Public Administration, M.P.A.

• Final Application Deadlines
  • Fall Semester – August 1
  • Spring Semester – December 1
• Priority Application Deadlines

Requirements for admission to full standing in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Degree Program include:

1. A complete application to the Graduate School with paid application fee. Applications are completed online.
2. Possession of a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from an accredited college or university.
3. An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
4. Letters of recommendation (3) preferably from those familiar with your academic and work abilities (e.g., professors or employers).
5. Statement of purpose (1-2 pages in length) in which the applicant explains their career goals, how the MPA degree fits into achieving those goals, and any significant work experience, particularly in the public or nonprofit sectors.
6. Submission of official transcripts from all postsecondary educational institutions in which the candidate was enrolled.

Once the Graduate School has received all the materials associated with the application, the materials are sent to the MPA admissions committee. The committee reviews the packet and makes a recommendation (accept/deny) to the MPA Director. The Director reviews the application, makes a recommendation and sends the packet back to the Graduate School. The Graduate School has the final say on an application based on the recommendations from the Program. Once that final decision is reached, the Dean of the Graduate School sends a letter in the mail to the applicant with the outcome of the process.

Admission recommendations are based on a complete review of the applicant’s file. The following all enter into that decision: (1) undergraduate and any graduate grades; (2) letters of recommendation; (3) specific previous coursework; (4) statement of purpose; and (5) applicable work history.

Core Courses

Students must complete each of the following core courses with a “B” grade or better. Students are not permitted to take the research courses (MPAD 6187, 6188, 6800, 6801) until all core courses are successfully completed.

• MPAD 6102 Foundation in Public Administration
• MPAD 6104 Public Organizations and Management
• MPAD 6125 Quantitative Research Methods in Public Administration
• MPAD 6126 Data Analysis in Decision Making (prerequisite: MPAD 6125)
• MPAD 6131 Public Budgeting and Finance
• MPAD 6134 Human Resource Management

Elective Courses

Students must complete 15 credit hours of elective coursework. Students may choose to follow one of the MPA Program’s concentrations (Public Budgeting & Finance, Urban Management & Policy, Nonprofit Management, Arts Administration, and Emergency Management) as concentrated areas for their electives, but doing so is not necessary. With the approval of the MPA Director, students may take courses from other departments/programs as electives.

Public Budget & Finance Concentration

Example Concentration Curriculum: The public budget & finance concentration consists of fifteen credit hours within the MPA curriculum. Students must fulfill the following requirements:

Students are required to take the following two courses:

• MPAD 6326:  Applied Economics for Public Administrators (3)
• MPAD 6350:  Public Sector Financial Management (3)

Students must complete two of the following courses:

• MPAD 6352:  Public Sector Accounting & Reporting (3) 
• MPAD 6142:  Grant Writing and Reporting (3)
• MPAD 6185:  Intergovernmental Relations (3)
• MPAD 6324:  Financial Analysis for Non-Profit Organizations (3)
• MPAD 6330:  Program Evaluation for the Public & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
• MPAD 6332:  Project Management (3)
• ECON 6112:  Graduate Econometrics (3)
• ECON 6218:  Advanced Business and Economic Forecasting (3)
• MBAD 6159:  Real Estate Development (3)

Research Courses

After successfully completing all their core coursework students are eligible to take their research courses. Two options are available to students:

Option 1: Research Applications

MPAD 6187 Advanced Seminar in Public Management Problem Solving
This course requires the class to work as an evaluation team on a real world project using the skills they developed in the Program. A professional report is produced and presented to the relevant government or nonprofit body.

MPAD 6188 Research Application in Public Administration
This course requires students to work on an individual research project using the skills they developed in the Program. Students produce a professional research report and present their findings in a profession manner to MPA faculty.

Option 2: Directed Study (Thesis)

Students selecting this option need take only 12 credits of elective coursework.

MPAD 6187 Advanced Seminar in Public Management Problem Solving
(see Option 1 above for a description)

MPAD 6800 Directed Study Proposal
For this course students must select three faculty members to serve as their thesis committee. Students must produce a research proposal and defend it before their committee.

MPAD 6801 Directed Study Project
Students must complete their thesis and defend it before their committee.

Current tuition rates are available through Niner Central. There are several sources of funding available to assist in paying for a graduate program at UNC Charlotte.

Wondering if you are considered in-state or out-of-state for tuition? Learn more about residency requirements.