Ohio University

Degree Requirements

The MPA program introduces students to the fundamental elements of public administration and policy. These elements include disciplinary knowledge of public administration and public policy, public service, and technology learning and applications. Our emphasis on applied learning helps students to think critically and creatively, while engaged in problem solving activities that address both real and theoretical situations.

Requirements for the program are:

• 30 credit hours of Core Competencies
• 12 credit hours of Professional Competencies/Applied Learning
• 28 credit hours of approved Electives
• Completion of a Portfolio or Thesis
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

Core Competencies (30 Hours)

The MPA Core consists of six courses:
MPA 620: Introduction to Public Administration
MPA 601: Research Methods I
MPA 602: Quantitative Methods -OR- MPA 603: Qualitative Methods
MPA 514: Organization Theory
MPA 586: Public Budgeting
MPA 680: Seminar in Public Administration

Students entering the MPA program who have taken one or more of the core competency courses as an undergraduate or graduate at Ohio University or another institution may substitute another course in the place of that already taken. Requests for permission to substitute a core competency course are then submitted to the MPA Director. Forms are in the back the student handbook and are also available from the Office of Student Services. If a core competency course is not offered during a student’s program, then a substitute course to fulfill the requirement will be provided.

Professional Competencies/Applied Learning (12 Hours)

The GVS is committed to ensuring that students learn to apply their education, through experiential exercises and interactions with practitioners across the broad range of public affairs, administration, and policy professions and sectors. Pre-service, full-time students seeking an MPA degree at Ohio University on the Athens campus will engage in an applied learning experience that weaves together academic concepts with actual work in the public and nonprofit sector. This requirement can met through the Practicum, an approved internship, or through a consulting experience with project teams at the Voinovich School.

Students admitted to the OEMPA do not complete an applied learning experience. Two additional electives are substituted to meet this requirement.

Electives (28 Hours)

To assure that the MPA degree is delivering on the distinctive, public service mission of the GVS, students have the option of taking a wide range of elective courses or focusing their attention in a specific area of specialization. The curricular content matches the profile in the overall mission of the School and demonstrates consistency and coherence in academic offerings. Specific details about electives can be found in the student handbook.

Portfolio/Thesis Capstone Project

Most MPA students choose to complete a portfolio of superior quality demonstrating a mastery of professional skills, research, and writing. Some students however, choose the research oriented thesis option if it seems more appropriate to their career plans or academic interests.

Admission Requirements

Those wishing to apply to either the traditional on campus program or the Executive program can begin the application process on-line at the following link:
www.ohio.edu/graduate/apply/index.cfm The Voinovich School gives priority acceptance and funding consideration to applications received by February 15, although there are no graduate assistantships offered for students enrolled in the Executive MPA program.

Applications received between February 15 and June 1 will be considered but applications will not be eligible for funding (other types of financial aid might be available). Prospective students applying after June 1 will be considered for fall admission on a case-by-case basis.

Requirements to apply include a letter of intent, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts from previous academic institutions.

NOTE: Ohio University requires candidates for admission to have a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average for unconditional admission to the University's graduate programs. Applicants with a lower average may be admitted on a conditional basis. The department may require students receiving conditional admission to take additional preparatory course work and/or maintain a 3.0 GPA for their first 15 hours of graduate study.