Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Public Administration

Download as PDF
Program
Public Administration

Admissions criteria for the Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Graduate Admissions - Masters level

Prospective students are required to submit the following: 

  • Completion of application for admission
  • Official transcripts for bachelor or graduate degree within 5 weeks of the class start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance).  (All credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE-member credential evaluation service).  Please speak with an admissions representative for more information.

Note: See program notes and specific requirements below for each graduate - masters level degree program

Specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are: 

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Completion of application for admission.
  • A 2.7 overall grade point average or higher on completed requirements for the baccalaureate degree, or an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.

Provisional Admission:

Applicants with an undergraduate degree CGPA of less than a 2.7, but not lower than a 2.3, or a graduate degree CGPA of less than 3.0, but not lower than a 2.7, will be considered for provisional admission. Students who do not attain a 3.0 GPA in the first quarter will be dismissed. Students cannot appeal the dismissal from the university as a result of failure to meet the conditions of provisional admission.

For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here. 

Offered at Columbia, Online Programs, Savannah, and Virginia Beach.

Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

The Master of Public Administration degree program at South University is designed to address the needs of students for applied coursework in areas of critical importance to local, state, and national governmental and non-profit organizations. The program covers a broad range of governmental and nonprofit topics to help develop each student's knowledge, skills, and abilities. This degree program integrates knowledge from other areas to provide a combination of general and specialized information in a multi-disciplinary approach.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to: 

  1. Apply a broad conceptual framework to public administration issues, which will include economic, political, legal and social institutions and processes that affect the actions and decision of political leaders and public managers.
  2. Communicate clearly, orally and in writing, their understanding of the challenges of government agencies and many public sector problems/issues and the multiple paths for solutions.
  3. Demonstrate effective teamwork and communication skills in order to build strategic alliances within political and administrative structures.
  4. Apply quantitative analysis and critical thinking skills.
  5. Demonstrate attainment of discipline-specific knowledge and the practical skills to be effective in the field.

Master of Public Administration: 48 Credits

Core: 44 Credits

Course Code
Title
Credits
This course explores human resources from a strategic perspective to help an organization achieve its goals. Topics may include investments in human resources, workforce demographic trends, theories of human resource management, workforce training and development, workforce utilization and assessment, and performance management systems.

Credits : 4

View Full Course

This course provides students with the foundational concepts necessary to understand how the administrative process functions. Students will determine strategies that will allow agencies at the federal, state, and local levels to remain efficient and maintain strong institutional performance despite issues such as polarization, gridlock, shifting demographics and challenging economic and budgetary conditions.

Credits : 4

View Full Course

This course addresses the issues of motivation, leadership, and communication within public and nonprofit organizations. Included are negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building. Special attention will be paid to the unique character of public and nonprofit organizations operating with a mission of public service and within the context of the political leadership and public constituencies.

Credits : 4

View Full Course

This course provides exposure to the key accounting concepts, basic financial statements and analytical techniques required for effective financial management in addition to the basic working capital, fixed assets and debt management concepts. The course will also provide students with basic financial management tools including cost accounting, ratio analysis and integrated financial planning/budgeting. The goal is to provide general managers with a working knowledge of essential financial management concepts and tools as well as the ability to understand and analyze financial statements of many types of organizations. This course assumes no knowledge of financial management.

Credits : 4

View Full Course

This course explores the concepts, principles, and methods of research in public administration, with application to administrative functions and decision making. Topics include literature reviews, research design, definition and measurement of variables, analysis and interpretation of data, and communication of research results. Emphasis is placed on the role and importance of scientific investigations and systematic inquiries in the development and planning of public policy related to public administration and its functions.

Credits : 4

View Full Course

This course explores the goals, processes, and activities associated with fundraising and resource development including the resources provided by volunteers in the non-profit sector. Topics may include annual and capital campaign development, special events, planned giving, communication strategies, stakeholder relationships, automation techniques, and volunteer procedures (including recruitment, training, and recognition). Course will also address legal reporting requirements pertaining to contributions.

Credits : 4

View Full Course

This course examines the strategies and execution of grant and proposal writing as well as contract administration in the non-profit and governmental sectors. Topics may include research into funding sources, use of prospectus documents, preparation competitive proposals for grants and contracts, and peer review. Students will engage in all aspects of grant and proposal writing, including how to efficiently and effectively describe research and program design, outcomes, objectives and methodology, data management, evaluation, and budget development applied to the preparation of an actual proposal. Students will also examine the contract administrative responsibilities resulting from successful grants and contracts, including monitoring and reporting program and fiscal data.

Credits : 4

View Full Course

This course explores the history, growth, and evolution of nonprofit organizations and examines the critical management and leadership challenges facing the professional manager in the nonprofit sector. Topics may include the role of the executive team, board of directors, full-time staff, and volunteers in identifying and realizing the mission of a nonprofit organization. In addition, students will study the legal framework and requirements for nonprofit organizations including those pertaining to lobbying and electoral politics.

Credits : 4

View Full Course

This course analyzes the structure, principles, and operation of state and local government in the United States. It examines the governmental interrelationships contained in the American Federal system. Topics may include the analysis of the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of state and local governments, with special attention paid to the similarities and differences among the levels and branches of government as well as the complementary and conflictual relationships between the state and federal government levels.

Credits : 4

View Full Course

This course examines the process of enacting laws and performing other legislative/administrative/judicial functions in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures. Special attention is paid to the relationship between public administrators and the legislative and judicial processes.

Credits : 4

View Full Course

Sub-Total Credits
44

Capstone: 4 Credits

Course Code
Title
Credits
This course integrates knowledge, skills, and abilities from a wide variety of content areas to better meet the challenges faced by public administrators. Topics may include developing organizational strategy, executing decision making, shaping the planning process, and managing of organizational change. Use of the case method will draw significantly on students' prior public administration study and experience.

Credits : 4

View Full Course

Sub-Total Credits
4
Total Credits
48