Master in Public Administration [Ref. #051]
The Political Science Department offers a Master in Public Administration degree (MPA). The MPA Program at WKU is ideal for people who want to shape the future – both for themselves and their community. The MPA Program provides knowledge and skills appropriate for management in public, not-for-profit, and private sector organizations. The MPA Program serves three primary categories of students: (1) those preparing for careers in the public sector who possess little or no practical experience in government employment; (2) those experienced public administrators who seek additional academic and practical knowledge as a means to increase their administrative potential; and (3) members of the U.S. Military service who seek a master’s degree to enhance their management potential for command officer status and professional employment.
The curriculum provides a balanced blend of both the practical and the theoretical approaches to the art and science of public administration. The MPA Program at WKU has been training professional public administrators since 1973 and has an excellent track record of job placements and career advances. The Program is a member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The strength of the MPA Program is its versatility. Core classes supplemented with an internship and electives open infinite career opportunities to you.
The MPA degree requires 39 semester hours of course work including completion of 18 hours of core courses. An internship is required of all students unless exempted based on previous professional experience. Additionally, 18 hours of elective courses help prepare students for a variety of professional positions. A final written comprehensive examination must be passed. Thesis is not required.
All course work can be completed on the main campus in Bowling Green. The MPA can also be completed at Glasgow, Owensboro, and Ft. Knox/Elizabethtown via a combination of interactive television courses and online courses. To accommodate the schedules of busy professionals, all courses are offered in the evenings. In addition, summer classes are available and classes are occasionally offered on weekends. The MPA can be completed in four full-time semesters, although most part-time students finish after six semesters.
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"The tenets of a public administration degree were ideal for me. This degree was a good precursor to a degree in higher education administration. It serves me well to this day. It is a degree program with multiple dimensions of application. I am proud to have earned it and pleased with what I have gained from having done so." |
| WKU MPA Alumnus |
Dr. Gary A. Ransdell, President of Western Kentucky University |
Contact Information
MPA Director: James L. Chappell, D.P.A. Department of Political Science Western Kentucky University One Big Red Way Bowling Green , KY 42101 270-745-4558 mpa@wku.edu
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