Master of Public Administration

Transcription

1 Master of Public Administration degree information Master of Public Administration The MPA is a 36-credit hour degree designed to provide career professionals with the knowledge and skills to move into senior management positions. Course work builds a systematic understanding of the economic, political and social problems public administrators face. You ll develop practical quantitative, computer and analytical skills and also study the latest theories in management and human behavior. Degree requirements The MPA includes a set of core courses that provide a foundation in the essential components of the discipline. If you are a pre-service student without professional experience, you ll also complete an internship for 3 credit hours, in place of an elective course. NASPAA Accredited NASPAA accreditation ensures excellence in your education and training for public and non-profit careers. The MPA program pursues diversity in its student body, faculty and curriculum and integrates ethics into all aspects of the curriculum. Core MPA faculty will teach more than half of your courses with diversified, experienced and knowledgeable experts also contributing. Your approach to a public service education will be more innovative, your problem-solving more creative and your accomplishments more satisfying because of NASPAA accreditation and your MPA cohort experiences. Admission requirements Regular admission For admission to the degree program, you need: Undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale) Minimum of 18 undergraduate hours in social science Completion of an undergraduate statistics or research methods course An essay discussing your professional goals and how the degree will facilitate them Three letters of recommendation from former professors or public service professionals attesting to your potential for success Current résumé Conditional admission If you don t meet requirements for regular admission, you may be considered for conditional admission. However, some courses you take (e.g. undergraduate statistics) to meet admission requirements may not be counted toward graduate degree requirements. Transfer credit Up to nine semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred from another institution, with approval of your advisor and the dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Program delivery All of the courses you need to complete the MPA will be offered in a cohort format. This means you ll take a carefully planned sequence of courses with the same group of fellow students. The cohort format is also a foundation for personal and professional networks that will last long after you complete your degree.

2 CMU Services support you We offer our programs in a compressed format to help you balance the demands of work, school, family and other obligations. But compressed formats don t mean easier courses. We hold our off-campus programs to the same academic standards that our on-campus classes must meet. To help you succeed in the compressed format, we make our procedures and services fast and accessible. The time you spend with us is focused on studies, not on standing in lines, waiting on hold, or getting transferred from office to office. Registration Once admitted, the student will receive a course schedule listing the registration dates for classes. Cohort participants are usually registered automatically for the next class by the local center. Payment is expected promptly upon receiving the university billing statement at your cmich account. Payment may be made by check, credit card, or employer s voucher. Advising Individual academic advising is available. Your academic advisor is key to your success in the program. Financial aid An investment in the MPA degree will provide you with life-long dividends in terms of salary and career satisfaction. However, many students like you are concerned about financing their education. If you re interested in financial aid, the first step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( The second step is to download and print the Financial Aid Manual found at global.cmich.edu/financial-aid. Financial aid is available only to U.S. citizens. Military Tuition Discounted Rate Central Michigan University is proud to be named a military friendly university by both GI Jobs and Military Advanced Education magazine. For complete information on CMU s military tuition discounted rate, please go to cmich.edu/military. The MPA program from CMU is Chapter 33 Post 9/11 Bill compliant. Textbook purchase You don t have to drive around town or stand in long lines at a bookstore to get your textbooks. You can order them at your convenience by phone, by fax, by mail and on the Web at Your books are shipped to your home or office, usually within 24 hours after your order is received. You may also be able to return your books for resale when your class is finished. Library service The service ranked highest by our current students and graduates is our nationally recognized Global Campus Library Services (formerly Off-Campus Library Services). Once you start your program, you ll soon see why. Professional librarians located on campus and in regional offices around the country are available to provide you with reference and referral assistance. Additional support staff and document delivery specialists work specifically to meet your needs as an off-campus student. You get the best in the business We re very proud of the fact that CMU s Global Campus Library program is the most comprehensive and sophisticated of its type. We invest more than $1 million annually to keep it that way, because we believe that high quality, convenient library support is critical to delivering high quality, convenient academic programs to you. Writing Center The CMU Writing Center provides assistance with any writing project, from help choosing a subject within the parameters set by your instructor to suggestions on polishing of final drafts. Global Campus and online students can find more information at webs.cmich.edu/writingcenter.

