The MPA Program is a 42-credit hour program comprised of:
- Seven core courses (25 credits) where students are introduced to the knowledge and skills they need for professional public service
- 12 credits of electives
- Two-credit internship to practice application of learning
- Three-credit culminating experience course to demonstrate competencies.
It typically takes full-time students two years to complete our MPA Program.
Core Courses
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Evidence-based Decision Making, choose one
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Managing People, choose one
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Specialization or Electives
(12 credits)
You may choose to complete a certificate within the Department of Public Administration and Policy:
- Nonprofit Management and Leadership
- Local Government Management and Leadership
- Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention
The Department also has relations with the Departments of Social Work, Higher Education and Student Affairs, Education, Sustainable Communities, the School of Nursing (for students interested in Health Policy Administration), and the Department of Geography (for students interested in Environmental Policy). Additionally, students may select elective courses suited to their specialized academic interests from various other graduate academic departments.
Recommended coursework for students interested in sustainable communities:
- SUST 500
- SUST 510
- any SUST elective
- any other elective as needed to fulfill 12 credits. (Note that SUST 500 and 510 are four-credit classes.)
Application of Learning
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Culminating Experiences/Demonstrating Competencies
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Non-Matriculated Study
Would you like to take a class before applying as a matriculated student in the MPA program? Non-matriculated students can enroll in up to 12 credits, although some academic departments and schools may have different rules. Additionally, certain academic departments may limit enrollment in their courses to degree-seeking and certificate-seeking matriculated students only. Non-matriculated students cannot earn degrees, certificates or graduate assistantships.