Master of Public Administration

Master of Public Administration

Missouri State’s public administration graduate program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration through a rigorous national accreditation process. Meeting the NASPAA’s criteria means you’ll receive the resources necessary to achieve the goals that matter to you.

Graduate students in the public administration program are individuals with diverse academic and professional backgrounds, many of whom work full-time and are practicing public administrators and non-profit organization professionals.

Missouri State’s public administration graduate program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration through a rigorous national accreditation process. Meeting the NASPAA’s criteria means you’ll receive the resources necessary to achieve the goals that matter to you.

Public Affairs. Civic Engagement. Public Policy.

As a graduate of Missouri State’s public administration master’s program, you will be able to:

• Shape policies that benefit the public
• Develop new ideas and strategies for dealing with society’s problems
• Use the tools essential to success in the public sector
• Enhance your career

Practical focus

A focus on practical application, in combination with the University’s public affairs mission, means that your experience in the public administration graduate program prepares you for a role as an ethical, culturally competent and engaged public sector leader. You can pursue either a Master of Public Administration degree or a Certificate in Public Management.

Diverse faculty

A diverse faculty with accomplishments in teaching, scholarship and community service is matched by a program that provides you with the opportunity to specialize in the areas of:

• Public safety
• Local government management
• Public policy

Career success

The Master of Public Administration or the Certificate in Public Management will prepare you for a career in public service and will provide professional development to those who lead public agencies and nonprofit organizations. You will develop theoretical and analytical insight into the problems of governance in a democratic society, into the interplay between politics and public service, and into the relationships between elected officials and bureaucracy.

Accelerated Master's

Missouri State students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in political science may be eligible to enter the accelerated MPA program. By entering the MPA program early, you are able to count up to 12 hours of courses taken during your senior year for both your undergraduate and MPA degrees.

Why complete an accelerated MPA at MSU? You add value to your academic and real-world experiences while minimizing the costs of graduate school. As a student in the accelerated program, the intensive environment reinforces your ability to lead organizations, plan and execute effective policy, and meet the safety needs of the public.

Careers

Individuals who can tackle the unique and challenging issues that define the public agenda are needed to find effective solutions. Through your expertise, you can provide leadership, financial management and even policy analysis to today’s most high-profile problems. Typical public sector careers may include:

• Assistant city manager
• Executive director
• Director of economic development
• Program director
• Project manager
• Transportation planning specialist

Entry Requirements

1. 3.00 GPA (on a 4.00 scale) in an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
2. Three strong letters of recommendation from undergraduate professors and/or persons well acquainted with the applicant's education and abilities. Letters should be submitted directly to the Director of the MPA program.
3. A minimum score of 290 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general examination.
4. Applicants with a GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 and/or score of less than 290 on the GRE test may be admitted to the program on a provisional status at the discretion of the MPA director. A personal interview may be required.