department of government & sociology georgia college & state university
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction Georgia College’s
MPA Program
Department of Government & Sociology Georgia College & State University
Topical Overview
Decisions prior to applyingApplication and admissions processStructure of the MPA ProgramFinancing your graduate educationMPA FacultyWhat some former students are doingWebsite linksContact information
MPA Program Mission Statement
The online Master of Public Administration
program prepares students to ethically and
competently serve, manage, and lead in the diverse
public sector through teaching, research, and
service to the discipline and broader community.
About Graduate Education1. Understand the nature of graduate education. It
is not simply an extension of your undergraduate work.
2. Do your homework before choosing a program. Think in terms of your career goals and the strengths of the programs under consideration.
3. Each program makes admission decisions for its own students.
4. Most programs use a variety of factors in deciding on admissibility.
Researching Potential Programs
Here are a few websites that can provide you with information on various graduate programs.
www.naspaa.org www.petersons.com www.Gradschools.com www.Collegeview.com www.kaplan.com www.usnews.com
Requirements for AdmissionGeorgia College Graduate School
Application Application feeUndergraduate degreeGRE or MATTranscripts – official transcripts from all
institutions of higher education attended
Minimum Test Scores and GPA Required By the MPA Program
GRE: To be granted regular admission status, the applicant must score at least 1200 on the MPA admissions formula. The formula is:
GRE verbal score + GRE quantitative score + (100 times undergraduate grade point average) = admission score. Applicants may be granted provisional admission status if a score is at least 1000, but under 1200.
***Please Note*** We are currently converting the new GRE test scores to old GRE test scores and using the old test scores in the MPA admissions formula. You may view the GRE Conversion Table here.
MAT To be granted regular admission, the applicant must score at least 670 on the MPA admissions formula. The formula is:
MAT + (100 times undergraduate grade point average) = admission score.Applicants may be granted provisional admission status if a score is at least 620, but less than 670.
When should I apply?
The Graduate School has established these deadlines for admission to graduate programsFall semester August 1Spring semester November 1Summer semester April 1
Step 1 – Applicant applies online
Step 2 – Applicant sends application materials to Graduate Admissions (fee, official transcripts, and test
scores)
Step 3 – Graduate Admissions sends completed application packet to MPA Coordinator• MPA Coordinator makes decsion
Graduate Application Process at GCSU
Step 4 –Decision is forwarded to the Graduate Admissions and applicant
Graduate Application Process at GCSU - 2
How and when are admissions decision made?
Admissions decisions for the MPA Program are
made upon receipt of each individual student’s
complete application packet.
Categories of Admission’s DecisionsRegular AdmissionProvisional admission: If you have a total
score below 1200, but at least 1000, you will be considered for provisional status, which would allow you to take courses on a trial basis. Provisional students must take in that status the equivalent of a semester’s full load (8 to 12 hours) of MPA courses and earn no final course grades below B to qualify for regular status. If you take a lighter course load, you may need two or more semesters of satisfactory work (not to exceed 12 hours) to become eligible for regular status.
Additional Information on Admission
Conditional Admission: may stipulate
admissions conditions which must be met prior to
full enrollment into the MPA Program
Transfer of Credit: Students may transfer up to
9 semester hours of work from another regionally
accredited institution.
Structure of the MPA Program
Our MPA program is a 36 hour program:24 hours of core courses9 hours of elective courses in an area of
emphasis of your choice3 hours of Capstone Project
Students may choose their area of emphasis
from among an established elective course list.
When and how are our classes offered
All of our classes are currently offered online (GeorgiaVIEW, D2L & WebEx).
Elective courses for the areas of emphasis offered outside the department may be either face-to-face or online.
Most courses are offered only once per year.
Program DetailsOur program generally has more than 50
students enrolled in any one semesterOur student body has roughly an equal
number of full and part-time studentsOur classes range in size from about 10-15
studentsOur classes are usually offered once a yearAll of our core courses are offered once a
year and our elective courses are usually offered at least once every two years.
