Master of Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration degree program (MPA) is a graduate professional degree program that helps students prepare for careers in public service in the 21st Century. The program requires the completion of a total of 36 semester hours, including a minimum of 27 hours of Public Administration Core courses (including the Capstone report and Professional Internship) and 9 hours of concentration courses in order to earn the Master of Public Administration Degree. There are presently four 9-hour concentrations. Three are offered within the program and one (criminal justice administration) is offered through a collaborative arrangement with the departments of criminal justice:  

1. Criminal Justice Administration

2. Public Management

3. Health Administration & Policy

4. Human Resources Management

The goal of the program is to provide quality education that helps prepare people to work in government and nonprofit management at the community, state and federal levels. The program also conducts research and renders assistance to community groups and agencies as a means of providing a vital link between the institution, the program and the community.

We believe that in order to become effective managers students should understand the five domain competencies outlined by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs & Administration (NASPAA). These include abilities

• to lead and manage in public governance;

• to participate in and contribute to the public policy process;

• to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions;

• to articulate and apply a public service perspective; and

• to communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.

In order to help students, achieve these competencies, the program incorporates both practice and theory.

The mission statement of Albany State University's MPA program is to:

• Provide a professional Master's level education for students aspiring to management positions in government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector.

• Provide professional assistance to the public, government, and nonprofit organizations in Southwest Georgia, Dougherty County, and the surrounding communities through public service of the faculty and students.

• Increase the number of qualified graduates from underrepresented groups with professional public administration skills, training, and education for leadership positions.

After completing the MPA degree, graduates will be able to:

• To lead and manage in public governance

• To participate in and contribute to the public policy process.

• To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence based informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment

• To articulate, apply and advance a public service perspective.

• To communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.

An applicant for the Master of Public Administration degree must meet the requirements for admission to the Albany State University Graduate Programs in addition to those listed below.

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

2. A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0-point scale) for course work completed at the undergraduate level is required for regular admission. A cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 is required for provisional admission. (required for admission to the MPA program only)

3. A satisfactory score on either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). For regular admission, a combined score of 286 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE or, a score of 402 (44) on the MAT is required. For provisional admission, a combined score of 281 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE, or 27 on the MAT is required. 

4. Two official transcripts sent from all colleges and universities attended.

5. Two current letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's ability to successfully complete the graduate program.

6. Submission of a completed graduate admissions application with a $20 processing fee.

7. Applicants for admission to the MPA program are also required to submit a written statement of career goals.

8. International students must take the TOEFL and meet other criteria established by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

9. Senior Rams Accelerated Access allows an Albany State University undergraduate student who has earned 90 or more credit hours with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher is eligible to enroll in courses for the Master of Public Administration. An undergraduate student must complete the form – Request for Graduate Credit Registration for Senior Undergraduate Students each semester that approval is sought to enroll in a course for the MPA program. A student may not take more than six graduate credit hours per semester and must earn a “B” or better during the first six graduate credit hours for the MPA program. A student is limited to taking nine (9) hours comprised of three (3) three-credit hour courses in the MPA program prior to formal admission as a graduate student (See the eligible courses in the Curriculum tab.

All documents, including test scores, must be received in the Graduate Admissions Office at least 45 days prior to the desired semester of enrollment. Prospective applicants should contact the graduate recruitment and admissions officer in the Graduate Admissions Office for more information.

Other Program Requirements

Admission to Candidacy - Students enrolling in MPA courses who intend to pursue the MPA degree must file for, and be admitted to candidacy, upon completion of 18 semester hours. Only 9 semester hours of graduate course work in which the student earned ''B" or better in provisional status may be counted toward candidacy for the degree.

MPA Professional Portfolio - Each student is expected to complete a professional portfolio. The professional MPA portfolio consists of materials representative of one’s academic work accomplishments and demonstration of abilities and skills.

Not all programs are available to residents in all states. Please check the institution's State Authorization and Professional Licensure website(s) to ensure you reside in an authorized state.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration