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College of Liberal Arts
(915) 747-5879

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree provides professional education for students interested in public-service careers. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, the interdisciplinary program is designed to stress the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviors essential to the successful public servant. Some flexibility in curriculum is permitted to meet the diverse educational needs of pre-service and in-career students, changing-career students, and students in different career specialties in public administration. The curriculum components are designed to produce professionals capable of intelligent and creative analysis, communication, and action in the public sector context.

Basic Requirements for Admission to the MPA Program

1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Demonstration of academic achievement and potential as indicated by the results of the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), and upper-level undergraduate and graduate coursework.
3. A three- to five-page statement of purpose that addresses educational and career goals and reasons for pursuing an MPA degree.
4. Three academic or professional letters of recommendation. At least one academic letter of recommendation is preferred.
5. For international students, a score of 550 on the TOEFL and an in-person or telephone interview.

Specific Requirements for the MPA Degree

Completion of at least 36 semester hours of core coursework consisting of the following:

1. At least 21 hours of courses including PAD 5302, PAD 5300, PAD 5310 , PAD 5311, PAD 5351, PAD 5365, and your choice of one from PAD 5350, PAD 5352, or PAD 5353 (detailed in the degree plan).  Selected MBA core courses may be substituted for MPA core courses, depending on course offerings by each program.  Advance approval by the MPA coordinator is required for substitution.
2. Completion of an additional 15 hours of approved courses, which can be in the following areas of concentration: Homeland Security, Leadership, Nonprofit Administration and Governance,Public Policy and Management, and Urban and Regional Planning.   No more than 6 hours of electives can be at the undergraduate level in courses approved for graduate-level credit.
3. The final program requirement is the completion of one of the following: the capstone course, PAD 5367 Comprehen Integration/Pub Adm (3 semester credit hours), or a thesis (six semester credit hours).  The final program requirement is not included in either the 21 hours of core requirements, but is included in the 15 hours of courses in the area of concentration.
4. Three semester credit hours of PAD 5366 Internship in Public Admin, are required as part of the 15 hours of courses in the area of concentration, for students who do not possess significant administrative experience.