Master of Public Administration

“For God and Humanity through Public Service”

The MPA Master of Public Administration program is a 10-month, 36-semester hour course of study that will contribute to the Gayle Bolt Price School of Graduate Studies’ mission by preparing students for leadership positions in public administration, criminal justice, public management, and non-profit management. This program will emphasize instruction and applications in public administration competencies. Courses that focus on personnel issues, budgeting and fiscal management, public administration, and organizational theory and behavior are included in the required core curriculum. Additional courses in grant writing, planning processes, and research and emergent issues in public agency management will complete the MPA curriculum. This program will address the need for higher education in public administration and non-profit agencies by offering courses in an online environment with a schedule conducive to working adults.

Program Outcomes 

1. Establish an advanced degree in public administration based on Christian values fostering academic excellence, integrity, and a commitment to lifelong learning;
2. Deliver an interactive curriculum that reflects core disciplinary content;
3. Establish an interdisciplinary educational experience that develops collaborative relationships with local governments, non-profit organizations, and criminal justice professionals, locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally;
4. Emphasize the values of responsiveness, expertise, and accountability while promoting high-quality faculty teaching, scholarship, and service; and
5. Promote high ethical standards with a Christian foundation and good practices of public administration while graduating a diverse population of students.

Student Learning Outcomes 

1. Address public administration issues facing society and demonstrate a professional competency which includes major social, political, and historical context of cultures with a focus on race, diversity, and poverty;
2. Demonstrate organizational behavior skills to adapt to advanced professional career positions in public administration agencies fostering competent, responsible, citizenship;
3. Employ advanced research skills to identify, analyze, and present solutions to public administration problems that require the use of technology and advanced computerized programs to arrive at solutions;
4. Explain the importance of personal responsibility and accountability for professional, ethical decision making, and incorporate professional, Christian-centered values within the ethical and legal guidelines of public administration; and
5. Understand and respond to the challenges of an ever-changing public administrative environment with global competence and high Christian ethical standards.

Purpose

Gardner-Webb University Master of Public Administration program’s purpose is to prepare the student for a successful career in public administration in local, state, federal, and non-profit agencies. The MPA will provide the necessary credentials for upper management positions in the field of public management, criminal justice administration, homeland security administration, and non-profit management. Students acquire the ability to perform administrative functions, organizational tasks, leadership roles, and additional skills necessary to be successful in public administration.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the University’s graduate program is based on a balanced appraisal of the applicant’s total academic and professional record and overall excellence. While the Admissions Committee looks for responsible academic performance and excellence as indications of the applicant’s ability to do well in graduate study, the review also seeks evidence of qualities of personal development, which are relevant to career success. Extracurricular involvement and leadership in college, assignments in military service, or substantial work experience will strengthen the application. Application to graduate study in Public Administration is granted in the following categories.

Full Admission

1. A graduate degree from a regionally accredited university, OR
2. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA or minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credit hours of courses, OR
3. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 2.5 overall GPA or minimum 2.5 GPA in the last 60 credit hours of courses, AND at least three years of professional work experience within a relevant industry sector as determined by the Admissions Committee and verified by a professional resume.

Professional experience is determined on a case-by-case basis using a resume and any requested supporting documents. Our admissions committee evaluates an individual’s accomplishments, roles, and responsibilities to determine the total number of years of professional experience.

Provisional Admission

Applicants who show potential for graduate study but do not meet the criteria for full admission may be admitted under provisional admission. The Admission Committee strives to take a holistic view of the applicant to determine the likelihood of success in graduate business programs and may grant provisional admission based on the following:

1. Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university, with a GPA between 2.5-2.99 on all baccalaureate work attempted or the last 60 credit hours of work attempted, without the years of professional work experience required for full admission.
2. Minimum 2.0 GPA and proof of significant years of experience or substantive managerial/leadership experience that may be evidenced through résumé review, personal interviews, or telephone interviews.

Provisionally accepted students must earn a “B” or better in their first six credit hours attempted. For additional information on provisional admission, see the Admissions section of the Graduate Academic Catalog.

MPA - Master of Public Administration Curriculum

Required Courses (36 hours)

 

PADM 601	Public Administation Institutions & Values	3
PADM 608	Leadership in Public Administration	3
PADM 610	Legal and Political Aspects for the Public Service Official	3
PADM 620	Law and Management in Public Administration	3
PADM 630	Organizational Theory in Public Management	3
PADM 632	Human Resource Management in Public Administration	3
PADM 640	Public Budgeting and Fiscal Administration	4
PADM 650	Public Policy Analysis & Evaluation	3
PADM 660	Grant Writing I for Public Administrators - Funding Sources	1
PADM 661	Grant Writing II - Grant Research	1
PADM 662	Grant Writing III - Grant Writing	1
PADM 663	Grant Writing IV - Implementation and Evaluation	1
PADM 699	Capstone Course - Thesis Proposal, Research, & Defense	7
Total Credit Hours:		36

Notes:

All PADM courses in the MPA must be completed before enrollment in PADM 699.

 

Grant writing courses must be completed in the following order: 660, 661, 662, 663.