Program Availability
M.P.A. courses are mostly delivered via the Internet by two methods: by purely asynchronous web format and by web-based videoconferencing. The elective courses may be offered in either format. Some traditional on-campus face-to-face courses are also available, but are optional for students. The M.P.A. program is open to U.S. and international applicants who satisfy admission requirements.
Why Earn a Online Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) at Indiana State?
Many of our students are mid-career, full-time employees of public or non-profit organizations who learn alongside new baccalaureate graduates from across the state and nation.. The M.P.A. is meant to enhance their ability to implement public and social policy to improve the lives of the general public as well as deliver services to citizens through plans that are transparent, efficient, and ethical. You'll learn to react to the complexities of government, configure budgets, and advocate for public services. As a professional with our M.P.A., you'll influence the direction of both public and private organizations.
In addition to the M.P.A., the University offers online graduate certificate programs in public administration and public personnel administration. Courses in either of these certificate programs can be applied toward completion of the master of public administration.
What You’ll Learn in the Online Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) Program
Indiana State University offers an online master of public administration (M.P.A.) for mid-career public service professionals looking to advance, recent graduates looking for the next step in their academic journey, and individuals looking to change career tracks to work in government or the non-profit sector.
- The M.P.A. is a 36-credit-hour program (39 credit hours if an internship is required).
- The online master's degree in public administration includes a focus in public and non-profit organizations. The program requires a three-credit-hour internship with a public agency, but only of those students without public or non-profit work experience.
- Although the program may be completed in just over two calendar years of full-time study, most students complete the program in about three years of part-time study. The University allows part-time students to take up to seven years to earn the degree, although the program is typically completed in far less time.
- The department may approve up to 9 credit hours—3 semester courses—or the equivalent for transfer into the student's program from other universities.
- All seven core courses and the final capstone course are offered by political science department faculty. With approval, students may take elective courses outside the department. Both core and elective courses may be transferred from other institutions with the approval of the program director. The capstone course must be completed at ISU.
- The program now offers elective concentrations in five other ISU online master's programs. They are public policy, nonprofit leadership, criminology/criminal justice, human resources development, and public health.
Required Courses
Accreditation
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The Public Administration Program was established as a semi-autonomous unit within ISU's Department of Political Science in 1976. The full-time director of the public administration program manages both the M.P.A. degree program and the two PA certificate programs, and advises students. The program is currently a member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) and is associated with the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
Admissions Requirements
The online M.P.A. Program is open to eligible students in the U.S. (including the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories). The program also is open to students in Canada (all provinces).
Applicants must satisfy the following minimum requirements:
- Hold a bachelor's degree in any academic field from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Hold a minimum undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale.
- Submit official transcripts of undergraduate and any graduate work from an accredited institution.
- Complete the TOEFL and submit a score of at least 600 (or the equivalent) as evidence of English proficiency if the applicant's first language is not English. See the note below for exemptions.
Please note that while the minimum accepted GPA is 2.75, the average GPA of students accepted into the program is higher. Also note, however, that GPA is just one of several variables the M.P.A. admission committee considers when reviewing admission applications. We may admit conditionally students who have promise but whose undergraduate GPAs may fall under 2.75
The M.P.A. Program seeks for it students to achieve administrative or managerial experience in either the public or nonprofit sector. The on-campus and online M.P.A. Program enables students to satisfy the work experience requirement by completing a three-hour, semester-long internship at a site determined by the M.P.A. director in consultation with the student.
Complete the TOEFL and submit a score of at least 600 (or the equivalent) as evidence of English proficiency if the applicant's first language is not English.
The Political Science Department regards a TOEFL of 600 (or the equivalent) as evidence of English proficiency from students whose first language is not English. Please note that this is higher than the default standard 550 TOEFL required for admission to graduate study by ISU's graduate school. International students with undergraduate degrees from certain countries, or whose undergraduate study was done in English, may be exempt from the TOEFL requirement.
Application Instructions
Complete your graduate application to Indiana State University at apply.es-one.com/portal/apply?tab=overview.
The M.P.A. Program accepts applications for student enrollment throughout the year. There are no application deadlines. The M.P.A. admissions committee meets on a monthly basis, except for August and December, to review applications completed in the previous 30 days. Admission requests are then reviewed by the Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS). But normally, applicants should receive word of the final admission decision within a few days after the admissions committee meets.
The applicant must submit official transcripts from all colleges previously attended. Transcripts must be sent from the applicant's undergraduate institution (and any graduate institutions) directly to ISU's Graduate Admissions Office. To be official, transcripts must be sent directly from one institution to another.
Applicants may also send unofficial (or official) copies of their transcripts to the M.P.A. director, or upload them into the university's admission system. In some cases, sending transcripts to both the graduate school and the M.P.A. director will help expedite the process. However, official transcripts MUST be sent to the admissions office at the address provided.
Graduate Record Examination test scores, or scores from other standardized examinations, are NOT required, although the applicant may at his or her discretion submit test scores for consideration.
International applicants, unless exempt (as noted above), must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or provide equivalent evidence of language proficiency.
IMPORTANT: Official transcripts, admission application, application fee, and (if applicable) language proficiency test scores such as the TOEFL should be submitted directly to Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North 6th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47809. E-transcripts should be sent to admissions@es-one.com All other documentation (including unofficial transcripts, letters, statement of purpose, and unofficial scores from tests such as the GRE) should be uploaded into the online admission system. Letters of recommendation may be uploaded into the system or sent directly to Dr. Stan Buchanan, Associate Professor, Director, M.P.A. Program, Indiana State University, Holmstedt Hall, room 306, Terre Haute, IN 47809.
Next Steps
Once admitted, students receive notification from the University as well as their University ID number needed to activate their University Username on the MyISU Portal. The Portal offers access to online registration, University records, and other important University services, including email and University announcements.
Note: Returning ISU students must apply for re-admission if they have not attended Indiana State University for more than two calendar years.
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Nonprofit Leadership Certificate
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