Degree Requirements
The Political Science Department at UNCG offers the Master of Public Affairs degree for persons interested in professional positions in public service. This program provides advanced training for work in:
- local, state and federal agencies
- private nonprofit agencies and voluntary organizations
- public affairs offices in private businesses
- legislative staff positions
The MPA program provides professional training to meet current demands in public sector positions and to provide the foundation for long-term development and advancement in a public service career. To advance these goals, the Department consults with administrative executives from city, county, regional, state, federal, and private service agencies in North Carolina. We also are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).
Degree Requirements
The Master of Public Affairs degree requires 43 semester hours for students who have not had the internship requirement waived. Students with prior relevant work experience must complete 40 hours. All students must pass a comprehensive essay exam mid-way though the coursework and a written summary of learning paper at the end of their program.
Core courses
Seven courses are required for the core in the MPA program:
- Public Administration and Management
- Politics of Public Policy
- Quantitative Analysis and Program Evaluation
- Budgeting and Fiscal Administration
- Public Personnel Management
- Organizational Behavior
- Legal Issues in Public Administration (one hour)
Electives
Students design their programs by selecting several electives from courses in political science as well as in other departments, such as management and marketing, geography, communication, or economics. Regularly offered elective courses include:
- Local Government Administration
- Urban Politics
- Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations
- Ethics
- Public Personnel Development and Evaluation
- Public Policy Analysis
- Computer Applications
Internships
Students not having approved prior work experience in a professional or managerial position complete a supervised internship in a public or nonprofit agency for 3 to 6 hours credit, beyond the 40 hour requirement.
The internship is usually designed as a paid, full-time professional position during the summer, from approximately May 15 to August 15, between the student's first and second year of academic work. A part-time position for a longer time period is sometimes used as a substitute for the full-time summer internship.
The Students
Students in UNCG's MPA program come from diverse educational, demographic, and employment backgrounds. Both full-time and part-time students are encouraged to develop areas of specialization within public affairs and to complete the program as their work and internship responsibilities permit--usually between two and three years of study.
For More Information
If you would like to interview or obtain more information about any of these students, please contact:
- Dr. Ruth H. DeHoog, MPA Director
- Political Science, UNCG
- P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, N.C. 27402-6170
- Phone: (336) 256-0511 or 334-5093
- FAX: (336) 334-4315
- email: rhdehoog@uncg.edu
