Master of Public Administration

MPA Classes

Off Campus Programs College of Graduate Studies Graduate Bulletin

MPA: General

MPA: Public Management

MPA: State and Local Government

Course Descriptions

Financial Assistance

Course offerings for Summer 2008 Course offerings for Fall 2008

The curriculum is designed to provide all students with a solid grounding in the theoretical knowledge appropriate for work in the public and non-profit sectors, but within this framework there is still the flexibility to take advantage of the university's great diversity of programs. Students are able to take evening or weekend classes, at the main campus in Mount Pleasant, MI or at one of the campuses located all over the US and the World.

The MPA Program Requirements include the following:

1.	An undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale.
2.	A minimum of 18 undergraduate hours in social science.
3.	Evidence of successful completion of an undergraduate statistics or research methods course.
4.	An essay (two or three pages, double-spaced) including a discussion of the applicant's professional goals and how completion of the program will facilitate his or her achievement of those goals. This essay replaces the written statement requested as part of the application to the College of Graduate Studies.
5.	Three letters of recommendation from former professors or professionals in the field of public service that attest to the applicant's potential to succeed in the program.
6.	If the applicant is an international student for whom English is not the first language, a score of 550 on the written-based (or 213 on the computer-based) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL).
7.	Per university policy, conditional admission may be considered for applicants with backgrounds or grade point averages that do not meet these requirements. Courses taken to meet these requirements may not be counted toward graduate degree requirements. Regular admission status should be requested upon completion of all conditional requirements.
8.	Up to 9 semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred from another institution with approval of the advisor and the dean of the College of Graduate Studies.