Department of Public Administration
Oglethorpe Hall, Room 219
Telephone: (404) 880-6650
Degree Requirements
Program of Study
A total of forty-two (42) semester
hours is required for the Master of Public Administration degree.
The program of study leading to the degree is developed around
a group of core courses designed to provide the student with
a general background in the field of public administration. The
core group of courses consists of twenty-four (24) semester hours.
Students may elect to specialize in one of five areas: Urban
Administration, Public Policy, Human Resources Management, International
Administration, and Community and Economic Development. An internship
is required of all students. Three semester hours of credit toward
the degree are awarded upon completion of the internship.
The MPA is a professional degree.
It is designed to prepare preservice students for positions in
the public sector, nonprofit organizations and to improve the
managerial capabilities of those individuals already employed
in the public service and in nonprofit organizations.
The MPA degree prepares individuals
for employment in all levels of government. The curriculum is
designed to accomplish three objectives. First, it is designed
to enhance the student's values, knowledge and skills to act
ethically and effectively in the management of public and nonprofit
organizations. It includes knowledge of human resources, budgeting
and financial processes, and the acquisition of information,
including computer literacy and applications. Second, it is designed
to develop skills in the application of quantitative and qualitative
techniques of analysis in policy and program formulation, implementation,
and evaluation. Third, the curriculum helps students to develop
an understanding of the public policy and organizational environment
including the political and legal institutions and processes,
economic and social institutions and processes, and organization
and management concepts.
Requirements
The minimum requirements for
the Master of Public Administration degree are as follows:
- Completion of thirty-nine
(39) semester hours of course work in Public Administration and
other special areas as approved by the Department, plus an internship
worth three (3) hours of credit. A total of forty-two (42) semester
hours is required for the degree.
- Completion of a twelve (12)-week
internship selected and supervised by faculty of the Department,
with a longer period desirable.
- Completion and oral defense
of an Exit Paper approved by the faculty.
Exit Paper
All students are required to
write an exit paper, which focuses on a problem area or issue
identified during the internship experience. Students who have
the internship waived due to previous work experience may select
topics within their specialization in consultation with their
advisors. The Guide for the Preparation of the Exit Paper
is available in the Public Administration Department.
Time Limit for Completion
of the Degree
Those students who have not
completed all requirements for the degree within the five (5)-year
period as designated by University policy for all Master degree
programs, may petition the Department for readmission. Readmission
forms may be obtained from the Public Administration Department.
Readmission to the Program
The Public Administration faculty
will review all petitions for readmission and will advise the
petitioner of the action taken on the petition. Those individuals
who are readmitted must comply with the following:
- Enrollment and completion
of the requirements in six (6) courses;
- Preparation and defense of
the Exit Paper; and
- Completion of all of the above
requirements within three continuous semesters, not including
the summer session that comes in between the regular semesters.
Program for In-Service Persons
and Persons with Significant Professional Experience
The Public Administration Department
provides a modified program for in-service persons or for persons
with significant professional service that reduces the required
hours from forty-two (42) hours to thirty-six (36) semester hours.
Included in the reduced requirements is the elimination of the
three (3)-credit-hour internship required of all preservice students
and one (1) regular course. An exit paper, based on a topic related
to the in-service student's chosen specialization is required.
The student's advisor must approve the topic of the paper.
Admission Requirements for
the In-Service Program
Admission to the in-service
program requires the following:
- An earned Bachelor's degree
from an accredited college;
- A grade point average of not
less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale at the undergraduate level; and
- At least five (5) years of
substantive experiences in a Public/Non-Profit organization in
the areas of management, supervision or significant technical
assistance. *
*Documented proof must be
provided as evidence of the applicant's experience as set forth
in the third bullet above.