Department of Public Administration & Policy

Master of Public Administration (M.P.A) and J.D

Admission to the Program

Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of both the Department of Public Administration and Policy (DPAP)/SPA and Washington College of Law (WCL). Admission criteria are the same as those for the M. P.A. However, students who have been admitted to WCL will not be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students may begin their studies in SPA after completing one year or the equivalent of full-time study at WCL. Admission to either the M.P.A. or J.D. program does not guarantee admission to the other.

M.P.A. Degree Requirements

42 credits hours of approved graduate course work including at least 24 credit hours of M.P.A. course work in SPA, and up to 18 credit hours from WCL.

Assignments in the capstone course (PUAD 610) and a separate reflective essay fulfill the university requirement for a comprehensive examination.

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

• PUAD-605 Quantitative Methods for Public Managers

• PUAD-601 Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis I
• PUAD-610 Management Analysis
• PUAD-616 Legal Basis of Public Administration
• PUAD-630 Public Managerial Economics
• LAW-516 Legal Rhetoric I (2) and LAW-517 Legal Rhetoric II (2)

Course Requirements

• PUAD-605 Quantitative Methods for Public Managers (3)

• PUAD-601 Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis I (3)
• PUAD-610 Management Analysis (3)
• PUAD-612 Introduction to Public Administration/Policy Process (3)
• PUAD-630 Public Managerial Economics (3)
• PUAD 684 Organizational Analysis (3)
  

Two courses from the following:

• PUAD-609 Topics in Public Management (3)
• PUAD-696 Managing in the Information Age (3)
• PUAD-615 Public-Private Partnerships (3)
• PUAD-617 Project Management (3)
• PUAD-650 Leadership in a Changing Workplace (3)
• PUAD-652 Facilitation and Team Development (3)
• PUAD-665 Managing Human Capital Assets (3)
• PUAD-602 Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis II (3)

One WCL course, if pre-approved by M.P.A. advisor.

One course in public finance, financial management, or government budgeting from the following, or other course approved by M.P.A. advisor:

• PUAD-631 Financing Government Services (3)
• PUAD-633 Budgeting and Financial Management (3)
• PUAD-685 Public Finance in Developing Countries (3)

Area of Concentration

12 credits in an area of concentration, usually completed with WCL courses, as long as 24 credit hours for the M.P.A are taken in approved SPA courses.

J.D. Degree Requirements

86 credit hours of course work required for the J.D. of which 80 credits must be earned in law school courses:

• LAW-601 Administrative Law (3-4)
• LAW 550 Legal Ethics (2-3)

Apply to SPA Graduate Programs

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