In-Career Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management Handbook

The MPA core curriculum is designed to provide a solid grounding in the study of public policy, economics, data analysis, management and leadership. The core curriculum consists of eight required classes, divided into four streams:

Public Policy Stream

• PUBAFRS 6000 – Public Policy Formulation and Implementation
  Analysis of the operating environment of the public administrator: public policy processes, public organization behavior, and policy formulation in the U.S. federal system.
• PUBAFRS 6010– Legal Environment of Public Organizations
  Examination of public administration within the managerial, political and legal traditions of the U.S. Constitution with the goal of teaching public managers how to work with the law through an understanding of legal concepts, jargon, skills, and issues. The course covers federal & Ohio law.

Economics Stream

• PUBAFRS 6030 – Public Affairs Economics
  Economic analysis applied to problems of public policy selection and government management operations; efficiency criteria, market failure, and public choice applied to administrative decision-making.
• PUBAFRS 6040 – Public Finance and Budgeting
  Comprehensive survey and analysis of the principal fiscal activities of contemporary governments; logic of public-sector activity; taxation principles and practice, intergovernmental relations, and current fiscal problems. Budgeting as analysis of resource allocation, planning evaluation, and control; tools of analysis for program budgeting and measurement of program results; case studies. Pre-requisite: PUBAFRS 6030.

Management Stream

• PUBAFRS 6050 – Managing Public Sector Organizations
  Analysis of alternative approaches to the management of public agencies. Examination of alternative strategies that managers may use to link the agency to its operating environment.
  -or-
• PUBAFRS 7553 – Nonprofit Management and Governance
  An advanced survey course that provides students with theoretical knowledge and practical tools needed to manage nonprofit organizations.
• PUBAFRS 6060 – Managerial Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
  Development of analytic and interpersonal skills needed for public sector management.  Analytical and experiential learning through reading, lecture, discussion, case analysis, in-class presentations, management decision-making simulations and role-playing.

Quantitative Decision-Making Stream

• PUBAFRS 6070 – Public Affairs Statistics
  Provides students with analytical knowledge and tools necessary to acquire, manage and analyze data. Students learn probability and statistics to conduct analysis and evaluation and evaluate the quality of analyses conducted by others.
• PUBAFRS 6080 – Public and Nonprofit Program Evaluation
  Survey of the conceptual, methodological, bureaucratic, political and organizational issues surrounding evaluation research.
  Pre-requisite: PUBAFRS 6070

In-career MA students are required to take 3 credit hours of elective coursework—usually one three-credit-hour class. Students are encouraged to talk with faculty and advisors about ways to tailor elective coursework to suit their interests. Glenn College electives provide opportunities for students to apply skills learned in the core courses to real world policy issues and problems and serve to transition students’ perspectives from theoretical knowledge to the application of theory to solve problems and address the issues facing society today.

Students may also take relevant electives outside the Glenn College to apply towards degree requirements by using the Petition to Count Outside Coursework form that students may obtain from their advisor or on the Graduate Advising website. Prior approval is required, and courses must be at least three graduate credit hours to be considered. Glenn College advisors are prepared to assist students in identifying relevant elective coursework both within and outside the Glenn College.

Skills courses are not required for in-career MA students but may be helpful if students have a specific skill they are looking to develop. Three one-credit-hour skills classes can serve to meet the three-credit-hour elective requirement for in-career MA students.

The capstone course is designed as the exit requirement for the program and requires students to receive a grade of B or higher to fulfill the requirement. A student who receives a grade below a B or takes an “Incomplete” grade in the capstone course will be required to take a second capstone course. A student has only two chances to achieve a grade of B or better in the capstone. In-career MA students also must attain a grade of Pass on the capstone midterm assessment. Students should plan to enroll in the capstone course in their final semester, unless special circumstances merit an earlier enrollment (dual degree or special research interest, for example). All core courses except PUBAFRS 6060 are expected to be complete prior to enrollment in a capstone course to best prepare students for success in the class. Please see Appendix K for more information on the capstone requirement.

To be eligible to apply for the in-Career MA program, an applicant must have at least three years[1] of significant post-baccalaureate administrative or analytical work experience. Administrative experience may include responsibility for personnel and/or budget decisions within an organization. Analytical experience may include responsibility for researching and/or writing reports that inform decision making within an organization. The admissions committee also looks to see whether an applicant had increased responsibility over time.

Before applying, individuals should submit a resume for review by the Graduate Studies Committee to determine program eligibility. Email resumes to GlennApply@osu.edu. Applicants should specifically address the factors listed in the paragraph above that are used in the determination of eligibility.

