Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

The Master of Public Administration program is an online degree program designed to empower those seeking a career in public service as well as those already employed who desire to enhance their current career trajectory. The program prepares professionals for work in government at the local, state, or national level as well as nonprofit organizations. Those in the private sector may also find the curriculum valuable.

The MPA degree requires a total of 36 hours of coursework:

• 24 hours of core coursework taken by all students
• 12 hours of coursework in a concentration selected by the student in consultation with a graduate advisor

Prior to graduation, all students must complete and pass comprehensive exams, which encompass key learning objectives from the core coursework. Students are expected to complete all their core coursework prior to taking comprehensive exams. Students with one core course remaining may take comprehensive exams, with the approval of the graduate director. Comprehensive exams are administered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students must be enrolled in the university the semester or summer session in which the comprehensive exams are administered. 

Applications to the online Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program are reviewed on a rolling basis, with application deadlines of: August 1^st for the fall semester; December 1^st for the spring semester; and May 15^th for the summer semester. The MPA Program’s admission considerations include the following:

1. Graduate Admissions Application: The Graduate Studies Application is an institutional application required by SHSU. Students must provide biographical and educational information and information relevant to determining State of Texas residency.
2. Application Fee: An application fee is required for all applications to graduate programs at SHSU.
3. Transcripts documenting all prior degrees.*
4. A current resume or curriculum vitae.
5. A writing sample of scholarly or professional work.
6. A statement of interest that summarizes the applicant’s professional goals, how an MPA degree will help the applicant obtain their professional goals, and how the applicant’s personal and professional experiences have prepared them for the MPA program. The statement should be no more than two single-spaced pages.
7. Names and contact information for at least two individuals who can speak to applicant’s academic and professional potential.
8. Applicants who do not possess a graduate degree from an accredited institution, are expected to have earned a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 from the accredited institution granting the undergraduate degree.  
9. Applicants who do not possess a graduate degree and have an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 may submit additional information as evidence of their academic and professional potential. Additional information may include, but is not limited to: GRE scores, a narrative that provides an explanation for the applicant’s low GPA and why the GPA is not indicative of the applicant’s academic and professional potential, etc.

*Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts for review by the admissions committee. However, under university policy, admission decisions are contingent upon receipt of official transcripts.

Applicants must submit all application materials directly to the Office of Graduate Studies by the relevant deadline.  A holistic review of each applicant’s file will then be completed with admission to the MPA Program offered to applicants on a competitive basis.

Areas of Concentration

A concentration of 12 hours is required with this degree. The department offers a concentration in disaster and emergency management. On rare occasions, students may, with the permission of the graduate director, pursue a concentration in other disciplines deemed more relevant to the student’s professional goals.

Degree Plan

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The M.P.A. is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

• Develop students’ analytical and writing skills.
• Develop students' ability to utilize technology to solve problems and accomplish goals.
• Prepare students for professional careers in the 21st century.
• Prepare students to make meaningful contributions to local, state, national, and global communities.