2011-2012 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]
Master of Public Administration
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For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Community and Public Service section in this catalog.
Program coordinator: Jelier. Professors: Balfour, Jelier, Kimboko, Robbins. Associate professors: Borders, Hoffman, Kimoto. Assistant professors: Alaimo, Cline, Downey. Visiting professor; Nieboer.
M.P.A. graduates are leaders. They lead their communities and organizations on the basis of advanced administrative skills with a dedication to democratic values and public service. In today’s global society, such leadership takes many forms and occurs in a variety of settings. The mission of the Master of Public Administration is to develop both the general knowledge and specific abilities needed for professional careers in public service organizations. The curriculum is designed to prepare students to act ethically and effectively in public management, urban and regional policy and planning, nonprofit management, criminal justice, and health care administration.
As a professional school in an urban setting, the School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration is actively involved with the community in professional service activities and applied research. The program offers flexibility and innovation in curriculum design to meet the diverse educational needs of part-time and full-time students, including evening and weekend courses and workshops, and Internet-enhanced learning. Because careers in administration are varied and include the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, the curriculum is designed to develop advanced executive abilities through a combination of core competencies and specialized areas of concentration. Satisfactory completion of the program of study leads to the award of the M.P.A. degree.
Accreditation
National Association of Schools for Public Affairs and Administration
Minimum number of hours for graduation: 39 (42 for precareer students)
Admission to Masters of Public Administration
- An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale calculated on the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework.
- Three letters of reference from informed sources.
- A detailed resume.
- An essay on career and educational objectives (250-750 words).
- A demonstrated commitment to community and public service. Ideally this would be five or more years of professional work experience since receiving a baccalaureate degree.
- Submitting a GRE score is recommended for applicants who have neither a 3.0 undergraduate GPA nor five years of professional experience. The GRE is also recommended for applicants applying for a graduate assistantship with SPNHA.
- Successfully completing graduate-level course work as a nondegree-seeking student is recommended for applicants who have neither a 3.0 undergraduate GPA nor five years of professional experience. However, 12 credits taken as a nondegree-seeking student is the limit that can be applied to the M.P.A. upon admission. Receiving a B+ or better as a nondegree-seeking student will be considered favorably.
- Students who do not meet all requirements, but whose experience, achievement, etc., may warrant an exception, will be invited for a personal interview to discuss admission and further explore the program.
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 12 semester hours of transfer credit will be given for appropriate graduate courses completed within the previous five-year period with a grade of B or better at another college or university. These transfer credits may be substituted for required courses or given general credit as determined by the faculty.
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