Master of Public Administration

The MPA degree requires 39 hours of graduate coursework, comprised of 24 credit hours of required courses, 12 credit hours in a concentration, and three credit hours of internship or practicum.

Disclaimer

1. REQUIRED CORE COURSES

• PMAP 8111 Public Service and Democracy (Note: Nonprofit Management concentration students must take PMAP 8210, Introduction to the Non Profit Sector)
• PMAP 8121 Applied Research Methods and Statistics I
• PMAP 8131 Applied Research Methods and Statistics II
• PMAP 8141 Microeconomics for Public Policy
• PMAP 8161 Public Budgeting and Finance (Note: Nonprofit Management concentration students must take PMAP 8261, Nonprofit Financial Management)
• PMAP 8171 Management Systems and Strategies
• PMAP 8411 Law for Public Managers (Note: Nonprofit Management concentration students must take PMAP 8203, Nonprofit Advocacy, Law, and Policy)
• PMAP 8431 Leadership and Organizational Behavior

2. CONCENTRATIONS (12 HOURS)

Each student must develop special competence by completing 12 hours in one of six concentrations. Students must formally declare the concentration they wish to complete prior to registering for their first elective course. Students also have the option of graduating without a concentration by developing an individualized set of courses in consultation with an advisor.  Any individualized concentration requires completing a petition and returning it to the Office of Academic Assistance for review by the department. An individualized track in disaster management may also lead to the graduate certificate in disaster management. Concentrations are described below.

3. INTERNSHIP

Internships provide students the opportunity to apply concepts and skills gained from their graduate curriculum and are required for all M.P.A. students who lack significant prior administrative experience in a public or nonprofit agency or a related organization. The department’s faculty internship coordinators assist in the search for an appropriate internship opportunity, but students are expected to take the lead. An internship requires enrollment in three hours of PMAP 8941 and the completion of 300 hours of work in the intern position. Students are free to work full-time or part-time, according to their needs and those of their internship sponsor. Many students find paid internships, but unpaid internships can also be very rewarding. Students should consider the value of the experience that an internship provides, in addition to the pay. Internship information and applications are available from the Department of Public Management and Policy, or the PMAP internship homepage on the web at http://aysps.gsu.edu/pmap-internship/. Students with substantial prior administrative experience may petition to waive the internship requirement by completing the online Graduate Internship Waiver Petition form: aysps.wufoo.com/forms/graduate-internship-waiver-petition/.

M.P.A. students also have the option to conduct a practicum – an applied research project, in lieu of the internship. The practicum represents an excellent option for working students who do not qualify for an internship waiver, but who could pursue a practicum research project in their employing agency. It also represents an excellent option for students who are interested in additional research experience, especially those who intend to pursue doctoral work. Students must obtain approval one semester in advance of the semester they will begin their practicum work and before they will be authorized to register for PMAP 8981 by the department. Approval is obtained by completing the Practicum Proposal Cover Sheet and Approval Form, receiving all the necessary approval signatures, and submitting to the department. The Practicum Proposal Cover Sheet and Approval Form can be found here.

Strong employment outcomes

Of the 111 graduates of the MPA program in 2011-12, we know the employment status of 94. Nearly half (43) work for nonprofit organizations, and 28 work for governments (15 for local governments, 6 each for the federal and state government, and 1 for another country). In addition, 17 work for the private sector, 3 are pursuing doctoral degrees, and 3 are unemployed.

Career resources

Work with our Career Services Office to connect with the professional community and gain crucial career and leadership skills. Take advantage of employer panels, career fairs and workshops in resume writing, networking and professional presentation.

Join our award-winning student organizations, such as the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, for exclusive access to activities, workshops and events to help you graduate as a competent and versatile professional.

Join a group of leaders

Our graduates hold top positions at nonprofits and all levels of federal, state and local government, including these critical leadership roles:

• Chief Financial Officer, Georgia Building Authority
• Director, Georgia Office of Planning and Budget
• Director, Georgia Senate Budget Office
• Director of Administration, DeKalb County Board of Health
• Executive Director, Georgia Municipal Association
• Executive Director, Senior Citizens Services of Metro Atlanta
• Policy Adviser, Office of the Governor of Georgia
• Program Manager, National Democratic Institute, Moldova
• Statistician, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of the Inspector General
• Tax Commissioner, Gwinnett County

Application Deadlines*

*Online applications must be submitted and all materials received by the deadline to be reviewed for admission. This application requires that all materials be submitted online. Do not submit paper copies.

Application Submission Instructions

• Create an account.
• Start a new application.
  • Select application type:  “Graduate Programs”
  • Click “Create application”
  • Click “Open Application” to begin your application
• On the “Program Selection” page:
  • Select College:  “Andrew Young School of Policy Studies”
  • Select Program:  “Public Administration; Master of Public Administration”

Application Requirements

A completed application includes all of the following materials submitted online.  Do not submit paper copies:

1. Submitted Online Application. All online applications must be submitted by the deadline. Paper applications are not available.
2. Application fee: A nonrefundable fee of $50 is required for each application. This fee must be paid online by credit card.
3. Goal statement: The goal statement is your means of presenting yourself to the Graduate Admissions Committee. You should submit a short typed statement of personal and professional goals as they relate to the certificate or degree program you are seeking. Most applicants write approximately two typed pages, summarizing their work experience, the reasons they have chosen the program, why they want to attend Georgia State, and how the degree fits in with their career goals.
4. Official GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores: Official scores must be reported to institution code 5251 and received by GA State by the application deadline. More information can be found at our Admissions FAQ page or, to schedule the test, at www.gre.org. Want to be considered for a GRE waiver? Review eligibility and apply here.
5. TOEFL or IELTS Academic scores (International applicants only): All international applicants are required to submit official TOEFL or IELTS Academic scores.
6. Three letters of recommendation: All letters should be submitted through the online application.
7. Upload Transcripts from each post-secondary college/university attended:
   • Upload each transcript to the Academic History section of the online application before submitting your application -or- upload to your application status page under the Upload Materials section if your application has been submitted.
   • Review all requirements for submitting transcripts here.
   • Failure to follow these requirements will delay your application processing.

If you need assistance with the application process, please contact the Office of Admissions – Graduate Programs.

If you want to learn more about our programs, please contact the Office of Academic Assistance for the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at AYSEnroll@gsu.edu.

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

If you are looking for a professional degree that includes policy but also focuses on managing and leading a public or nonprofit organization, the MPA degree offers courses in organizational behavior, human resources management, public budgeting, and management systems.

CONCENTRATIONS

• Criminal Justice
• Management and Finance
• Nonprofit Management
• Policy Analysis and Evaluation
• Public Health Management
• Urban Planning and Economic Development

CAREER PATHS

• Directors
• Program Managers
• City Managers
• Executive Directors
• Chief Financial Officers
• Volunteer Management
• Human Resources
• Development Directors

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

The MPP is focused on policy analysis, advocacy and evaluation, and the core for this program includes courses in statistics, evaluation research, politics and policy, and policy analysis. Some students use the MPP as preparation for entering a doctoral program in public policy.

CONCENTRATIONS

• Education Policy
• Environmental Policy
• Global Affairs
• Health Policy
• Nonprofit Policy
• Public Finance Policy
• Social Policy
• Urban Planning and Policy

CAREER PATHS

• Policy analysts
• Consultants
• Advocacy
• Evaluation