Public Administration, M.P.A.

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Degree Requirements: 39 Credit Hours

Admission Requirements

Regular Admission

A student must have the following items in their portfolio:

Completed requirements for the Bachelor’s degree in a college accredited by proper regional accrediting association.
A 2.75 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average in undergraduate work.
Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0 must submit official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 are not required to submit exam scores.
A current resume detailing relevant work experience.
Three (3) letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or employment experience.
Statement of career goals and objectives.

Provisional Admission

In the following circumstances, applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be admitted:

Provisional admission will be considered for applicants who do not meet one or more of the academic requirements listed above if strong evidence of ability to perform well in graduate work is provided through reference to work experience or other means.

Non-Degree Admission

In cases of incomplete admission applications, an applicant must have an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 and will be restricted to a maximum of three courses without gaining provisional or regular admission status.

Program of Study

The graduate student and the MPA Program Director shall jointly develop a Program of Study that includes 24 credits of core courses, twelve (12) credits of emphasis courses, three (3) credits of internship (depending on whether student is pre-service or in-service), and a comprehensive examination.

Core Requirements Credit Hours: 24

Emphases Requirements Credit Hours: 12

Students complete 12-credit hours in one of the following emphases:

Public Management
Nonprofit Management

Internship Credit Hours: 3

PBAD 7730 - Internship in Public Administration (3 Credit Hours)

Total Credit Hours: 39

Students who are not professionally employed in the public or nonprofit sector while a student in the MPA program will be required to complete an internship in a public agency or nonprofit organization before completing the program. Students must have completed at least nine credits and have a GPA in the MPA program of at least 3.0 before enrolling for credit in the internship.

Students must pass a written comprehensive examination. Students may sit for the comprehensive examination after completing a minimum of 27 credit hours in the MPA program with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and by permission of the MPA Program Director.

Accelerated Bachelors to Masters (MPAABM) with Recreation B.S.

Degree Requirements: 39 Credit Hours

The MPA-ABM with Recreation B.S. is designed to allow students to enter the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program after completing 90 credit hours. Students admitted into the MPA-ABM program may take up to 12 graduate credit hours within the undergraduate Recreation degree program that will count toward the MPA. There must be a minimum of 150 unique credit hours between the two programs.

Admission Requirements

Regular Admission

Students may be accepted into the MPA-ABM program if all of the criteria are met:

Student must have earned a minimum of 90 credit hours and have completed an application for admission to the MPA-ABM program.
Student must be a declared major in the Recreation B.S. degree program, with an emphasis in Outdoor Recreation or Tourism and Community Leisure Services.
Student must have a minimum GPA of 3.25.
Student must meet all of the other criteria for Regular Admission into the MPA program. Provisional Admission will not be allowed.

Program of Study

Students in the MPA-ABM should take the following courses as “Guided Major Electives,” preferably during their senior year:

Total Credit Hours: 12

Accelerated Bachelors to Masters (MPAABM) with Child and Family Development B.S. - Family Services Concentration

Degree Requirements: 39 Credit Hours

The MPA-ABM with Child and Family Development B.S. - Family Services Concentration is designed to allow students to enter the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program after completing 75 credit hours. Students admitted into the MPA-ABM program may take up to 12 graduate credit hours within the undergraduate Child and Family Development degree program that will count toward the MPA. There must be a minimum of 150 unique credit hours between the two programs.

Admission Requirements

Regular Admission

Students may be accepted into the MPA-ABM program if all of the criteria are met:

Student must have earned a minimum of 75 credit hours and have completed an application for admission to the MPA-ABM program.
Student must be a declared major in the Child and Family Development B.S., with an emphasis in Family Services.
Student must have a minimum GPA of 3.25.
Student must meet all of the other criteria for Regular Admission into the MPA program. Provisional Admission will not be allowed.

Program of Study

Students in the MPA-ABM should take the following courses, preferably beginning with six credit hours during the spring semester of their junior year. A total of nine credit hours will fall within the “Guided Major Electives” block of the Child and Family Development degree program. Additionally, students will utilize either a free elective slot or elect to complete a nine (instead of 12) credit hour internship to account for the remaining three graduate credit hours. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine the most appropriate pathway.

Total Credit Hours: 12

Students may declare a Minor in Public Administration and fulfill the minor requirements by completing an additional PBAD/NMLI course in the minor program. The MPA-ABM courses substitute for courses in the minor program as follows: Ethics for Public Service Organizations (PBAD 7130 ) for Public Service Values and Ethics (PBAD 4232 ), Budgeting in Public Service Organizations (PBAD 7230 ) for Public Budgeting (PBAD 3431 ), Research Methods For Public Service Organizations (PBAD 7530 ) for Research Methods and Evaluation (PBAD 4235 ), and Foundations of Public Administration (PBAD 7631 ) for Introduction to Public Administration (PBAD 2231 ).

Advisement

Graduate students are advised by their program. Graduate students should reach out to their graduate program director for information regarding the structures in place to facilitate advisement. For more information visit Graduate Academic Advisement .

Graduate students can also contact the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies for more information about their program director.
Phone: 912-478-COGS (2647)
Email: gradschool@georgiasouthern.edu