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 resident program in Missoula and to the online program. 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 1075 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 $45.00 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). In some cases the LSAT, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB may substitute for the GRE.
- 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):
- PSC 501 Public Administration
PSC 503 Policy Analysis
PSC 504 Organization Theory
PSC 505 Budgeting and Finance
PSC 522 Human Resource Management (taught online as 522;
campus students may substitute PSC 460)
- PSC 463 Development Administration
PSC 466 Nonprofit Administration and Public Service
PSC 467 Advanced Nonprofit Administration and Public Service
PSC 495 Research for Public Managers
PSC 502 MPA Research Methods (taught only online)
PSC 523 Administrative Law (taught online as PSC 523; campus students may substitute PSC 461)
PSC 524 Management Skills
PSC 525 Strategic Planning and Leadership
PSC 526 Issues in State and Local Government (taught online as PSC 526; campus students may substitute PSC 364)
PSC 527 Performance Measurement
PSC 595 Special Topics
PSC 597 Applied Research Project
- 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. - PSC 501 Public Administration
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).
PSC 432 /UG/ Politics of Global Migration
PSC 463 /UG/ Development Administration
PSC 466 /UG/ Nonprofit Administration & Public Service
PSC 467 /UG/ Advanced Nonprofit Administration
PSC 482 /UG/ Globalization
PSC 596 /G/ Independent Study
PSC 598 /G/ Internship
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/EVST 440 /UG/ Environmental Economics
EVST 495 /UG/ Globalization, Justice, and the Environment
EVST 594 /G/ Ethical & Environmental Issues with Free Trade
FOR 424 /UG/Community Forestry & Conservation
FOR 474 /UG/ Sociology of Environment & Development
FOR 571 /G/ International Conservation & Development
GEOG/EVST 425 /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
SOC 571 /G/ Seminar: Rural and Environmental Change
SOC 577 /G/ Seminar in Rural Development
SW 465 /UG/ Social Work in a Global Context
Mexico Summer Program
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).
PSC 364 /UG/ or PSC 526 /G/ State and Local Government
PSC 461 /UG/ or PSC 523/G/ Administrative Law
PSC 596 /G/ Independent Study
PSC 598 /G/ Internship
ECON 304 /UG/ Public Finance: Expenditures
ECON 305 /UG/ Public Finance: Taxation
ECON 320 /UG/ Health Economics
ECON 324 /UG/ Industrial Relations
EVST 560 / G/ Environmental Impact Analysis
FOR 513 / Natural Resource Conflict Resolution
FOR 485 /UG/ Recreation Planning
GEOG 561 /G/Land Use Planning Law (same as EVST 561 and LAW 687)
GEOG 465 /UG/ Planning Principles and Processes
GEOG 401 / UG/ Regionalism and the Rocky Mountain West
GEOG 468 /UG/ Community and Regional Analysis
GEOG 412 /UG/ Towns and Rural Settlement
LAW 614 /G/ Alternative Dispute Resolution
LAW 646 /G/ Local Government
LAW 652 /G/ Advanced Legislation
RECM 380 /UG/ Recreation Administration and Leadership
SOC 332 /UG/ Sociology of Law Enforcement
SOC /UG/333 Criminal Adjudication
SOC /UG/ 334 Sociology of Corrections
SOC /UG/ 335 Juvenile Justice System
SOC 340 /UG/ The Community
SOC 485 /UG/ Political Sociology
SOC 530 /G/ Criminological Theories
SOC 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 PSC 598. (1 credit for each 60 hours of approved internship work, up to 3 credits).
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.
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 Old Program Requirements
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. This is an Adobe Acrobat file.
Click here for the old MPA program requirements, which required an applied research project.
For Additional Information
Contact Professor Jeffrey Greene at 406-243-6181 or by e-mail.
