Programs

Master of Public Administration

In order to complete the MPA degree, students must:

A. Complete the graduate plan of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

B. Complete a graduate capstone project (PA 592) or thesis (PA 599).

C. Complete the graduate plan of study in accordance with the requirements for a master's degree in the Academic Standards and Policies section of the Graduate Bulletin as well as in accordance with the appropriate program description in the Department of Political Science section of the Bulletin.

For department information or additional degree requirements, click here

For course description, click on the course.

• Total Credits Required for Degree

  34-36

• Core

  22-24
• PA 500 Research Methods of Public Administration (4 cr.)

  4
• PA 507 Principles of Public Administration (4 cr.)

  4
• PA 516 Organizational Theory (4 cr.)

  4
• PA 523 Public Budget Management (4 cr.)

  4
• PA 526 HRM in Public and Nonprofit Management (4 cr.)

  4
• PA 591 Supervised Internship in Public Administration (2-8 cr.)

  2*
• *Internship required for pre-service students
• PA 592 Experiential Applications Seminar (2 cr.)

  2
• or
• PA 599 Thesis in Public Administration (1-6 cr.)

  2
• Electives

  12
• PA 501 Seminar in Public Policy Analysis (4 cr.)

  4
• PA 509 Seminar: Intergovernmental Relations (4 cr.)

  4
• PA 510 State and Local Government (4 cr.)
• PA 517 Seminar: American Government (4 cr.)

  4
• PA 519 Municipal Management (2 cr.)

  2
• PA 520 The Politics of Higher Education (4 cr.)

  4
• PA 521 Grant Writing for Public Administrators (2 cr.)

  2
• PA 525 Public Sector Labor Relations (4 cr.)

  4
• PA 536 Classic Readings in Public Administration (4 cr.)

  4
• PA 545 Political and Administrative Aspects of Community Development (2 cr.)

  4
• PA 562 Program Evaluation for Public and Nonprofit Agencies (2 cr.)

  2
• PA 595 Special Problems in Public Administration (1-4 cr.)

  1-4
• PA 598 Directed Study in Public Administration (1-4 cr.)

  1-4

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.