Double Degree Program of Master of Public Administration Program Description for Sun Yat-sen University and Northern Illinois University ADMISSIONS Admission to the Double Degree Master of Public Administration Program is limited to students admitted to both the NIU Master of Public Administration Program and the political science and public administration degree programs administered by the School of Government, Sun Yat-sen University (SOG-SYSU), under terms of this Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Admission to the Master of Public Administration degree at NIU Prerequisites for admission to the MPA program are 9 semester hours in the social sciences, including at least one course in U.S. government, and appropriate undergraduate (or graduate) work in mathematics or statistics. To participate in the Program, successful SOG-SYSU candidates must meet the following NIU graduate admission requirements: Complete an application (online) for admission to the program. Provide a personal statement of interest in admission, including specific attention to the reason why the student wishes to enroll in the NIU program Must meet a minimum TOEFL score of 90, or Band 6.5 on IELTS Must provide a letter from the dean of SOG-SYSU testifying to the student s ability to perform graduate level academic work in English Must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and report scores to NIU Submit two academic recommendation letters and one professional recommendation letter Provide official transcripts of all post-secondary studies, in both Chinese and English, including a certification that a baccalaureate degree has been awarded to the applicant Pay the application fee and the one-time Nonimmigrant Student Charge In addition to the admission requirements listed above, NIU and SOG-SYSU agree to the following Internship Requirement: SOG-SYSU students who do not have at least 2 years of professional public management experience are required to complete an internship with a government agency or NGO in China, approved by the dean of SOG-SYSU. The internship will require enrollment in the practicum course offered by SOG-SYSU, and assignments will be directed to help students achieve the learning outcomes for the internship course (PSPA 695) in NIU accreditation documents. The Internship Requirement is incorporated into the Curriculum and General Schedule of Courses. Application Deadline It is preferred that all application materials be submitted to the Graduate School at NIU by February 1st of the year in which the applicant intends to enroll. Curriculum and General Schedule of Courses PROGRAM OF COURSES The Double Degree Master of Public Administration Program curriculum program is based on a three year program of courses leading to the conferral of both degrees for either NIU or SOG-SYSU students. The double degree program between SOG-SYSU and NIU-DPA is feasible because both SOG-SYSU and NIU-DPA students are able to meet some of the requirements of the NIU MPA and the SOG-SYSU graduate degrees using the NIU MPA specialization in Comparative Public Service. NIU students who spend only a semester at SOG-SYSU may enroll in English Language International Master of Public Administration (IMPA) or Chinese language graduate public administration courses and transfer the equivalent of 12 credits of electives into their NIU MPA degree using the NIU MPA specialization in Comparative Public Service. The specialization requirements are described below. 1 of 5
Specialization in Comparative Public Service Through a study of public administration and management in a global context, students will gain an advanced capacity to assume a leadership role and use management skills to enhance the mission of government agencies and nongovernmental organizations in the US and another country. In addition to learning skills and strategies for leadership and management of US agencies, students will demonstrate an advanced ability to: Lead and manage in public governance in their country and the US Participate in and contribute to the policy process in their country and the US Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions in their country and the US Articulate and apply a public service perspective in their country and the US Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry in their country and the US. Students must demonstrate ability to advance in one or more of the specialization competencies with a set of four or more courses (equivalent to 12 credit hours) at SOG-SYSU, approved in advance by the NIU department chair. Table 2 presents the NIU Double Degree Course Requirements with a Comparative Public Service Specialization. Table 2. Correspondence of Specialization and Double Degree Course Requirements. Degree Requirement SOG-SYSU MoM NIU MPA 8 Core Courses (24 credit hours) NIU Tuition Basis for SYSU Students** Core Courses Elective Courses Thesis/ Capstone Internship Comprehensive Examination 6 Courses (18 credit hours) 6 Courses (12credit hours) Professional presentation of thesis project is required. Professional presentation of thesis project **SOG-SYSU students are charged in-state NIU tuition. PSPA 600 PSPA 605 PSPA 607 PSPA 608 PSPA 609 PSPA 610 PSPA 611 PSPA 612 Completion of 12 credit equivalents of pre-approved courses in SOG-SYSU master s degree within Comparative Public Service specialization* PSPA 699a PSPA 699b (4 credit hours) PSPA 695 (4 credit hours) Professional oral presentation of capstone project 24 credits earned at NIU, plus associated fees No NIU tuition or fees with transfer of credits from SOG- SYSU 4 credits earned at NIU, plus associated fees No NIU tuition SYSU tuition No NIU tuition No SYSU tuition 2 of 5
