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    Mar 29, 2024  
American University Catalog 2014-2015 
    
American University Catalog 2014-2015 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Public Administration (MPA)


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Offered by the Department of Public Administration and Policy , School of Public Affairs , the Master of Public Administration program provides students the knowledge, skills, and values for functioning with distinction throughout their careers at different levels of responsibility within the US constitutional context and abroad.

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 eight 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


  • 42 credit hours of approved graduate work.
    • A student who has performed successfully for over 3 years as a manager in a supervisory role in a government agency or a nonprofit organization before admission to the MPA program may apply to have the total program reduced by up to 6 credit hours. A request, addressed to the Associate Chair, should be e-mailed to the MPA Academic Advisor, who will forward it to the Associate Chair. It must be submitted so as to permit evaluation prior to the commencement of the 13th credit of coursework. The request must include a resume and a cover letter specifying relevant responsibilities. Waiver of the full 6 credit hours is reserved for students at the GS-13 level or its equivalent who exercised significant responsibilities for supervision and program management, including personnel management, financial management, performance evaluation and other responsibilities (at least five years). A 3-credit waiver may be granted to students with significant responsibilities for supervision or program management (at least 3 years). The Associate Chair has the discretion to grant the waiver after consideration of the applicant’s request, based on this policy and judgment of the applicant’s experience. If a waiver of 3 credits is granted, it will take the place of the internship/elective requirement. If a waiver of 6 credits is granted, it will take the place of the internship/elective requirement plus one concentration course. Required courses will not be waived based on work experience. Credit earned as part of an internship may not count toward the total degree requirement of any student receiving such a reduction.
    • Due to a special arrangement, students admitted to the MPA may utilize qualifying courses offered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Executive Management Training Centers toward the credit hours required to earn the degree. Qualifying courses from these two institutions have been certified for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE).
    • Students who successfully complete the SPA Key Executive Leadership Development Program may apply to reduce the overall degree requirement for the 42-credit hour MPA by up to an additional 6 credit hours. Students who avail themselves of this provision remain eligible to request the 3 or 6 credit hour waiver for prior professional experience as noted above. At least 30 credit hours must be earned in residence for the MPA.
    • Up to 6 credit hours may be waived for qualifying courses and/or transfer credit from another academic institution, and up to 6 credit hours may be waived for significant management experience, for a total not to exceed 12 credit hours. Students who avail themselves of this provision will be encouraged to take advanced level work in designated areas as a consequence.
  • Capstone experience: requirement completed through assignments in PUAD-610 Management Analysis  and a reflective essay.

Course Requirements


Core (27 credit hours)


Public Finance, Financial Management, or Government Budgeting


One course in public finance, financial management, or government budgeting from the following:

Internship (3 credit hours)


Note: Students without a significant professional work background participate in an internship and complete a survey on their experience. For students who have already begun their careers, a formal internship is optional.

Area of Concentration (12 credit hours)


  • 12 credit hours in an 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; policy and management (with optional social policy or health policy or environmental policy or science and technology focus); and applied politics. Students may create special areas of concentration by consulting their academic counselor.

Combined Bachelor’s 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 Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees  for more information.

This program enables qualified students to earn, in a continuous plan of study, both a bachelor’s degree with a major in any related discipline and the Master of Public Administration (MPA).

Requirements


  • In addition to meeting the university requirements for 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.
  • All requirements for a bachelor’s degree with a major in any related discipline.
    • 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, public administration, and other courses approved by DPAP.
  • All requirements for the MPA, including a minimum of 18 credit hours completed in residence in graduate status after the undergraduate degree has been awarded. Students must finish the master’s degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master’s program.

Public Administration (MPA) and Juris Doctor (JD)


Admission to the Program


Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of both the Department of Public Administration and Policy (DPAP)/SPA and Washington College of Law (WCL). Admission criteria are the same as those for the MPA. However, students who have been admitted to WCL will not be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students may begin their studies in SPA after completing one year or the equivalent of full-time study at WCL. Admission to either the MPA or JD program does not guarantee admission to the other.

