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 SSB, 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:
- Submit an online application.
- 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).
- Have prior credit of a college math course (grade "C" or higher), reflected on transcript, or equivalent.
- 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:
- Successful completion of the approved MPA curriculum with a minimum of 36 graduate semester hours of coursework.
- 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.
- Successful completion of the capstone course with a minimum grade of B-.
- 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.
- Payment of all tuition and fees.
MPA Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the MPA degree requirements, graduates should be able to:
- Evaluate histories, purposes, and responsibilities of public institutions to effectively serve constituencies.
- Apply theories of public administration to appropriately lead and serve for the common good.
- Employ strategies that demonstrate self-awareness and professionalism to lead and serve with the public sector.
- Examine the administration of public institutions through the perspective of a Christian worldview.
- Integrate leadership theories to hypothetical organizational functions.
- Interpret legal and regulatory mandates in the public sector.
- Utilize quantitative tools and techniques for influence on governmental units and organizational development.
MPA Program Curriculum
Master in Public Administration Core
PUB 6000 and
PUB 6010 are gate-keeping benchmarks and must be completed in the prescribed sequence and passed with the final grade of C or above to proceed in the MPA program. If a student earns a C- or lower in one of these courses, the student will have to stop out immediately and wait to join a later cohort to repeat the course.
| PUB 6000 | Masters of Public Administration Program Foundations | 3 |
| PUB 6010 | Public Administration | 3 |
| PUB 6030 | Analytics for Public Administration | 3 |
| PUB 6020 | Public Policy | 3 |
| BUS 5013 | Organizational Behavior and Leadership | 3 |
| PUB 6060 | Public Financial Administration | 3 |
| PUB 6070 | Public Sector Structure, Institutions, and Politics | 3 |
| PUB 6040 | State and Local Government Structure, Law, and Practice | 3 |
| PUB 6050 | Change 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 6210 | Crisis and Emergency Management Planning | 3 |
| MGT 6220 | Foundations of Emergency Management | 3 |
| MGT 6240 | Homeland Security and Cybersecurity Management | 3 |
Data Analytics Track - 9 hours
| BUS 6150 | Introduction to Data Analytics | 3 |
| BUS 6160 | Processing Data for Decision-Making | 3 |
| BUS 6170 | Leading Data Analytics Projects | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Track - 9 hours
Healthcare Administration Track - 9 hours
| HLT 6200 | Legal and Regulatory Issues in Healthcare | 3 |
| HLT 6400 | Quality Healthcare Management | 3 |
| HLT 6600 | Healthcare Strategy | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Human Resources Management Track - 9 hours
| BUS 6110 | Strategic Human Resource Management | 3 |
| BUS 6130 | Staffing and Development | 3 |
| BUS 6140 | Compensation and Benefits | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Management and Leadership Track - 9 hours
| BUS 6200 | Leadership and Strategic Planning for Servant Leaders | 3 |
| BUS 6100 | Human Resource Development and Management | 3 |
| BUS 6223 | The Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Nonprofit Leadership and Management Track - 9 hours
| BUS 6240 | Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership and Management | 3 |
| BUS 6250 | Raising Human and Financial Resources for Nonprofits | 3 |
| BUS 6260 | Fiscal Administration in Nonprofits | 3 |
Project Management Track - 9 hours
| PMI 6000 | Introduction to Project and Program Management | 3 |
| PMI 6200 | Project Schedule and Risk Management | 3 |
| PMI 6400 | Cost, Contract, and Procurement Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Total Credit Hours: 36