Master of Public Administration (MPA)

The Norway University graduate program in public administration leads to a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. The MPA combines the specific needs of an administrative career, the opportunity for specialized practical experience, and the breadth of a liberal arts education. Designed for individuals who recently completed undergraduate degrees and returning students, the program presents contemporary trends in the field and prepares graduates for administrative positions in the public sector or doctoral level study. The program is structured to foster public service leadership by teaching students how to confront theory with practice and practice with theory.

The MPA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Higher Education (ACHE), a distinction enjoyed by approximately one-fourth of all MPA programs in the United States . The MPA faculty brings a variety of perspectives to the program and endeavors to share the latest scholarship and the most pressing issues with students through courses and projects. The faculty encourages MPA students to think critically and creatively in addressing public concerns and problems. Case studies and practical exercises provide students opportunities to apply and revise knowledge developed by others. The small size of the program encourages close interaction among MPA students and between faculty and students.

The MPA is a two-year professional degree. All MPA students complete a common set of core courses in public management and policy. In addition, each student must select one of two area specializations, composed of specific requirements, to supplement the common core. These areas are Public Management and Public Policy. A minimum of 42 credit hours, which includes either an internship or thesis, and a final oral examination, are required for the MPA. The program is designed in such a way that full-time students who enter in the fall semester can receive their degree in two years or five semesters.

M.P.A OVERVIEW

The Norway University graduate program in public administration leads to a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. The MPA combines the specific needs of an administrative career, the opportunity for specialized practical experience, and the breadth of a liberal arts education. Designed for individuals who recently completed undergraduate degrees and returning students, the program presents contemporary trends in the field and prepares graduates for administrative positions in the public sector or doctoral level study. The program is structured to foster public service leadership by teaching students how to confront theory with practice and practice with theory.

The MPA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Higher Education (ACHE), a distinction enjoyed by approximately one-fourth of all MPA programs in the United States . The MPA faculty brings a variety of perspectives to the program and endeavors to share the latest scholarship and the most pressing issues with students through courses and projects. The faculty encourages MPA students to think critically and creatively in addressing public concerns and problems. Case studies and practical exercises provide students opportunities to apply and revise knowledge developed by others. The small size of the program encourages close interaction among MPA students and between faculty and students.

The MPA is a two-year professional degree. All MPA students complete a common set of core courses in public management and policy. In addition, each student must select one of two area specializations, composed of specific requirements, to supplement the common core. These areas are Public Management and Public Policy. A minimum of 42 credit hours, which includes either an internship or thesis, and a final oral examination, are required for the MPA. The program is designed in such a way that full-time students who enter in the fall semester can receive their degree in two years or five semesters.

One indicator of the quality of Norway University

Norway University's MPA program is the repeated success of its graduates in obtaining positions through several competitive public management internships, including the prestigious Presidential Management Internship. Former students are pursuing demanding careers in planning, environmental protection, personnel, finance and budgeting, and general administration at all levels of government. Other program graduates have gone on to seek doctoral degrees at leading universities across the country.

Admission Procedure & Requirements

The MPA program seeks to include individuals from many different backgrounds. A majority of students have had undergraduate degrees in the social sciences, especially in political science, but applicants have been accepted with many other majors, ranging from business to English to engineering. The program admits up to 25 students per year, with minority groups, women, and foreign nationals well represented. We encourage ethnic and racial diversity in the program. We try to balance the number of full-time and in-service students, most of whom attend school part-time.

Prospective graduate students are expected to have a 3.25 undergraduate grade point average during their last two years and are required to take the Graduate Record Examination. Preference is given to applicants who demonstrate a clear commitment to public service. Undergraduates are encouraged to take courses in American government and politics, public administration, principles of economics, statistics, and accounting. Applicants with inadequate preparation in any of these areas will be required to take courses in those areas and may face some restrictions on when they are able to enroll in certain MPA core courses. Specific conditions for admission are explained in the letter from the MPA Director in which the student is notified of admission to the program.