MPA Graduation Requirements (updated 6/26/15)
Entry level courses can be completed of either campus and online. For students to graduate with an MPA degree, the following core requirement courses must be completed:
| Core Requirement Courses | Credits |
| PUA 500 Introduction to Public Administration and Public Affairs | 3 |
| PUA 520 Administrative Theories and Practices | 3 |
| PUA 521 Public Program Seminar | 3 |
| PUA 526 Quantitative Methods for Public Administration | 3 |
| PUA 527 Administrative Law | 3 |
| PUA 531 Group Processes and Leadership | 3 |
| PUA 533 Personnel Administration | 3 |
| PUA 534 Budget Management | 3 |
| MPA students must complete four core elective courses (12 credit hours) from the courses listed below. In addition, as a core elective course option, MPA
students are permitted to take one graduate course within a field of study that is
relevant and applicable to the discipline of Public Administration. This option requires
approval from the MPA Program Director. |
|
| Core Elective Courses | Credits |
| PUA 523 Recent Developments in Public Administration | 3 |
| PUS 524 Comparative Administration | 3 |
| PUA 528 Labor/Management Relations | 3 |
| PUA 532 Government, Business and Society | 3 |
| PUA 535 Public Program Planning | 3 |
| PUA 536 Selected Topics in Public Administration | 3 |
MPA Comprehensive Examination
All MPA candidates must take and pass the MPA comprehensive examination. The examination will be offered during the fall and spring semesters. Students should take the comprehensive examination as scheduled near the end of the semester when all core courses have been completed.
MPA Thesis
The thesis will serve as an option to two elective courses, not as an option to the comprehensive examination. The thesis will afford those students who so wish an opportunity to explore and express their research and writing abilities. Students are required to register for 6 credits of PUA 600.
Before signing up for thesis, students must:
- Have completed 15 graduate credits, including PUA 500, Introduction to Public Administration and Public Affairs, and PUA 526, Quantitative Methods for Public Administration.
- Have been approved by the Coordinator of the MPA program as a potential candidate for thesis work through evaluation of graduate work, student workload, and other factors.
- Have discussed a potential topic and received the support of a faculty member to be an advisor for the thesis.
Students must follow the existing rules pertaining to thesis requirements.
