Public Administration, M.P.A.

The Department of Political Science  

Naomi Bick, Graduate Advisor

The MPA Program builds on the belief that effective leadership of public agencies requires a basic set of abilities and public values irrespective of the particular characteristics of an organization. Courses in the program focus on the development of critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as an appreciation for ethical decision making.

All students in the program complete a core program of 24 units within the 36 units required for the M.P.A. In consultation with their advisors, students will select the remaining units from graduate public administration courses and courses offered by other departments and programs. These units can be used to further develop a general competence in public administration or to provide students with an opportunity to pursue additional topics of interest. To finish the program students may elect to write a thesis or complete the Capstone course MPA 293.

The curriculum of the program follows the guidelines established by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) and was designed following consultation with senior public administrators in the Fresno area. Consistent with the NASPAA guidelines, the program seeks to prepare administrative specialists who understand the place and role of public agencies and their staffs in the political, social, and economic systems of the United States; who have the analytic tools, both quantitative and qualitative, to diagnose problems and analyze alternative courses of public action; who have the leadership abilities to develop and make effective use of the talents and abilities of agency staffs; who have the abilities required to formulate, implement, and evaluate public policies which are responsible and effective; and who are able to manage an agency in such a way as to make responsible and effective use of its resources now and in the future.

Admission Requirements

Applicants may qualify for admission to the program and thereby take program courses by achieving classified graduate standing. Classified standing requires:

1. An acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association;
2. Good standing at the last college attended;
3. Submission to the university of the following materials: online university application form (www.calstate.edu/apply); fee for online university application form; transcripts of university work; and TOEFL or IELTS scores if required by university.
4. Submission to the MPA program of the following materials via (www.calstate.edu/apply); MPA program application form; a written statement indicating why the applicant wishes to pursue an MPA degree and the expected benefits of the degree; and two letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation evaluate both the motivation and intellectual ability of the applicant.
5. Recommendation for admission by the Admissions Committee of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program: Candidates will be recommended on the promise they show for successfully completing the program and achieving a successful career in public or nonprofit administration. To receive classified standing, applicants must meet ALL of the following requirements. Applicants that meet some, but not all, of the listed standards may receive conditionally classified standing. Candidates will be evaluated using a combination of criteria:
   1. Grade point average: Applicants need a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average to be eligible for classified standing. Applicants must possess a minimum of a 2.70 cumulative grade point average to be considered for conditionally classified standing.
   2. Statement of Purpose: Applicants must explain their reasons for wanting to pursue the MPA degree. As part of this statement of purpose, applicants may list their professional experience and goals. They may also list relevant personal experiences. The statement of purpose should be limited to 500 words.  It should respond to the following prompt:  What are your reasons for pursuing the MPA degree?  What benefits do you expect to gain from your degree?
   3. Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must submit TWO letters of recommendation. These letters should speak to the applicant’s motivations to pursue and abilities (both intellectually and professionally) to complete the MPA degree. These letters may be submitted by those in a position to evaluate the applicant’s motivations and abilities. This includes but is not limited to the following: current or former course instructors, or work supervisors who have extensive work experience with the applicant. Letters should be written by professional contacts; letters from family members will not be considered.
   4. English Proficiency: Applicants whose native language is not English must also achieve a minimum of 80 iBT on the TOEFL or 6.5 overall on the IELTS.
   5. Writing Sample: Applicants must submit a writing sample of no less than 5 pages double-spaced. The writing sample should be an academic paper from their undergraduate degree program if completed within the last five years. If the undergraduate degree was completed prior to 5 years ago, the sample should be a well-researched paper about a topic you would be interested in learning more about in the MPA program. Examples could derive from public management, public policy, human resources, government services, etc. Samples must be well-written and well-researched with proper citations provided. They must be the original work of the student and solo-authored.
6. MPA Graduate Program Application Filing Period: The deadline for applications to the graduate program is April 1st of each year for Fall Admission. The deadline for Spring applications is November 1st. Incomplete applications and those received after the specified dates will not be considered by the graduate admissions committee.

Graduate Writing Requirement

The M.P.A. student can meet the university Graduate Writing Requirement by passing the writing component of the course MPA 210 . Please see program director for the written policy.