To succeed in the MA coursework, the Glenn College strongly recommends that applicants complete the following undergraduate courses as preparation:

• Microeconomics
• Statistics
• American Government or American History

While the courses are not formal prerequisite requirements, the master’s programs have strong analytical components and are framed in the context of the American government, and our courses are taught with the expectation that entering students have familiarity with the basic concepts from these courses. Prior coursework is also an element in the admission decision.

Prospective/admitted students may take preparatory coursework at any college or university. Students admitted into the John Glenn College may also contact the Student Services Office prior to starting the program to discuss how to incorporate these undergraduate classes into their program of study.

For all MA applicants, the admissions committee considers applications holistically; weighing all components with the student’s potential to succeed in mind.

Required materials include the following:

• Original Graduate Admissions online application
• All undergraduate (and if applicable, graduate) transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation (letters from previous instructors are preferred)
• Statement of purpose
• Resume or CV describing work experience and/or related activities
• GRE scores are not required for any applicant to a master’s level program at the Glenn College. However, applicants with a GPA that falls below a 3.0 are encouraged to contact the Glenn College for further direction in strengthening their application since those applicants require final approval from the Graduate School to be admitted.
• International students must submit TOEFL or IELTS test scores; scores should be above the equivalent of a TOEFL iBT Total Score of 100 for consideration.

Please see the in-career MA Program website for more detail on these items.

In addition to reviewing the steps below, students are also encouraged to visit the in-career MA Program website on the Glenn College website for more detailed information on how to apply.

Step One

Complete the online application through the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. The application requires a non-refundable fee of $60 ($70 for international applicants). If a student is interested in switching from one graduate program into a Glenn College master’s program, or if a student has completed a graduate degree from Ohio State previously, the student should contact the Graduate School for eligibility guidelines and procedures.

Step Two

Send transcripts to Graduate Admissions or upload them to your online application. Transcripts are required for every college/university you have attended aside from Ohio State. For complete details regarding transcript requirements, please reference the Graduate Admissions webpage.

Step Three

Submit official test scores (if needed): GRE scores are not required for any applicant to a master’s level program at the Glenn College. However, applicants with a GPA that falls below a 3.0 are encouraged to contact the Glenn College for further direction in strengthening their application since those applicants require final approval from the Graduate School in order to be admitted. TOEFL (or IELTS) scores are required for all international applications except for those from exempted countries. GMAT or LSAT scores may also be accepted in place of the GRE on a case-by-case basis: please check with Student Services before planning to use LSAT scores.

Official GRE and GMAT Codes (Optional)

• GRE Institution Code: 1592 ; Department Code: 2204
• GMAT Program Code: ZLJ-GT-29 Masters in Public Policy

TOEFL Test Score Codes

• Institution Code: 1592; Department Code: 94

Ohio State Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions Contact Information

• Phone: (614) 292-9444
• Website: http://gpadmissions.osu.edu/
• Email: gpadmissions@osu.edu
• Mailing Address:
  Graduate Admissions Office
  The Ohio State University
  P.O. Box 182004
  Columbus, OH 43218-2004 US

Step Four

Attach these additional materials to the online application, or upload online via the Application Document Uploader at a later date:

• Resume
• Statement of Purpose*
• Three letters of recommendation* (should be requested through your online application)

*Note: the in-career MA Program website includes information on expectations for the statement of purpose and letters of recommendation.

Applicants may check the status of their application online. Application materials may be attached in any order using the online uploader; only complete applications are sent for review by the faculty.

Deadlines for Autumn Semester Admission

The final application deadlines are June 15 (Autumn), November 1 (Spring) and March 1 (Summer). International applications may have earlier deadlines.

Please check the Graduate Admissions page on the in-career MA Program website for application deadlines and the link to the application.

External funding sources may be awarded in a variety of areas. In addition to those found on this web page, resources available to help you find additional scholarships include libraries, your local chamber of commerce office, college counselors and the Internet. Prospective students should also inquire at their current place of employment to determine if financial aid benefits are offered.

CDW is a scholarship/grant offering program at Ohio State offering financial support to students, faculty, and staff.  CDW is comprised of three funds:

• Re-Entry Scholarships – Scholarships for women seeking degrees whose education has been interrupted due to unforeseen circumstances such as family responsibilities or financial constraints.
• Research on Women Grants – Grants for faculty members and doctoral students (both male and female) who are conducting research on areas of women’s lives, including gender and gender equity.
• Professional Development Grants – Designed to facilitate professional development and career mobility of women.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you would like to apply for financial aid through the university (the Ohio State school code is #003090). We recommend that all students complete the FAFSA whether or not a final decision has been made on the application or before knowing of any funding opportunities: the annual deadline is usually February 1. Please consult the university’s Office of Student Financial Aid website for current information regarding need-based aid and student loans.