Program Requirements

Master of Public Administration (MPA) graduate degree requires successful completion of 39 graduate semester credit hours.

see the Degree Plan for the quick and complete picture of the program requirements.

Prerequisites:

If a student does not have an academic background in public administration or political science, the student must take PUBA 3323, Introduction to Public Administration(3 hours), which cannot be counted towards degree requirements. Students whose academic preparation in public administration or political science is deficient may be required to complete additional "leveling" course work before clear admission to the program is granted.

Core(see Handbook, page 12):

Student will be required to take 18 semester credit hours of core courses.

• PUBA 6302 – Graduate Seminar in Public Administration
• PUBA 6305 - Problems in State and Local Government
• PUBA 6312 - Policy Implementation and Program Evaluation
• PUBA 6321 - Public Personnel Administration
• PUBA 6330 – Scope and Methods in Public Administration
• PUBA 6341 - Decision-Making and Management in Public Organization

 Elective Courses(see Handbook, page 16):

• PUBA 6311 - Formulation of Public Policy
• PUBA 6320 - Public Finance Administration
• PUBA 6322 – Introduction to Community Development
• PUBA 6323 – Management of Governmental Information Systems
• PUBA 6327 – Management of Non-Profit Organizations
• PUBA 6342 - Bureaucracy and Organization Theory
• PUBA 6361 – Directed Research
• PUBA 6362 – Independent Study
• PUBA 6363 - Special Topics

Other Courses(see Handbook, page 19):

Student who do not have work experience in public administration will be required to complete the three semester credit hour (PUBA 6325) internship. Students employed full-time in the public sector may use their present position as the basis for the internship experience if they register for the internship.

Each MPA candidate may complete either a Thesis PUBA 7300-7301 or an Applied Research Grant Project PUBA 7302-7303.  Both of these options must be defended publicly, and must obtain approval of the supervising instructor and two additional reviewers.

Graduate Program Projected Two-Year couse Schedule  <---Click here to open the file.

Final Requirements(see Handbook, page 20):

After a student has successfully completed his or her 39 semester credit hours , the student becomes a candidate for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree and must successfully complete

1. A thesis, 2. An applied research project or 3. passed the written comprehensive examination.

Note: When a grade of "C" (2.0) or lower is received in three or more courses in the program (even if the course is repeated and a higher grade is received), a master's degree candidate is ineligible to continue the program or to take the comprehensive examination.