MASTER OF  PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The faculty and staff of the Master of Public Administration program are delighted to help you pursue or enhance your career in the public and nonprofit sectors.  The MPA degree requires 36 hours of graduate credit including seven core courses and five electives (39 hours for MPA / GCHSA). 

The Master of Public Administration degree is a thirty-six hour program, with an emphasis on the technical and managerial skills necessary for a career in government, military, and non-profit organizations.  All classes are taught through the internet on a semester system.  The MPA program is a member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). 

Mission Statement

The purposes of the Master of Public Administration program are:

1.  to train students through theory and practice to become effective public managers, possessing both general understanding and technical expertise in the unique aspects of public administration;

2.  to serve the North Texas area by extending faculty and student resources of Midwestern State University into the region and by developing affiliations and support relationships with professional public administrators and community advisory groups;

3.  to introduce students to the profession and ideals of public administration, to help students understand the importance of honor, integrity, and ethical behavior in their personal and professional lives, and to assist students in developing a commitment to build ethical public organizations; and

4.  to cultivate in students an appreciation for the democratic process, an awareness that they are accountable to the public, a spirit of respect for all peoples, and an understanding that a public office is a public trust.

Currently there are three tracks of specialization in addition to the general MPA degree.  Those tracks are Administration of Justice, thesis, and Health Services Administration.  Also, students may wish to pursue an 18 hour Graduate Certificate in Health Services Administration in conjunction with the MPA.  Regardless of which option you choose, the MPA program faculty members are committed to preparing you for high quality public service.   Internet Courses Are Now Available! All Students taking the Internet Option Courses Pay Instate Tuition!


Graduate Admission Requirements

A bachelor's degree from a college or university approved by a regional accrediting agency is required.  Transcripts from all schools attended must be submitted to the Registrar.   Any undergraduate major is accepted and no leveling work is required.   An applicant who has earned a master's or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education may be accepted without conditions on the basis of such degree. 

Unconditional Admission Guidelines

Unconditional Admission may be granted to an applicant who meets the general admission requirements and has:

Met the department’s minimum Competency requirements:

a) Successful completion of a College Algebra with a B or better within the last 3 years.

OR

A competitive score on the analytical section of the GRE, or a passing score on the Departmental pre-admission tests, or other clear evidence of analytical skills.

b) Successful completion of a College level course in Technical/Report Writing with a B or better within the last 3 years.                                                                                           

OR

A competitive score on the writing section of the GRE or other evidence of graduate level writing skills.

c) The Master’s programs in this department rely heavily on Web-based instructional modes.  Therefore, students must demonstrate a basic knowledge of Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Conditional Admission Guidelines

1. Conditional admission shall continue through the first twelve hours of graduate study.

2. If the conditional admission requires leveling courses they must be completed in the first semester of attendance with a grade of B or better, unless the department agrees otherwise.

3. Upon reaching twelve hours, the student's records will be reviewed to determine eligibility for full admission status.

4. The student must have a 3.2 grade point average in the first twelve hours and have no grade lower than a B in courses within the major.

5. Any student removed from the program for academic reasons or rejected for admission to the MPA program may apply for a waiver according to directions below

For incoming students application for a waiver can be made only after an admissions index has been computed.  The student must submit a letter requesting a waiver with supporting documentation of ability to perform satisfactory academic work. 

If a student has been administratively dismissed from the program, the department does recognize that in rare cases, situations may arise which result in course grades that may cause a student to be administratively dismissed from the program.  In those cases, a student may apply to the department’s academic review committee for re-admission after he or she has been officially dismissed from the program.  Approval of a waiver or a re-admission request will be based upon the student's written essay in his or her original application, the trend of undergraduate and graduate grades, professional work experience, letter of request, GRE analytical score, and consideration of letters of recommendation. Approval of a waiver moves the student to conditional status, which shall be evaluated after each attempted twelve hours of academic credit.

Requirements for Academic Good Standing

Any student who receives two grades of C or D, or a combination of C and D, or one F will be administratively removed from the program.  MPA courses in which the student earns a grade of C or lower, may be repeated one time for a higher grade, with the approval of the department’s academic review committee.  A 3.0 overall grade point average is required for graduation, and students must have a grade of B or better in all courses in the major.

 Core Curriculum 

Each student shall complete the seven courses of the core curriculum, unless such a course has been taken at the undergraduate level.  In such cases, a course substitution shall be made which allows the student to take another course but does not reduce the number of hours required for the degree.  Each core course is taught once a year; electives are taught in alternating years.  The core curriculum courses are:

PUAD	5133	Public Administration
PUAD	5023	Quantitative Methods in Public Administration
PUAD	5923	Organizational Theory and Behavior
PUAD	5943	Public Budgeting and Fiscal Administration
PUAD	5933	Human Resource Management
PUAD	6053	Seminar in Public Policy Analysis
PUAD	5963	Capstone:  Case Studies in Decision-Making

 Requirements for a Graduate Minor in Public Administration

A minor requires eighteen hours in Public Administration.

 Assessment and Evaluation

 To complete their degree each student must write and present a file paper and successfully pass an oral exam that covers the information they have studied while enrolled in the program.  About two terms prior to the completion of their course requirements each student should begin to identify a topic for their file paper.  Once they have identified a topic, the student should then approach a professor in the program to ask them to volunteer to serve as their file paper chair.  The student will be supervised by this faculty member in the development of this academic paper and its presentation.  In the beginning of their final academic term, the student should also approach their academic advisor and request a copy of the list of oral exam questions for that term so they can study and reasearch the questions well in advance of the oral exam.  The exam will be held immediately following the file paper presentation and is presided over by the file paper chair.

 Additional Electives  

Some graduate courses from other academic programs may be applied to the MPA degree with the approval of the academic adviser.  Under limited circumstances a maximum of six hours of 4000 level courses may be taken for graduate credit with the approval of the academic adviser.

Class Meetings Schedules

For application questions please contact
Mrs. Sue Cook
Phone: (940) 397-4752
E-Mail: sue.cook@mwsu.edu 

The Master of Public Administration program at Midwestern State University is a member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

Copyright © 2003 MSU