Public Administration (M.P.A.)

Indiana State University offers an online master of public administration (M.P.A.) for working professionals who have experience in public or nonprofit organizations and now seek a graduate-level degree for career advancement.

• The M.P.A. is a 36-credit-hour program (39 credit hours if an internship is required).
• The online master's degree in public administration includes a focus in public and non-profit organizations. The program requires a three-credit-hour internship with a public agency, but only of those students without public or non-profit work experience.
• Although the program may be completed in just over two calendar years of full-time study, most students complete the program in about three years of part-time study. The University allows part-time students to take up to seven years to earn the degree, although the program is typically completed in far less time.
• The department may approve up to 9 credit hours—3 semester courses—or the equivalent for transfer into the student's program from other universities.
• All seven core courses and the final capstone course are offered by political science department faculty. With approval, students may take elective courses outside the department. Both core and elective courses may be transferred from other institutions with the approval of the program director. The capstone course must be completed at ISU.
• The program now offers elective concentrations in five other ISU online master's programs. They are public policy, nonprofit leadership, criminology/criminal justice, human resources development, and public health.
• This online program is open to eligible students in the U.S. (including the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories). The program also is open to students in Canada (all provinces). The program is closed to students residing in countries other than the U.S. and Canada except for U.S. military and State Department personnel and their family members with APO/FPO addresses.

Most of our students are mid-career, full-time employees of public or non-profit organizations. The M.P.A. is meant to enhance their ability to:

• Implement public and social policy to improve the lives of the general public
• Deliver services to citizens through plans that are transparent, efficient, and ethical
• Influence the direction of both public and private organizations
• React to the complexities of government, configure budgets, and advocate for public services

In addition to the M.P.A., the University offers online graduate certificate programs in public administration and public personnel administration. Courses in either of these certificate programs can be applied toward completion of the master of public administration.

Course Delivery

Courses are delivered via the Internet by two methods: by purely asynchronous web format and by web-based videoconferencing. The elective courses may be offered in either format.

• Web Format: Four core courses (PA 601, 605, 606, and 607) are entirely asynchronous Web courses.
• Videoconferencing: Three other core courses (PA 600, PA 602, PA 604) require students to log in as participants in a Web-based conference during weekly class meetings. However, these courses are also posted in the online platform, Canvas, used by all Web-based programs at ISU.
• Access to Canvas: Students may log into courses in Canvas at any time to send and receive emails, view assignments, and join class discussions. Students must have access to the following to enter classes with web-based videoconferencing components: access to high-speed Internet; headsets (or microphones and speakers); and PC- or MAC-compatible speakers. Web cameras are optional.