Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Arts

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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 Arts. 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 a MA and MPA in a total of two to two-and-a-half 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.

Admission to the Program

Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of both the Department of Public Administration and Policy , School of Public Affairs (SPA) and Wesley Theological Seminary (WTS). Admission to either the MPA or MA program does not guarantee admission to the other.

Dual Degree Requirements

57 credit hours of approved graduate work, including 27 credit hours of MPA coursework in SPA, and 30 credit hours of MA coursework in WTS
Students without substantial professional experience in public affairs are required to complete an internship

MPA Course Requirements

Required (9 credit hours)

Quantitative Methods (3 credit hours)

PUAD-605 Quantitative Methods for Public Managers (3)

Economic Analysis (3 credit hours)

PUAD-630 Public Managerial Economics (3)

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)

PUAD-610 Public Administration Capstone (3)

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.

MA Course Requirements

Required (30 credit hours)

29 credit hours in WTS coursework approved by advisor. WTS offers optional degree specializations and MA curricular designs, which function as a credential like majors/concentrations representing focused work in a particular area, including the Public Theology Specialization. The capstone may be fulfilled by the Public Administration capstone, PUAD-610 Public Administration Capstone (3) , if designed with a ministry/theology lens and having a WTS faculty person as a secondary reader
IS-100 Master of Arts Integrative Seminar (1)