Master of Public Administration, MPA

The program provides exciting opportunities for students to prepare for employment or advance their careers in public and nonprofit organizations.

Please note: Public Administration (MPA) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.

International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit UCF Global. If you have questions, please consult UCF Global at 407-823-2337.

UCF is not authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states. Refer to State Restrictions for current information.

Degree Requirements

Core (See Program Details for Course Prerequisites)

• Complete the following:
  • PAD6035 - Public Administration in the Policy Process (3)
  • PAD6037 - Public Organization Management (3)
  • PAD6053 - Public Administrators in the Governance Process (3)
  • PAD6700 - Research Methods in Public Administration (3)
  • PAD6701 - Analytical Techniques for Public Administration (3)
  • PAD6227 - Public Budgeting (3)
  • PAD6207 - Public Financial Management (3)
  • PAD6417 - Human Resource Management (3)
  • PAD6335 - Strategic Planning and Management (3)

Capstone

• Students will engage in a capstone experience that builds upon the knowledge and skills gained from completing the core courses in the MPA program. Students will complete this requirement through enrollment in PAD 6062 - Advanced Concepts and Applications in Public Administration. PAD 6062 is offered in fall and spring semesters only and should be taken following the completion of all core courses.

Course

• Complete the following:
  • PAD6062 - Advanced Concepts and Applications in Public Administration (3)

Electives

• Complete all of the following
  • Below is a selection of courses offered by the School of Public Administration that make great electives for the program, however, students can select other graduate level PAD courses in the catalog. Two out of the four MPA electives may be taken from outside the school. Students must show that elective courses taken outside of the school directly support a career in public administration. The MPA program of study does not accept undergraduate-level courses. Elective courses offered within the School of Public Administration provide an emphasis on state and local governments; however, other emphases may be developed in consultation with the Program Director and Academic Advisor.
  • Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
    • PAD6826 - Urban Policy and Regional Governance (3)
    • PAD5186 - Policy Advocacy for Social Justice (3)
    • PAD5887 - Energy Policy (3)
    • PAD5930 - Global Cities (3)
    • PAD6439 - Leadership in Public Service (3)
    • PAD6836 - Comparative Global Public Administration (3)
    • PAD6934 - Special Issues in Public Administration (3)
    • PAD6946 - Internship (3)
    • PAD6825 - Cross-Sectoral Governance (3)
    • PAD6705 - Public Sector Communications (3)

Grand Total Credits: 42

Application Requirements

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.

Core Course Prerequisites

• PAD 6701 - Analytical Techniques for Public Administration - Prerequisite: PAD 6700
• PAD 6227 - Public Budgeting - Prerequisite PAD 6700
• PAD 6207 - Public Financial Management - Prerequisite PAD 6700 & PAD 6227

Electives Information

Students with interest in other Public Service fields may take elective courses from the School of Public Administration's graduate certificate programs in Public Budgeting and Finance, Public Policy Analysis, Nonprofit Management, Fundraising, Urban and Regional PlanningSocial Justice in Public Service, and Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Any course offered by the school of Public Administration, a PAD prefix course, may be used as an elective for this program. Students interested in a research career can work with the Program Director and Academic Advisor to take advanced research courses to strengthen their analytical skills.

Students without practical administrative experience in the public sector are strongly advised to complete an internship (3 credit hours) as part of their electives.

Additional Program Requirements

Students must achieve a grade of "B-" (80%) or higher in every course listed under core requirements and in the Capstone Experience (PAD 6062).

Students must maintain a program of study and graduate status GPA of 3.0 or higher and can only graduate with a graduate status GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Students are expected to be computer literate and have computer internet access upon entry to the program.

Independent Learning

Independent learning is demonstrated throughout the curriculum through the process of inquiry, dialogue and service learning. Tangible projects such as scholarly research, papers, internships and the capstone experience also contribute to the self-development of MPA students. The research paper and Learning and Professional Development Portfolio in the Capstone Experience focus on reviewing and analyzing contemporary issues in the context of real-world applications.