Master of Public Administration with a Concentration in Applied Policy (M.P.A.)
General Information
First of its kind in Kentucky when created in 1968, the Master of Public Administration program prepares qualified individuals, both entry-level and mid-career, for advanced professional positions in the administration of public and non-profit programs. The program also may be appropriate for individuals in the private sector who have responsibility for public sector contracts, regulatory compliance, or other liaison and oversight activities.
Special emphasis is placed on regional and local government. In addition to a general concentration, specialized programs of study are offered in community development, emergency management and disaster resilience, and nonprofit management.
The MPA program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission must meet both the general requirements of the Graduate School and the requirements of the MPA program. Applicants to the MPA program come from a variety of undergraduate degree programs, and admission decisions are based on an overall assessment of a student’s application.
Applicants who meet the criteria listed below may qualify for “Clear Admission” to the MPA program:
- A complete application;
- Meets the general requirements of both the Graduate School and MPA program;
- Achieves a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale);
- Resume or curriculum vitae (CV);
- Two (2) letters of recommendation;
- Statement of career goals and objectives;
- Affirm their character and fitness for graduate education in public administration.
Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement for admission and whose application materials do not support an immediate admission decision will be required to submit official GRE scores for consideration for Probationary Admission. Expected target scores on the GRE for Probationary Admission are 145 on both the verbal and quantitative sections of the exam. Students who cannot affirm their character and fitness must include a statement explaining their past actions to be reviewed by the program faculty.
Program Requirements
CIP Code: 44.0401
The MPA Degree program requires satisfactory completion of a minimum of 36 credit hours. All students take a common program core of 21 credit hours. The program core consists of courses in:
- Administration, Ethics, and Public Policy
- Research Methods
- Public Sector Leadership
- Organizational Theory
- Public Human Resources Management
- Public Finance Administration
- Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation
In addition to these program core courses, all students will enroll in and execute three semester hours of applied study. This requirement may be met through an internship, generally at a public or nonprofit organization, and the submission of a capstone paper, through an applied project resulting in the submission of a capstone project, or through an advanced and directed research project resulting in a thesis.
While observing the above requirements, students may choose to complete the general degree program or may choose from three concentrations within the program. Curriculum requirements for the general program and concentrations are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| POL 800 | Research Methods in Pol Sci | 3 |
| POL 801 | Admin, Ethics, Public Policy | 3 |
| POL 874 | Public Sector Leadership | 3 |
| POL 875 | Organization Theory | 3 |
| POL 876 | Public Human Resources Mngt | 3 |
| POL 877 | Public Finance Administration | 3 |
| POL 879 | Policy Analysis and Evaluation | 3 |
| Concentrations | ||
| Students must select one of the following Concentrations: | ||
Community Development | ||
Emergency Management & Disaster Resilience | ||
| Applied Policy | 12 | |
Nonprofit Management | ||
| Exit Requirements | ||
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Public Admin Internship | ||
| Thesis in Public Administration | ||
| Applied Project in Public Administration | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Program Plan
During the first term, graduate students must meet with their advisor to develop a planned program. Students for whom program plans have not been appropriately filed will not be eligible for a second registration.
Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Choose from 12 hours of the following approved by the e-Campus MPA Advisor: | 12 | |
| Sem Intergovernmental Relation | ||
| Community Development | ||
| Non-Profit Organizations | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Nonprofit Financial Management | ||
| Infrastructure Protec and Risk | ||
| Long-Term Disaster Resilience | ||
| Unconventional Threats and Res | ||
| Intergov Rltns in Disaster Mgt | ||
| History & Systems of Psycholog | ||
| Introduction to I-O Psychology | ||
| Statistics & Research Design I | ||
| Social Psy &Cultural Diversity | ||
| Biological Bases of Behavior | ||
| Cog/Affect Bases of Behavior | ||
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Exit Requirements
Applied Study
All students will satisfactorily complete 3 hours of POL 870 Public Admin Internship, POL 871 Thesis in Public Administration, or POL 873 Applied Project in Public Administration near or after the completion of all core MPA course requirements in a manner that synthesizes central elements of the student’s graduate program and aligns with the EKU Graduate Student Learning Outcomes and NASPAA accreditation standards for professional master’s degree programs in public policy, affairs, and administration.