2021-2022 Academic Catalog

Offered in: Chicago

The graduate program leading to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) prepares experienced and aspiring administrators to be leaders in government, health, and nonprofit organizations. The curriculum consists of core management and analysis courses and specialized courses in the student’s concentration. Concentrations are offered in health services management, government management, nonprofit management and public finance. Students who have a particular interest in policy can focus solely on policy related issues in their choice of government concentration courses

Roosevelt's Chicago campus is ideally located for aspiring MPAs. Government is the largest single employer in the metropolitan area with agencies at all three levels (federal, state and local); several health care organizations are among the top 25 area employers; and the nonprofit sector is growing more rapidly than any other.

The public administration program draws from — and gives back to — this rich practice laboratory by continually connecting theory with practical application and by involving students in real administrative problems and their solutions. Faculty are primarily teachers, but they are also researchers, consultants, and practicing professionals. Courses are offered in the evening to accommodate students who are employed full-time. In addition, online courses are available and remote access to evening courses can be arranged for students with situations that preclude normal attendance.

Also available:

• Accelerated Political Science BA/MPA in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Accelerated Health Sciences Administration BA/MPA in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Accelerated Sustainability BA/MPA in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Accelerated Criminal Justice BA/MPA in the College of Arts and Sciences

Admission

Applicants with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher are admitted based upon previous academic performance and submission of a one- to two- page essay on an assigned topic is required at the time of course advisement. Applicants with an undergraduate grade point average below 3.0 are considered on the basis of the above plus additional supporting materials: a resume/curriculum vitae to include record of community activism; two letters of recommendation; and a letter of intent discussing the applicant's interest in public administration and the applicant's personal/professional goals.   Information regarding admission is available online or may be obtained from the Arts and Sciences graduate admission counselor or the MPA director. In certain instances, applicants may be admitted on a probationary basis with special restrictions.

Requirements

To earn the MPA degree, students must complete 36 credit hours of course work. Course work must be completed with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students electing the thesis option must have a GPA of 3.7. Students who do not maintain a 3.0 GPA, students who receive more than two grades of C, and students who have one course grade of D or F are subject to dismissal from the program.

Students must choose a concentration in health services management, government management, nonprofit management or public finance at the beginning of the program. Concentration courses must be selected in consultation with their graduate adviser.

Concentration Options for Public Administration

Government Management Concentration

Health Services Management Concentration

Non-Profit Management Concentration

Public Finance Concentration

Continuous Registration

A student who has not completed an internship, thesis, or other final project must maintain continued registration during fall and spring semesters until completion of the project by registering for the appropriate zero-credit course (course number followed by “Y”). Students who have not maintained continuous registration for internship, or other final project will be required to register for all intervening fall and spring semesters prior to graduation.

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different. No more than two grades of C (not C-) may be applied toward the 36 hours used for the degree. A graduate course can only be repeated once; no more than two courses can be repeated.

The below degree map is for students beginning in the Fall semester. Students beginning the in the Spring semester would take classes in the following order: (1) Year 1 Spring, (2) Year 1 Fall, (3) Year 2 Spring, (4) Year 2 Fall.