Master of Public Administration

 

Department of Political Science 418 Varner Hall (248) 370-2352 • Fax (248) 370-4299 www.oakland.edu/mpa

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Program director:
Pat Piskulich
 

Director of internships:
Douglas A. Carr
 

Program coordinator:
Suzanne Rossi
457 Varner Hall
(248) 370-4117
ssrossi@oakland.edu

 

Program description

The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree program at Oakland University provides a challenging education for individuals seeking professional careers and for those already employed in governmental or other public agencies. The need for professionals holding M.P.A. degrees is recognized due to the complexity of agencies at the state and local levels and the continued concerns for responsive and effective public service at all levels. The M.P.A. program offers a generalist foundation through a set of core courses that is bolstered with opportunities for specialization through its electives and the directed capstone project/internship option.

Accreditation

The Oakland University M.P.A. program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

• July 15 for fall semester
• November 15 for winter semester
• March 15 for summer semester

Readmission and program transfer

Requests for readmission and program transfers must be completed and approved prior to the beginning of a semester.

International application deadlines

International applications are reviewed for fall and winter admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment in the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission and by September 1 for winter admission. International applicants are not eligible for Special Graduate classification.

Special Graduate classification

Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact the department and request Special Graduate temporary admission.  The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study, plus a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department.  Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.

Students may request special graduate classification beginning with the dates below.

• August 1 for fall semester
• December 1 for winter semester
• April 1 for summer semester

Note: Special Graduate classification will not be granted after the first week of classes in a semester.

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following university and program application documents by the published application deadlines.

University graduate application requirements

• Online Application for Admission to Graduate Study         
• Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
• Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
  • As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
• Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
  (Note: Some programs require more than two recommendation forms. Refer to the program application requirements listed below for the total number of recommendations and specific requirements for the recommendations.)
• Proof of English language proficiency

• International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate. 

Program application requirements

• Two essays (Forms are downloadable from www.oakland.edu/mpa/admission.)

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

• Undergraduate grade record that indicates above-average work (generally a GPA of 3.0 or greater)
• The program welcomes students with a wide variety of undergraduate preparations, provided that certain courses have been taken and skills acquired as part of those programs. Applicants must meet the university’s general requirements for admission to graduate studies. Conditional admission status may be granted to students who need minor improvements to their records, subject to approval by Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning. In addition to these requirements, the Director of the M.P.A. program will interview the applicants and assess their writing abilities. Detailed application information can be found at www.oakland.edu/mpa/admission.  

Undergraduate preparation for the M.P.A.

Degrees in a wide variety of majors will prepare the student for admission, providing that the record includes:

• Basic courses in political science, government, or public administration
• Principles of macroeconomics (or an equivalent course approved by the director)
• Principles of financial accounting (or an equivalent course approved by the director)
• Basic statistics (or an equivalent course approved by the director).

Students otherwise qualified for admission to the program but lacking in these areas may be admitted with the requirement that the deficiency be corrected during the first year of the program by appropriate coursework. A departmental adviser will plan with the student an appropriate way of addressing these deficiencies. Credits earned to meet these standards will not be counted toward the total credits needed for the degree.