The Master of Public Administration (MPA)

MPA Program Mission

The Master in Public Administration program is designed to provide working adult students with the opportunity to complete a graduate degree in a schedule and format that meets their unique needs. The curriculum will help the student become a servant leader in various contexts, with specific emphasis on the public sector. The program's purpose is to prepare graduates to lead and serve the common good.  

MPA Academic Program

The Master in Public Administration is a structured curriculum that includes 36 semester hours earned by completing the nine required courses and one of the existing course tracks from the current Masters in Business Administration program online one at a time. Students will be part of a cohort with participation in all courses together, forming a support group for success. 

This well-rounded program provides the foundation a student needs to become a servant leader in public settings at the local, state, or national level. It also establishes the graduate for leadership or service in businesses, nonprofit organizations, or private settings in which knowledge of public institutions enhances the dynamic interdependency for the common good.

MPA Career Track

The MPA is centered on Trevecca's core concepts of preparing graduates for leadership and service. In addition, the program will incorporate many of the business concepts and Biblical principles embedded within the existing curriculum in the SSBT, which serves to differentiate the MPA program from competing universities. Thus, Trevecca, MPA graduates will have an attractive skillset designed to address contemporary public sector challenges. Some example job titles in public institutions might include: legislative aide, executive director, city or county manager, mayoral assistant, municipal chief director, economic development officer, transportation manager, logistics or supply chain manager, compliance manager, human resources manager, public policy researcher, or court clerk. Graduates can also serve in positions that have public impact in nongovernmental organizations with the following example job titles: grant writer, community outreach representative, regulatory affairs manager, policy analyst, governmental liaison, public health administrator, faculty, financial aid officer, or manager of various departments with government interests.

MPA Admission Requirements

Admission into the MPA program is based on a careful appraisal of the applicant's academic record, performance, and work experience, if any.

To be considered for admission, applicants must:

  1. Submit an online application.
  2. Have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher. Applicants must submit one official transcript from colleges/universities attended (conferred undergraduate, any graduate work).
  3. Have prior credit of a college math course (grade "C" or higher), reflected on transcript, or equivalent.
  4. Have prior credit of a college English Composition course (grade "C" or higher), reflected on transcript, or equivalent.

Students not meeting the minimum requirements may request conditional admission from the Graduate Admissions Committee. Final approval of conditional applicants will be made by the MPA Program Director.

Transfer/Transient Credit

The number of hours of transfer credit allowed is determined by the degree program requirements and is considered on a case-by-case basis. Transfer credit is not automatic. Transfer credit will be carefully evaluated by the Program Director or advisor/appointee. If a graduate program accepts transfer credit, transferability will be based on specific criteria:

  • The course is no more than 10 years old
  • The course is relevant to the degree program
  • The course was taken for graduate credit from a regionally accredited institution
  • A minimum grade of B was earned in the course
  • The applicant meets all entrance requirements for the program

Permission to take courses at other institutions while working on a graduate degree at Trevecca must be obtained from the dean of the school offering the program or the dean’s designee.

Maximum transfer credits for students in the MPA program is 6 semester credits.

Graduation Requirements

To receive the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Successful completion of the approved MPA curriculum with a minimum of 36 graduate semester hours of coursework.
  2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in the MPA program. Any course in which a grade of a C- or below is earned must be repeated.
  3. Successful completion of the capstone course with a minimum grade of B-.
  4. Candidates for a master's degree must signify their intent to complete the requirements by submitting a completed application for graduation form. The form must be received by the date specified under Graduate Academic Policies.
  5. Payment of all tuition and fees.

MPA Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MPA degree requirements, graduates should be able to:

  1. Evaluate histories, purposes, and responsibilities of public institutions to effectively serve constituencies.
  2. Apply theories of public administration to appropriately lead and serve for the common good.
  3. Employ strategies that demonstrate self-awareness and professionalism to lead and serve with the public sector.
  4. Examine the administration of public institutions through the perspective of a Christian worldview.
  5. Integrate leadership theories to hypothetical organizational functions.
  6. Interpret legal and regulatory mandates in the public sector.
  7. Utilize quantitative tools and techniques for influence on governmental units and organizational development.

MPA Program Curriculum

Master in Public Administration Core

PUB 6000Masters of Public Administration Program Foundations

3

PUB 6010Public Administration

3

PUB 6030Analytics for Public Administration

3

PUB 6020Public Policy

3

BUS 5013Organizational Behavior and Leadership

3

PUB 6060Public Financial Administration

3

PUB 6070Public Sector Structure, Institutions, and Politics

3

PUB 6040State and Local Government Structure, Law, and Practice

3

PUB 6050Change Management and Strategic Planning for Complex Public/Nonprofit Organizations

3

Total Credit Hours:27

Choose one of the following tracks:

Crisis and Emergency Management Track - 9 hours
MGT 6220Foundations of Emergency Management

3

MGT 6230Social Media Communications and Crisis Information Management

3

MGT 6210Crisis and Emergency Management Planning

3

Data Analytics Track - 9 hours
BUS 6150Introduction to Data Analytics

3

BUS 6160Processing Data for Decision-Making

3

BUS 6170Leading Data Analytics Projects

3

Total Credit Hours:9
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Track - 9 hours
BUS 6210Entrepreneurship and Innovation

3

BUS 6220New Venture Creation

3

BUS 6230Small Business Management

3

Healthcare Administration Track - 9 hours
HLT 6200Legal and Regulatory Issues in Healthcare

3

HLT 6400Quality Healthcare Management

3

HLT 6600Healthcare Strategy

3

Total Credit Hours:9
Human Resources Management Track - 9 hours
BUS 6110Strategic Human Resource Management

3

BUS 6130Staffing and Development

3

BUS 6140Compensation and Benefits

3

Total Credit Hours:9
Management and Leadership Track - 9 hours
BUS 6200Leadership and Strategic Planning for Servant Leaders

3

BUS 6100Human Resource Development and Management

3

BUS 6223The Legal Environment of Business

3

Total Credit Hours:9
Nonprofit Leadership and Management Track - 9 hours
BUS 6240Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership and Management

3

BUS 6250Raising Human and Financial Resources for Nonprofits

3

BUS 6260Fiscal Administration in Nonprofits

3

Project Management Track - 9 hours
PMI 6000Introduction to Project and Program Management

3

PMI 6200Project Schedule and Risk Management

3

PMI 6400Cost, Contract, and Procurement Management

3

Total Credit Hours:9