Master of Public Administration - Program Requirements
The Master’s degree in Public Administration normally requires 42 credits. These include:
- Five required core courses totaling 15 credits
- Two courses in communication totaling six credits
- Four courses in one of two concentrations (nonprofit or city/state administration), which includes a capstone seminar, totaling 12 credits
- A six-credit internship (may be waived for those with professional experience in a relevant position)
Students choose from a range of courses that reflect current theory and trends as well as issues related to the specific tracks of the program.
Required Core Courses (15 credit hours):
Five core courses are required for all students in the M.A. Program:
- Introduction to Public Administration
- Research Methods
- Financial Management and Budgeting
- Human Resource Management
- Leadership
Breadth Courses (27 credit hours):
Students take six additional courses, four focusing on their concentration of choice, and two in communication. The program has strong links with a number of other graduate programs at the University including American Studies, communication, and business administration, which allows students to broaden their education through cross-program courses. Students design their curriculum in consultation with their faculty advisor.
Capstone/ Internship:
Students finish the program with a six-credit internship and a three-credit capstone offered in a course-based format.