Public Administration - Administration of Justice Concentration, MPA

Program Code: MPA_279D
CIP Code: 44.0401

Program of Study for the Master of Public Administration

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School ; official general GRE or GMAT exam scores, unless waived.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School . In addition, the program faculty will give preference to applicants who meet or exceed the following: Undergraduate GPA > 3.00 and/or GRE/GMAT Verbal > 25th percentile and GRE/GMAT Quantitative > 25th percentile. Meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission.

Minimum GPA to Qualify for Regular Admission: 3.0

Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility: The standardized exam (GRE or GMAT) requirement may be waived for applicants who:

Hold a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher; OR
Have five years of relevant work experience in a government or nonprofit agency; OR
Have completed 9 credit hours of relevant public administration graduate-level coursework at Appalachian State University or other accredited institution, with a GPA of 3.4 or higher, within the last five years.

Location: Boone Campus and Hickory Campus; Hickory Campus cohorts begin periodically, and follow a part-time extended format.

Accelerated Master’s Program

This program offers an Accelerated Master’s option for undergraduate students with a 3.2 or higher currently enrolled at Appalachian State University.

Course Requirements for the Master of Public Administration

Total Required (Minimum 42 Hours)

Required Courses (21 Hours)

Choose One of the Following

Concentration Requirements (15 Hours)

6 hours of Criminal Justice (CJ) graduate courses
3 hours of graduate elective coursework from outside the program

Graduate Courses (6 Hours)

Choose from the following courses:

Fieldwork / Internship Option (6 Hours)

Choose one:

Internship for Pre-service Students

C_J 5900 - Internship in Criminal Justice (3-12) (3+3 or 6)
P_A 5900 - Internship in Public Administration (3-6) (3+3 or 6)

Field Research Option for In-service Students

P_A 5010 - Field-Based Research (3)
One additional graduate course (3)

Other Requirements for the MPA

Thesis: Not required
Proficiency: Students must demonstrate a proficiency in reading a foreign language or quantitative analysis as a research tool. The department may determine the proficiency required.
Candidacy: Not required
Comprehensive: Successful completion of a capstone experience (P_A 5558 plus P_A 5559 ) fulfills the requirement for a comprehensive examination.
Product of Learning: Not required