Nonprofit Administration and Social Entrepreneurship (MPA)

The concentration in Nonprofit Administration and Social Entrepreneurship is designed to meet the needs of current and future public administrators working in the nonprofit and socially aware for-profit sectors. The concentration also will serve, and is appropriate for, those with bachelor’s degrees but no current or previous relevant employment.

Criminal Justice Administration Concentration

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 The educational needs of those with a specialized, technical, or liberal arts degree, and others with limited or outdated training in administration are addressed.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.

Educational Administration

The program concentration in Educational Administration equips the educational administrator with concepts and tools, and provides an informed perspective on the range of problems and responsibilities confronting education today. The Michigan Board of Education has reinstated licensure for school administrators. The standards are published on the website of the State of Michigan Department of Education. The MPA curriculum is aligned with the State Board of Education standards, along with those of the Educational Leadership Constituent Council.

General MPA

The MPA general program is designed to provide advanced education in administration for persons employed in the public or nonprofit sectors, as well as for those seeking entry into careers in administration. This interdisciplinary program addresses the educational needs of those seeking to expand or update their administrative education. The program is comprised of faculty and courses in political science, economics, health care, education, criminal justice, sociology, and psychology.

Health Care Administration Concentration

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.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally 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

Students lacking any of the knowledge base courses at the time of application will fulfill these requirement(s) as part of their MPA degree.

Probationary Admission

For those who do not meet these requirements, please review the Probationary Admission option. Probationary admission may be an option for students who:

• Show strong academic potential, but their GPA falls below the 3.0 requirement.
• Have had extenuating circumstances that has negatively affected their cumulative GPA.
• Can show how conditions have changed and they are now poised to maintain a “B” average or higher in the MPA program.

Students can articulate these factors through the Statement of Purpose listed under the Applying tab. Factors will be reviewed by the admissions committee upon application to the program. Should you be admitted on probationary or Lifelong Learning status, your registration will be limited to four credits or less for the first two semesters in order to establish a strong GPA.

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: submit at least one letter preferably from an academic reference and one from an individual familiar with your professional work.
• 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 for admission 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.