Master of Public Administration

About the Master of Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Savannah State University prepares its graduates to work effectively as managers and leaders in a variety of organizational settings. The program is an ideal choice for non-traditional managers in our region, while offering traditional managers opportunities to learn in a multicultural environment.

The MPA program seeks to:

  • Prepare public managers to assume management and leadership positions in a variety of organizational set in Coastal Georgia and beyond;
  • Advance the knowledge base in the field of public administration through scholarly research and publications and; Serve the professional and community by using our expertise and intellectual resources to address needs in our service areas.

Curriculum

Students are required to successfully complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours, 21 of which are in the common core, 9-12 hours of electives and 3-6 in an internship, an oral exit exam and a major paper that must be defended during the oral exam. The length of time required to complete the program will vary. Classes generally meet in the evenings and on weekends.

In selecting electives, students may choose courses based on a chosen focus in one of four areas: General Public Administration, City Management, Human Resources, or Non-Profit Management.

Admission Requirements

MPA program applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and show promise of high quality work on the graduate level. While there is no specific undergraduate course of study for admission, students must meet the prerequisites for courses in American National Government and Statistics. Only completed applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Completed admission applications are evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average
  • Graduate Record Exam (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
  • Three academic/professional recommendation letters
  • Essay (500-1,000 words) detailing reasons for pursuing the MPA degree
  • SSU Graduate Admissions Application
  • Official transcripts from each college/university attended (undergraduate and graduate)
  • A one-page resume that highlights work experience, professional/personal accomplishments, etc.
  • An in-person interview (when determined by admissions committee)

The program has two admissions categories: regular and provisional. To be granted regular admission status, a student must average a minimum of 90 points on the applicant evaluation form as scored by the Admissions Committee. Applicants who score under 90 on the admissions formula may be granted provisional status. An in-person interview is scheduled when determined by the Admissions Committee.

Master of Public Administration

Department of Political Science & Public Affairs
Savannah State University
P.O Box 20385
Savannah, GA 31404
912.358.3221

Master of Public Administration Curriculum

The Master of Public Administration degree requires the completion of 36 semester hours of graduate course work, the equivalent of two years as a full-time student. Course work is organized into the following curriculum components:

  • Prerequisites: 6 credit hours
  • Core curriculum: 21 credit hours
  • Focus: 9-12 credit hours
  • Public Service Internship
  • Capstone Seminar

Prerequisites:

Undergraduate course in statistics Undergraduate or graduate course in American National Government Undergraduate Computer Applications course is highly recommended

Core Curriculum

PADM 6830    History, Scope, and Practice of Public Administration     
PADM 6832    Organizational Theory and Behavior                                 
PADM 6833    Management of Human Resources in the Public Sector  
PADM 6834    Public Budgeting and Finance
PADM 6839    Statistical Applications for Public Administrators            
PADM 6840    Research Methods in Public Administration
PADM 6850    Information Resource Management

Electives

PADM 6831    Ethics for Public Administrators                                         
PADM 6837    Intergovernmental Relations                                              
PADM 6838    American Public Policy
PADM 6842    State and Local Government Administration
PADM 6843    Management and Leadership Behavior                             
PADM 6844    Seminar in Public Policy Analysis
PADM 6845    Urban Policy and Administration
PADM 6846    Administrative Law                                                  
PADM 6847    Seminar in Constitutional Law
PADM 6848    Contemporary Issues in Public Administration
PADM 6851    Social Welfare Policy, Planning, and Administration
PADM 6852    Criminal Justice Administration
PADM 6855    Special Topics in Public Administration
PADM 6856    Comparative Public Administration
PADM 6857    Directed Reading and Research
PADM 6858    Seminar in Cultural Diversity                                              
PADM 6859    Legislative Behavior
PADM 6860    African-American Administrators in Urban Bureaucracy and Public Policy
PADM 6861    Public Program Evaluation
PADM 6862    Public Policy Implementation                                             
PADM 6863    Collective Bargaining in the Public Sector
PADM 6864    Public Policy Formation                                                       
PADM 6865    Special Topics in Public Policy                                            
PADM 6869    Decision Sciences
PADM 6870    Rights and Basic Needs of Public Sector Employees
PADM 6871    Organization Behavior
PADM 6872    Human Resource Training and Development
PADM 6873    Strategic Planning and Public Administrators
PADM 6874    Fast Track Internship Experience
PADM 6000    Special Topics
PADM 6100    Independent Study 

Application Deadlines:

Fall:
May 15 - International Students & Graduate Assistantships
May 23 - Regular Admissions

Spring:
October 1 - International Students & Graduate Assistantships
October 31 - Regular Admissions