Master of Public Administration

The graduate programs offered at Andrew Jackson University are designed for college graduates who currently hold or aspire to hold mid-level or executive positions. They are people who desire to advance and enrich their non-academic careers by a deeper and more thorough professional preparation in their chosen fields.

The master's degrees offered at Andrew Jackson University provide students with a thorough knowledge of a particular field and a mastery of the methods of productive scholarship. To help achieve the University Mission and Purpose, degree programs focus on the following criteria:

Each degree program first teaches students how to learn effectively and integrate knowledge so they can more effectively begin their studies. This process helps promote self-discipline, self-appraisal, and self-reliance.
Each degree program is administered by a faculty instructional team who will guide, teach, and motivate students. The increased confidence and greater sense of self-esteem students enjoy are reinforced through this regular interaction.
Each degree program is built around a solid and appropriate curriculum that reflects current knowledge and applications and requires students to develop advanced skills necessary for successful career advancement.
Each degree program promotes scholarship through the study of current texts and higher-level readings. Students will have the opportunity to learn central concepts and then analyze and apply these principles to interesting projects, papers, case studies, and application exercises to practical situations. These real-world applications encourage students to apply what they have learned to support others in the family, employment, and community settings.
Each degree program teaches students to inquire, research, measure, and reason. Although thesis research is not required, students will master the techniques of problem posing and problem-solving and use these processes to prepare a variety of written papers and reports. This use of research methods will help them gain an appreciation of the place and function of original investigation in their chosen fields.
Each degree program addresses ethical issues and incorporates assignments or activities that help students clearly develop or appraise their ideals for responsible living. These case studies and problem-solving dilemmas aid in self-revelation and self-appraisal and encourage students to fulfill their social, civic, and spiritual obligations.

The Master of Public Administration is a professional degree program that attracts those planning leadership or managerial careers in federal, state, or local government, as well as current public administrators who want to augment their professional experience. The program is designed to develop the insights and skills needed to plan and help formulate policy, and to organize, manage, and implement programs and operations. In seeking to develop these general competencies, studies discuss the political, social, economic, and legal context of public administration and offer broad-based training in management, organizational behavior, research methods, policy analysis, personnel, and budgeting.

A baccalaureate degree will qualify applicants to enter this program. Whether gained by undergraduate study or workplace experience, a familiarity with business statistics and introductory calculus is required.

Curriculum (36 credit hours)