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

Concentration Requirements (15 Hours)

• P_A 5461 - Public Financial Management (3)
• P_A 5560 - Local Government Administration (3) [DL]
• A graduate-level course in Planning (3)
• Plus 6 hours of graduate courses chosen in consultation with the MPA Director

Fieldwork / Internship Option (6 Hours)

Choose one:

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