Dual Degree Requirements


  • 104 credit hours of approved graduate coursework, including 24 credit hours of MPA coursework in SPA, and 80 credit hours of law coursework in WCL

MPA Degree Requirements


  • 42 credit hours of approved graduate coursework, including at least 24 credit hours of MPA coursework in SPA, and up to 18 credit hours from WCL
  • Capstone experience: requirement completed through assignments in PUAD-610 Management Analysis  and a reflective essay

MPA Course Requirements


Core (24 credit hours)


Internship


Students without a significant professional work background participate in an internship and complete a survey on their experience. An internship may be taken for credit (PUAD-691 ). For students who have already begun their careers, a formal internship is optional.

JD Degree Requirements


  • 86 credit hours of coursework required for the JD, of which at least 80 credits must be earned in WCL courses, including:
    • LAW-601 Administrative Law (3-4)
    • LAW-550 Legal Ethics (2-3)

Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Laws (LLM)


American University’s School of Public Affairs (SPA) and the Washington College of Law (WCL) jointly offer a dual degree program in law and public administration. The program is especially attractive for attorneys who hope to practice and innovate in the political, governmental and not-for-profit realms. The program provides a broad theoretical grounding in public administration and management, while also providing students with a practical education in the analysis and implementation of policy and law at all levels of government.

Admission to the Program


Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of both the Department of Public Administration and Policy (DPAP)/SPA and Washington College of Law (WCL). Admission criteria are the same as those for the MPA. However, students who have been admitted to WCL will not be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). For entering law students, applications for this program are first reviewed by the WCL. Upon admission to WCL, the application is forwarded to SPA for review and decision. Currently enrolled WCL students may apply during their studies at WCL.

Admission to either the MPA or LLM program does not guarantee admission to the other. Students who have been admitted to the MPA program may apply to WCL. Students may begin their studies in SPA in their first semester of the LLM program.

Dual Degree Requirements


  • 42 credits hours of approved graduate coursework, including 24 credit hours of MPA coursework in SPA, and 18 credit hours of law coursework in WCL

MPA Degree Requirements


  • 42 credits hours of approved graduate coursework, including at least 24 credit hours of MPA coursework in SPA, and up to 18 credit hours from WCL
  • Capstone experience: requirement completed through assignments in PUAD-610 Management Analysis  and a reflective essay

MPA Course Requirements


Core (24 credit hours)


Internship


  • Students without a significant professional work background participate in an internship and complete a survey on their experience. An internship may be taken for credit (PUAD-691 ). For students who have already begun their careers, a formal internship is optional.

LLM Degree Requirements


  • 18 credit hours of coursework required for the LLM, including:

Required


  • LAW-601 Administrative Law (3-4)
    or
  • other approved course

3 credit hours from the following:


  • LAW-580 American Lawyer Seminar (3)
  • LAW-892 Washington Lawyer Seminar (3)

Curriculum and Instruction (MEd) and Public Administration (MPA)


Admission to the Program


In addition to meeting the minimum requirements for graduate study, applicants must earn a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The GRE is required for applicants whose highest earned degree is a baccalaureate and for students who have completed a master’s degree with less than a 3.5 GPA, and may be required for those with master’s degrees and GPAs above 3.5. Applicants should have had at least three years of full-time teaching experience at the time of enrollment, and should have a standard teaching license. Applicants whose teaching experience occurred more than 10 years ago are encouraged to apply.

Students must apply to the School of Education, Teaching and Health  (SETH) in the College of Arts and Sciences  and the School of Public Affairs  (SPA). Admission to any of the participating teaching units in no way implies admission to the other unit.

Dual Degree Requirements


  • 60 credit hours of approved coursework, with 30 credit hours from the MEd program in Educational Policy and Leadership and 30 credit hours from the MPA program, approved by the program directors at the time of admission.

Course Requirements


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