The faculty in the School of Public Affairs offer public administration programs that prepare students for careers in public management, public policy analysis and evaluation, urban management and planning, and public information management. To improve public management, the school maintains public service programs that educate and advise public service practitioners. To improve public policymaking, the school maintains research and service programs that identify issues, disseminate information, and propose solutions to major public problems. To foster the next generation of scholars, the school maintains research programs designed to advance understanding of the processes by which public resources and personnel are organized to formulate, implement, and manage public policy decisions.

Faculty in the School of Public Affairs offer a 42-semester-hour professional Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree. The M.P.A. is an interdisciplinary, professional degree designed to prepare students for public service, public management, and policy analysis at the local, state, and national levels of government. The M.P.A. degree is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

Admission. Applicants to the M.P.A. program are considered for admission irrespective of undergraduate major, although students may be required to complete additional courses and/or workshops to prepare themselves for the core courses.

The applicant’s undergraduate GPA, GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical), letters of recommendation, statement of educational and career goals, and professional experience are all considered in the admissions process. In addition, TOEFL scores (550 or higher) are required for international students. Admission may be limited by space availability.

Although applications for admission can be sent at any time, they should be received by July 1 for fall semester admission and December 1 for spring semester admission. Students requesting graduate assistantships and tuition scholarships should have their application files completed by March 1.

All applicants must submit the following materials to the Graduate College:

1. an official application;
2. official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work;
3. scores on the GRE (verbal, quantitative, and analytical; special subject tests not required); and
4. TOEFL scores for international students.

All applicants must submit the following materials to the School of Public Affairs:

1. three letters of recommendation, at least two of which should be written by faculty who can evaluate the applicant’s academic performance;
2. a written statement of applicant’s educational and career goals, which also is used as a sample of the applicant’s writing abilities; and
3. resume or additional documents as the applicant sees fit.

Program of Study. The M.P.A. program consists of forty-two hours of graduate credit. Students take twenty-four of these hours in eight core classes in the School of Public Affairs, and eighteen additional hours in elective courses. Students are encouraged to develop a concentration with their elective courses. Four areas of concentration are offered:

1. public information management,
2. public management,
3. public policy analysis and evaluation, and
4. urban management and planning.

No more than nine semester hours of ASU graduate courses taken before admission to the school and approved by the M.P.A. Committee can be included in the Program of Study.

Students enrolling in core courses must demonstrate minimum competency in statistics, American government, and computer applications. Courses taken to fulfill the competency do not count toward the 42-hour degree program. Competency in statistics or American government is met with a grade of “B” or higher in approved courses, passing a diagnostic test approved by the M.P.A. Committee, or earning a grade of “B” or higher in such approved courses as PAF 401, POS 401, PSY 230, QBA 221, and SOC 395 for statistics and POS 310 for American government. Competency in computer applications is met by enrollment in university short courses and training seminars.

Internship. A public service internship is recommended for M.P.A. students without previous administrative experience in government. The purpose of the internship is to provide students with practical and professional experience in a specific career area. Students work in and for public organizations applying the knowledge, skills, and abilities acquired in their program of study. During the internship experience, students can develop a professional network that will aid them in their pursuit of a career in government or non-profit organizations. Students can apply three hours of internship credit to the degree program. To receive course credit for an internship, students are required to attend class sessions and submit a paper to the internship coordinator.

Foreign Language Requirements. None.

Comprehensive Examination. None.

Thesis Requirements. None.

Capstone Requirement. The M.P.A. degree requires students to demonstrate competency for public service by synthesizing and applying core course knowledge, skills, and abilities to public service problems. Students demonstrate their public service competency by earning an “A” or a “B” in the M.P.A. capstone course, PAF 508 Public Service.

1998–99 Graduate Catalog Table of Contents

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