Master of Public Administration |
To successfully lead a public or nonprofit organization in today's environment, administrators must develop superior executive, public policy, and resource management expertise. The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program strives to meet these challenges.
The location of the MPA program in the College of Business and Public Administration allows students to easily integrate public management coursework with business management, accounting, finance, marketing, and information systems - courses taught with the public sector in mind. Additionally, appropriate graduate courses from other Drake University disciplines such as law, education, journalism and mass communication, pharmacy and health sciences, and the liberal arts provide alternative multidisciplinary options that enhance the unique nature of the MPA degree.
FACULTY
All faculty hold the highest degrees in their field.
ACADEMIC PREPARATION
The MPA program encourages students from all academic backgrounds to apply.
Following admission to the program, students will receive the MPA Student Handbook, which further details the grade point and academic performance requirements for all MPA students. The student also will have an academic advisor to assist with course scheduling.
GRADUATE PROGRAM OF STUDY
Students in the MPA degree program complete seven core courses plus five elective courses in a specific area of emphasis. Each area of emphasis allows students to address their own career objectives. The areas of emphasis are designed to meet the following educational and professional missions:
Executive Development Emphasis Mission: To develop the ability to transform, lead and direct organizations in a dynamic environment. Emphasis is on leadership and strategic planning enhanced by options relating to performance measurement, quality improvement and management in a global context.
Public Policy Emphasis Mission: To develop the knowledge and skills necessary to design, implement and evaluate policies and programs in public/nonprofit organizations in an economic, social and legal context. Students may pursue additional in-depth analysis in substantive policy areas.
Resource Development Emphasis Mission: To develop the abilities and skills necessary to identify, acquire and manage effectively the human, financial, technological and physical resources of diverse organizations. Students may choose to emphasize a particular resource area.
The MPA core curriculum provides a framework for understanding public and nonprofit sector issues as well as developing a foundation for the functional skills necessary for managing public and nonprofit organizations. The MPA core consists of 21 semester hours of coursework in management, human resources, organizational behavior and information and financial analysis.
MPA Core Curriculum Courses:
MPA 215 - Changing Environment and Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations
MPA 216 - Managing Human Resources as Assets, or
MGMT 282 - Human Resource Management
MPA 217 - Applying Information, Research and Analysis in Nonprofit and Public Environments
MPA 221 - Organizational Processes and Administrative Systems
MPA 225 - Financial Aspects of Public and Nonprofit Organizations
MPA 226 - Public Policy Decision Making and Analysis
MPA 227 - Policy and Management Issues in the Digital Organization, or
IS 200 - Management Information Systems
The MPA curriculum is a 36-credit hour degree program that can be completed on a two classes per semester/part-time basis in two calendar years.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
To be considered for admission to the MPA program, students must hold a bachelor's degree (in any major) from an accredited college or university. In making an admission decision, Drake reviews each student's college transcripts for relevant course work and undergraduate GPA. We also take into consideration any graduate course work and professional experience.
To apply, students must complete the Application for Graduate Admission and pay the $25 application fee. Students who received their undergraduate degrees from Drake University are not required to pay the fee. The application must include official college transcripts sent to Drake from each undergraduate institution the student attended (including any community colleges), and for any graduate coursework completed. In addition, applicants must include two letters of
recommendation, a personal essay and a current resume.
International students, or students whose native language is not English, must also take the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based exam or 213 on the computer-based exam is required. All international students must satisfy Drake University's specific requirements as outlined in the Application for Graduate Admission.
Drake University's College of Business and Public Administration Graduate Programs office must receive all necessary application information and supporting materials before an admission decision will be made.
Drake's admission decision is based upon each student's individual credentials. Undergraduate GPA and academic performance on any prior graduate work are used in the admissions decision.
CAREER OPTIONS
Although most MPA students enter and exit the program as full-time employed professions, students who wish for assistance in career planning may utilize the full resources of the Drake Career Center.
Visit the CBPA website
