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Dec 04, 2025
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American University Catalog 2025-2026
Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Theological Studies
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 Return to: Academic Programs
A dual master’s degree program is offered by the School of Public Affairs and Wesley Theological Seminary (WTS). Graduates receive both the Public Administration (MPA) and the Master of Theological Studies. For students whose vocational goals lean more toward public service, organizational leadership and policy: Now more than ever, people who operate in the public sphere need to have an understanding of how faith, ethics, and religious ideals motivate and influence public life. Even as America becomes more “spiritual but not religious” and even agnostic, nearly every campaign speech, public-sector issue and policy rationale touches on a religious or humanitarian ethic or principle. To be able to navigate this murky water at the intersection of faith and public life, leaders must understand the historical, legal, economic, administrative, ethical and other foundations that have shaped our democracy and the forces that continue to influence it, for better and for worse. This dual degree program, offered in conjunction with Wesley Theological Seminary, equips students to be a step ahead in their field, fluent both in the language of public life and of theology and ethics.
The dual degree programs allow students to complete both an MTS and MPA in a total of four academic years. Tuition is paid separately to each institution, at that institution’s rate per credit hour, for the number of hours taken at each school. Students are encouraged to work with their advisors to schedule courses at each institution. Most students are likely to be taking courses at both institutions simultaneously, but they must work with each school to understand how to best utilize financial aid packages, if applicable, which may be dependent on full-time or part-time enrollment at the institution.
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Dual Degree Requirements
- 69 credit hours of approved graduate work, including 27 credit hours of MPA coursework in SPA, and 42 credit hours of MTS coursework in WTS
- Students without substantial professional experience in public affairs are required to complete an internship
Required (9 credit hours)
Quantitative Methods (3 credit hours)
Economic Analysis (3 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, or other approved courses: Capstone (3 credit hours)
Concentration (12 credit hours)
- 12 credit hours from WTS coursework
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 their dual degree electives; students taking a non-credit internship complete a survey on the experience. Required (24 credit hours)
- BI-101 Introduction to Hebrew Bible 1 (3)
- BI-102 Introduction to the Hebrew Bible 2 (3)
- BI-171 Introduction to the New Testament: Gospels (3)
- BI-172 Introduction to the New Testament: Epistles (3)
- CH-101 The Church in History: Early Church To Reformation (3)
- CH-102 The Church in History: Reformation To Present (3)
- ST-305 Systematic Theology 1 (3)
- ST-306 Systematic Theology 2 (3)
Religion and Society (4 credit hours)
- Religion and Society (4) : Ethics, Pastoral Care and Counseling or World Religions
Electives (14 credit hours)
- 14 credit hours from MTS coursework which may include up to 2 credit hours from Religion and Society
Capstone (3 credit hours)
Note: Dual degree students are encouraged to complete the MTS capstone course in tandem with their MPA capstone. In some cases, students may be able to fulfill the MTS capstone through the MPA capstone, if it is approached with a theological lens and incorporates a WTS faculty member as a secondary reader. - IS-501 Master of Theological Studies Paper (3)
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