Public Administration (MPA)

Admission Requirements

The procedures for admission to the MPA program are as follows:

  1. Submit a completed online graduate application to the University of Louisville, Graduate School. Program candidates may be admitted for fall, spring or summer semesters.
  2. Official transcripts verifying the receipt of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution must be submitted to the Graduate School.
  3. A written personal statement is required. The statement should indicate why the applicant wishes to pursue the MPA degree.
  4. Two letters of recommendation are required. Normally, at least one letter should be from someone who can comment on the applicant's academic performance.
  5. 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.

PADM 600Foundations of Public Administration3
PADM 601Applied Research Methods3
PADM 603Program Evaluation3
PADM 606Urban Policy Analysis3
PADM 624Ethics in Public Administration3
PADM 642Human Resources Management3
PADM 664Cultural Competency and Action3
PADM 682Practicum/Internship3
or PADM 695 Thesis
Area of Concentration (see below)12
Minimum Total Hours36

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.


Dual MPA/MA in Art (Creative) and Art History (Concentration in Critical and Curatorial Studies

Core Courses
PADM 600Foundations of Public Administration3
PADM 603Program Evaluation3
PADM 624Ethics in Public Administration3
PADM 642Human Resources Management3
PADM 648Mediation and Dispute Resolution3
PADM 664Cultural Competency and Action3
CCS 600Graduate Seminar1
Electives
500- or 600-level Art History (ARTH) elective3
500- or 600-level ARTH elective outside Fine Arts3
500- or 600-level ARTH elective outside CCS concentration3
Nonprofit Administration
PADM 609Nonprofit Management3
PADM 611Financial Management of Nonprofits3
PADM 612Grantsmanship and Fundraising3
Critical and Curatorial Studies
ARTH 642Theories & Methods in the Visual Arts3
CCS 647Introduction to Critical and Curatorial Studies I3
CCS 648Critical and Curatorial Studies II3
Internship/Practicum/Thesis
CCS 649Curatorial Internship3
CCS 645Thesis Guidance6
PADM 682Practicum/Internship3
Minimum Total Hours58

MPA Areas of Concentration

MPA Students complete twelve (12) credit hours from one of the three areas of emphasis below:

Urban Governance (PADMMPAURG)

PADM 604Public Budgeting 3
PADM 605Public Management3
PADM 645Economic Development3
PADM 663Social Equity and the Public Sector3
Urban Governance elective 13

Nonprofit Management (PADMMPANPM)

PADM 609Nonprofit Management3
PADM 611Financial Management of Nonprofits3
PADM 612Grantsmanship and Fundraising3
PADM 615Leadership and Community Engagement3
Nonprofit-Focused Elective 13

Diversity Management and Leadership (PADMMPADML)

PADM 604Public Budgeting 3
or PADM 611 Financial Management of Nonprofits
PADM 605Public Management3
or PADM 609 Nonprofit Management
PADM 615Leadership and Community Engagement3
PADM 664Cultural Competency and Action3
Diversity-Focused Elective 13
1.

Electives must be approved by faculty leader.