FAQs for PMAP Students
Master's Programs
Prospective Master's Students
Which degree should I pursue, the Master of Public Administration (MPA) or the Master of Public Policy (MPP)?
Both the MPA and the MPP are high-quality programs and degrees. Recent national studies have ranked our overall public affairs curriculum #19 among all public affairs and public policy programs nationwide and among the top 10 for public finance and budgeting, urban policy, nonprofit management, and local government management. As those rankings suggest, our Department of Public Management and Policy provides access to a community of research and teaching scholars with national and international reputations for their expertise and contributions to knowledge and practice across a broad range of administrative processes and public policy concerns.
In choosing between the two degrees, the Master of Public Administration is the better choice if you are interested in preparing for administrative, management, and leadership positions in public service, that is, in government or the nonprofit sector. The Master of Public Policy is the better choice if you are interested in developing analytic skills and specific policy knowledge (e.g., social policy, educational policies) for being a policy researcher or policy advocate.
However, the two programs are very similar with many of the same courses in both. The MPA has a little more management content in its core curriculum, the MPP a little more public policy. Both degrees require a number of analytic courses, such as research methods and statistics, where you will be in class with students from the other degree program. Both programs also require that you choose a concentration, a specialized area of management or policy, where you will take about a third of your courses.
The MPA and the MPP are both well-recognized degrees, and the choice between the two should not limit you in terms of possible jobs or eventual career. The important facts will be that you have the MPA or the MPP and it was obtained at Georgia State University. We are well recognized in the broader Atlanta metropolitan community and elsewhere for the quality of our programs and our graduates.
What kinds of jobs can I get with an MPA or an MPP?
Our graduates hold a broad range of jobs in governments—local, regional, state, and federal—and the nonprofit sector and even the private sector, principally in the Atlanta metropolitan area but also around the U.S. and in many other countries around the world. Our graduates are helped in getting jobs by the reputation earlier graduates have built for our programs with these employers and by the fact that some of those who do the hiring hold a GSU MPA or MPP themselves. A sample of employers of our recent MPA graduates can be found here:
https://aysps.gsu.edu/mpa-recent-program-statistics/.
Our MPP graduates work in the same and similar organizations.
What are my choices for a concentration?
Coursework in both the MPA and the MPP consists of a core curriculum, comprising about two-thirds of the degree credits, and a choice of concentrations, comprising about one-third of the degree credits.
The MPA degree offers this choice of concentrations:
- Management and finance.
- Nonprofit management.
- Urban planning and economic development.
- Policy analysis and evaluation.
- International affairs.
- Public health management.
- Criminal Justice.
The MPP offers these options:
- Social policy
- Global affairs
- Nonprofit policy
- Urban planning and policy
- Policy analytics
- Public finance policy
- Health policy
- Education policy
- Environmental policy
Students also have the option in either program to create an individualized concentration, a set of courses that that fit the student’s unique interests. That might be done by combining courses from two of our regular concentrations. Some students, for example, have combined coursework from nonprofit management and urban planning and economic development because they planned to work in the economic development area in the nonprofit sector. Or, an individualized concentration can consist of courses partially or entirely from departments elsewhere in the Andrew Young School or outside the school. Two recent students, for example, drew courses mostly from other departments to create individualized concentrations in the area of “food & hunger policy.”
Anyone who wishes to do an individualized concentration should search for the set of courses they want to take and submit a proposal to the Director of Master’s Programs. Most such proposals are approved.
What are the admissions criteria?
We make admissions decisions for both degree programs on the basis of undergraduate grade-point average (UGPA), Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (optional), TOEFL or IELTS scores (international applicants only), letters of recommendation, and a goal statement.
- Competitive applicants will have an UGPA of 3.0 or better.
- The GRE of the Educational Testing Service is optional. However, the GRE is strongly recommended for any applicant whose undergraduate grade-point-average (UGPA) is below 3.0. If submitting GRE scores, submit test scores in advance or at the same time of application submission.
- We prefer letters of recommendation from faculty who have previously had you in class or your superiors in work settings.
- We also look at the required goal statement, which will also be used to assess your writing proficiency.
- GSU’s application asks for a separate writing sample. Ignore that—we do not want a separate writing sample.
- We also look at the applicant’s prior work experience, but we do not require work experience and our students vary greatly in their work experience.
- International applicants coming from non-English-speaking countries must demonstrate sufficient English-language proficiency. You can find more information regarding this requirement online here.
- The minimum recommended score for applicants who take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is 100 for the TOEFL and 7.0 for the IELTS.
For other questions about the application and admission process, check Graduate Admissions Frequently Asked Questions at: https://aysps.gsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/graduate-frequently-asked-questions/
How long will it take me to complete the program?
The answer depends on whether you attend as a full-time or part-time student. If you attend as a full-time student, you will take 9 credits (3 courses) per regular semester and 3-6 credits in the summer, and so can complete either degree in 21 months (4 regular semesters of 9 credits each plus 3 credits in the intervening summer). However, we strongly recommend that students NOT enroll on a fulltime basis if they are working full time (working part-time would be acceptable). Our courses require too much work outside of class to complete successfully while working full time.
