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Nov 21, 2024
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American University Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Public Administration (MPA)
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 Return to: Academic Programs
Offered by the Department of Public Administration and Policy , School of Public Affairs , the mission of the Public Administration (MPA) program is to instill the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to manage and lead with distinction in government and related organizations that serve the public good in the U.S. democratic context and abroad.
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Admission to the Program
Applicants must meet the minimum university requirements for graduate study. Admission decisions are based on each applicant’s academic record, two letters of recommendation, test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and an essay written by the applicant on his or her background and career interests. Applicants may substitute test scores from similar tests, such as the GMAT or LSAT, for the GRE where appropriate. Applicants who received their undergraduate degree more than five years prior to their date of application may waive the requirement for test scores by submitting a statement describing their professional experience. The department values applicants who have acquired practical experience before beginning their professional degree program. Admission decisions are based on each applicant’s total record and not on any single strength or deficiency. Degree Requirements
- 39 credit hours of approved graduate work
- Students who successfully complete the SPA Key Executive Leadership Development Program may apply to reduce the overall degree requirement for the 39-credit hour MPA by up to 6 credit hours
- Capstone Experience: PUAD-610 Public Administration Capstone (3)
Required (9 credit hours)
Public Budgeting and Finance (3 credit hours)
Complete 3 credit hours from the following: Public Management Electives (6 credit hours)
Complete 6 credit hours from the following: Capstone (3 credit hours)
Concentration (12 credit hours)
- 12 credit hours in electives that can comprise an (optional) area of concentration. Areas include: nonprofit management (with optional arts management focus); international management; public management (with optional management consulting or human resources focus); state and local management; public financial management; policy analysis; public policy (with optional social policy or health policy or education policy or environmental policy or science and technology policy focus); applied politics; and race, policy, and administration. Students may create special areas of concentration with the approval of their academic counselor
Internship
Students without a significant professional work background participate in either a for-credit or non-credit internship. Students taking a for-credit internship complete PUAD-691 as part of the concentration; students taking a non-credit internship complete a survey on the experience Combined Bachelor’s Degree and Public Administration (MPA)
American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Program and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for more information. In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for combined bachelor’s/master’s programs: - Admission requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00, a completed application form (available from the Department of Public Administration and Policy (DPAP) and submitted to the BA/MPA advisor), a written faculty recommendation, an essay on the student’s interests and abilities in public administration, and an interview with an academic advisor
- Undergraduate students may apply up to 15 credit hours of approved graduate-level coursework to satisfy the requirements for both degrees. Students take courses in statistics, economics, public administration, and other courses approved by DPAP
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