Online Master of Public Administration and Leadership Handbook

The online MPAL core curriculum is designed as an integrated curriculum targeted at advancing the management and leadership skills of working professionals. The core curriculum consists of seven required courses.

• PUBAFRS 6051 – Introduction to Public Affairs and Orientation to the Program
  Prepares students for their roles as action-oriented administrators, managers, and leaders within a democratic system of governance. Students will explore the context of public sector management and leadership.
• PUBAFRS 6060 – Managerial Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
  Introduces best practices on supervising and managing, and how to recruit, motivate, and retain talents in public organizations. This course also teaches about the leadership skills and practices needed to lead high-performing public service organizations.
• PUBAFRS 6045 – Fundamentals of Budgeting & Financial Administration
  Provides a high-level understanding of government and nonprofit budgeting processes by focusing on planning and financial decision-making in public and nonprofit organizations. Students will be able to understand, communicate, and participate in the budgetary process.
• PUBAFRS 6055 – Judgment in Managerial Decision-Making
  Provides opportunities for managers to identify common biases and logical fallacies in decision-making and employ skills and techniques to compensate for them.
• PUBAFRS 6075 – Data, Models, and Evaluation
  Provides students with the knowledge and tools necessary to analyze data. Students will learn the fundamentals of statistics needed to conduct analyses, and will develop an understanding of program evaluation and research design in order to evaluate the quality of analyses conducted by others and communicate findings.
• PUBAFRS 6530 – Negotiation
• Explores the major concepts and theories behind the psychology of bargaining and negotiation and improves students’ negotiation skills.
• PUBAFRS 7990 – Capstone
  Online MPAL students will take capstone class in their final semester. All core classes must be completed before the capstone with the exception of 6530, which is taken concurrently with capstone. The capstone class integrates the fundamental knowledge and skills gained in the online MPAL curriculum and further applies them to relevant workplace situations. The online MPAL capstone will integrate skills and concepts through the writing of short professional briefs. 
  
  The capstone course has two main components: 1) developing one of the core course assignments or products to include specific managerial recommendations so that it can be utilized in the workplace; and 2) acquiring and displaying a set of skills to effectively communicate the management recommendation to relevant audiences(s).
  
  Students who do not successfully complete the capstone with a grade of a B or higher will be required to take a second capstone course.

Online MPAL students are required to take 12 credit hours of elective coursework—usually four, three-credit hour elective classes. Elective coursework provides opportunities for students to pursue specialized interests or broaden their knowledge as well as to apply skills learned in the core courses to management and policy issues or problems.

Students also have the option to create a more focused degree by selecting a specialization in Public Management, Public Policy, Criminal Justice Administration, or Nonprofit Management. 

Students may also take relevant electives outside the Glenn College by Petition to Count Outside Coursework form which students may obtain from their advisor or on the Graduate Advising website. Glenn College advisors are prepared to assist students in identifying relevant elective coursework both within and outside the college.

The Public Management specialization is designed for students who would like to focus even more on managerial and leadership skills. Students completing the Public Management specialization will be prepared to

• effectively apply management theory to practical management challenges;
• diagnose complex situations and resolve them in ways that enhance organizational performance;
• engage in fundamental strategic management techniques;
• set organizational priorities, use performance data to manage operations and use performance information to develop more effective employees and make financial decisions;
• effectively manage projects

The Public Policy specialization is designed for students who would prefer to develop their public policy knowledge and policy analysis skills. Students completing the Public Policy specialization will be able to

• understand the public policy process;
• apply the concepts from economics to policy problems;
• set up basic program evaluations and evaluate the evaluations conducted by others;
• further develop their analytic tools or knowledge of a specific policy area

The Criminal Justice Administration and Policy specialization, developed in conjunction with the Department of Sociology, is designed for students who would like to develop their managerial skills in the field of criminal justice.  Students completing the specialization will be prepared to

• understand the criminal justice system generally as well as specifically in Ohio;
• understand the role of administrators in a criminal justice system;
• understand crime and society’s responses to crime, based on public policy and the criminal justice system;
• make evidence-based recommendations regarding key correctional populations (arrestees, probationers, prisoners, parolees, drug abusers, and others);
• articulate best practices related to prisons and jails;
• develop an understanding of criminal careers and recidivism

Coursework for this specialization will be offered by the Department of Sociology in addition to the Glenn College.

he Nonprofit Management specialization is designed for students who would like to focus even more on the management skills unique to nonprofit organizations. Students completing this specialization will:

• learn to assess and manage nonprofit capacity to achieve organizational performance and system impact;
• learn the fundamentals of nonprofit budgeting, accounting, and financial management;
• be prepared to engage in development and fundraising strategies, process and systems;
• grow their expertise in marketing for nonprofit and public sector organizations

*Note: Some courses in the Nonprofit Management specialization are only offered in person. Please consult your advisor for course planning and additional information.

To be eligible for the online MPAL program, an applicant must have at least three years 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 used in the determination of eligibility.

MPAL applications are accepted for the autumn and spring semesters. For all Glenn College master’s 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
• Statement of Purpose*
• Resume 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

*Note: the online MPAL program website includes information on expectations for the statement of purpose and letters of recommendation.

In addition to reviewing the steps below, students are also encouraged to visit the online MPAL program website on the Glenn College website for more detailed information on how to apply.

Step One

Complete the online application via Ohio State’s 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.

Note: The Ohio State University Alumni Association and the Office of Distance Education have established a benefit for Ohio State alumni: graduates of Ohio State who apply to an online degree or certificate program are eligible for an application fee waiver. Follow directions on the application to request the fee waiver.

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 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.

TOEFL (or IELTS) scores are required for all international applications except for those from exempted countries.

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 at a later date:

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

*Note:  the online MPAL 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 and Spring Semester Admission

The final application deadlines are May 15 (Autumn) and November 1 (Spring). International applications may have earlier deadlines.

Continue to check the on the Graduate Admissions website for the online MPAL Program to get up-to-date information on deadlines and requirements.

External funding sources may be available 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.