Master of Public AdministrationMaster of Public Administration

CIP: 440401

The Master of Public Administration is the core professional degree for management careers in public service and nonprofit administration. The curriculum is designed to enhance the student’s skills in project management and planning, budgeting, personnel administration, problem solving, ethics, and other areas essential for success in public and nonprofit leadership. MPA graduates work at all levels of government (local, state, federal), with nonprofit agencies, for international organizations, at consulting firms, in education, and in the private sector. This program is offered fully online.

M.P.A. Degree Completion Requirements

Students must:

1. Complete the degree curriculum in four calendar years from the date of the initial registration or be held to any new degree requirements.

2. Maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA and achieve a C (2.0) grade or higher in each course.

Orientation 1 credit
Course number Course name Course credits
GSR 501 Graduate Orientation Seminar 1
Foundation courses 27 credits
Course number Course name Course credits
PAD 500 Management & Administration 3
PAD 505 Applied Research Methods 3
PAD 510 Administrative and Regulatory Law 3
PAD 530 Public Institutions, Public Policy & Democracy 3
PAD 560 Financial Administration 3
PAD 570 Public Ethics 3
PAD 600 Nonprofit Leadership 3
PAD 630 Public Economic Development & Regs 3
MBA 605 Talent Management 3
Electives 6 credits
Course number Course name Course credits
Elective (6 Cr.) 6


Suggested elective courses below (students may select from among any graduate level course).

Graduate Project (to be completed in the final term) 3 credits
Course number Course name Course credits
PAD 690 Practicum 3
Total 37 credits
Suggested elective courses 18 credits
Course number Course name Course credits
COM 510 Communication and Media Technologies 3
COM 555 Persuasion and Social Change 3
CRJ 540 Terrorism: Its Effect on Criminal Justice 3
CRJ 636 Seminar in Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 3
MBA 620 Marketing Management in a Global Economy 3
MBA 651 Creativity and Innovation 3