Public Administration M.P.A.

Courses within the program are scheduled during the evenings and weekends to meet the needs of employed students. Graduates of the program will have an understanding of governmental structure and organizations, the essential principles of public management, and the theory and methods of research concerning public administration and the development of public policy. Graduate work in the program provides an awareness of the organizational contexts within which public sector administrators make and implement decisions, as well as training in the skills of administration and management. The M.P.A. is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (N.A.S.P.A.A.).

Admission Requirements

All applications for admission to the M.P.A. program are made to the Graduate College but are reviewed by the M.P.A. Admission’s Committee. The committee considers all training and preparation, general abilities, and previous experience.

An application form, and official transcripts of all college level work, must be submitted online to the Graduate College.

In addition, the applicant should have:

1. An earned bachelor’s degree in an acceptable field of undergraduate study from a regionally accredited college or university.
2. A GPA of at least 2.75 overall or 3.00 in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate study.
3. Satisfactory score on either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)—combined score of at least 900 on the verbal and quantitative sections—or a comparable score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 and five years of responsible administrative or professional work experience in the public or nonprofit sector need not submit GRE or GMAT scores. Applicants who have completed the department’s Graduate Certificate in Public Management with a GPA of 3.5 or higher need not submit GRE or GMAT scores. The GRE scores should be sent directly to the School of Environmental and Public Affairs.
4. At least one year of responsible administrative or management experience in a public agency or permission of the coordinator of the M.P.A. program.
5. Three letters of reference sent to the School.
6. A resumé indicating educational and professional experience sent to the School of Environmental and Public Affairs.
7. A personal statement describing how the MPA fits into the applicants professional goals.
8. An official transcript from the college or university where the applicant received a bachelor’s degree should be sent to the School of Environmental and Public Affairs and Graduate College.