Program Overview

Master of Public Administration Program

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Texas State University is designed to prepare individuals for leadership and management roles in public service. The program is divided into three major components: coursework, applied research project, and comprehensive oral examination.

Program Mission

The MPA program's mission is to cultivate practical, research-oriented students for careers as reflective practitioners guided by democratic values, integrity, and service.

Admission Requirements

Regular admission to the program requires a grade-point average of 3.00 or above in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work. Applicants with a GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 may be considered for conditional admission.

Program Requirements

The MPA program consists of 36 credit hours of coursework, including 24 credit hours of core courses and 12 credit hours of elective courses. Students must also complete an applied research project or thesis, and pass a comprehensive oral examination.

Core Courses

The core courses include:

• PA 5300: Introduction to Public Policy and Administration
• PA 5310: Public Finance Administration
• PA 5320: Organizational Theory, Change, and Behavior
• PA 5330: Public Personnel Administration
• PA 5340: Introduction to Public Law
• PA 5350: Public Policy Processes
• PA 5370: Public Management and Ethics
• PA 5390: Applied Research Methodology

Elective Courses

Elective courses include:

• PA 5311: Introduction to Statistical Analysis
• PA 5312: Program Evaluation and Administrative Statistical Analysis
• PA 5313: Public Sector Economics
• PA 5314: Public Administration and Information Technology
• PA 5315: Public Performance Management
• PA 5331: Labor Management Relations
• PA 5332: Management Practices in Public Personnel Administration
• PA 5351: Urban Transportation Policy
• PA 5352: Comparative Public Administration
• PA 5353: Ecology and the Politics of Sustainability
• PA 5355: Environmental Policy
• PA 5361: Introduction to the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector
• PA 5362: Alternative Public Service Delivery Systems
• PA 5388: Directed Reading and Research
• PA 5389: Internship in Government
• PA 5387: Research Practicum

Pathways to Graduation

There are three pathways to graduation: Applied Research Project (ARP) Track, Thesis Track, and Non-Thesis (Comprehensive Exam) Track.

Applied Research Project Track

The ARP track requires students to complete a major research paper under the guidance of an MPA faculty member, culminating in an oral defense.

Thesis Track

The thesis track requires students to produce a written thesis and defend it in an oral exam.

Non-Thesis (Comprehensive Exam) Track

The non-thesis track requires students to complete a comprehensive exam, which consists of three written essays and a culminating oral defense.

Graduation and Placement Information

The program has a strong track record of placing graduates in public service roles, with many alumni working in government, non-profit, and private sectors.

NASPAA Accreditation

The MPA program at Texas State University is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

MPA Program Learning Outcomes

The program assesses student performance using two methods of review: external reviewers and faculty evaluation. The learning outcomes include:

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing
• Comprehension of public policy and program formation
• Ability to communicate effectively orally
• Ability to see patterns and classify information, concepts, and theories in public policy and administration
• Ability to use reasoned arguments to judge evidence in public policy and management

International Sustainable Transportation Engagement Program (I-STEP)

I-STEP is a project of Texas State University's public administration program, aiming to provide a platform for re-envisioning how transportation can work to shape healthy, vital communities. The program includes research reports, story maps, and podcasts on sustainable transportation and resilient streets.