Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Introduction
The Master of Public Administration degree program (MPA) is a graduate professional degree program that helps students prepare for careers in public service in the 21st Century. Founded in 1987, the program requires the completion of a total of 36 semester hours, including a minimum of 27 hours of Public Administration Core courses (including the Capstone report and Professional Internship) and 9 hours of concentration courses in order to earn the Master of Public Administration Degree. There are presently four 9-hour concentrations. Three are offered within the program and one (criminal justice administration) is offered through a collaborative arrangement with the departments of criminal justice:
- Criminal Justice Administration
- Public Management
- Health Administration & Policy
- Human Resources Management
The goal of the program is to provide quality education that helps prepare people to work in government and nonprofit management at the community, state and federal levels. The program also conducts research and renders assistance to community groups and agencies as a means of providing a vital link between the institution, the program and the community.
Education Philosophy
We believe that in order to become effective managers students should understand the five domain competencies outlined by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs & Administration (NASPAA). These include abilities
- to lead and manage in public governance;
- to participate in and contribute to the public policy process;
- to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions;
- to articulate and apply a public service perspective; and
- to communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.
In order to help students, achieve these competencies, the program incorporates both practice and theory.
Mission
The mission statement of Albany State University's MPA program is to:
- Provide a professional Master's level education for students aspiring to management positions in government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector.
- Provide professional assistance to the public, government, and nonprofit organizations in Southwest Georgia, Dougherty County, and the surrounding communities through public service of the faculty and students.
- Increase the number of qualified graduates from underrepresented groups with professional public administration skills, training, and education for leadership positions.
Program Outcomes for The Master of Public Administration Program
After completing the MPA degree, graduates will be able to:
- To lead and manage in public governance
- To participate in and contribute to the public policy process.
- To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence based informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment
- To articulate, apply and advance a public service perspective.
- To communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large
Accreditation
The MPA degree program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs & Administration (NASPAA). Albany State University including the MPA program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Off-Campus Programs
At the present time all courses are taught in Albany, Georgia on the ASU campus.
Admission Requirements
An applicant for the Master of Public Administration degree must meet the requirements for admission to the Albany State University Graduate Programs in addition to those listed below.
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
- A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0-point scale) for course work completed at the undergraduate level is required for regular admission. A cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 is required for provisional admission. (required for admission to the MPA program only)
- A satisfactory score on either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). For regular admission, a combined score of 286 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE or, a score of 402 (44) on the MAT is required. For provisional admission, a combined score of 281 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE, or 27 on the MAT is required.
- Two official transcripts sent from all colleges and universities attended.
- Two current letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's ability to successfully complete the graduate program.
- Submission of a completed graduate admissions application with a $20 processing fee.
- Applicants for admission to the MPA program are also required to submit a written statement of career goals.
- International students must take the TOEFL and meet other criteria established by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
- Senior Rams Accelerated Access allows an Albany State University undergraduate student who has earned 90 or more credit hours with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher is eligible to enroll in courses for the Master of Public Administration. An undergraduate student must complete the form – Request for Graduate Credit Registration for Senior Undergraduate Students each semester that approval is sought to enroll in a course for the MPA program. A student may not take more than six graduate credit hours per semester and must earn a “B” or better during the first six graduate credit hours for the MPA program. A student is limited to taking nine (9) hours comprised of three (3) three-credit hour courses in the MPA program prior to formal admission as a graduate student (See the eligible courses in the Program of Study tab.
All documents, including test scores, must be received in the Graduate Admissions Office at least 45 days prior to the desired semester of enrollment. Prospective applicants should contact the graduate recruitment and admissions officer in the Graduate Admissions Office for more information.
Other Program Requirements
Admission to Candidacy - Students enrolling in MPA courses who intend to pursue the MPA degree must file for, and be admitted to candidacy, upon completion of 18 semester hours. Only 9 semester hours of graduate course work in which the student earned ''B" or better in provisional status may be counted toward candidacy for the degree.
MPA Professional Portfolio - Each student is expected to complete a professional portfolio. The professional MPA portfolio consists of materials representative of one’s academic work accomplishments, and demonstration of abilities and skills.
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Scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT are not required for admission to the MPA program.
The Curriculum
The requirements for the Master of Public Administration degree are:
- A minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate course work, at least 27 semester hours of which shall be taken in residence at Albany State University.
