Graduate Program in Public Administration

Welcome

The University of Montana's graduate program in public administration leads to a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree, which is typically required for many administrative positions in the public and nonprofit sectors. The program's purpose is to prepare college graduates for professional public service and to enhance the professional competence of mid-career public administrators. The MPA program is offered on campus in Missoula and online. The MPA course schedule contains both campus and online classes.

Mission Statement

The mission of the MPA program is to prepare students for administrative careers in public and nonprofit agencies by satisfying the knowledge and skill requirements of both pre-career and mid-career students. To fulfill this mission the program focuses on performing administrative tasks in a competent manner, enhancing an ethic of professionalism in public service, and developing technical specializations. The MPA program offers three options of study: general administration, international development, and local government administration. Students may, with approval of the program director, specialize in other areas.

Program Size

The MPA program is relatively small. Approximately fifteen students are admitted each year to the campus program in Missoula; approximately twelve students are admitted to the online program annually. Students may take campus and online classes. The program is offered through the Department of Political Science and courses are taught by political science faculty.

MPA Program Admission Standards

The Department will recommend to the Graduate School full admission status for applicants meeting the following criteria:

  • 1. A sum of at least 1200 from the following equation: GRE verbal score + (undergraduate GPA x 200);
  • 2. Strong evaluations by three persons qualified to judge applicant's academic potential; and
  • 3. A polished writing sample (300 words) concerning the applicant's objectives in graduate study.

The Department may recommend to the Graduate School provisional admission status for applicants meeting the following criteria:

  • 1. A sum of at least 1100 from the following equation: GRE verbal score + (undergraduate GPA x 200);
  • 2. Strong evaluations by three persons qualified to judge applicant's academic potential; and
  • 3. A polished essay (300 words) concerning the applicant's objectives in graduate study.

Students admitted under provisional status may be elevated to full standing upon successful completion of nine (9) credits of coursework and a positive review by the MPA program faculty.

Other factors, as appropriate, may enter into admissions decisions. These include, for example, the number of years since the undergraduate degree was awarded and accomplishments during that period, a significantly higher GPA during the last two years of undergraduate study, or evidence regarding the rigor of the undergraduate program.

The Application Process

Persons holding a baccalaureate degree from any accredited college or university are eligible to apply. To apply, please submit the following items to the Department of Political Science:

  • 1. A completed application form and $51.00 application fee. The form is available online from the Graduate School.
  • 2. One official transcript of previous college work.
  • 3. Letters from a minimum of three (3) persons qualified to judge your academic potential. The form is available from the Graduate School.
  • 4. Official scores for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The LSAT or GMAT may substitute for the GRE. The TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB may substitute for the GRE for international students.
  • 5. A written statement of at least 300 words stating your reasons for seeking the MPA degree and referring specifically to your professional goals and learning objectives.

Students may apply for admission for either the fall or spring semesters. Applications are reviewed by the MPA Committee when they are completed. There is no specific deadline.

Graduate students may take MPA courses prior to their admission to the MPA program by applying for graduate nondegree status. Up to nine (9) credit hours taken in nondegree status may be counted toward the degree with the approval of the MPA program director. To apply for graduate nondegree status, go to the Graduate School.

Program Requirements

The MPA program requires satisfactory completion of 36 semester credits as outlined below, and submission of a student portfolio for faculty review.

  • 1. All students are required to complete the following core curriculum (15 credits):
    • PSCI 501 Public Administration
      PSCI 503 Policy Analysis
      PSCI 504 Organization Theory
      PSCI 505 Budgeting and Finance
      PSCI 522 Human Resource Management (taught online as 522;
      campus students may substitute PSCI 462)
    2.  All students are required to take at least 3 of the following courses (9 credits):
    • PSCI 463 Development Administration
      PSCI 466 Nonprofit Administration and Public Service
      PSCI 467 Advanced Nonprofit Administration and Public Service
      PSCI 491 Research for Public Managers
      PSCI 523 Administrative Law (taught online as PSCI 523; campus students may substitute PSCI 461)
      PSCI 524 Management Skills
      PSCI 525 Strategic Planning and Leadership
      PSCI 526 Issues in State and Local Government (taught online as PSCI 526; campus students may substitute PSCI 344)
      PSCI 527 Performance Measurement
      PSCI 540 American Government
      PSCI 595 Special Topics
    3.  In the General Administration track, students may complete their program requirements with 12 credits from any combination of the following:
    • Approved courses in political science shown above or otherwise.
      Approved courses in other departments.
      Approved transfer credits.
      Independent study or internship credits.

    At least 20 of the 36 credits must be political science courses. This rule applies to all of the MPA tracks.

International Development

This interdisciplinary track is suitable for students interested in a career in international development.  Skill development can include data gathering, project management, community development, needs appraisal, project evaluation, budgeting, economic analysis, resource conservation, transnational communication and negotiation, health policy, and so forth.

Students in the International Development track are required to take any four (4) of the following courses (12 credits).

