The Master of Public Administration (MPA) provides students with the knowledge and skills needed for professional careers in public service. MPA students learn analytical techniques and add to their expertise in organizational and program management, policy analysis, and related areas. The program emphasizes public policy, management, and administrative issues.
Admission Requirements
Students enter the MPA with bachelors' degrees from a variety of educational backgrounds. Accordingly, the program meets the needs of students with a wide mix of professional and educational backgrounds and interests.
To apply for admission, applicants must meet the UAA Admission Requirements for Graduate Degrees and must:
- Submit a 300-500 word statement on their career goals and how the MPA degree relates to them.
- Submit a professional resume or vita.
- Meet one of the following criteria:
- Have a combined undergraduate GPA plus GRE Analytic score totaling 7.0 or higher. The GRE test is not required for students having already earned a graduate degree from an institutionally accredited institution in the United States or a foreign equivalent, provided they have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00.
- Have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 and have taken an introductory course in government (or demonstrate knowledge by taking an approved UAA college-level achievement examination)
- Complete two Public Administration (PADM) core courses with a minimum grade of B and complete all PADM core course prerequisites (ECON A227, ECON A101 and ECON A102 or ECON A602, and PS A101) or their equivalents.
Detailed admission standards are available on the department website.
Contact the CBPP Graduate Office for full program information, including application forms and procedures.
Graduate Office
UAA College of Business and Public Policy
3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508 U.S.A.
Telephone: (907) 786-4171
Fax: (907) 786-4115
Academic Requirements
To maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree, a student in the MPA is expected to complete a minimum of 6 semester credits each calendar year, starting with the first term of enrollment. The 6 semester credits may consist of either undergraduate prerequisite courses or graduate program courses. Failure to comply with the 6 credit minimum each calendar year may result in a student being dropped from the program.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete the General University Requirements for Graduate Degrees.
- Candidates for the MPA who do not have public administration work experience must also complete 3 credits of PADM A620.
- Students can earn a dual emphasis in public management and public policy analysis by completing additional credits beyond the minimum required.
- Complete the following major requirements:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| ECON A625 | Economics and Public Policy | 3 |
| PADM A601 | Introduction to Public Administration and Policy | 3 |
| PADM A602 | Seminar in Public Management | 3 |
| PADM A604 | Research Methods in Public Administration | 3 |
| PADM A606 | The Policymaking Process | 3 |
| PADM A608 | Organizational Theory, Design and Development | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| 6 credits of advisor-approved graduate electives, relevant for the chosen emphasis area (see below) | 6 | |
| Capstone Project | ||
| PADM A659 | Public Administration Capstone | 3 |
| Total | 27 | |
Students must take the core comprehensive examination after completing the core courses. This examination must be passed before the student may enroll in the capstone course.
Students must also complete one of the following emphasis areas: public management, public policy analysis, health administration, criminal justice, or dual emphasis: public management and public policy analysis.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Public Management Emphasis | ||
| PADM A603 | Management Analysis | 3 |
| PADM A624 | Human Resources Administration and Labor Relations | 3 |
| PADM A640 | Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| Total | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Analysis Emphasis | ||
| PADM A628 | Public Financial Management | 3 |
| PADM A632 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PADM A688 | Program Evaluation and Performance Measurement | 3 |
| Total | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Health Administration Emphasis | ||
| HS A605 | Public Health and Society | 3 |
| HS A615 | Health Services Administration | 3 |
| HS A626 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| Total | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice Emphasis | ||
| 9 credits of advisor-approved criminal justice electives 1 | 9 | |
| Total | 9 | |
- 1
No more than 6 credits at the 400 level. See advisor for approved justice emphasis courses.
A minimum of 36 credits is required for the degree.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a Master of Public Administration will be able to demonstrate:
- Leadership and decision making
- Communications
- Awareness of the values and tradeoffs in public service, including sustainability, citizen engagement, democratic values and transparency
- Role of financial, human, information, technology and other resources
- Knowledge of the policy process, including assessment
- Problem-solving, including the use of evidence
- Information processing and technology for effective administration