Public Administration, M.P.A.

About the Public Administration, M.P.A. Program

The Master of Public Administration program is designed to provide students with the highest quality education in preparation for careers or advancement of careers and in public, nonprofit, and healthcare organizations. The program stresses the acquisition of academic theory and practical skill to foster an ethical and enduring commitment to public service values of serving the public interest with accountability and transparency; serving professionally with competence, efficiency, and objectivity; acting ethically to uphold the public trust; and demonstrating respect, equity, and fairness in dealings with the public and fellow workers.

The program provides students with a public service perspective to do the following:

• Lead and manage organizations
• Understand and contribute to public policy
• Critically analyze policies, programs, problems, and issues and make pertinent recommendations
• Communicate effectively in oral and written discourse with a diverse and changing workforce and public.

Applicants to the M.P.A. program should complete the Graduate School application process and submit two letters of reference.

The M.P.A. degree is a non-thesis program that requires 39 hours of in-class coursework and a 3-hour internship. Of these hours, 21 are specified as core curriculum and must be completed by all students. The remaining hours are elective courses. The 3-hour internship can be substituted for in-service students with substantial public service work experience. In order to complete the required 42 hours, students who receive such approval will have a choice of submitting a report integrating their previous experience with the study of public administration or taking a 3-hour elective. There are no foreign language or thesis requirements. M.P.A. students must develop their courses of study in consultation with the department’s M.P.A. director. Terminal M.P.A. graduate students are required to complete, submit, and orally present a degree portfolio at the conclusion of their degree program.

Courses are scheduled so that the M.P.A. degree may be obtained in evening study.