Public Administration, M.P.A.

Admission Requirements

Comply with the regular Admission Requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, which includes an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.

All Applicants must submit:

Graduate admission application and fee.
Official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions.
A written statement describing how your experience in work and other settings and your choice of graduate study in Public Administration will lead to achieving your career goals (1000-word maximum length).
A minimum of two letters of recommendation from academic sources and/or employment supervisors. Please do not provide letters from friends, co-workers, or family.

Applicants must have a thesis adviser prior to admission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to communicate with the thesis adviser early in the application process. To identify the adviser, students should contact a faculty member and establish the willingness of that person to serve as the adviser, as indicated by a memorandum from the faculty member to that effect.

Application Due Dates

Rolling admissions

Master of Public Administration Curriculum

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Political Science and Public Administration department page.

Total Credits Required 34-36 Credits

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Political Science and Public Administration department page.

Core 20-22 Credits

*Internship required for pre-service students

PA 500 - Research Methods of Public Administration Credits: 4
PA 507 - Principles of Public Administration Credits: 4
PA 516 - Organizational Theory Credits: 4
PA 523 - Public Budget Management Credits: 4
PA 526 - HRM in Public and Nonprofit Management Credits: 4
PA 591 - Supervised Internship in Public Administration Credits: 2-8 *

Capstone 2 Credits

PA 592 - Experiential Applications Seminar Credits: 2
or
PA 599 - Thesis in Public Administration Credits: 1-6

Electives 12 Credits

PA 501 - Seminar in Public Policy Analysis Credits: 4
PA 509 - Seminar: Intergovernmental Relations Credits: 4
PA 510 - State and Local Government Credits: 4
PA 517 - Seminar: American Government Credits: 4
PA 519 - Municipal Management Credits: 2
PA 520 - The Politics of Higher Education Credits: 4
PA 521 - Grant Writing for Public Administrators Credits: 2
PA 525 - Public Sector Labor Relations Credits: 4
PA 536 - Classic Readings in Public Administration Credits: 4
PA 545 - Political and Administrative Aspects of Community Development Credits: 4
PA 562 - Program Evaluation for Public and Nonprofit Agencies Credits: 2
PA 595 - Special Problems in Public Administration Credits: 1-4
PA 598 - Directed Study in Public Administration Credits: 1-4

Graduation Requirements

Graduates must meet the requirements of the College of Graduate Studies as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin in addition to the following:

Complete the minimum number of credits for the degree
Maintain a 3.0 GPA
Successfully complete capstone project or thesis

Please note that students may be denied admission to courses, or they may be dismissed from a graduate program or internship/practicum if they demonstrate a lack of professional competence and effectiveness as a professional or fail to perform course work effectively. The departmental graduate review committee reviews the qualifications of all questionable students and may require them to undergo further examiniation to make a final determination regarding program completion.