If you attend as a part-time student, you will take 6 credits per regular semester and 3 in the summer, and so can complete the degree in two years and nine months or 33 months (6 credits for each of 6 regular semesters plus 3 credits in each of the 2 intervening summers).
However, there is no minimum or maximum course load, and part-time students sometimes take only one course in a semester. In our experience most students who work full time can manage 2 courses per regular semester.
What’s the deadline for applying?
For fall semester admission:
- Priority deadline: February 15
- Regular deadline: April 1
- Late deadline: June 1
For spring semester admission:
- Early deadline: October 1
- Late deadline: November 1
The principal advantage of submitting by the February 15 priority deadline is to be eligible for consideration for a graduate research assistantship.
How do I get a graduate research assistantship (GRA)?
Our department awards a small number of graduate research assistantships to the best of the applicants who apply by the February 15 priority deadline. Rarely do we have GRAs to award to incoming spring semester students. Decisions are made principally on the basis of UGPA and letters of recommendation. GRAs are limited to students who will attend school full time.
GRA positions provide a small stipend plus a tuition waiver covering all tuition except a $37.50 fee per semester for up to four regular semesters (i.e., the time necessary to complete one of our degrees as a full-time student). GRA work, ranging from 6-15 hours per week depending on the specific assistantship, typically involves assisting faculty in their research or teaching.
Some students find GRA positions outside PMAP, either elsewhere in the Andrew Young School or around the university. However, those positions usually become available only during the regular semester and are not awarded through PMAP offices. Students who are interested in these positions are best advised to scout around the school (for example, Academic Assistance, Career Services, the various research centers) and the university for openings.
We also award a small number of out-of-state tuition waivers, which reduce tuition costs for students classified as out-of-state residents to in-state tuition rates.
How are classes scheduled?
Courses are scheduled to help students in balancing coursework with full-time jobs. Every class meets one night a week, Monday through Thursday nights, and runs from either 4:30-7:00 p.m. or 7:15-9:45 p.m. Students are frequently able to take 2 courses on the same night, minimizing the need to navigate Atlanta traffic to get to and from classes.
What are PMAP classes like?
The MPA and the MPP both offer a high-quality classroom experience. The faculty of the Department of Public Management and Policy take their teaching responsibilities very seriously, as reflected in their consistently receiving some of the highest student course evaluations of any department at Georgia State.
Classes are relatively small, with an average of around 20 students per class. That size allows for extensive faculty-student interactions, making for a more personalized classroom experience.
The PMAP student body is very diverse on almost every relevant dimension—race, gender, age, work experience, and U.S. versus international—which results in a broad range of perspectives being heard in our classrooms.
The one dimension on which PMAP students are not diverse is their strong shared motivation toward public service. The desire to contribute to the community is a principal reason why students come to our programs. Students also want to learn how to advance in their careers, but public service orientation is a central motivation.
The combination of the diversity of our students and their shared desire to serve makes for an energizing classroom experience. Students share their different perspectives on course materials even as they reflect on how those materials can help them as public servants.
What if I have additional questions?
If you have additional questions about the substance of the MPA or MPP degree programs, email the Director of Master’s Programs, at [email protected].
If you have questions about the submission or processing of your application, email [email protected].
Current Master's Students
What courses should a first semester MPA student take?
If you’re starting in the fall semester, you should take:
- PMAP 8111, “Public Management and Democracy,” or, if your concentration is Nonprofit Management, PMAP 8210, “Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector.” These are our basic introductory courses.
and
- PMAP 8121, “Applied Research Methods & Statistics I.” Taking 8121 in the fall permits you to take PMAP 8131, “Applied Research Methods & Statistics II” in the spring semester while the knowledge from 8121 is still fresh in your mind.
If you are a part-time student, those two courses should comprise your first-semester course load.
If you are a full-time student, you need one additional course. That could be either:
- Another core course, especially PMAP 8151, “Leadership & Organizational Behavior,” or PMAP 8141, “Microeconomics for Public Policy.”
Or
- A first course in your concentration (if you have chosen one).
If you are starting in the spring semester, the same recommendations apply except that:
- Take PMAP 8121, “Applied Research Methods & Statistics I,” only if you will be able to take PMAP 8131, “Applied Research Methods & Statistics II” in the summer. Taking PMAP 8121 in the spring would otherwise mean that, because PMAP 8131 is not offered in the fall semester, you would need to wait until the following spring semester to take PMAP 8131, by which point you may have forgotten most of what you learned in PMAP 8121.
If you don’t take PMAP 8121 in the spring, follow the advice above on other course options for a first semester MPA student.
If your concentration is Nonprofit Management, take a required course in your concentration.
What courses should a first semester MPP student take?
If you are starting in the fall semester, you should take:
- PMAP 8011, “Politics & Policy.”
and
- PMAP 8121, “Applied Research Methods & Statistics I.” Taking 8121 in the fall permits you to take PMAP 8131, “Applied Research Methods & Statistics II” in the spring semester while the knowledge from 8121 is still fresh in your mind.
If you are a part-time student, those two courses should comprise your first-semester course load.
