Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA)

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The Hamline University master in public administration (MPA) gives working professionals the practical knowledge, tools, and skills they need to manage effectively and to meet the complex fiscal and economic challenges of their sector.

The master in public administration (MPA) is available at the Hamline University Saint Paul and Minneapolis campuses. The flexible model is offered in St. Paul and the accelerated cohort and on-line models are offered in Minneapolis. (A cohort is a group of students who start and finish a program together.)

All students in the master in public administration (MPA) program are required to complete forty-eight academic credits. This includes eight required core courses, three elective courses, one final course (either Capstone Skills Development or Master’s Thesis). If students choose to specialize, then they may choose a concentration. For some students, an internship with a government entity is also a program requirement.

NOTE: Requirements for the accelerated master in public administration (MPA) programs are slightly different. Students are required to take 12 set courses.

The master in public administration (MPA) program begins with a foundations course, which provides students with a sound foundation in the history, theory, and management standards of the government sector. Other courses (required and elective) provide working professionals with a base of knowledge in a variety of subjects, each necessary to build effective management skills.

MPA Degree Requirements (Total of 48 credits)

8 Required Core Courses (32 credits)

3 Elective courses (12 credits)

Three elective courses must be chosen from among the School of Business graduate level courses.

1 Final Course (4 credits) Choose from:

Additional Requirements

Completion of an economics course prior to taking Public Fiscal Management (GPA 8030) for students with no economics background.
An internship (GPA 8494), for students with limited public sector experience.

Time Limit

Generally, it will take students 2-3 years to complete the traditional MPA program; however, 7 years is the allowed maximum.

MPA Application Requirements

Completed application form (available online at: www.hamline.edu/gsm/admission/online_application.html)
Personal statement. A one- to two-page personal statement, typewritten and double-spaced, detailing:
- why you have chosen Hamline University,
- how the degree program will help you meet your career goals, and
- which concentrations or policy areas are of interest to you and why
Professional résumé or curriculum vitae.
Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate work. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must submit both the original and an official or a certified course by course English translation. The Hamline University School of Business reserves the right to require applicants to have their academic records evaluated by an academic credential evaluator.
Three letters of recommendation, written by people familiar with your academic and/or professional history, detailing your specific qualifications to pursue advanced study (letters from family members are unacceptable).
Writing sample. A sample of your academic or work-related writing, typewritten, at least three pages in length, written in the last two years, and written solely by you.