Master of Public Administration Handbook

Published Date November 01, 2023
News Type College News

The MPA program consists of a two-year full-time course of study at Ohio State’s Columbus campus, which prepares students for leadership and analytical positions in the public and nonprofit sectors. The program requires a minimum of 52 credit hours of coursework made up of 32 hours of core courses, 12 credit hours of elective courses, 5 credit hours of skills courses, and a 3-credit hour capstone. The MPA is a broadly applicable, skills-based program that is highly tailorable to students’ academic and professional interest areas.

Master of Public Administration, Washington, D.C. (MPA-DC)

MPA applicants may also wish to consider the MPA-DC program option. MPA-DC is a living/learning/interning experience for graduate students in the second year of the John Glenn College MPA program. Students in the MPA-DC program begin their studies by completing coursework in Columbus during their first year. In their second year, MPA-DC students move to Washington and take up internships in federal agencies, Congressional committees, think tanks, consulting firms, federal contractors, advocacy organizations and other substantive policy positions while completing their degree through a combination of online and in-person courses. Students in the MPA-DC program meet all the requirements of the MPA program by completing 52 credits over the course of the full-time program. They replace one of their elective classes with PUBAFRS 7600 – Federal Policy and Administration and replace two of their three optional skills classes with PUBAFRS 6540 – Professional Development and PUBAFRS 5545 – Make a Difference in Washington.

Curriculum

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

MPA students are required to complete at least five credit hours of skills courses. Students must take PUBAFRS 6500: Written and Oral Communications (two credit hours) plus three one-credit hour skills courses of their choice. See the advising sheets for a variety of topics.

MPA students are required to take 12 credit hours of elective coursework—usually four three-credit-hour classes. 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.

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 complete a second capstone course. A student has only two chances to achieve a grade of B or better in the capstone.  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 completed 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.

Graduation Requirements

  • Completion of a minimum of 52 credit hours of approved graduate course work within six calendar years
  • Achievement of a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in all courses taken for graduate credit (see Graduate School Handbook)
  • Registration during the final semester of the degree program for a minimum of three graduate credit hours (see Graduate School Handbook)
  • Completion of an Application to Graduate with the Graduate School, using GradForms by the deadline set by the Glenn College. If a student does not meet requirements (i.e. grade below a B in the capstone), a new application to graduate may be filed in a subsequent term. The Graduate School will not accept late applications to graduate.
  • Satisfactory completion of capstone course (grade of B or higher required)

Applications and Admissions

To succeed in the MPA coursework, the Glenn College strongly recommends that applicants complete the following undergraduate courses before starting the program 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 of the admission decision process.

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

Required materials include the following:

Please see the MPA Program website for more detail on these items.

In addition to reviewing the steps below, students are also encouraged to visit the MPA Program website for more detailed information on how to apply.

Step One

Complete the online application through Graduate Admissions. The priority funding application deadline, with all required materials included in the application including transcripts and letters of recommendation, is December 1st (November 1st international). 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

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 MPA 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; and please note only complete applications are sent for review by the faculty.

Deadlines for Autumn Semester Admission

The priority funding application deadline, with all required materials included in the application including transcripts and letters of recommendation, is December 1st (November 1st international). Final application deadlines are April 15 (Autumn), November 1 (Spring) and March 1 (Summer). International applications may have earlier deadlines than noted.

Continue to check the MPA Program website to get up-to-date information on deadlines and requirements.

Funding

A variety of merit-based funding opportunities exist for MPA students.  Below is a description of the most common funding opportunities available through the Glenn College and Ohio State. To be considered for these opportunities, please plan to apply before the priority application deadline of December 1st  for domestic applicants and November 1st for international applicants (or the next business day after these dates if they happen to fall on a weekend).  Anyone who applies by the priority deadline will automatically be considered for all merit-based funding through the Glenn College and will be given the opportunity to provide an optional diversity statement to assist with Enrichment Fellowship nominations. Please note that all application materials must be in by this funding priority date to be considered, including transcripts and letters of recommendation.

*NOTE: The Glenn College does not fund off-term applicants. If you are interested in funding, please apply for an autumn semester start.

University Fellowship Competition:
Fellowship awards are non-service appointments (e.g., no work requirement) providing a monthly stipend and payment of resident or non-resident tuition and fees. They are regarded as the most prestigious form of support awarded to graduate students, and they are offered on a highly competitive basis. Graduate School Fellowships are limited in number and are awarded through a college and university-wide competition to those applicants who show outstanding scholarly accomplishment and the most outstanding potential for graduate study.  There is also a Graduate Enrichment Fellowship specifically for students who will bring diversity to the Graduate School, defined broadly. The Fellowship competitions are administered by the Graduate School and nominations are made and submitted by graduate programs. There is no separate application for these awards, and students do not need to submit anything additional with their application to be considered, aside from an optional diversity statement on the application for consideration for the Graduate Enrichment Fellowship.

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships:
FLAS Fellowships are available for Ohio State graduate and professional school students who are pursuing a course of study which requires advanced foreign language and area studies training. Eligible languages include Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Georgian, (Modern) Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Quechua, Romanian, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Tibetan, Turkish, Uzbek, and Yiddish. Students must either be a current student (or admitted) in a graduate program at Ohio State.

Graduate Research or Teaching Assistantships (GRAs or GTAs) are awarded competitively to top incoming students each year (the number of awards per year may vary) both within the Glenn College and with a number of off-campus agency partners.

These assistantships provide a monthly stipend and payment of resident or non-resident tuition and most fees. In addition to teaching assistant appointments, the Glenn College structures GRA positions as internships within or outside the college in collaboration with a variety of state, county and/or local agencies, non-profit organizations and private sector organizations that are closely tied to the public sector. GRA partnerships vary from year to year based on partners’ availability. Student Services works with partners and students individually to determine the best match for both based on the pool of positions and students’ interests and qualifications.

Occasionally, GRA opportunities become available mid-year, or for second-year students. Students will be notified by Student Services as these arise. Other GRA positions may also be offered by other units on campus for research, teaching assistant, or administrative work.

Departmental Scholarships:
In addition to being automatically considered for first-year scholarships if applications are complete by the priority deadline of December 1st (domestic) or November 1st (international), the Glenn College also provides a second-year scholarship application in early summer for students who have completed at least one semester of coursework.

University Scholarships:
Glenn College students may also apply for any special-eligibility university scholarships for which they meet the criteria. This list is updated periodically.

External Funding Sources:
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.

Critical Difference for Women (CDW):
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.

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