The Master of Public Affairs degree program is designed for in-service students who possess professional experience and seek additional education to prepare for career advancement. It is also designed for preservice students planning careers in the public service area. The program requires a minimum of 36 semester hours, including:
Public Affairs core, 18 hours: PA 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, and 674.
Program electives 6 hours, selected from PA 571, 572, 675, 676; PSC 521, 593, 595.
Professional electives, 9 hours, selected with advisor’s approval from graduate courses pertinent to the individual’s career field.
Criminal Justice concentration, 12 hours as follows: CJ 620, 650, 670, and 675 or appropriate CJ courses as approved by the advisor. One of these courses may be counted as a program elective by students in the CJ concentration who are required to complete a 6 semester hour internship.
Students without public service experience will be required to complete a 3 hour internship (PA 685) and submit an internship report based on faculty guidelines. Students with public service experience will be required to take an additional 3 hours of coursework selected from program electives and professional electives instead of an internship.
Students will be required to take a written examination covering all core course work prior to graduation. The written examination will be taken toward the end of the program after all core courses have been completed. It may be taken during the last semester of coursework, if the student is not in the process of taking a core course. The written examination will be divided into two areas as follows: Public Affairs General Perspectives: PA 670, 672, and 673 and Metropolitan Management, Budgeting, and Methods: PA 671, 674, and 675.
Degree requirements for the Master of Public Affairs degree programApplicants must have an average grade of B or higher the last two years of undergraduate study in the major. The Graduate Record Examinations General Test is required, and a personal interview may be requested. Prerequisite work may be required of applicants having an inadequate background for the MPA.
This page is maintained by Nancy Carden in
the Office of the Provost.
Last updated: 3/7/2006
Copyright 2006 by Western Carolina University .