Degree Requirements

The degree requirements given below are effective for students admitted to the program in the Fall Semester of 2021 or after. Students who began the program prior to Fall 2021 can opt into this set of requirements with the approval of their advisor or chair. The curriculum is structured so that full time students (those taking nine credits per semester) should be able to graduate in two academic years. Students taking six credits per semester can graduate in three years

The MPA degree requires completion of 36 credits.

Core Required Courses (18 credits):

Electives (15-18 credits)

Students will select five elective courses that support both their intellectual interests as well as their professional and career objectives. We encourage students to explore the Political Science course catalog as well as course offerings from other departments to identify potential electives. Elective courses will be selected in cooperation with the MPA Director or the student's designated advisor. Pre-career students (those entering the program with fewer than two years of progressively responsible professional work experience) will be required to complete a 3 credit, 300 work-hour internship as one of the five elective courses. Elective courses may be taken in or outside of the Political Science Department, and may include up to three 400 level courses with the consent of the student's advisor or committee chair.

Capstone Professional Project (3-6 credits)

The capstone project (PSCI 575 or PSCI 595) will be taken during the student's last semester of course work. The purpose of the capstone project is to allow MPA students an opportunity to effectively integrate underlying theories, concepts, themes, and patterns found throughout the program's course work into a final original research project. Both options are typically three credits unless additional credits are approved by the student's Committee Chair.

A formal presentation of the capstone projects will be given to Public Administration and Political Science faculty, student peers, and other interested parties. All MPA students in the program are expected to attend these presentations. Completion of the capstone project must occur in the Fall or Spring semester, not during the summer.

Advising

Incoming students will work with the MPA coordinator for advising on course selection and scheduling, identifying and establishing internship opportunities and other program-related or professional mentoring. Continuing students may elect to work with other core MPA faculty for both academic and professional advising, based on the availability and agreement of that faculty member. 

Comprehensive Exams

The purpose of the comprehensive exam is to verify the student’s mastery of the general concepts derived from the course of study, the integration of those concepts across course topics and the ability to apply the material to real-world administrative problems.  The exam covers core MPA classes PSCI 520, PSCI 551, PSCI 552, PSCI 553, PSCI 554 and PSCI 558.  To be eligible for the comprehensive exam, students must have completed these core MPA courses, and will sit for the exam no later than the semester prior to their anticipated graduation.

Transfer of Credits

Acceptance/transfer of up to nine credit hours of academic course work performed at other institutions is possible by The Graduate School upon recommendation by the Political Science Department. All such credits must have been earned while in graduate status at an accredited college or university.

Financial Assistance

Applicants interested in Graduate Teaching Assistantships or tution assistance must apply by April 15^th by submitting a GTA Application.