Public Administration Graduate Program

Prerequisites
Application Process
Beginning the MPA Program
The MPA Program
Completing the MPA Program and Advancing to Candidacy
Thesis or Exam Options for Graduating
Graduating

A graduate Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is available for students who wish to continue their education beyond the undergraduate level. The MPA degree is an accredited, terminal professional degree offered by the School to qualified students. The degree curriculum provides a foundation of required course work and, additionally, permits the selection of complementary courses and seminar work that may be oriented toward an emphasis in more specific areas of administration. For example, two formal concentrations in City Planning and Criminal Justice Administration are offered to the MPA student. Additional informal specialization in areas such as Public Personnel and Labor Relations, Urban Administration, Public Policy and Latin American Studies are also available.

The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration have accredited the MPA degree at San Diego State University.

Prerequisites
Students should have taken an undergraduate quantitative course and be conversant with general social science statistics.

Application Process
All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the University with classified graduate standing, as described in Part Two of the SDSU Bulletin of the Graduate Division http://coursecat.sdsu.edu/bulletin/index.html. The student must also satisfy the following requirements:(1) 3.0 grade point average in the undergraduate major (the subject matter of the undergraduate major is not important for admission to the MPA program), and 2.85 overall average (both on a 4.00 scale); (2) an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test (a combined score of the Quantitative and Verbal portions of at least 950); (3) two letters of reference from individuals who have known the student's academic work and/or employment performance.

The prospective student may make an application through http://www.csumentor.edu/. The prospective student should send: 1) one copy of transcripts of all post high school education (transcripts are to arrive at SDSU in sealed envelopes), and 2) results of the GRE examination to:

Enrollment Services
Graduate Admissions Document Processing Unit
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

In addition, the prospective student should send two letters of reference to:

MPA Coordinator
School of Public Administration and Urban Studies
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-4505

For date of application deadline see Graduate Division web site http://gra.sdsu.edu/

Application deadline for the Fall 2008 academic year is May 1, 2008. For international students the Fall 2008 deadline is October 1, 2007.

Beginning the Program
Following admission all students should schedule a meeting with the Graduate Advisor: mpa@sdsu.edu.

For detailed information of the procedural steps toward earning a MPA degree, please visit the Graduate Division's website.

Please note students should purchase a current copy of the SDSU Bulletin of the Graduate Division when admitted to the University and become familiar with its provisions. The Bulletin may can also be found at http://coursecat.sdsu.edu/bulletin/index.html. Graduate students are individually responsible for complying with the procedures, regulations, and deadlines as set forth in the General Catalog and in the Bulletin of the Graduate Division.

The MPA Program
Students must pass the Screening Examination in the PA 600 - Scope of Public Administration course before taking any other courses, PA 604 Methods of Analysis in Public and Urban Affairs may be taken concurrently.

Students are admitted to this program with a status of Classified or Conditionally Classified. Conditionally Classified students must meet the conditions noted on their program admission letter. When conditions are successfully met students must file a Change of Status form and submitted to the SPA Department office (PSFA 101), or via e-mail to mpa@sdsu.edu.

Completing your MPA Program of Study and Advancement to Candidacy
The Official Program of Study form may be filled out in consultation with the graduate advisor. The OPS should be submitted as early as possible but no later than the semeter prior to anticipated graduation. The OPS can be submitted following the successful completion of at least 12 units of graduate course work and have at least a 3.0 GPA.

With the successful submission and approval of the OPS the student will Advance to Candidacy.

Consult MPA Advisor, to request an internship waiver.  Provide a letter, on letterhead from your supervisor that states when you began your job and a brief description of your duties, signed by the supervisor. Attach the letter to your OPS.

If the internship is waived:

  • For the 13th course put: “PA796 Internship (waived)”
  • Your program will consist of a total of 36 units.
  • Indicate your choice of Plan A, the Thesis, or Plan B, the Final Comprehensive Exams.

Students can not advance to candidacy and graduate in the same semester. You must be advanced to candidacy before you will be allowed to submit your thesis or the comprehensive examinations.

Thesis or Comprehensive Examination Options
After advancing to candidacy the student may form her/his thesis committee and register for PA 799 Thesis or take the Comprehensive Examinations.

Thesis
Students choosing the thesis option should contact the Graduate Division for specific information on procedures for thesis.

Comprehensive Examinations
To be eligible to take the comprehensive exams the student must have completed 27-units of graduate work, have filed an Official Program of Study and been advanced to candidacy prior to signing up for the comps.  (No exceptions will be made.) Students must have completed the courses in which they plan to take the comprehensive examinations. (Exceptions to this rule will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the MPA Director.) The MPA comprehensive exams are given approximately within the 12th week of the Fall and Spring semesters.

Within the first four weeks of the Fall and Spring semesters all students planning to take the MPA comprehensive exams will be expected to attend the MPA Comp Exam meeting. (specific dates will be posted in the PA department and sent to all MPA students)

Each student will take two comprehensive examinations chosen from the following:

  • Personnel/Employee-Employer Relations (PA 630)  
  • Public Policy (PA 660)          
  • Organizational Theory (PA 642)                    
  • Public Finance (PA 650)
  • Urban Administration (PA 620)        
  • City Planning  (Students with formal emphasis in City Planning must take the CP exam)
  • Criminal Justice (Students with formal emphasis in Criminal Justice must take the CJA exam)

Graduating the MPA Program
In order to graduate from the MPA program students will need to:

Additional Forms you may need:

  • Change in Program for the Master’s Degree for changes on the OPS. The change must be approved by the Graduate Advisor.
  • Petition for Adjustment of Academic Requirements to request an exception of specific requirements stated in the Graduate Bulletin.
  • Request to Change Degree Objective to switch the degree objective or concentration within the same department.
  • All graduate program forms required can be found here or the School's Departmental office (PSFA 101).

Stay in touch by e-mail with both the School mpa@sdsu.edu and the Graduate Division. Always keep your home address and e-mail address current with the University.  Personal information can be updated at through Web Portal.  Important communications or changes in procedures that may be critical to your success will be transmitted in this manner.