Public Administration, MPA

The Master in Public Administration (MPA) program offers a professional degree that prepares students for careers of leadership in public service as analysts and managers in the public, not-for-profit, and private sectors. Students enter the program with diverse academic backgrounds. 

The MPA is available residentially (on-campus) and in distance learning (online).  

Two dual degree programs are offered:  

• a dual JD/MPA program and  
• a dual Pharm.D./MPA degree.  
• For more information about those programs, see Graduate Admission. 

The MPA is also partnered with the following programs for the University Scholars Program:  

• BA in Political Science 
• Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES)  
• BA in Agricultural Economics 
• Undergraduates at Georgetown College 

 

Admission Requirements

Students applying are expected to have taken MA 109 (College Algebra) or equivalent and ECO 201 (Introduction to microeconomics) or equivalent.

Applicants must be prepared to submit:  

• A one-to-three-page statement explaining why you wish to pursue an MPA degree.  
• A resume or CV.  
• Transcripts from each post-secondary institution that you have attended. They can be unofficial for admission purposes, but official transcripts must be submitted upon enrollment.   
  • Minimum of 2.75 GPA on all undergraduate coursework.  
  • Minimum of 3.0 GPA on all previous graduate level coursework.  
• The e-mail addresses of at least two individuals who have agreed to write a recommendation letter on your behalf. Ideally, at least one letter is from an academic reference. 
• International students will also need English Language test scores. 
  • Minimum of 79 on the internet based TOEFL, or 
  • Minimum of 6.5 on the IELTS 

 

Degree Requirements

Completion of a minimum of 40 credit hours of graduate work is required: 

• An administrative core of 25 credit hours covering the areas of public policy formulation and analysis, public policy economics, organization and management, budgeting, finance, and analytical methods.  
  • PA 602 STRATEGIC PLANNING AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE IN THE PUBLIC AND NON- PROFIT SECTORS  (3)  
  • PA 621 QUANITITATIVE METHODS OF RESEARCH  (3)  
  • PA 622 PUBLIC PROGRAM EVALUATION  (3)  
  • PA 623 DECISION ANALYSIS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS  (3)  
  • PA 631 PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT  (3)  
  • PA 642 PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THEORY AND BEHAVIOR  (3)  
  • PA 651 THE POLICY PROCESS  (3) 
  • PA 652 PUBLIC POLICY ECONOMICS  (3)  
  • PA 691 LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS IN PUBLIC SERVICE  (1)  
• An area of concentration of 9 credit hours in a stated area of specialization (public financial management, policy analysis, local economic development; non-profit management, environmental management, education policy, health policy, gerontology, international public policy, or transportation systems management) or in an individually designed concentration.  
• Capstone Course and Capstone Project PA 681 CAPSTONE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION  (3). All students must take the 3-hour capstone class and successfully complete and defend a capstone project developed in that class. The purpose of the course and the project is to integrate the learning experience of the MPA program and apply knowledge and skills acquired in the program to a policy issue or management problem. Oral presentation of the project before a faculty committee serves as the final masters’ exam. 
• Internship: PA 711 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3). An administrative internship at an appropriate agency for 400 hours. Students with a significant professional experience may substitute an independent study policy paper, a comparable special project, or an additional graduate course. 

 

https://martin.uky.edu/master-public-administration