Public Administration (MPA)
Admission Requirements
The procedures for admission to the MPA program are as follows:
- Submit a completed online graduate application to the University of Louisville, Graduate School. Program candidates may be admitted for fall, spring or summer semesters.
- Official transcripts verifying the receipt of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution must be submitted to the Graduate School.
- A written personal statement is required. The statement should indicate why the applicant wishes to pursue the MPA degree.
- Two letters of recommendation are required. Normally, at least one letter should be from someone who can comment on the applicant's academic performance.
- All applicants for whom English is a second language must also submit official TOEFL scores of 79 or higher on the internet-based test, 213 or higher on the computer-based test. English proficiency can also be met by submitting official IELTS scores of at least 6.5 overall band score from the academic module exam or official Duolingo overall score of 105. Students holding a bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States may be exempt from this requirement.
Program Requirements
The MPA requires 36 credit hours for completion: a core curriculum of 21 credit hours, three (3) credit hours of practicum internship or thesis, and twelve (12) credit hours from one of the three areas of concentration.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
PADM 600 | Foundations of Public Administration | 3 |
PADM 601 | Applied Research Methods | 3 |
PADM 603 | Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation | 3 |
PADM 606 | Urban Policy and Administration | 3 |
PADM 624 | Ethics in Public Administration | 3 |
PADM 642 | Human Resources Management | 3 |
PADM 664 | Cultural Competency and Action | 3 |
PADM 682 | Practicum/Internship | 3 |
or PADM 695 | Thesis | |
Area of Concentration (see below) | 12 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 36 |
MPA students may choose three (3) credit hours of elective credits from among all PADM (Public Administration) or PLAN (Planning) courses. Students in dual degree programs requiring a thesis or internship may only be required to take three (3) credit hours of PADM 682 Practicum/Internship.
MPA Areas of Concentration
MPA Students complete twelve (12) credit hours from one of the three areas see Concentration Requirements.
MPA Areas of Concentration
MPA Students complete twelve (12) credit hours from one of the three areas of emphasis below:
Urban Governance (PADMMPAURG)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
PADM 604 | Public Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
PADM 605 | Public Management | 3 |
PADM 645 | Economic Development | 3 |
PADM 663 | Social Equity and the Public Sector | 3 |
Urban Governance elective 1 | 3 |
Nonprofit Management (PADMMPANPM)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
PADM 609 | Nonprofit Management | 3 |
PADM 611 | Financial Management of Nonprofits | 3 |
PADM 612 | Grantsmanship and Fundraising | 3 |
PADM 615 | Leadership and Community Engagement | 3 |
Nonprofit-Focused Elective 1 | 3 |
Diversity Management and Leadership (PADMMPADML)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
PADM 604 | Public Budgeting and Finance | 3 |
or PADM 611 | Financial Management of Nonprofits | |
PADM 605 | Public Management | 3 |
or PADM 609 | Nonprofit Management | |
PADM 615 | Leadership and Community Engagement | 3 |
PADM 664 | Cultural Competency and Action | 3 |
Diversity-Focused Elective 1 | 3 |
- 1.
Electives must be approved by faculty leader.