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Master of Public Administration
Job Opportunities for 2010 Graduate School Graduates
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) in Washington, D.C., has just announced a new graduate fellowship program designed to increase diversity in the field of state public policy.
Applications are due by January 15, 2010. One of the placement possibilities is at CPPP in Austin. Here are the details:
Sponsored by CBPP in coordination with the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative (SFAI), the State Policy Fellowship Program seeks highly-qualified candidates to serve two years as entry-level analysts working within an influential state policy organization such as CPPP or at the CBPP’s state fiscal division in Washington D.C. Fellows will gain hands-on education and experience while working alongside experts in the field of state policy to analyze the impact of state budget and tax policy choices on low-income residents and promote positive reforms. The program offers a competitive salary with health benefits and features professional development opportunities. To expand the diversity of voices that speak with authority in state policy debates, the program seeks highly qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds who recently received a graduate degree in public policy, public affairs, economics, social work, public health, law, or a related field, and have an interest in state fiscal policies affecting low- and moderate-income households. Completed applications must be submitted online by January 15, 2010. For more information and to apply, visit http://www.cbpp.org/fellowship
The Master of Public Administration program (MPA), offered through the Department of Political Science, is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.
Distinguishing characteristics of the program include opportunities for students from a variety of academic backgrounds; various times and locations for classes; a choice of diverse subspecialties; rich and frequent contact between students and faculty; opportunities for professional networking for students with alumni; focus on continued professional development; emphasis on management in political institutions and processes; intergrations of theoretical and applied approaches to management.
The MPA program's mission is to prepare students for careers as managers and leaders in public service.
Program Mission Statement
Admission
To qualify for admission for the MPA degree you must have the following:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- A GRE score on file in the Graduate College
- A GPA of 2.75 (4.0) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate courses and a preferred GRE score (verbal and quantitative combined) of 900 or above. A preferred GRE score of 1000 (verbal and quantitative combined) is required if the GPA is below 2.75.
- A score of 550 on the TOEFL and a score of 3 on the TWE examination are required for international students
The MPA program consists of 39 credit hours, 30 of which are core courses. The remaining nine (9) hours may be selected from the following career support areas:
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Students
Class enrollment is usually between 10 and 20 students. Each class is typically offered one evening per week, either on the main campus in San Marcos or at sites in downtown and North Austin. Students in the MPA program have varied academic backgrounds and work experiences. Since classes are small, students and instructors have continuing opportunities to take advantage of the diversity of backgrounds represented in the classroom.
Alumni
MPA program alumni hold responsible management positions in city, county, state, and national government as well as the private and non-profit sectors. Their achievements reflect the diversity, challenges, and opportunities in the public sector, and are a valuable resource to both the students and the faculty of the MPA program.
Award-Winning Student Research
Since 1997, there have been 5 national and 10 regional awards for student research papers. -- View the Award Winning Research Projects
Additional Information
Contact Information
| Ms. Dodie Weidner Administrative Assistant dw29@txstate.edu (512) 245-2143 ELA 266 | Dr. Patricia Shields Director, MPA Program ps07@txstate.edu (512) 245-2143 ELA 266 |