For SOG-SYSU Students Attending NIU The normal schedule for SOG-SYSU students attending NIU for the MPA is presented in table 2. In general: Year 1: First year coursework is customized to the respective SOG-SYSU requirements in the first year of the double degree program at SOG-SYSU. In addition, the student will enroll in a practicum course to begin to fulfill the requirements of the internship (PSPA 695) normally no later than April in the year in which the student will enroll in NIU MPA courses. Year 2: Second year students will begin MPA coursework in the fall semester at NIU, enrolling for 9 credits of core courses. They will enroll in 12 credits of core courses in the spring term (plus begin their capstone research), and 3 credits in the summer (and capstone research) that ends their second year of coursework. Students will not be enrolled in an internship course during their second year at NIU. Year 3: Students return to SOG-SYSU for their third year of coursework, enrolling in the respective practicum course to resume their internship, and writing their thesis and capstone papers. The third year experience culminates in a presentation of their thesis/capstone paper in a manner that meets the comprehensive exam requirements of the NIU MPA degree. Table 2. Sample Program Schedule for SOG-SYSU Students Year 1: Students at SOG-SYSU Tuition and Fees Paid to: Semester One Required graduate courses at SOG-SYSU SOG-SYSU Semester Two Required graduate courses at SOG-SYSU SOG-SYSU March July Practicum course at SOG-SYSU SOG-SYSU Fulfilling the internship requirements (PSPA 695) Year 2: Students at NIU Semester One 3 Core Courses (9 hours) NIU Semester Two 4 Core Courses (12 hours) plus PSPA 699a (1 hour) NIU Summer 1 Core Course (3 hours) plus PSPA 699a (1 hours) Year 3: Students at SOG-SYSU Semester One Semester Two Practicum course at SOG-SYSU (Fulfilling the internship requirements of PSPA 695) Thesis and Capstone Paper (PSPA 699a) These may be the same or similar documents. The capstone paper must meet the requirements of the NIU MPA degree. Practicum course at SOG-SYSU (Fulfilling the internship requirements of PSPA 695) Thesis and Capstone Paper (PSPA 699b, final semester) These may be the same or similar documents. The capstone paper must meet the requirements of the NIU MPA degree. Oral Comprehensive Examination at SOG-SYSU Designed to meet the comprehensive exam requirements of the NIU MPA degree. NIU SOG-SYSU and 1 cr hour to NIU for PSPA 699a (1 hour) SOG-SYSU and 1 cr hour to NIU for PSPA 699b (1 hour) Internship Format for SOG-SYSU Students The SYSU internship must conform to the learning objectives and internship site requirements of the NIU MPA degree, as described in NIU accreditation documents. The internship, which requires students to serve approximately 560 hours in total, consists of multiple periods with an approved public or NGO agency. The estimated hours are presented in table 3.The internship is strongly preferred for a paid internship to enhance the probability of a meaningful internship experience. The first period will be arranged during the 1st year of coursework in China. Students are required to take intensive internship (40 hours per week) during both winter and summer breaks. The second period includes the 3 rd year of coursework at SYSU. The SYSU students will enroll in the practicum in the 3 of 5
last two semesters of the SYSU master s degree, and participate in an approved internship (preferably in the same agency from the first period internship). Table 3. Estimates of Internship Hours for Sun Yat-Sen MPA Students Internship Period hours weeks Total 1st Year at SYS 160 160 2nd Year Attend courses at NIU 0 0 0 3rd year at SYS 20 20 400 Total Internship Hours and Weeks 560 CAPSTONE/THESIS The paper that a student writes to fulfill the SYSU master s thesis requirements must also meet the capstone project requirements of the NIU-MPA. The essence of the project is an analytical paper that integrates theory and practice related to a problem or issue identified from the student s internship experience. The project must allow students to achieve the learning outcomes specified in NIU accreditation documents. In order to attain a SYSU master s degree, all students must pass the oral defense of their theses. Cooperating for Supervising Capstone/Thesis SYSU will nominate 3-4 faculty members to serve as capstone and thesis advisors. Each faculty member nominated by SYSU would need to be further approved by NIU according to the NIU rules on requirements and procedure of Graduate Faculty Scholar. The faculty and administration of SYSU will develop an internship program for dual