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Program Details

Graduate Program: Public Administration (MPA)

General Information

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Program/Degree
Public Administration (MPA)  
Program Description

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) prepares students and current public service professionals for challenging and rewarding careers in the changing public and nonprofit arenas. The MPA program combines curricular structure, physical facilities, and real-world fieldwork opportunities to foster the managerial skills needed to meet today's greater demands for accountability and effectiveness from public and nonprofit organizations.

This MPA program prepares students for a management career in public service sectors, including federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as nonprofits and international organizations. This type of degree can help students learn how to successfully implement policy and programs. Earning an MPA degree at the University of Arizona in particular will prepare students to be leaders in one of several different concentrations, such as Collaborative Governance, Environmental Management and Policy, Nonprofit Management, and Public Management.

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

School of Government and Public Policy

The School of Government and Public Policy was formed in 2009 by combining two highly ranked programs – Political Science and Public Administration and Policy - and bringing them under a single roof. Located in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, SGPP is one of the largest schools at the University of Arizona and is uniquely situated to serve as a new model for public affairs education by promoting high-caliber research, teaching, community outreach, and civic leadership.

By offering leading programs in political science, international relations, public policy, and public management, SGPP prepares students for leadership positions in the public and nonprofit sectors.

 
College

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

 
Campus where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Christina M Inocencio
520-621-5161
Graduate Program Coordinator
Christina M Inocencio
520-621-5161
Director of Graduate Studies
Craig R Smith
520-621-4822
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Kristi R Davenport
520-626-1930
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements
  • Online Application for admission to the Graduate College.
  • Unofficial transcripts of all undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate coursework. If multiple college/university institutions were attended, please include that coursework as well. (Unofficial transcripts are required as part of the admissions process. Official transcripts are only required for applicants who are offered admission.)
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is required for admission by the Graduate College.
  • Statement of Purpose is required, including information about experiences and career objectives.
  • Resume describing relevant experience, responsibilities and achievements.
  • Two letters of recommendation from persons able to provide verification and a specific assessment of your professional and/or academic performance and capabilities.
 
Standardized Tests

GRE test scores are not required for admission to the Master of Public Administration.

International students must submit one of the following test scores for English proficiency:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - minimum scores of 79 iBT (or 60 on the revised PBT with no section score lower than 15).  Individual MyBest scores must also be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6.
  • Pearson PTE Academic - minimum scores of 60.
  • CEPT Full Academic Test - offered by the University of Arizona's Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), minimum test score of 110.
 
Funding Opportunities

Please note that most gradaute student funding opportunities are based on available academic funding, and therefore limited in nature.

  • Federal Student Loans
  • Peace Corp Fellowships
  • Graduate Access Fellowships
  • RC Waiver/Tuition Scholarships
  • Graduate Teaching Assistantships
  • Educational Assistance Program (commonly known as Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) for University Faculty, Staff and qualified beneficiaries)
  • Keane Fellowship
  • Valdez Fellowship

Please see the following webpages for additional funding options: 

  • http://grad.arizona.edu/financial-resources
  • http://financialaid.arizona.edu/ 
 
Admissions Deadlines

Fall Application Deadlines:

  • April 1st - priority deadline for all applicants seeking departmental financial aid consideration
  • June 1st - final deadline for both domestic and international applicants

Fall applications will open early December of each year.  Complete applications will be reviewed starting early February for admission consideration.

Spring Application Deadlines:

  • September 15th - international applicant deadline
  • December 1st - domestic applicant deadline

Spring applications will open mid-March of each year.  Complete applications will be reviewed starting early September for admission consideration.

Deadlines that fall on a non-standard business day or holiday, applications will be due no later than 5pm (MST/AZ time) on the next available business day following the deadline.  Please contact our department at SBS-sgppmasters@email.arizona.edu if you have further questions on these deadlines. 

 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

42 

Core Coursework Requirements

24 units (3 units/course)

  • PA 500: Economics for Public Policy
  • ​PA 501: Public Organizational Theory
  • PA 503: Politics, Policy & Public Management
  • PA 505: Methods for Program Evaluation
  • PA 508: Public and Non-Profit Financial Management
  • PA 527: Leadership and Ethics for Nonprofits and Public Management
  • PA 550: Statistics for Public and Nonprofit Administration
  • ​PA 597H: Public and Nonprofit Human Resources Management

Any course substitutions will need prior review and approval by the Program Director and Graduate Programs Manager.

Minimum GPA in core coursework: 3.0

 
Elective Coursework

12 units required (3 units/course)

To help students select courses in areas that may develop career objectives, a list of elective coursework is available and categorized in specified concentrations.  Students are welcome to take all elective coursework from one concentration or take elective coursework from multiple concentration areas of interest.

No more than 12 units of elective coursework may be taken outside of the School of Government & Public Policy and must be at the graduate level.  Students are responsible for adhering to this policy.  Please note that not every course will be offered every semester or academic year.