PSCI 431 /UG/ Politics of Global Migration

PSCI 432 /UG/ Inter-American Relations
PSCI 463 /UG/ Development Administration
PSCI 466 /UG/ Nonprofit Administration & Public Service
PSCI 467 /UG/ Advanced Nonprofit Administration
PSCI 521 /G/ Globalization
PSCI 596 /G/ Independent Study
PSCI 598 /G/ Internship

ANTHRO 329 /UG/ Social Change in Non-Western Societies

ANTHRO 330 /UG/ People and Cultures of the World

ANTHRO 343 /UG/ Culture and Population
ANTHRO 385 /UG/ Indigenous Peoples and Global Development

ANTHRO 431 /UG/ Ethnographic Field Methods
ANTHRO 444 /UG/ Culture, Health, and Healing
ANTHRO 520 /G/ Seminar in Ethnology
ANTHRO 521 /G/ Applied Anthropology
COMM 451 /UG/ Intercultural Communication
ECON 450 /UG/ Advanced Topics in Economic Development
ECON 443 or EVST 441 /UG/ Environmental Economics
EVST 487 /UG/ Globalization, Justice, and the Environment
FOR 424 /UG/ Community Forestry & Conservation
FOR 571 /G/ International Conservation & Development
GEOG 432 or EVST 432 /UG/ Human Role in Environmental Change
LAW 629 /G/ International Business & Trade Law
NAS 400 /UG/ Tribal Sovereignty
PUBH 540 /G/ Social & Behavioral Sciences in Public Health
PUBH 550 /G/ Community-based Health Research
PUBH 580 /G/ Rural Health Issues in a Global Context
SOCI 571 /G/ Seminar: Rural and Environmental Change
SW 465 /UG/ Social Work in a Global Context
Mexico Summer Program (Political Science Department)

Local Government Administration

The local government administration option helps prepare students for careers in a wide range of local government settings, including city managers, county administrators, and planners. The local government administration option includes an array of interdisciplinary courses from such pertinent areas as economics, sociology, criminal justice, geography, planning, and law. Skill development includes budgeting, personnel management, program planning, policy analysis, and program assessment.

Students in the Local Government Administration track are required to take any four (4) of the following courses (12 credits).

PSCI 344 /UG/ or PSCI 526 /G/ State and Local Government
PSCI 461 /UG/ or PSCI 523/G/ Administrative Law
PSCI 596 /G/ Independent Study
PSCI 598 /G/ Internship
ECON 310 /UG/ Health Economics
ECON 320 /UG/ Public Finance
ECON 406 /UG/ Industrial Relations
EVST 560 / G/ Environmental Impact Analysis
FOR 513 / Natural Resource Conflict Resolution
FOR 485 /UG/ Recreation Planning
GEOG 421 /UG/ Towns and Rural Settlement

GEOG 442 / UG/ Regionalism and the Rocky Mountain West

GEOG 465 /UG/ Planning Principles and Processes

GEOG 468 /UG/ Community and Regional Analysis

GEOG 561 /G/ Land Use Planning Law (same as EVST 561 and LAW 687)
LAW 614 /G/ Alternative Dispute Resolution
LAW 646 /G/ Local Government
LAW 652 /G/ Advanced Legislation
RECM 380 /UG/ Recreation Administration and Leadership
SOCI /UG/312 Criminal Adjudication

SOCI /UG/ 335 Juvenile Justice System
SOCI 362 /UG/ Sociology of Law Enforcement

SOCI 350 /UG/ The Community
SOCI /UG/ 423 Sociology of Corrections
SOCI 485 /UG/ Political Sociology 
SOCI 530 /G/ Criminological Theories
SOCI 538 /G/ Seminar in Crime and Deviance

Internship

All students without professional work experience are strongly encouraged to arrange an internship as part of the required 36 credits with a public agency (state, local, or national) or with a private, nonprofit association. The work of the intern must involve staffing, budgeting, policy formulation, or substantive line, staff, or auxiliary activities related to the mission of the organization. An internship within the legislative branch, if related to some aspect of administration, is also acceptable. Credit is not allowed for work positions already held by students. A student interested in an internship should, with the program director’s approval, complete the learning agreement provided by the Internship Services office and enroll in PSCI 598. (1 credit for each 60 hours of approved internship work, up to 3 credits per internship. A maximum of 6 internship credits can be counted toward the MPA degree).

Portfolio

Students are required to maintain a portfolio (e.g., a three-ring binder) containing at least one major work product from each course.  The portfolio must contain the goals statement written at the time the student applied to the program. Students must demonstrate the ability to design, conduct, and analyze research through three samples in the portfolio. These research projects must be public administration-related research papers required during the coursework, but one can be a professional report prepared on the job or in an internship. The papers must have received a grade of A- or higher and be of sufficient rigor to represent the type of research conducted in a public sector work setting by the portfolio reviewers. For papers receiving a grade of B or below, students must revise the papers to address the problems and incorporate the suggestions noted by the instructor. Students must also include in their portfolios evidence of their ability to work cooperatively in a team setting, which may stem from a class project, job, or internship. The portfolio should be divided into two major sections. Section One should contain a sample of work from each class with dividers for each class (e.g. 501, 503, 504). Section Two should contain the three research papers described above.

Prior to graduation each student is to finalize the contents of the portfolio and place in it a 2-3 page essay describing his or her professional growth and identifying areas of strength as well as areas requiring additional development. After this self-evaluation has been completed, the MPA faculty will review the portfolio and write a statement regarding the student's professional growth.

Graduate School Rules

All students should be familiar with Graduate School rules. Those regarding continuous registration and program completion within five years may be particularly relevant to you. These rules may be found at the Graduate School.

MPA Program Check List and Graduation Application

Click here for a check list for the MPA program. This form is used for advising and lists all of the requirements for the program.

Click here for the Graduate School's official Graduation Application. All students must file this form prior to graduation.

For Additional Information

Contact Professor Jeffrey Greene at 406-243-6181 or by e-mail.