Program Description | Admission | Degree Requirements | Degree Plans | Courses
Program Description
The graduate program in public administration is designed to expand students’ knowledge and to develop their skills of analysis and professional communication. The program is of value to both recent college graduates and those seeking to advance their careers. Among those it serves are students preparing for doctoral work or law school, school teachers seeking to improve their professional competence, promising scholars wanting to teach in community colleges, present and prospective public administrators, and those preparing for careers or advancement in nonprofit organizations, international organizations, the military, and private business. In addition to being public servants at the local, state, and national level, graduates have served in the state legislature, the White House, and the Pentagon; directed a state agency; and worked as professional lobbyists and campaign consultants.
This program is designed for those seeking a career in public service and those wanting to enhance their current career. The program prepares professionals for work in government at the local, state, or national level; nonprofit organizations; and many areas of business.
The MPA degree requires a total of 39 hours of coursework: 24 hours of core coursework taken by all students, 12 hours of coursework in a concentration selected by the student in consultation with the graduate advisor, and 3 hours of internship. Students must complete and pass comprehensive exams in public administration. Comprehensive exams are administered during the fall and spring semesters. Students take their comprehensive exams during their last semester of coursework. Students must be enrolled in the University the semester or summer session in which the comprehensive exam is administered.
Admission
Students seeking admission to the graduate programs in Political Science must
meet the following requirements:
1. Submit a Graduate Studies
Application for Admission with the application fee to Graduate Studies.
2. Submit official transcripts of all college-level work, including the
transcript that shows the date the undergraduate degree was conferred.
3. Submit GRE scores.
4. Submit two letters of recommendation that
discuss the applicant’s suitability for graduate study.
5. Submit a
writing sample of scholarly work.
6. Optional: You may
submit a two word-processed page statement explaining your background and/or
potential that would make you a good choice for our program.
A holistic review of each student’s application file will be completed, and admission will be granted on a competitive basis.
Degree Requirements
This program is designed for those seeking a career in public service and those wanting to enhance their current career. The program prepares professionals for work in government at the local, state, or national level; nonprofit organizations; and many areas of business.
The MPA degree requires a total of 39 hours of coursework: 24 hours of core coursework taken by all students, 12 hours of coursework in a concentration selected by the student in consultation with the graduate advisor, and 3 hours of internship. Students must complete and pass comprehensive exams in public administration. Comprehensive exams are administered during the fall and spring semesters. Students take their comprehensive exams during their last semester of coursework. Students must be enrolled in the University the semester or summer session in which the comprehensive exam is administered.
Core Courses
| PA 581 <PADM 5381> | Dynamics of Public Administration |
| PA 583 <PADM 5383> | Program Evaluation |
| PA 584 <PADM 5384> | Organizational Theory and Behavior |
| PA 586 <PADM 5386> | Leadership and Human Resource Management |
| PA 587 <PADM 5387> | Government and Non-Profit Budgets and Financial Management |
| PA 588 <PADM 5388> | Ethics in Government |
| POL 577 <POLS 5377> | Scope and Methods of Political Science |
| POL 586 <POLS 5386> | Grant Research and Writing |
Internship
Students who lack professional experience will
be required to take 3 hours of internship. Students who have full time
professional experience may credit their experience toward the 3 hour internship
requirement.
Areas of Concentration
Students will select and complete a
concentration of 12 hours in State and Local Government or Comparative and
International Relations. Courses appropriate to each concentration are listed
below. With graduate advisor approval students may take a concentration in an
appropriate area from one or more other departments
Concentration in State and Local Government
Students will
choose 12 semester credit hours from the following courses. None of
these courses requires stem work.
| POL 530 <POLS 5330> |
American Political Institutions |
| POL 531 <POLS 5331> | American Political Behavior |
| POL 560 <POLS 5360> | Seminar in American National Politics |
| POL 562 <POLS 5362> | Seminar in Political Theory |
| POL 585 <POLS 5385> | Public Policy Formulation and Implementation |
| POL 730 <POLS 7330> | Public Policy and the School District |
| POL 578 <POLS 5378>* | Problems and Internships in Political Science |
| POL 582 <POLS 5382>* | Seminar in Public Administration |
|
*Topics addressed in POL 578 <POLS 5378> and POL 582 <POLS 5382> vary across semesters. Thus, these courses may count towards a student’s concentration hours only when the course topic is relevant to the student’s area of concentration. |
|
Concentration in Comparative and International Relations
Students will choose 12 semester credit hours from the following courses. None of
these courses requires stem work.
| POL 567 <POLS
5367> |
Seminar in International Relations |
| POL 571 <POLS 5371> | Comparative Political Analysis |
| POL 572 <POLS 5372> | Seminar in Comparative Politics |
| POL 573 <POLS 5373> | Theory and Method of International Relations |
| POL 578 <POLS 5378>* | Problems and Internships in Political Science |
| POL 582 <POLS 5382>* | Seminar in Public Administration |
|
*Topics addressed in POL 578 <POLS 5378> and POL 582 <POLS 5382> vary across semesters. Thus, these courses may count towards a student’s concentration hours only when the course topic is relevant to the student’s area of concentration. |
|
Degree Plans
Plan 1 – MPA in Public Administration
Item |
Requirement |
Options |
Hours Required |
| 1 | Specified Courses |
Choose all from: PA 581 <PADM 5381> PA 583 <PADM 5383> PA 584 <PADM 5384> PA 586 <PADM 5386> PA 587 <PADM 5387> PA 588 <PADM 5388> POL 577 <POLS 5377> POL 586 <POLS 5386> |
24 |
| 2 | Concentration |
Choose four from a single concentration: Concentration in State and Local Government POL 530 <POLS 5330> POL 531 <POLS 5331> POL 560 <POLS 5360> POL 562 <POLS 5362> POL 585 <POLS 5385> POL 730 <POLS 7330> POL 578 <POLS 5378>* POL 582 <POLS 5382>* Concentration in Comparative and International Relations POL 567 <POLS 5367> POL 571 <POLS 5371> POL 572 <POLS 5372> POL 573 <POLS 5373> POL 578 <POLS 5378>* POL 582 <POLS 5382>* |
12 |
| 3 | Internship | Choose all from: POL 595 <POLS 5395> |
3 |
TOTAL |
39 |
||