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Master of Public Administration

One Innovative Program. Two Flexible Tracks.

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MPA Program Fast Facts

Degree: Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Format: Hybrid (Online and Statesboro Campus) or Executive Track (Fully Online)

Concentrations: Public Management or Nonprofit Management (Hybrid Track Only)

Credit Hours: 39 Hours

Completion Time: Five semesters

Priority Deadline*: October 15, 2022

Admission Deadline*: January 1, 2023

*Executive Track only admits students during the Spring Semester. The MPA degree does not offer summer admission.

Our Masters in Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at Georgia Southern University is a professional graduate degree designed for management and administration in the public sector and nonprofit organizations. Our NASPAA-accredited MPA program provides the focused training you’ll need to excel in a leadership role, mastering a broad set of skills including:

Budgeting and Finance
Economic Analysis
Human Resource Management
Policy Analysis
Information Technology
Resource Development and Grant writing
Program Evaluation
Strategic Management
And more!

With a Master of Public Administration degree, you will gain the advanced career-oriented professional knowledge and skills to elevate your career as a driven leader in public service, government and nonprofit organizations.

Since 1973, Georgia Southern University’s MPA degree program has been a leader in the advancement of public and nonprofit management education. Today, the MPA program is recognized as one of the top graduate programs at the University and one of the best and most affordable MPA programs in Georgia.*

Master of Public Administration, Hybrid Track

The Hybrid Track is ideal for current and aspiring public service professionals who are seeking an innovative, yet more traditional graduate education experience. This track provides an effective education that combines the best of online and in-person course delivery. For example, a typical course divides up online (50%) and in-person (50%) instruction across the semester. In-person instruction takes place on Georgia Southern’s Statesboro Campus, which is the oldest and largest campus at the University. Choose between two concentrations, Public Management or Nonprofit Management.

Master of Public Administration, Online Executive Track

The Executive Track is designed for individuals with a minimum of three years of relevant work experience in the public (civil or military) sector, nonprofit organization, or closely related position. This cohort-based lock-step track is offered fully online with courses delivered in an abbreviated format. The Executive Track admits cohorts annually each spring, with the entire program taking 18-months to complete. In the Executive Track, concentration courses have been carefully selected to expose students to a range of cutting-edge skills and ideas spanning public and nonprofit management.

Where have alumni found jobs in Public Administration?

U.S. Department of Treasury
Federal Aviation Administration
Boys and Girls Club of America
Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (Georgia)
City of Savannah

See More Alumni Placements

Admissions Requirements

MPA Program Admission

Admission to the MPA program is competitive. While all students are welcome to apply to the Hybrid Track, note that we do not accept international students to the Executive Track. To apply, applicants must have:

Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, with a minimum 2.75 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average.
Resume detailing relevant work and volunteer experience.
Essay describing applicant’s career goals and objectives, as well as potential for success in the program.
Executive Track applicants must have a minimum of three years of relevant work experience in the public (civil or military) sector, nonprofit organization, or closely related position.
TOEFL or IELTS scores (if applicant does not hold a degree from a program or university where English is the official language of instruction).

Additional Considerations

In addition to the above admission standards, international students should visit the College of Graduate Studies for eligibility requirements, as well as for information on out-of-country tuition waivers. International prospective students should also visit the Office of International Programs and Services for information on I-20/DS-2019 visa requests. Note that international students may only be admitted to the Hybrid Track.

International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES accredited evaluation service and must be a course by course evaluation and include a GPA. Please note that the Department of Public and Nonprofit Studies is not able to waive the application fee or pay for international transcript evaluation.

Georgia Southern is a military-friendly institution. Additional consideration is given to applicants with service in any military branch, reserve unit, or National Guard (active, retired, or prior service; Form DD214 #4 required).

All graduate assistantship (GA) positions in the Department of Public and Nonprofit Studies have been awarded for the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters. Additional GA opportunities can be found on the College of Graduate Studies website. Students should reach out to the listed contact(s) for more information about a listed position.

Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program

If you are a bachelor’s degree student interested in a Master’s in Public Administration, you may be eligible for an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s (ABM) program. ABM programs allow you to begin graduate studies in the senior year of your bachelor’s degree so you can accelerate completion of a graduate degree. You’ll earn both a bachelor’s and a graduate degree faster. And since any graduate courses taken as an undergraduate are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate, you’ll save money too. Learn more about the accelerated bachelor’s to master’s programs for the MPA.