- A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 in courses distributed as listed below.
- An in-service student may apply with the MPA program’s Internship Coordinator for a course waiver. Upon verification of eligible work experience, the student may be allowed to take an additional, concentration elective course as a substitute for PADM 5851 Professional Public Service Internship/Project. The MPA program’s accrediting body, NASPAA, defines an in-service student as, “Any applicant to a program, or student admitted to a program, who has at least one year of relevant post-baccalaureate work experience.”
- An eligible student may pursue the non-cohort, Executive track consisting of a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate course work, at least 24 semester hours of which shall be taken in at Albany State University. Eligibility is determined by a student with five (5) or more current years of relevant leadership and management career experience submitting a Professional Portfolio of relevant content that serves as evidence of prior learning for the PADM 5011 and PADM 5851 courses. Upon program approval of the portfolio, the university process for Prior Learning Credit will be completed for the eligible student.
- A student participating in Senior Rams Accelerated Access is only eligible to take the following three courses:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses (21 hours) | ||
| PADM 5011 | Public Administration: Scope, Development, and Ethical Environment 3 | 3 |
| PADM 5126 | Organizational Theory and Bureaucratic Behavior | 3 |
| PADM 5262 | Public Human Resources Management | 3 |
| PADM 5302 | Public Budgeting & Financial Management | 3 |
| PADM 5781 | Introduction to Public Policy | 3 |
| PADM 5501 | Management Information Systems (MIS) for Public Management 1 | 3 |
| PADM 5502 | Research Design and Data Analysis 2 | 3 |
| Additional Required Public Administration Courses | ||
| PADM 5851 | Professional Public Service Internship/Project | 3 |
| PADM 5907 | Capstone Report | 3 |
| Area of Concentration - minimum of 9 hours (See Specialty Areas tab) | 9 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 36 | |
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: Areas of Concentration
The MPA program concentrations are listed below:
- Public Management
- Health Administration and Policy
- Human Resources Management
In addition, this concentration is offered through a collaborative agreement with the department of criminal justice
- Criminal Justice Administration
The requirements for each concentration are provided in this section.
Public Management
This concentration involves a study of management and supervision procedures used by organizations to motivate and maintain the internal labor force. Topics for discussion include wage and salary administration, training and development, safety management, performance control and internal communication. Students are required to take 9 hours from the following concentration courses, including the two required courses.
Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required for the concentration | ||
| PADM 5823 | Program Development, Management & Evaluation | 3 |
| PADM 5650 | Executive Leadership: Principles of Public Administration | 3 |
| Select one course from the following | 3 | |
| The Administrative State | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Intergovernmental Relations | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Health Administration and Policy
This concentration is designed for students seeking management careers in the health field. In-service students seeking career advancement also benefit greatly from this specialization. This concentration requires 9 semester hours to be selected from the courses shown below (Two required courses and one additional course):
Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required for the concentration | ||
| PADM 5321 | Foundations of Health Care Finance | 3 |
| PADM 5322 | Foundations of Public Health Administration and Management | 3 |
| Select one course from the following | 3 | |
| Epidemiology | ||
| Health Policy and Politics | ||
| Health Care Delivery for Specialized Groups | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Human Resources Management
This concentration is designed for students seeking human resources management careers in public, private & non-profit organizations at all administrative levels. Students are required to take 9 hours from the following concentration courses, including the two required courses.
Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required for the concentration | ||
| PADM 5551 | Diversity Management and Public Organization | 3 |
| PADM 5600 | Issues in Human Resource Management | 3 |
| Select one course from the following | 3 | |
| Labor-Management Relations | ||
| Legal Environment of Public Human Resources Management | ||
| Human Capital Development & Management | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Criminal Justice Administration
This concentration represents an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Department of Criminal Justice and the Public Administration Program. It is designed for students pursuing careers in the field of criminal justice administration. Students are required to take 9 hours from the following concentration courses, including the two required courses.
Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required for the concentration | ||
| CRJU 5100 | Foundations of Criminal Justice 9 | 3 |
| CRJU 5110 | Theory and Philosophy of Criminal Justice 10 | 3 |
| Select one course from the following | 3 | |
| The Social Service Role of Criminal Justice Personnel | ||
| Foundations of Corrections | ||
| Rehabilitation and Treatment | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |