Master of Public Administration

Mission:

The Master of Public Administration Program at the University of Southern Indiana strives to meet the needs of current and future civic leaders and managers by providing students with the practical knowledge and professional and academic skills, rooted in a strong understanding of the theories of public administration, to become ethical, creative, and inspirational leaders in the public and non-profit sectors. Our graduates are prepared to meet the economic, social, and political challenges that face leading public sector institutions and non-profit organizations.

Program Objectives:

• Obtain knowledge of the theoretical and institutional foundations and the internal operations of the public and nonprofit sectors and how these sectors are shaped by their economic, social, and political environments.
• Master an understanding of how key concepts and theories in the field of public administration can be used to formulate applied solutions to problems associated with public and nonprofit administration.
• Acquire practical skills necessary for the management of public and non-profit organizations, such as grant writing, budgeting, public speaking, human resources management, organizational behavior, electronic communication, and report writing.
• Learn how to gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative data (through data bases, web sites, printed material, and other information-based resources) and develop research skills that can be used to advance the knowledge and practice of public administration. 
• Understand the ethical consequences of decisions made by managers and administrators in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Applicants seeking to be admitted to the Master of Public Administration program generally hold a bachelor’s degree (any major is acceptable) with at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA may be admitted on a conditional basis upon review by the admissions committee. In some instances, students with less than a 3.0 GPA may be asked to provide additional information as part of their application.

The Nonprofit Excellence Symposium brings together professionals from local businesses and nonprofits for a half-day of workshops, presentations, idea sharing, and networking open to USI students and anyone who works in or is interested in the nonprofit sector.

Click below to learn more.

Nonprofit Excellence Symposium

Students in the Master of Public Administration Program gain real life experience by working with community partners to develop projects that serve the community while developing skills that make a difference. 

Click below to see a sampling of student projects that represent the work that our students create.

Community-Based Projects

Students who wish to receive credit for prior learning should submit a portfolio of experience to the MPA program director. The portfolio should be received after they are accepted to the program but prior to the completion of 9 credits. The nine-credit deadline refers to those graduate classes taken after acceptance to the program. The portfolio will be evaluated by a committee of faculty of the program. Portfolios are reviewed on a rolling basis. The decision of the committee or their designee is binding and there is no appeal.

The total number of combined transfer credits and PLC credits may not exceed 12.