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Public Administration

Columbia, SC
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Degree Overview

Master of Public Administration

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Dr. Doretha Walker, Program Director, Master of Public Administration

South University Columbia’s Master of Public Administration program can equip you with the organizational and managerial experience needed to become a leader in local, state, and national government entities and nonprofit organizations. The MPA curriculum is developed with a range of disciplines in mind to provide both foundational and specialized information of value to anyone pursuing a career in public administration. Beyond exploring the structure of political, social, and institutional systems, the program will cover topics like data analysis, budgeting, ethical decision-making, fundraising, HR and volunteer management, and leadership – all within the context of helping public and nonprofit organizations to maximize their impact and achieve their goals.

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Admission Requirements

Admissions criteria for the Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Graduate Admissions - Masters level

Prospective students are required to submit the following:

  • Completion of application for admission
  • Official transcripts for bachelor or graduate degree within 5 weeks of the class start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance). (All credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE-member credential evaluation service). Please speak with an admissions representative for more information.

Note: See program notes and specific requirements below for each graduate - masters level degree program

Specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are:

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Completion of application for admission.
  • A 2.0 overall grade point average or higher on completed requirements for the baccalaureate degree, or an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution.

For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here.

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Course Requirements

Master of Public Administration: 48 Credits
Core: 44 Credits
MBA6501 Strategic Human Resources Management 4.0 Credit Hours
MPA5001 Foundations of Public Administration 4.0 Credit Hours
MPA5005 Public and Non-profit Organizational Behavior 4.0 Credit Hours
MPA5010 Public and Non-profit Budgeting and Accounting 4.0 Credit Hours
MPA6001 Research and Data Analysis in Public Administration 4.0 Credit Hours
MPA6100 Non-profit Fundraising and Volunteer Development 4.0 Credit Hours
MPA6105 Grant Writing and Contract Administration 4.0 Credit Hours
MPA6110 Management of Non-profit Organizations 4.0 Credit Hours
MPA6115 Program Evaluation of Public and Non-profit Organizations 4.0 Credit Hours
MPA6501 State and Local Government and Intergovernmental Relations 4.0 Credit Hours
MPA6505 Legislative and Judicial Process 4.0 Credit Hours
Capstone: 4 Credits
MPA6999 Strategic Challenges in Public Administration 4.0 Credit Hours
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Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Analyze how economic, political, legal, and social institutions influence decisions in public administration.

  • Examine challenges faced by public sector organizations and the potential approaches for addressing them.

  • Prioritize political and administrative systems to support effective governance and public service delivery.

  • Examine quantitative and qualitative data to guide legal and ethical decision-making in public management.

  • Apply leadership and management principles and practices to address challenges in public and nonprofit organizations.

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Career Outlook

These are some of the career options* you can explore when you have earned your degree:

  • City/County Supervisor/Manager
  • General and Operations Managers
  • Policy or Legislative Supervisor/Manager
  • General Managers

*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.

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Fill out the form and a representative will contact you today to better understand your academic goals plus answer any questions you may have.

Campuses offer flexible learning formats* including: on-campus, virtual instructions, and online courses.

*Programs, including all Clinical/Medical programs, have a required in-person, practicum, or externship. We cannot guarantee flexibility in these components of the program.

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