & Public Policy; or
- PPL 212: Critical Thinking, Communication, & Public Policy
- (if Semester 1 was Fall): Either (whichever class not completed in Semester 1)
- PPL 210: Quantitative Analysis & Public Policy; or
- PPL 212: Critical Thinking, Communication, & Public Policy
- PPL 300: Ethics and Public Policy
- PPL elective
- PPL 310: Policy Design & Analysis
- PPL elective
- PPL elective
- PPL elective
- PPL elective
- PPL elective
- Students enrolled in the APLS program must complete Pol 101 (Introduction to American Politics), Econ 202 (Principles of Microeconomics), and Econ 203 (Principles of Macroeconomics) by the beginning of Semester 3 of the program
- APLS students must also complete the general education requirements for a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Liberal Arts before applying for graduation
- PPL majors must complete at least one (1) domestic policy elective class, one (1) international policy elective class, and one (1) leadership/organization elective class
- PPL 402 and 403 (Thesis I & II) may be put towards completion of two (2) of the required elective classes
- PPL 499 (Internship) may be put towards completion of one (1) of the required electives
- Participation in the Washington, D.C. Experience (PPL 490, 497, and 499) may be applied for the fourth semester of the program, allowing students to take an additional non-PPL class in Semester 3
Meet Transfer Student, Jenna Santacroce
“Transferring to the University of Mississippi for PPL was one of the few best decisions I have made for myself. Consider all of what PPL offers: the personal attention, the real-world experience, the extensive network. Before transferring to UM, I had no previous experience and virtually no understanding of public policy. Within my first few weeks of being a PPL student, and after some hard work, I fit right in with my peers.”
Jenna Santacroce