3 Master of Public Administration Additional Course Information Applied Research Project PAD 796 The project serves as a capstone experience for MPA candidates. More than a term paper, but less than a master s thesis, the project takes a pragmatic, problem solving focus. Students are encouraged to address a research question relevant to their career interests. Internship In-service students with experience aren t required to take an internship. However if you don t have experience, you will need to take a three-credit-hour internship. The internship will give you an excellent opportunity to refine your skills and to apply classroom learning to real-world situations. If required, the three-credit-hour internship will replace one of the four electives within the cohort sequence. Students will be notified at the time of admission if there is a possibility of a required internship. Students will work with their cohort academic advisor and the internship director to find appropriate placement for completion of their internship. Working with the internship director, student interns have been placed with city, county, state and federal government agencies, not-for-profit agencies, policy think tanks and state legislatures.

4 tuition, fees & application process To apply The easiest way to get started in your graduate studies at CMU, is to apply online and pay the $50 nonrefundable application fee through our Web site apply.cmich.edu. You must also include: 1. One official transcript from all colleges or universities you have attended sent to CMU. Official transcripts can be ed directly to CMU Global Campus by the institution. The address is If this electronic option is not available, we have included a transcript request form for you to use as necessary. You can also download this form at global.cmich.edu/forms/transcript-request.pdf. 2. A two or three page double spaced essay discussing your professional goals and how the MPA degree will help you achieve them. The essay replaces the written statement requested on the application to the College of Graduate Studies. 3. Three letters of recommendation from former professors, military commanders or professionals in the field of public service that attest to your potential for success in the program. 4. Current résumé. Please mail all additional materials to: Central Michigan University Global Campus Attn: Application Manager 802 Industrial Drive Mount Pleasant, MI Checklist To make sure your application is complete, use the following checklist. 1. Access an application at apply.cmich.edu. The application may be completed online or downloaded and mailed. 2. Include the $50 application fee (U.S. funds). 3. Request transcripts from all previous undergraduate colleges or universities attended. Official transcripts maybe ed by the institution to global.transcripts@ cmich.edu or mailed directly to: CMU Global Campus, Attn: Transcript Dept., 802 Industrial Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI Two to three page essay. 5. Send in three letters of recommendation. 6. Send in current resume. International students, please also include: 7. Photocopy of your VISA or permanent resident alien card, if you are not a U.S. citizen. 8. TOEFL scores. Tuition and fees (U.S. dollars; most courses are 3-credit hours) Graduate tuition...$527/credit Graduate military tuition 1...$316/credit Graduate veteran 2...$369/credit CMU Parent Rate, graduate 3...$474/credit Application fee...$50 Graduation fee...$50 Please see our website cmich.edu/globalcampus for eligibility requirements for military, veteran, or parent rate. All fees are set by the University Board of Trustees and are subject to change without notice. Fees are payable by check, money order, American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa. 1. Military rates are generally applicable to programs that do not exceed the standard undergraduate and graduate rates. However, the graduate military rate is also applicable to the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics program. The military rate applies to active duty members, reservists, or guard members currently serving in a branch of the United States military. This rate also applies to the spouse and adult dependent children of active duty military members. Students are required to demonstrate eligibility for this rate. 2. Veteran rates are generally applicable to programs that do not exceed the standard undergraduate and graduate rates. The veteran rate applies to retired or honorably discharged veterans, current U.S. Department of Defense employees, and any Chapter 35 beneficiary. This rate will be applied to new students matriculated on or after July 1, Students are required to demonstrate eligibility for this rate. 3. The Parent Rate is for parents of current CMU students and CMU alumni. It is applicable to programs that do not exceed the standard undergraduate and graduate rates. All fees are set by the University Board of Trustees and are subject to change without notice. Fees are payable by check, money order, American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa.

5 Transcript request You must contact each school you have attended and request that they send your official transcript(s) to Central Michigan University's Global Campus. Many schools send transcripts to us electronically. If this is an option, when you contact your former schools have them your transcripts to: If your former school requires a written request for official transcripts, you may copy this form, fill it out, sign it, include any required fees, and send it to your former school(s). Undergraduate (bachelor s degree) applicants only If you are submitting transfer credit that is more than ten years old and taken at a college or university outside the State of Michigan, you must obtain course descriptions for these courses before transfer credit can be evaluated. Registrar, please send transcript(s) to: Central Michigan University Global Campus Attn: Transcript Department 802 Industrial Drive Mt. Pleasant, MI or the transcript(s) to: global.transcripts@cmich.edu Name (Former name) Address Social Security or student ID number Phone Date of birth Graduated: No Yes Date Degree Check enclosed for $ Signature Date (see cmich.edu/ocrie). cmich.edu/globalcampus CMUglobal@cmich.edu /16