The following courses are considered approved electives within specific concentrations:

Collaborative Governance

  • PA 507: Conflict Management in the Public Sector
  • PA 620A: Collaborative Governance in Theory, Practice, and Research (online)
  • PA 622A: Institutional Design and Learning in Collaborative Governance (online) 

Education Policy

  • EDL 522: Critically Evaluating Education Policy Research
  • EDL 560: Trends in Educational Leadership
  • EDL 562: Arizona Education Law
  • HED 601: Higher Education in the United States
  • HED 609: Organization and Administration in Higher Education

Environmental Management and Policy

  • PA 581: Environmental Policy
  • PA 584: Environmental Management
  • PA 597M: Public and Nonprofit Management Information Systems
  • AREC 575: Economics of Water and Environmental Markets and Incentive-based Policies
  • GEOG 516C: Urban Geographic Information Systems
  • LAW 554: Environmental Law and Policy
  • LAW 559: Public International Environmental Law
  • LAW 625B: The Colorado River in American History
  • LAW 641: Water Law (also offered as ENVS 641, GEOG 641, HWRS 641 and MNE 641)
  • LAW 669: Environmental Law
  • LAW 696I: International Environmental Law
  • RNR 517: Geographic Information Systems for Natural and Social Sciences
  • RNR 519: Cartographic Modeling for Natural Resources
  • RNR 520: Advanced Geographic Information Systems
  • RNR 580: Natural Resources Policy and Law
  • RNR 585: The Economics and Social Connections to Natural Resources
  • RNR 615: Ecosystem Service Valuation Methods

Health Policy

  • PA 565: Public Health Advocacy (also available as HPS 565)
  • LAW 552: Health Law
  • MGMT 538: Health Care Organization and Management (also available as PA 538)
  • PHPM 507: Health Care Economics and Policy
  • PHPM 510: The US Healthcare System
  • PHPM 568: American Indian Health Policy
  • PHPM 574: Public Health Policy and Management

Law & Criminal Justice Policy

  • LAW 540A: Introduction to Human Rights Law
  • LAW 549: Introduction to International Law
  • LAW 551: Introduction to Public International Law
  • LAW 553: Introduction to Immigration Law and Policy
  • LAW 558: Introduction to Criminal Law
  • LAW 561: Legislative Analysis
  • LAW 567: Tribal Courts Practice & Procedure
  • LAW 568: Tribal Criminal Law & Procedure
  • LAW 602: Criminal Procedure
  • LAW 650: Criminal Law (also available as PA 650)
  • LAW 672: Innovation for Justice
  • LAW 672A: Innovating Legal Services

Native American Policy

  • AIS 525: Native Economic Development
  • AIS 541A: Natural Resource Management in Native Communities
  • AIS 550A: Native American Law & Policy
  • PHPM 568: American Indian Health Policy
  • LAW 527: International Human Rights & Indigenous Peoples

Nonprofit Management

  • PA 507: Conflict Management in the Public Sector
  • PA 513: Government, Business, and the Nonprofit Sector
  • PA 533: Nonprofit Management
  • PA 597M: Public and Nonprofit Management Information Systems
  • PA 597W: Grantwriting

Public Management/Local Government

  • PA 507: Conflict Management in the Public Sector
  • PA 512: Local Government
  • PA 513: Government, Business, and the Nonprofit Sector
  • PA 518: Public Management Tools for the 21st Century
  • PA 551: Local Economic and Community Development
  • PA 597M: Public and Nonprofit Management Information Systems
  • PA 597W: Grantwriting
  • POL 583: Urban Public Policy

Public Policy

  • PA 514: Methods in Urban Planning (also available as PLG 514, EPID 514, GEOG 514)
  • PA 572: Digital Research in Politics and Policy
  • GEOG 501A: Planning Theory and Practice
  • HRTS 500: Advancing Human Rights
  • HRTS 501: Advancing Human Rights Organizations
  • LAW 507: Legal Analysis, Writing & Research
  • LAW 553: Introduction to Immigration Law and Policy
  • LAW 614B: Governance, Risk Management & Compliance
  • LAW 603H: Legal Analysis, Writing & Research
  • LAW 602: Criminal Procedure
  • LAW 650: Criminal Law (also available as PA 650)
  • RNR 503: Applications of Geographic Information Systems

Courses not currently on this comprehensive list will need to be reviewed and approved by the Program Director and Graduate Programs Manager prior to enrollment.

Minimum GPA in elective coursework: 3.0

 
Additional Requirements

Internship - PA 593 (3 units)

Capstone - PA 594 (3 units)

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate 78.87%
Med. Time-to-degree (years) 2.00
 
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male 43.14%
Enrollment Percent Female 56.86%
Enrollment Percent International 7.84%
Enrollment Percent URM 62.75%

Back to statistics
  • All application, admit, and enrollment data are from Fall 2020.
  • Median Time to Degree calculates how long graduates in the last 5 years (2015-2019) took to complete their degrees, counting back to the first semester entering their program. This measure uses the methodology established in the 2011 Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs by the National Research Council.
  • Underrepresented Minorities (URM) includes domestic students of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/PADMMPA
Last revised 02 Dec 2020
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