Public Administration - M.P.A. Download to print

The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) consists of two concentrations: Public Management and Public Policy, plus a dual degree with the College of Nursing, the M.S.N./M.P.A.

The Public Management concentration is designed for students wishing to become line managers and executives within public and nonprofit organizations. The public management concentration is offered fully online or fully on campus. Students have a choice of taking their courses via either method of delivery, or mixing their method of delivery if they are able to commute to campus. Throughout each semester, each online course utilizes a mix of web-based instruction supported by audio and video conferencing technologies direct to the respective student's home.

The Public Policy concentration is designed for students wishing to become policy specialists or analysts working to support the line managers in public and nonprofit organizations, working in public advocacy organizations or working on legislative staffs. This concentration is offered on campus, with the exception of three of the core courses shared with the public management concentration. Public policy students may elect to take those three courses online or on campus.

Both concentrations consist of theoretical and applied coursework designed to equip the graduate with the requisite analytical and critical skills necessary to serve the public interest and advanced in their career tracks.

The M.S.N./M.P.A. is a dual degree option for graduate students in the Kent State University College of Nursing. Designed exclusively for graduate nursing students wishing to become managers in public and nonprofit organizations. The M.S.N./M.P.A. dual degree coursework is integrated and concurrent and designed to be significantly shorter than if each graduated degree were pursued separately. The program can be completed full-time in 6 semesters (2.5-3 full-time years), or if part-time, within 4-5 years. This degree program is primarily offered on campus with the option of many online or campus courses.
 

Public Management and Public Policy concentrations: Official transcript(s), 3.00 undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, a goal statement, three letters of recommendation and a writing sample. The writing sample, preferably a paper completed in undergraduate school should be single authored and exemplify the critical thinking skills of the applicant and include full citations.

All applicants must submit GRE scores whether or not they possess another graduate degree or are transferring from another graduate degree program that did not required the GRE for admission.

Applicants whose undergraduate GPA is higher than 3.00, but revised GRE scores are slightly lower than 150 on the verbal or quantitative sections, or the applicants whose GRE scores are higher than 450 on the verbal or quantitative sections, but whose undergraduate GPA is lower than 3.00 may be admitted conditionally providing other supporting materials are strong.

M.S.N./M.P.A.: must apply separately to the College of Nursing and the M.P.A. program. In addition tot he above application materials, M.S.N./M.P.A. applicants must submit the respective required materials for the College of Nursing. Further information may be obtained from the Director of the M.S.N./M.P.A. program, Dr. Susan Taft (staft@kent.edu).

International applicants whose country of origin's language is not English, must also submit minimum proficiency scores of any of the following: TOEFL (paper-based) 550; TOEFL (internet-based) 79; IELTS 6.5; MELAB 80.

At any time during their M.P.A. program, or after their initial admission, students in either concentration may transfer in a maximum of 12 semester hours (4 courses) of graduate coursework towards their M.P.A. degree for either concentration. Transferring in of courses is conditional on the following criteria: (1) the course is graduate level from another accredited university; (2) the course is equivalent to the Kent State M.P.A. program course for which the applicant is seeking to receive credit. This is assessed by the M.P.A. coordinator and requires the submission of the formal course syllabus; (3) official transcripts indicating a grade of B or better (A=4.0); and (4) the submission of a Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit form (available upon request).

Please refer to the University policy for graduate admissions.

The M.P.A. degree program is designed to be completed in two years of full-time coursework, or three and a half years, part-time. Full-time is nine hours of coursework (three courses) per semester.

Each concentration requires the completion of 36-39 semester hours of coursework (12-13 courses). The three semester hour difference is dependent upon whether the student is required to complete a formal field internship placement of three hours, or not. Generally, students with current or previous administrative level experience are exempt from the internship requirement.

The 36-39 hours are divided into: eight core courses specific to each concentration, three elective courses of the student's choice of specialization, a formal field placement internship (if required) and a final integrative capstone course.

The M.S.N./M.P.A. dual degree program is 54 credit hours. Students take 21-30 credits from the College of Nursing and 36-39 credits from the M.P.A. degree program. Elective courses and choices are available.
 

Tuition for out-of-state students in the online M.P.A. Public Management concentration is essentially the same as graduate in-state tuition, plus a surcharge of $30 US per each online course.
 

 National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)