Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Overview

The mission of the Master of Public Administration program is to strengthen public decision-making and the delivery of public services in a globalized and diverse society by educating students to lead and manage organizations at all levels of government and nonprofit institutions ethically, democratically, and effectively.

About The Program

This program is the largest enrolled accredited program in Texas and #No.15 in the U.S. with good reason. All three MPA programs for masters are the campus, online, and a city cohort. Our MPA programs are fully accredited by NASPAA, the international accreditation body for the MPA. Set in the dynamic Dallas-Fort Worth region, the on-campus and accelerated online programs offer tremendous opportunities for practice and learning. The unique intermix of city planning, public policy, and architecture in the program’s home college creates significant unique opportunities for students.

Career Opportunities

• City, state, and federal government management
• Nonprofit management
• Economic development
• Private government consulting firms
• Government relations for private companies
• Policy analyst
• Government financial management
• Public human resource management

Degree Options

Accelerated Online MPA

MPA Courses

• PAPP 5350: Intro to Public Administration
• PAPP 5351: Public and Non-Profit Human Resources
• PAPP 5358: Ethics in Public Service
• PAPP 5302: Foundations of Urban Research and Analysis
• PAPP 5326: Public Budgeting
• PAPP 5329: Financial Management in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors
• PAPP 5368: Public and Non-Profit Human Resources Law
• PAPP 5355: Non-Profit Institutions
• PAPP 5345: Evaluation Research
• PAPP 5309: Intergovernmental Relations
• PAPP 5320: Public and Non-Profit Organization Theory
• PAPP 5399: Public Administration Capstone
• PAPP 5360: Urban Management/Planning Internship

Electives

Students must take one of the following courses:

• PAPP 5332: Capital Budgeting
• PAPP 5354: Nonprofit Management and Social Entrepreneurship

City Cohort

• PAPP 5302 Foundations of Urban Research and Analysis
• PAPP 5309 Intergovernmental Relations
• PAPP 5320 Public Organization Theory
• PAPP 5326 Public Budgeting
• PAPP 5329 Financial Management in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors
• PAPP 5345 Evaluation Research
• PAPP 5350 Public Administration
• PAPP 5351 Public Human Resources
• PAPP 5358 Ethics in the Public Service
• PAPP 5399 Public Administration Capstone

Economic and Sustainability Emphasis

• PAPP 5321 Urban Management
• PAPP 5334 Managing Economic Development

PLAN 5363 Leadership and Communication

On-Campus MPA

• PAPP 5302 Foundations of Urban Research and Analysis
• PAPP 5309 Intergovernmental Relations
• PAPP 5320 Public Organization Theory
• PAPP 5326 Public Budgeting
• PAPP 5329 Financial Management in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors
• PAPP 5345 Evaluation Research
• PAPP 5350 Public Administration
• PAPP 5351 Public Human Resources
• PAPP 5358 Ethics in the Public Service
• PAPP 5399 Public Administration Capstone

Buro Millennial / pexels

Why Choose Us?

• Fully accredited by NASPAA; one of the nation’s highest-rated programs
• Unique opportunities in planning, economic development, and urban design studies in the dynamic DFW region
• Mix theory and practice with outstanding faculty and senior, experienced government managers for instructors
• Evening, weekly classes fit your busy lifestyle
• Flexibility to take online classes as necessary
• Finish in as little as two years as a part-time student
• Build your resume and networks with real-world projects during your coursework
• Graduates have the highest 10-year median salary among UT System programs

Admission Requirements

The MPA program takes a holistic approach to the application review process. Each applicant’s file is reviewed individually with equal consideration given to the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the student’s records. A complete application includes:

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score: Writing (Exceptions: Outstanding UT Arlington graduates may qualify for GRE waiver providing they meet certain requirements. See "Waiving the GRE" below)
• Undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA): The undergraduate GPA is based on the last 60 hours of course work as calculated by the Graduate Admissions from the official transcript.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores: Verbal and Quantitative (Exceptions: Outstanding UT Arlington graduates may qualify for GRE waiver providing they meet certain requirements)
• Letters of Recommendation attesting to the applicant’s potential to do Master’s-level work and complete the program. Letters for Master’s programs should be from professors or supervisors at work.
• Essay by applicant approximately one double-spaced page in length (approximately 250 words). The Essay is considered both for its content and quality of writing. The Essay should address the following questions: 1. Why do you want to earn a Master’s degree in the program for which you are applying? 2. What relevant background and experience do you bring to the program? The essay can also include other concerns you’d like to bring to the attention of the Graduate Advisor or Master’s Admissions Committee.
• Non-native English speakers only: TOEFL or IELTS scores (Exceptions: An applicant holding either a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university is not required to submit a TOEFL, TOEFL iBT, or IELTS score for admission purposes.)

Types of Admission

Unconditional Admission:

Applicants who meet all the following requirements will be considered for unconditional admission:

• Minimum Writing GRE score of 4.0 (maybe waived under certain conditions - see "Waiving the GRE" below)
• Minimum Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 based on the last 60 hours of course work as calculated by UTA Graduate Admissions.
• A preferred minimum Verbal GRE score of 450 (Revised GRE Test: 150), and minimum Quantitative GRE of 450 (Revised GRE Test: 141), and a minimum combined Verbal and Quantitative score of 1,000 (Revised GRE Test Combined: 291) (maybe waived under certain conditions - see "Waiving the GRE" below)
• Outstanding letters of recommendation
• Strong, well-written personal essay
• Non-native English speakers only: TOEFL scores of at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (iBT) with sectional scores that meet or exceed 22 Writing, 21 Speaking, 20 Reading, and 16 Listening; or, IELTS score of at least 6.5.

Probationary Admission:

Applicants who do not meet all requirements for Unconditional admission will be considered for Probationary admission on the basis of the strength of all the listed admission factors. Test scores will not constitute the sole or primary basis for ending consideration of an applicant. Under Probationary admission, special course requirements or other conditions may be imposed by the CAPPA Master’s Admissions Committee. Applicants who meet all the standards for Unconditional admission except for deficiency in Writing GRE score will be considered for Probationary Admission conditional on completing an approved Writing course in their first semester.

Other types of admission decisions pertaining to Master’s applicants:

1. Deferred: Applicants who are unable to supply required application materials, or who must complete additional preparatory work before their admissibility can be determined, maybe deferred until records are complete.
2. Provisional: Applicants who are unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appear to meet admission requirements may be granted Provisional admission pending submission of complete and satisfactory credentials before the end of the semester in which they have registered in a Provisional status.
3. Denied: Applicants who fail to meet more than one of the admission requirements and for whom the CAPPA Master’s Admission Committee finds there is insufficient basis to justify any other kind of admission will be Denied admission. As the admission process is competitive, applicants meeting basic admission requirements who are less well qualified than other applicants may also be denied admission