Degree Requirements

• 42 credit hours of approved graduate work

• Comprehensive examination including an exercise in management analysis and a reflective essay 

The research requirement is satisfied by completing two of the following courses with grades B or better:

(Click to download a sample syllabus) 

• PUAD-605 Quantitative Methods for Public Managers
  OR PUAD-601 Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis I

• PUAD-610 Management Analysis

• PUAD-616 Legal Basis of Public Administration

• PUAD-630 Public Managerial Economics
  
  

Course Requirements:

(Unless stated otherwise, all courses are worth 3 credits)

• PUAD-605 Quantitative Methods for Public Managers
  OR PUAD-601 Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis I
  (Students may test out of PUAD-605 or PUAD-601 and substitute another approved course)
  

• PUAD-610 Management Analysis

• PUAD-612 Introduction to Public Administration and the Policy Process

• PUAD-616 Legal Basis of Public Administration
  OR PUAD-608 Comparative Administrative Systems (for international students returning to countries without Anglo-American or European legal traditions, with permission of the academic advisor)

• PUAD-630 Public Managerial Economics
  

• PUAD-684 Organizational Analysis

• Two courses from the following:
  

• • PUAD-602 Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis II
    

  • PUAD-609 Topics in Public Management
    

  • PUAD-615 Public-Private Partnerships

  • PUAD-617 Project Management

  • PUAD-650 Leadership in a Changing Workplace

  • PUAD-652 Facilitation and Team Development

  • PUAD-665 Managing Human Capital Assets

  • PUAD-696 Selected Topics: Non-recurring (approved topic)
    

• one course in public finance, financial management, or government budgeting from the following:

Area of Concentration (12 credit hours)

(Click to download Concentration information)

• Nonprofit Management

• • Arts Management Focus

• International Management

• Public Management

• • Management Consulting Focus

  • Human Resources Focus

• State and Local Administration

• Public Financial Management

• Policy Analysis

• Policy and Management

• • Social Policy Focus

  • Health Policy Focus

  • Environmental Policy Focus

  • Science and Technology Focus

• Applied Politics

Students may create special areas of concentration by consulting program faculty and their academic counselor.

Credit for Work Experience

A student who has performed successfully for over 3 years as a manager in a supervisory role in a government agency or a nonprofit organization before admission to the MPA program may apply to have the total program reduced by up to 6 credit hours. A request, addressed to the MPA Program Director, should be emailed to the MPA Academic Advisor, who will forward it to the MPA Program Director. It must be submitted so as to permit evaluation prior to the commencement of the 13th credit of course work. The request must include a resume and a cover letter specifying relevant responsibilities.

Waiver of the full 6 credit hours is reserved for students at the GS-13 level or its equivalent who exercised significant responsibilities for supervision and program management, including personnel management, financial management, performance evaluation and other responsibilities (at least 5 years). 

A 3-credit waiver may be granted to students with significant responsibilities for supervision or program management (at least 3 years). The MPA Program Director has the discretion to grant the waiver after consideration of the applicant’s request, based on this policy and judgment of the applicant’s experience. 

If a waiver of 3 credits is granted, it will take the place of the internship/elective requirement. If a waiver of 6 credits is granted, it will take the place of the internship/elective requirement plus one concentration course. Required courses will not be waived based on work experience. Credit earned as part of an internship may not count toward the total degree requirement of any student receiving such a reduction.

OPM and Key credits

Due to a special arrangement, students admitted to the MPA may utilize qualifying courses offered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Executive Management Training Centers toward the credit hours required to earn the degree. Qualifying courses from these two institutions have been certified for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE).

Students who successfully complete the SPA Key Executive Leadership Development Program may apply to reduce the overall degree requirement for the 42-credit hour MPA by up to an additional 6 credit hours. Students who avail themselves of this provision remain eligible to request the 3 or 6 credit hour waiver for prior professional experience as noted above. At least 30 credit hours must be earned in residence for the MPA.

Up to 6 credit hours may be waived for qualifying courses and/or transfer credit from another academic institution, and up to 6 credit hours may be waived for significant management experience, for a total not to exceed 12 credit hours. Students who avail themselves of this provision will be encouraged to take advanced level work in designated areas as a consequence.