The MPA program introduces students to the fundamental elements of public policy and administration.  These elements include disciplinary knowledge of public policy and administration, public service, and technology learning and applications.  Our emphasis on applied learning teaches students to think critically and creatively, while engaged in problem solving activities that address both real and theoretical situations. 

Pre-Service students are required to take 51 credit hours in core competency courses, 9 hours in elective courses, and 10 hours of internship or practicum for a  total of 70 credit hours.  In-service students are not required to complete 10 hours of  internship or practicum, but they will be expected to take two additional elective courses for a total of ten hours.  

CORE COMPETENCIES  (51 Hours) 

A. Organization and Human Resource Management 4 courses

B. Research and Data Applications  2 courses

C. Policy and Fiscal Analysis 3 courses 

Students entering the MPA program who have taken one or more of the core competency courses as an undergraduate or graduate at Ohio University or another institution may substitute another course in the place of that already taken.  Please consult your advisor in selecting possible substitutions.  Requests for permission to substitute a core competency course are then submitted to the MPA Director.  Forms are available from the Graduate Secretary.  If a core competency course is not offered during a student’s program, then the Department will provide a substitute course to fulfill the requirement. 

The Practicum Option

Pre-service, full-time students seeking an MPA degree at Ohio University Athens campus may engage in a year-long learning experience that weaves together academic curriculum and real-world public sector service work.  The practicum commences fall quarter with four quarters of enrollment in POLS 690, Public Service Practicum, for a total of 10 credits.  Service is completed by MPA candidates sequentially and as a cohort. Public sector service learning opportunities are coordinated between the Political Science Department and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University. The synthesis of academic knowledge and practice will serve to enhance the learning experience of MPA candidates and better prepare them for employment upon graduation. 

The GVS MPA Public Service Curriculum strives to build upon classroom academics by linking each quarter’s learning to a public service experience in order to augment pre-service students’ limitations in real-world experience that is often critical in developing sound management skills. MPA candidates may be assigned to either an existing GVS team engaged in ongoing project work or to a short-term project team engaged in time-limited project work.  

If the practicum option is selected, then no more than 5 hours of internship credit may be completed.  Students with 10 practicum hours may apply 5 internship hours as elective credit toward the MPA.  The total number of hours of 595/690 may not exceed 15. 

Internship Option

In addition to the practicum, MPA students may acquire experience as interns with public, non-profit, or private sector organizations in a policy or administrative capacity.  This is done by taking POLS 595, Public Affairs Internship, for a minimum of 5 letter grade credit hours.  The amount of credit received for the internship can range from 5 to 15 hours depending on the time spent on the job, but only a maximum of 10 hours may be counted toward the 70 hour MPA degree requirement. 

Before registering for POLS 595, the student should discuss the kinds of internships available with Internship Director Michael Burton, locate an internship that fits the student’s career objectives as closely as possible, and secure the approval of the internship director.  Students should take the initiative in developing an internship as long as it is approved by the Internship Director.  The internship should only be taken following significant progress toward completion of the MPA degree.  The student is expected to complete an internship paper, which will be evaluated by both the MPA and Internship Director.  This paper will be included in the student’s portfolio.  A description of this paper can be found on the Department’s website. 

Waiving the Internship/Practicum Requirement

The internship/practicum requirement can be waived by the MPA Director if the student has significant prior administrative experience, or is currently on leave from an administrative position.  In those circumstances, the student may take 10 units of additional course work instead of the internship or practicum.  The student may also receive internship credit with the permission of the Internship Director if proper arrangements can be made with the agency for which the student is currently working.  Internship credit will not be given for prior administrative experience. 

Thesis/Non-Thesis Options

Although most MPA students select the non-thesis option, it is possible to choose the research oriented thesis option if it seems more appropriate to the student’s career plans or academic interests.

In writing either a thesis or a research paper, students should consult the most recent addition of the APSA Style Manual, for the proper forms of source citation and bibliography. Either method of citation presented there (parenthetical references or footnote/endnote) is acceptable as long as the student is consistent in using the method chosen.  The College of Arts and Sciences has specific Master Thesis requirements that are available from the College. 

Thesis Option

A maximum of 10 credit hours (POLS 695 Thesis 1-10 credit hours) may be counted as part of the 70 hour requirement.  Some students choose this option, though it usually takes longer to complete, because the thesis can be used as evidence of one’s ability to carry out successfully in-depth research.  This may be helpful for those seeking admission to Ph.D. programs after completion of the MPA program. 

Students are expected to follow Department and College of Arts and Sciences requirements in preparing a master’s thesis.

Non-Thesis Option: The Portfolio

To fulfill this requirement students must complete a portfolio of superior quality, and make a presentation based on its contents to a two person faculty review committee.  This committee will evaluate both the portfolio itself and the presentation.  The presentation should be scheduled for one hour.  During that hour students are expected to make a presentation centered on their portfolio for no longer than 15-20 minutes.  The rest of the hour will be devoted to a question and answer exchange between faculty members and the student. 

The two person faculty committee will be comprised of two faculty members selected by the student.  In the interest of enhancing professional feedback, the student or faculty members) may wish to invite a public or non-profit professional to the portfolio presentation.  This is, however, strictly optional. 

The portfolio is designed to accomplish at least three fundamental things. First, it indicates students are capable of Master’s level research and writing.  Second, it indicates mastery of important professional skills (e.g., quantitative analysis or strategic management).  Third the portfolio should demonstrate  students’ professional growth and development over the span of the MPA program. 

The portfolio’s contents should be assembled during the student’s program in close consultation with the student’s advisor, as well as the individual faculty members for whom the work was done originally.  A full description of the portfolio is available from the Department main office, 266 Bentley Annex.