MPA Core Courses
PUAD 6538 Public Administration and Public Service
PUAD 6558 Public Personnel Management PUAD 6578 Public Finance and Budgeting PUAD 6601 Public Policy Analysis PUAD 6603 Leadership and Organizational Behavior PUAD 6605 Quantitative Techniques Administration PUAD 6606 Research Methods PUAD 6615 Administrative Ethics
MPA Elective CoursesThe purpose of elective courses is to allow
students the option to specialize in a subject area of choice according to the student's interest and career goals. Students may choose any PUAD 5000-6000 level course and any POLS 5000-6000 level course. Other electives are listed below, which are preapproved. Other graduate courses can be considered for elective credit upon approval of the Coordinator.
BCOM6221 Communications Theory in ManagementBCOM6222 Advanced Managerial CommunicationECON6176 Managerial EconomicsGEOG5205 Political GeographyLOGS 6647 Logistics Processes and ManagementLOGS 6650 Purchasing & Materials ManagementMGMT6950 Organization Behavior & Communication
Capstone ProjectThe Capstone Project, PUAD 6700, offers each student the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the theory and practice of public administration by applying the knowledge and skills gained in the MPA program to a project of the student’s choice. This involves completing a project report reflecting the cumulative knowledge gained from these experiences. The course is intended only for students who are completing their Masters of Public Administration (MPA). The course prerequisite is PUAD 6606 (Research Methods) or its equivalent, the completion of 27 hours in the MPA program, and Program permission.
For this requirement, students must identify a real management problem or policy issue that concerns some level of government or quasi-government agency and then develop problem-resolution strategies to resolve the problem or substantially ameliorate the situation.
Capstone Project-2Students will be expected to develop a set of
alternative strategies and evaluation criteria, and then analyze them in order to determine a preferred alternative based on selected criteria.
The student is expected to demonstrate that he
or she has acquired the skills necessary to solve problems in a practical sense and is ready to begin work in the public sector or to improve work conducted by those already in the public work force.
The student is also expected to assess any ethical issues associated with the proposed recommendations and implementation strategy.
ThesisStudents contemplating further graduate work or
wanting an in-depth research experience should consider the thesis option. The thesis option entails 6 credit hours, leaving 30 credit hours of regular courses. The thesis option consists of two separate courses followed by a thesis defense. These must be taken in the following sequence:
PUAD 6971 Thesis Research Design PUAD 6972 Thesis Writing and Development PUAD 6973 Thesis Defense
Registration Procedures/Issues
Once students have received their acceptance into the program, they may register online for their courses.
If a student does not maintain continuous enrollment for each fall and spring, he/she will need to apply to the Graduate Admission for readmission.
Academic Progression All students are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA
Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 may be dropped from the MPA Program.
No one may graduate with less than a 3.0.
An Incomplete grade must be satisfactorily removed during the next semester of enrollment or by the end of one calendar year if not enrolled, whichever comes first, or the symbol I will be changed to the grade of F.
The University Calendar lists the deadlines for making up incompletes, dropping courses, and filing for graduation.
ExpectationsMPA students are expected to display the
same characteristics and behaviors as students as will be expected of them as public sector employees.
Therefore, they are expected to behave with as professionals with a high degree of commitment and integrity in their personal interactions and in their academic work.
They are also expected to ask questions and challenge their fellow student and the faculty.
Students, in turn, can expect the same behavior and professionalism from the faculty.
Typical full-time student scheduleYEAR ONE: Fall
PUAD 6538 Public Administration & Public ServicePUAD 6605 Quantitative Techniques PUAD Elective or Internship
Spring
PUAD 6601 Policy AnalysisPUAD 6606 Research MethodsPUAD Elective
Typical full-time student schedule- 2
Summer Session I, II, III (if needed)PUAD Elective or Internship
Typical full-time student schedule - 3
YEAR TWO: Fall
PUAD 6558 Public Personnel Management PUAD 6603 Leadership and Organizational
BehaviorPUAD Elective
Spring
PUAD 6615 Administrative EthicsPUAD 6578 Public Finance and BudgetingPUAD 6700 Capstone Project
Financing Your Graduate Education
• Graduate Assistantships:
http://www.gcsu.edu/graduate/assistantships.htm
• Loans
• Out of State Tuition Remissions
• Federal Work Study
• Employment – sometimes in other academic units
Graduation ProceduresAll incompletes and other degree requirements must
be successfully met before one can graduate.
