Home > Degrees & Programs > Master's Degrees > Master of Public Administration

Master of Public Administration

The MPA is the gold standard degree for upper-level positions in the public and non-profit sectors. Coursework builds a systematic understanding of the economic, political, and social problems public administrators face.

  • 36-credit hours
  • Taught face-to-face

For the CMU MPA department web page, click here.

NASPAA Logo

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants holding a four-year baccalaureate or equivalent degree from a college or university of recognized standing may be granted regular admission.
  • Admission requirements include:
    • Overall undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
    • Minimum of 18 credit hours in social science
    • Successful completion of an undergraduate statistics or research methods course
    • Three letters of recommendation from former professors or public service professionals
    • Essay discussing why the student feels the MPA degree will facilitate his/her professional goals
    • Current resume
  • A student can transfer up to 9 graduate credits into the MPA program.

Available Concentrations & Requirements

State and Local Government

The State and Local Government concentration focuses more on regional and local level governments and how politics and policies affect communities.

Program Director VideoWatch a short video presentation about this program.

Core Courses  (24-27 hours)

  • PSC 514 American Public Policy Making
  • PSC 610 Foundations of Public Administration
  • PSC 711 Public Personnel Administration Practice
  • PSC 713 Public Budgeting and Finance
  • PSC 714 Program Analysis and Evaluation
  • PSC 775 Organization Theory in Public Administration
  • PSC 780 Research in Public Administration in Political Science
  • PSC 795 Internship in Public Administration
  • PSC 796 Applied Research in Public Administration

Note: In-service students with experience are not required to take an internship (PSC 795). Students without experience will take 3 hours of internship, reducing their number of elective courses by 1 course, or 3 credit hours.

PSC 796 - The Applied Research Project: Before a student’s final semester, he or she forms a Plan B paper committee of three members and, with their advice, develops an approved research topic. The student will present his or her finished paper to the committee when completed. Both main campus and Global Campus students are encouraged to develop their research topics through the tutelage of the entire teaching staff.

State and Local Government Concentration  (9-12 hours)

  • PSC 561 American State Government and Administration
  • PSC 563 Politics and Policy in Urban Communities
  • PSC 565 Managing Modern Local Government
  • PSC 566 Intergovernmental Relations in the United States
  • PSC 585 Public Sector Information Technology Management
  • PSC 761 Seminar in American State Government

Note: Both PSC 561 and PSC 761 may not be selected.

Where Is This Offered?  View Tuition & Fees

News & Events

Atlanta Metro - Information Session, MPA degree, Thursday, 6/20/2013, 6-7:30 p.m.

Join us for an information session for the Master of Public Administration degree on Thursday, June 20, 2013 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at 2120 Powers Ferry Road, Shadowood Office Park, SE, Suite 200 in Atlanta. Staff will be on hand to answer all your questions so stop in anytime.

Atlanta Metro - Information Session, MPA degree, Thursday, 8/1/2013, 6-7:30 p.m.

Join us for an information session for the Master of Public Administration degree on Thursday, August 1, 2013 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at 2120 Powers Ferry Road, Shadowood Office Park, SE, Suite 200 in Atlanta. Staff will be on hand to answer all your questions so stop in anytime.

All News & Events