General Information

The Master in Public Administration Program at the University of Louisville plays an integral part in the University's urban/metropolitan mission. Through its academic curriculum, the Program will provide students with a solid foundation in public administration and prepare its graduates for career placement and advancement in a wide variety of settings. The Faculty will also advance the state of knowledge in the field of public administration through its theoretical and applied research. The Program is offered by the Department of Urban and Public Affairs in cooperation with the Department of Political Science to achieve broad interdisciplinary preparation.

The Program requires a minimum of 42 credit hours for completion: a core curriculum of 27 hours, including 6 hours of practicum, internship or thesis, and 15 hours from one of the areas of specialization. The core curriculum encompasses studies in organizational theory, budgeting, statistics, public policy, research methods, and human resources management. The MPA program is primarily an evening program. A student can enroll on either a part-time or full-time basis. During the Fall and Spring semesters, courses are typically offered Monday through Thursday, one evening a week, from 5:30 until 8:15 p.m. The program includes faculty from various disciplines and is aimed at providing recent college graduates, public sector practitioners, and persons in related fields with theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills. This mix of theory and applied skills prepares students for careers in the non-profit and public sectors. The degree program is available to qualified individuals possessing a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. No specific undergraduate major is required; however, background in political science as well as economics is helpful.

Program Admission Procedures

The procedures for admission into the MPA program are as follows:

1. Submit a completed graduate application to the University of Louisville Office of Graduate Admissions. There is a $50 application fee (See web http://graduate.louisville.edu/apply/). Program candidates may be admitted for Fall, Spring or Summer semesters.
2. Official transcripts verifying the receipt of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
3. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required. An admission decision will not be made without the GRE scores. See web http://www.gre.org for further information about the GRE or call 1-800-GRE-CALL (1-800-473-2255).
4. A written personal statement is required. The statement should indicate why the applicant wishes to pursue the MPA degree.
5. Two letters of recommendation are required. Normally, at least one letter should be from someone who can comment about the applicant’s academic performance.
6. International applicants are required to take the TOEFL examination if English is not their native language. Applicants who have not scored 550 or higher on the TOEFL (210 or higher on the computer-based version) may choose to apply to the Intensive English as a Second Language (IESL) Program. Successful completion of this program or passing the Exit Examination in the advanced level of IESL will be constitute proof of English proficiency. For information and application forms, write to IESL, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292.

MPA Core Courses

The core consists of eight required courses, or 27 credits. Six credits of the core consist of a practicum/ internship or a thesis.

Elective Courses

Elective course work includes 15 credits in an area of specialization.

Public Policy and Administration Specialization

Labor and Public Management Specialization

Non-Profit Management Specialization

Electives not listed above may be taken with permission of the Director of the MPA Program.