degree students that meet the learning objectives for PSPA 695 at NIU. This includes designating one or more faculty members to supervise the internship course, which normally will be incorporated as a form of the master s practicum course option. The dean of SYSU-SOG will designate faculty to direct the capstone projects of dual degree students so that the final projects meet the learning objectives of PSPA 699a and PSPA 699b at NIU. The supervision includes advising students on integrating experiences in their internships with classroom discussions and assigned readings from various courses. SYSU-SOG will develop a professional oral presentation and defense process that implements the requirements for a comprehensive examination at NIU and that meets the learning objectives for the examination as described in appropriate NIU accreditation documents. GRADUATION & AWARDS Double degree students who complete requirements for the NIU MPA will be invited to attend the NIU graduation and awards ceremonies at the end of their third year of coursework. ASSESSMENT: The specialization competencies are a variation of the program level competencies required for MPA accreditation. Hence, the NIU MPA program has an assessment instrument that all NIU MPA students complete at the beginning of their MPA degree and one month before graduation to evaluate the degree to which students have advanced in specific competencies. In addition, a section of the assessment instrument addresses competencies specified for each of the MPA specializations. The SOG-SYSU students, as fully admitted NIU students, will take the online assessment upon admission into the MPA program at NIU, and one month before graduation of the NIU MPA. The NIU MPA faculty will also provide faculty and administration at SOG-SYSU with all pertinent documents related to accreditation standards, course and program competencies, handbooks, and other materials necessary for implementation of the double degree program at the cooperating institution. 4 of 5
APPROXIMATE COSTS OF NIU MPA FOR CHINESE STUDENTS The costs of earning the MPA include appropriate tuition and fees (table 4), plus living expenses for 12 months in the DeKalb area. Table 4. Approximate cost of the required MPA courses. EXPECTED FY 2016 fall spring summer capstone program Total Hours 9 13 4 2 28 Semester Tuition / Total program $ 4,443 $ 5,924 $ 1,975 $ 987 $ 13,328* * Does not include specific course fees of approximately $540 (2014-15), or NIU student health insurance. Living Expenses: US visa requirements and NIU policy for international students requires that international students demonstrate the ability to pay for living expenses while enrolled at NIU. The level is set for each year, based on a variety of factors. In 2014, students were required to demonstrate a savings account or other means of support (e.g., family savings) of at least $11,500 in addition to tuition and fees outlined above. Total Cost Approximation. An approximate minimum cost for the NIU MPA degree is $25,400in academic year 2015-16. Tuition and fees may increase in future years. Sources of Funding: Individual Program participants will cover instructional costs, NIU fees, and transportation (international and local). Individual Program participants will cover expenses for personal items (including, but not limited to, housing, meals, books, local transportation, passport/visa costs, medical insurance, etc.). Definitions For the purposes of this Agreement, the term double degree signifies a program in which participants will earn two degrees, one from NIU and one from SOG-SYSU. Parties to this Agreement stipulate their understanding that in China such a program, in which two degrees are separately conferred in the same program, is called a double degree program. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "instructional costs" means the expenses related to the delivery of a credit course. Such expenses include a qualified and approved instructor and course content, quality control of academic standards and administrative procedures, course scheduling and a classroom, appropriate technology including BlackBoard. Note: Books are not included as part of instructional costs. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term political science and public administration degree programs administered by the School of Government, Sun Yat-sen University means the Master of Laws, the Master of Management, and the Master of Public Administration degree programs. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term graduate public administration courses at SOG-SYSU includes courses in the Master of Public Administration in Chinese Government for Developing Countries, the Master of Management, and the Master of Public Administration. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term required graduate courses includes SOG-SYSU courses for students enrolled in the Master of Laws, the Master of Management, and the Master of Public Administration degrees. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term Master of Management at SOG-SYSU means a degree of coursework in public management and public administration. 5 of 5