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:
- Have a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited institution in the U.S. or foreign equivalent.
- Have completed a minimum of 6 credits in baccalaureate level Political Science (3 credits) and Descriptive/Inferential Statistics (3 credits) with a minimum grade of B. (Provisional admission is possible if this criterion is not met at the time of application).
- Submit documentation for the following:
- Minimum B grade point average (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent at an accredited college or university, or 3.5 or equivalent for graduate-level work.
- Students with lower than a 3.00 undergraduate GPA may submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. The undergraduate GPA plus GRE Analytic score should total 7.0 or higher. The GRE is not required for students having already earned a graduate degree from an institutionally accredited institution in the United States or foreign equivalent, provided they have the minimum GPA listed above.
- A “Statement of Intent,” two to three pages long, outlining prior work and/or policy experience, and academic and career objectives.
- A resume listing education and employment history, particularly any previous administrative experience. Please include contact information for three references on the resume.
Detailed admission standards are available on the department website.
Contact the CBPP Graduate Office for full program information, including application procedures.
Graduate Office
UAA College of Business and Public Policy
3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508 U.S.A.
Telephone: (907) 786-4101
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.
- 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.
- Complete the following major requirements:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| 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 |
| PADM A628 | Public Financial Management | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| PADM A603 | Management Analysis | 3 |
| PADM A640 | Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| or BA A461 | Negotiation and Conflict Management | |
| PADM A688 | Program Evaluation and Performance Measurement | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| 6 credits of advisor-approved graduate electives | 6 | |
| Capstone Project | ||
| PADM A659 | Public Administration Capstone | 3 |
| Total | 36 | |
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