If you are a full-time student, you need one additional course. That could be:
- Another core course, most likely PMAP 8141, “Microeconomics for Public Policy”.
Or
- A first course in your concentration (if you have chosen one).
If you are starting in the spring semester, you should take:
- PMAP 8010 and PMAP 8121, “Applied Research Methods & Statistics I,” only if you will be able to take PMAP 8131, “Applied Research Methods & Statistics II” in the summer. Taking PMAP 8121 in the spring would otherwise mean that, because PMAP 8131 is not offered in the fall semester, you would need to wait until the following spring semester to take PMAP 8131, by which point you may have forgotten most of what you learned in PMAP 8121.
What should I take in later semesters?
In either program, start with the recommended course sequence guide in planning subsequent semesters and the two-year projected schedule. You can find that guide here: https://aysps.gsu.edu/oaa/projected-course-schedules/
Using these guides should facilitate your course scheduling and progress toward graduation.
If you have questions about the content of specific courses, you can check course syllabi here: https://aysps.gsu.edu/public-management-policy/course-syllabi/
When do I need to decide on a concentration?
You will need early in your time with us to choose a concentration in your degree program. You have a lot of options.
The MPA degree offers these concentrations:
- Management and finance.
- Nonprofit management.
- Urban planning and economic development.
- Policy analysis and evaluation.
- International affairs.
- Public health management.
- Criminal Justice.
The MPP offers these:
- Social policy
- Global affairs
- Nonprofit policy
- Urban planning and policy
- Policy analytics
- Public finance policy
- Health policy
- Education policy
- Environmental policy
If you are uncertain about your concentration, you may take time to decide. Aim to decide by the end of your first semester or, at the very latest, by the end of your second semester. Do not take a concentration course until you decide because you might not be able to use that course in your concentration.
Most concentration courses are offered only once a year, so you need to plan ahead to be sure you get the courses you need. Do not expect to be able to take all or most of your concentration courses in your last semester. You would likely find that some of the courses you need are not offered. Here again, checking the projected course schedule can ensure you get the courses you need: https://aysps.gsu.edu/oaa/projected-course-schedules/
It is also easy to change your concentration. To do so, submit the PMAP Concentration Change Request form that you will find here: https://aysps.wufoo.com/forms/pmap-concentration-change-request/
Can I do an individualized concentration?
You have the option in either program to do an individualized concentration, a set of courses that fit your unique interests. You might do that by combining courses from two of our regular concentrations. Some students, for example, have combined coursework from Nonprofit Management and Urban Planning and Economic Development because they planned to work on economic development in the nonprofit sector. Or, an individualized concentration can consist of courses partially or entirely from departments elsewhere in the Andrew Young School or outside the school. Two recent students, for example, drew courses from other departments to create individualized concentrations in the area of “food & hunger policy.”
If you wish to do an individualized concentrations, you will need to search for the set of courses you want to take and make a proposal to the Director of Master’s Programs. Most such proposals are approved.
Do I need to do an internship?
Both the MPA and the MPP have an option to do an internship, and most students who are not currently working will likely want to. Some students even do two or more internships (although only one can be taken for credit).
Our school’s Office of Alumni and Career Services assists with finding internships. Visit there as soon as possible if you might be interested in an internship; it’s on the 2nd floor of 55 Park Place NE, Atlanta, GA. Internship opportunities are posted on Handshake: https://gsu.joinhandshake.com/login.
View your internship as the first step towards a career/permanent position. If you like the internship work, make yourself indispensable, so that, when internship ends, the employer says, “We can’t let that person go. Let’s hire them.”
For internship questions (including possible waivers), check our internship website: https://aysps.gsu.edu/public-management-policy/pmap-internship-course/. If you have additional questions, contact Dr. Esra Tanyildiz, the Internship Coordinator, at [email protected].
Should I do a thesis?
You are not required to do a thesis and you almost certainly do not want to do one. A thesis requires extensive research over at least two semesters, working with a faculty thesis committee that you would need to create. As a result, almost no students ever do a thesis. If you are nonetheless interested in the thesis option, more information on what’s involved can be found in the Graduate Catalog.
Should I do a practicum?
A practicum is a research project conducted in a work setting, such as your job, in which you apply ideas from what you’ve learned in your coursework with us. Students who work full time in the private sector sometimes do a practicum because their job precludes an internship. More information on the practicum option can be found here:
https://aysps.gsu.edu/files/2016/10/Practicum-Proposal-Cover-Sheet-and-Approval-Form.pdf
How do I make changes in my academic program?
If you wish to make changes in your program, you will need to petition online here: https://aysps.wufoo.com/forms/graduate-petition.
What should I do if a class I need is full?
Typically, most of our courses do not fill to capacity. If a course you need is at capacity and you cannot enroll, try these strategies:
- Check back regularly to see if any seats open up. Students frequently drop classes before a semester begins, opening space for anyone who checks regularly.
- Email the instructor(s) to ask if you can be allowed into the class.
Who should I ask if I have other questions?
If you have additional questions about degree requirements or program changes, email the Director of Master’s Programs, at [email protected].
If you have questions about administrative issues, email Jack Mason in the Office of Academic Assistance at [email protected].