The semester before students expect to graduate they should submit an Application for Graduation with the Registrar’s Office.
The MPA Program will confirm the student’s academic progress with the Registrar’s Office during the semester of graduation.
All students must be enrolled during the semester in which they graduate.
Honor Societies
There are a number of honor societies for which you may qualify as an MPA student.
Pi Alpha Alpha - Public Administration National Honor Society
Pi Sigma Alpha - Political Science National Honor Society
Internship & Fellowship OpportunitiesThere are a number of opportunities for MPA
students to continue their learning beyond their degree and to gain valuable professional experience. These often lead to full-time positions afterwards. Please contact our MPA Internship Coordinator, Clif Wilkinson.
Internship & Fellowship OpportunitiesThese are important web sites listing internship
opportunitieshttp://ourpublicservice.org/OPS/ This site is a
partnership between the US Office of Personnel Management and the Partnership for Public Service
https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGradsThis site is maintained by the US Office of Personnel Management.
http://www.firescience.org/public-administration-degree-programs-online/ This site addresses several public safety and service career fields.
Our accrediting body, NASPAA (National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration), www.naspaa.org, maintains a site on which various internships are posted. http://www.publicservicecareers.org/
Our FacultyNational and international reputations in
public administration and policy6 full-time faculty members
Roger Coate, Ph.D.Paul D. Coverdell Professor of Public Policy Political Science & Public AdministrationPh.D., Ohio State University2-29 A&S, 478-445-7396, [email protected] Interests, - International Organization and Global Governance- Nonstate Actors and Nonprofit Management- U.S. Multilateral Foreign Policy
Hank Edmondson, Ph.D.Professor of Political Science & Public AdministrationPh.D., University of Georgia2-06 A&S, 478-445-0943, [email protected] Interests- Politics and Literature- Education Philosophy, Education Reform- - Leadership
Brandy Kennedy, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Political Science & Public AdministrationPh.D., University of Oklahoma2-20 A&S, 478-445-7384, [email protected] Interests- Bureaucratic Role Perception and Representation
Min Kim, Assistant Professor of Public AdministrationMPA Program CoordinatorPh.D., Arizona State University2-25 A&S, 478-445-7393, [email protected])Research Interests-State and Local Government Financial Management- Public Finance and Budgeting- Policy and Program Evaluation- Quantitative Research Methods
Costas Spirou, Ph.D., Department Chair, Professor of SociologyPh.D., Loyola University Chicago2-03 A&S, 478-445-4562, [email protected] Interests- Political Sociology- Urban Affairs and Public Policy- Sport, Culture and Tourism
Clif Wilkinson, Senior Lecturer of Political Science & Public AdministrationA.B.D., Valdosta State University2-22 A&S, 478-445-0958, [email protected] Research Interests- Public Management- Public Policy and Evaluation- E-Government- Politics in Film
What some of our graduates are doing GHSU/UGA Medical Partnership U.S. Department of Diplomatic Security Services University of West Georgia Recruiting Inc., Atlanta GA; Dubai Georgia Department of Economic Development Eastern Kentucky University Georgia Cities Foundation Town of Tyrone, Georgia Department of Defense, Robins Air Force Base Mansfield Oil Company Thomson – McDuffie City Development Authority Social Security Administration Georgia College and State University Middle Georgia Technical College
Important WebsitesThe basic information concerning the MPA Program:
http://www.gcsu.edu/gov/publicadministration.htm
The application for admission to the GC Admissions: http://www.gcsu.edu/graduate/APPLY.HTM
Graduate Catalog: http://catalog.gcsu.edu/en/2014-2015/Graduate-Catalog
Tuition and fee information: http://www.gcsu.edu/financialaid/cost/undergrad/milledgeville.htm
GC Financial Aid: http://www.gcsu.edu/financialaid/index.htm
Contact Information
Dr. Min S. KimMPA Program Coordinator Department of Government & SociologyOffice: A&S 2-27Phone: 478-445-0945Email: [email protected]