Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum overall undergraduate grade point average  of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

Knowledge Base

Applicants should have completed:     

• A course in government or public sector administration or relevant experience
• A course in microeconomic principles
• A course in statistics

It is preferred that applicants lacking any of the knowledge base courses fulfill the requirement(s) with MPA classes as part of their degree.

To be considered for admission, submit the following to the Office of Graduate Programs, 251 Thompson Library:

• Application for Graduate Admission
• $55 application fee (non-refundable)
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Statement of Purpose describing your reasons for pursuing the degree
• Three letters of recommendation 
• International students must submit additional documentation. Visit the International Students page for details.

Application Deadlines

The program has rolling admissions and reviews completed applications each month.

Application deadlines are as follows:     

• Fall (early deadline*) – May 1
• Fall (final deadline) – August 1
• Winter – November 15
• Spring – March 15
• Summer – May 15

* You must apply by the early deadline to be eligible for scholarships, grants, and research assistantships.

International students are required to apply earlier than the deadlines posted here. The final deadlines for international students are May 1 for the fall semester, September 1 for the winter semester, and January 1 for the spring term.

General MPA
(follow the link for course listings)

Criminal Justice Administration Concentration
(follow the link for course listings)

The primary objective of the concentration in Criminal Justice Administration is to provide advanced education in administration and policy analysis to persons already employed in agencies in the criminal justice system. The educational needs of those with specialized, technical, or liberal arts degrees, and others with limited or outdated training in administration are addressed. Designed to serve those seeking to update knowledge to deal with the more complex and numerous tasks facing professionals in the criminal justice system, the concentration includes study of contemporary developments in criminal justice administration, most notably the interdependence between preprosecutorial and post-prosecutorial agencies and functions and the close relationship between administration and policy.

Administration of Nonprofit Agencies Concentration
(follow the link for course listings)

The concentration in Administration of Nonprofit Agencies is designed to serve principally those who seek advancement in careers in the not-for-profit sector. The concentration also will serve, and is appropriate for, those with bachelor’s degrees but no current or previous relevant employment. The Nonprofit Administration option might be of particular interest to those with undergraduate degrees in social work, sociology, economics, health care, political science, business, psychology, or communications.

Health Care Administration Concentration
(follow the link for course listings)

The program concentration in Health Care Administration offered in collaboration with the Department of Health Sciences and Administration provides advanced education in administration and policy analysis primarily to persons employed within the health care field. It addresses the educational needs of those with specialized, technical, or liberal arts degrees, as well as others with limited or outdated education or training in administration. Focusing on contemporary developments in health care administration, the program concentration prepares students to deal with the complex tasks and challenges of today’s health care system.