The Master of Public Administration program (MPA) is a 36-credit hour program designed for individuals employed or interested in service in federal, state, local, regional, and international government, non-profit and non-governmental organizations. Non-profit organizations include museums, membership associations, and other 501 (c) (3) institutions. Non-profit organizations also include hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. The curriculum is based on the standards of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The MPA Program seeks to create competencies for the student in line with those of NASPAA. At the completion of the degree students should be competent to:
- manage in public organizations
- participate in and contribute to the policy process
- analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
- communicate and interact with diverse groups and in diverse settings
The degree program will also emphasis the following public service values:
- Accountability
- Transparency
- Respect for citizen privacy
- Ethical actions and values
- Participatory process
Courses within the curriculum are grouped into four areas: core courses, areas of concentration, research/internship, and capstone experience. The six-course core sequence provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to become effective public managers. Students then pursue a greater depth of study in a four course concentration in either public management or health care administration. Following the core course sequence and the chosen concentration, students complete either an internship (pre-service students) or a research course (in-service students). The 36-credit
hour curriculum is completed with a capstone project of the student’s own design guided by faculty advisement. As students’ progress through the Program they are encouraged to draw on the full array of research opportunities available through the MPA and allied resources as they consider their capstone project.
Applying to the MPA Program
To be considered for admission to the Master of Public Administration degree program, applicants must hold an earned Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university. To apply, submit the following:
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
- Career statement (two double-spaced pages maximum) describing interest in Public Administration/Management, career goals, and contributions to the Master’s Program in Public Administration at Roger Williams University.
- Two letters of recommendation attesting to your potential to succeed in graduate school.
- Current resume.
- If your first language is not English, an official report of TOEFL or IELTS results.
- Completed application form accompanied by the $50 application fee.
