The purpose of the MPA program is to prepare students for professional public service employment and to enhance the professional skills of mid-career public administrators. The MPA curriculum offers professional education in the areas of research methodology, program evaluation and policy analysis, organizational management, public budgeting and finance, public personnel administration, local government administration and public sector ethics. Most of the courses in this program are offered in the evening allowing for flexible completion of the program.

Careers: What can you do with a degree in Public Administration?

The MPA degree is a typical requirement for entry-level administrative positions in the public and nonprofit sectors. Some possible careers include:

Government--Federal, State and Local:

Public Policy, Research, Regional Planning, City Management, Intelligence Service, Foreign Service

Admission Criteria/Application Procedures

1. Letter of application, which includes a personal statement of the applicant’s career goals and how the degree will be applied within those career goals
2. Complete, official transcripts from all institutions attended
3. Standardized graduate admission test (GRE)
4. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant’s academic performance and potential for graduate study
5. A vita or resume
6. Minimum graduate GPA of 3.0

Online? No Evening Classes? Yes Program Length This program is designed as a 2-year full-time program, or a 3-year part-time program.

Program Structure

courses	credit	courses	credit
POLS 551 Research Methods	3	POLS 558 Public Organization Dynamics	3
POLS 554 Foundations of Public Administration	3	POLS 559 Program Evaluation & Policy Analysis	3
POLS 574 Applied Research Project	3	POLS 560 Ethics and Public Policy	3
POLS 523 Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties	3	POLS 562 Local Government Administration	3
POLS 527 Constitutional Law: Powers & Structures	3	POLS 576 Internship	1-9
POLS 555 Human Resource Management	3	POLS 580 Special Topics	3
POLS 557 Public Budgeting & Finance	3	Electives	6-9
		Total minimum credits required for degree	36
Disclaimer
MPA Student Program Guide

Faculty Contact

Paul Pope, MPA Program Coordinator / 406.657.2934 / paul.pope@msubillings.edu
Joy Honea, Department Chair / 406.657.2996 / jhonea@msubillings.edu

Contact Graduate Studies

Please contact the office of Graduate Studies for information about this program, admission requirements, application forms, graduate assistantships and other scholarship information. Contact us as well for information about any of our graduate degree programs.

Our office is located in McMullen Hall, First Floor.
The office is open from 8:00 to 5:00 (Mountain time) Monday through Friday. Office: 406-657-2238 Fax: 406-657-2302