FAQs for the Masters in Public Administration

How is the MPA program structured?

The MPA program is offered in two tracks – Hybrid and Executive. The Hybrid Track blends online and face-to-face instruction on the Statesboro Campus. The Executive Track is a fully online program, designed for individuals with a minimum of three years of relevant work experience in the public (civil or military) sector, nonprofit organization, or closely related position.

Is the MPA program accredited?

Yes! The MPA program is NASPAA accredited and is a member of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC).

What is the format of the MPA program?

In the Hybrid Track, courses are taught in a blended format where 50% of a course is online and 50% occurs in-person. On a very limited basis, a course may be offered in a fully online, in-person, or weekend intensive format. The Executive Track is offered fully online with courses delivered in an abbreviated format. The Executive Track admits cohorts annually each spring, with the entire program taking 18-months to complete.

How does the Hybrid Track work?

The Hybrid Track provides current and aspiring public and nonprofit management professionals with an innovative and effective education that combines the best of online and in-person course delivery. We strive to develop the very best — educated, highly skilled, and ethical — public and nonprofit leaders.

Is there a fully-online option?

Yes! The Executive Track is a fully online version of our NASPAA accredited and nationally respected MPA program.

Can I attend the MPA program as a part-time or full-time student?

Yes! Hybrid Track students may attend the MPA program full-time (9-credit hours) or part-time (6-credit hours or less). For financial aid purposes, students need to take at least 6-credit hours in order to receive financial aid. For more information contact the Georgia Southern Office of Financial Aid. The Executive Track is a cohort-based, lock-step track that is designed for full-time enrollment. Please contact the Department of Public and Nonprofit Studies to discuss part-time attendance in this track.

Are there plans to expand the MPA program?

The MPA program continues to expand! Our two-track program is the next iteration of the MPA program that has 50 years of experience to build on. The current MPA course schedule (PBAD or NMLI – 7000 level courses) can be found using the university’s course search tool.

Do you accept international students to the MPA program?

Yes! For admission to the Hybrid Track, we welcome applications from students outside of the United States. International applicants should closely review the information found on the College of Graduate Studies website as well as the university’s Office of International Programs and Services. Please note that we do not accept international students to the Executive Track.

What type of funding opportunities are available?

The Department of Public and Nonprofit Studies is typically awards graduate research or teaching assistantships to a handful of exceptionally qualified students. Other graduate assistantship opportunities may be available outside of the department. General information pertaining to graduate assistantships can be found at on the College of Graduate Studies website, including a list of available assistantships outside the department. International students may be eligible for an out of country tuition waiver that reduces the cost of tuition and fees to the in-state rate.

How long does it take to complete the MPA program?

The MPA program requires successful completion of 39-credit hours. In the Hybrid Track, full-time students typically complete the MPA in two years whereas students attending part-time finish in 2.5 to 4 years. The Executive Track is designed for full-time enrollment and takes only 18-months to complete.

Who are the faculty for the MPA program?

Our MPA program faculty are top teachers and researchers in their field. Students can also expect to learn from invited guest speakers and, on occasion, adjunct instructors who have specialized expertise in a given area.

Who can I contact for more information about the MPA program?

If you have a question, click on the “Chat with us Now” link found in the bottom right hand corner of each webpage. Alternatively, you may send an email to mpa@georgiasouthern.edu, call the Department of Public and Nonprofit Studies at 912-478-1400, or visit the department located in the Carroll Building, Rm. 1068 on the Statesboro Campus.

Still Have Questions? Contact Us!

Department of Public and Nonprofit Studies
Georgia Southern University
P.O. Box 8048
Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8048

Phone: 912-478-1400
Email: mpa@georgiasouthern.edu

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A Nationally Accredited Program

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is a NASPAA accredited degree program. The Department of Public and Nonprofit Studies is a member of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC).

NASPAA Accredited. The Commission on Review and Accreditation.

*Ranked No. 2 in Affordable Colleges in Georgia 2021 by College Affordability Guide, No. 4 for 2020 Most Affordable Online Public Administration Degrees by OnlineU. Ranked No. 4 in Georgia for the MPA program in the 2020 Best Public Administration Colleges in Georgia.

Last updated: 3/20/2022