Become a Leader in Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a professional degree that prepares persons interested in public service for administrative and leadership positions in governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations. The program’s student and teaching oriented faculty seek to contribute to the development of professional individuals with an ethos of democratic administration by providing them with a combination of solid academic learning and concrete practical experiences.

The MPA Program is located in the School of Government and International Affairs.

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The Master of Public Administration Program is formally accredited by Network of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).
  • Program Purpose 1: Prepare graduates of the program to think critically and creatively about public issues.
  • Program Purpose 2: Prepare graduates to possess the administrative and leadership skills to enter a professional position in a public organization.
  • Program Purpose 3: Provide a rigorous core curriculum that examines the theoretical underpinnings of public service.
  • Program Purpose 4: Inspire commitment to public service values and ethical behavior.
  • Program Purpose 5: Sustain a welcoming environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
  • Public Service Value 1: Public Service professionals emphasize integrity, accountability, honesty, fairness and ethical behavior in personal and professional relationships and activities.
  • Public Service Value 2: Public service professionals should reflect the highest ideals of citizenship and service to the community and develop professionalism by emphasizing competence, excellence, efficiency, objectivity, and impartiality to their community, the nation, and the world.
  • Public Service Value 3: Public service professionals exhibit democratic values, respect for the Constitution and the rule of law.
  • Public Service Value 4: Public Service professionals commit themselves to equity and diversity by recognizing that their exercise of authority and responsibility must always be tempered by a respect for human dignity, fairness, and social equity.
Graduation and Employment Data View MPA Handbook frequently asked questions

Course of Study

The MPA Program is a 36 semester-hour course of study that consists of three components: A 7-course core curriculum required of all students (21 hours); a 4-course concentration of the student’s choice or a 4-course sequence of electives (12 hours); and a professional exercise (3 hours). Students will be required to participate in a program assessment exercise prior to graduation.

For more information on specific classes, see our Master of Public Administration information in the KSU Graduate Catalog.

Course Loads and Time to Completion

The MPA curriculum is designed to meet both national standards and students' desire for flexibility. We recommend that working students take 2 courses (or 6 credit hours) per semester. As a 36-credit-hour program, this pace still allows students to graduate in 2 calendar years when students enroll in 2 courses per semester each fall, spring, and summer semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

Admission

  • Application deadlines are as follows: Fall - July 1, Spring - November 1. All application materials should be submitted prior to the deadline to ensure review for the semester for which you are applying. 
  • The GRE is not required to apply for the Master of Public Administration program.
  • There is a $60 non-refundable application fee.
  • The Kennesaw State University minimum GPA for graduate admission is 2.75.
  • There are no prerequisite courses for admission to the MPA program.
  • Letters of recommendation from professors or work supervisors with direct knowledge of the applicant that can address potential for graduate study are the most useful for the admissions committee.
  • Yes. Applicants who are accepted to the MPA program but did not enroll may update their admission to a future semester.

Program Delivery

  • No. The MPA program at KSU is primarily a face-to-face program. While some courses are offered online, the program cannot be completed entirely in an online format.
  • Courses meet one night per week (Monday thru Thursday) in the evenings from 6:30 to 9:15 pm. All courses meet on the Kennesaw Campus. 
  • Yes. Our program is designed to accommodate students who work full-time. Students may take between one and three courses per semester. We recommend that students who work full-time enroll in a maximum of two courses per semester.
  • The program requires 36 credit hours (12 courses). Most students who take a minimum of two courses per semester (including summer) can graduate in two years. 
  • Yes. Dr. Madinah F. Hamidullah, the MPA Program Director is the advisor for all MPA students. Students may also contact the MPA Coordinator, Dr. Maureen Wilson with questions.
  • The Kennesaw State University MPA program is in the School of Government and International Affairs in the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
  • Beginning Spring 2024, the MPA program had approximately 74 students (this includes those in dual degree programs: MBA/MPA, MPA/MAGIC, MPA/MSCJ).

  • There are three Dual Degree options offered with the MPA program: