Program Description
ULM offers a 36-hour online-only MPA program designed for graduate students anywhere in the world. MPA courses are offered in eight-week and sixteen-week formats every semester, allowing the degree to be completed in as little as 12 months. Students may enter the program any semester. To participate in the online MPA program, students must have Microsoft Office, high-speed internet access, and computer equipment with audio and video capability including a headset, microphone, and webcam. ULM’s online-only MPA program offers credit for participation in the Delta Regional Authority Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy.
Program Admission
Once all application materials are received, applicants are either denied or may be granted one of three types of admission. All applicants must have received a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Regular Status
Applicants must meet one of the following minimum requirements to be regularly admitted:
- Any graduate, terminal, or professional degree from a regionally accredited university
OR
- a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 (based on a 4.0 scale) from a regionally accredited university
OR
- a GPA of 2.75 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework from a regionally accredited university
Conditional Status
Applicants must meet one of the following minimum requirements to be conditionally admitted:
- Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 (based on a 4.0 scale) from a regionally accredited university
OR
- a GPA of 2.5 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework from a regionally accredited university
OR
- Minimum formula score of 622.6 (2.2 GPA x 283 GRE)
OR
- With a GPA of 2.2 or higher, some candidates with 5 years of employment in a relevant field of study may qualify for a waiver of test scores.
For applicants who are admitted conditionally because they do not meet GPA and/or GRE requirements, this status will be removed after a minimum of 12 semester hours of graduate coursework is completed at the University of Louisiana Monroe with a 3.0 GPA, and with no grades of C or below. If these requirements are not met, the student will be denied continuance in Graduate School.
Provisional Status
Provisional status is given to applicants who are in the process of obtaining official transcripts or GRE/GMAT scores. The minimum requirement for taking graduate courses in provisional status is a GPA of 2.50 (based on a 4.0 scale). No more than six hours of coursework may be completed under provisional status, and students admitted provisionally are not eligible for financial aid. A maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit earned in provisional admission status, including credit earned at ULM and approved transfer credit, may be counted toward a master’s or doctoral degree. The six semester hours must be included on the student’s approved degree plan to be counted toward the hours required for completion of the degree. Applicants who are accepted provisionally are admitted until regular or conditional status requirements are met.
In-Service and Pre-Service Requirements
Upon admission, all students will be designated as in-service or pre-service. In designating in-service or pre-service status, the program will consider the duration, roles, and responsibilities of previous work experience in local, county, regional, state, or federal administrative agencies; the office of elected officials; nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations; or health sector-related organizations. Students lacking at least two years of administrative or policy-related experience will be designated a pre-service student.
Pre-service students will be required to enroll in an internship, POLS 5093: Public Administration Internship, bringing the total hours required for their degree to 39.
The internship will demand approximately 300 hours of work for a local, county, regional, state, or federal administrative agency; the office of an elected official; nonprofit or not-for-profit organization; or a health sector-related organization. Students cannot enroll in POLS 5093 until at least nine (9) hours of core MPA courses have been completed.
Requests from pre-service students to have the internship requirement waived will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the coordinator of the MPA program in conjunction with the Committee on Admissions for Political Science. Such requests may be granted in a situation where, for example, a student’s existing public service evolves into a permanent position and exceeds programmatic minimums during the course of their MPA studies and prior to enrolling in the internship course.
In-service students, those with at least two years full-time work experience, will not be required to complete the internship, though they will not be discouraged from participating in this option as well.
MPA/JD Dual Degree Program
The MPA/JD Dual Degree Program
ULM’s MPA program has partnered with the Mississippi Law School at Mississippi College to offer a dual MPA/JD program. The MPA/JD dual degree program provides the opportunity for students to pursue their interests in the law, public affairs, and public policy simultaneously. It is particularly applicable to those pursuing careers in government and/or public interest law.
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete a total of 126 credit hours for the coordinated degree. In addition, students without work experience in the public sector need to complete an additional 3 credit hours of internship. This includes 36 hours in the MPA Program, and 90 hours in the JD Program. Full-time students should be able to complete all degree requirements within four years.
Program Admission
Students must apply and be admitted to the MPA and JD programs separately. The requirements for each degree must be met and close communication with both programs is required. Students need to complete the first year of law school before pursuing MPA coursework. The LSAT may be substituted for the GRE only by JD/MPA applicants.
Further Information
For more information contact:
Leigh Nanney Hersey, PhD
Assistant Professor & MPA Coordinator
University of Louisiana Monroe
318-342-1332
hersey@ulm.edu
Phillip L. McIntosh
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Professor of Law
Director of the Center for Civil Law Studies
Mississippi College School of Law
601-925-7145
mcintosh@mc.edu
Program Requirements
The Master of Public Administration degree program consists of 36 credit hours. Each student completes a designated concentration chosen by the student in consultation and with the approval of their advisor. The core requirements are as follows:
Concentrations
Students must choose from one of six concentrations:
- Administration of Education (ADE)
- Administration of Health (ADH)
- Administration of Justice (ADJ)
- Administration of Management (MGT)
- Non Profit Management
- Public Management (PMG)
- Public Parks Management
Public Management (the general track)
Requires the addition of eighteen (18) hours selected from the list below:
Administration of Education
Requires the addition of fifteen (15) hours from the list below, plus three (3) hours of 5000-level political science electives not listed among the MPA core requirements.
Administration of Health
Requires the addition of fifteen (15) hours from the list below, plus three (3) hours of 5000-level political science electives not listed among the MPA core requirements.
Administration of Justice
Requires the addition of fifteen (15) hours from the list below, plus three (3) hours of 5000-level political science electives not listed among the MPA core requirements.
Administration of Management
Requires the addition of fifteen (15) hours from the list below, plus three (3) hours of 5000-level political science electives not listed among the MPA core requirements.
Nonprofit Managment
Requires the addition of twelve (12) hours from the list below, plus six (6) hours of 5000-level political science electives not listed among the MPA core requirements.
Public Parks Management
Requires the addition of fifteen (15) hours selected from the list below:
Graduate Courses
Note: To receive graduate credit for a 4000-level course designated “For Undergraduate and Graduates,” a student must be in graduate admission status at the time credit is earned in the course. Credit earned in undergraduate admission status cannot be changed to graduate credit.
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