Georgia Public Administration Degrees

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There are 11 colleges in the state that offer a Master of Public Administration program and are accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

Online MPA Programs in Georgia

Of the NASPAA-accredited programs in the state, there are two of them that offer primary or 100 percent online accessibility: Georgia College and State University and Valdosta State University.

Georgia College and State University

The entire MPA program can be completed online through the Department of Government and Sociology. All classes are offered online and live through WebEx and the Desire-2-Learn interactive classroom. An orientation helps students meet with faculty and classmates, a full overview of the program, and how to use the school's online resources. Most classes require students to participate live and at specific times, so a headset with microphone is needed with satisfactory computer and internet requirements.

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Georgia College and State University MPA Curriculum

The curriculum is geared toward full-time students and can be completed in four semesters, or two years. 36 credit hours are divided up with 24 credit hours of core courses, nine credit hours of elective courses, and three credit hours for a capstone project or thesis. Most students have completed the program within three or four years. 96 of the 101 students that have graduated between the 2011-12 and 2016-17 academic years have found employment.

Available Online Public Administration Programs for Georgia

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List of Georgia Public Administration Programs

Quick List of NASPAA Accredited Public Administration Degrees in Georgia

• Albany State University
• Augusta University
• Clark Atlanta University
• Georgia College and State University
• Georgia Southern University
• Georgia State University
• Kennesaw State University
• Savannah State University
• The University of Georgia
• University of West Georgia
• Valdosta State University

The University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs: MPA

The School of Public and International Affairs requires 41 semester hours to complete the MPA program. After a socialization seminar, there are seven core courses under public management and research methods. 18 semester hours of electives are then selected from these different fields of study: Health Policy and Administration, Higher Education Administration, Local Government Administration, Nonprofit Administration, Public Budgeting and Finance Administration, Public Management or Organization Theory, and Public Policy.

An internship requirement is not included in the semester hours, but is still required to get the degree. Students must have a minimum of 300 field hours at the same agency, but this can be met for those already working a government or nonprofit position if the school approves it. Finally, a capstone project counts as the final semester hour.

The MPA curriculum is intended for full-time students and can be completed in four semesters, or two years. Two-thirds of the students entering the program in the 2012-13 academic year achieved a degree in two years with 94 percent of students graduating within three years. 88 percent of the 2017-18 graduates have found employment within six months of completing the degree, most of those (56 percent) going into the public sector.

Savannah State University Master of Public Administration

36 semester credit hours are needed to complete the Master of Public Administration at SSU. 21 hours are geared toward core courses, such as History, Scope and Practice of Public Administration, Organized Theory and Behavior, and Management of Human Resources in the Public Sector. 9-12 hours are reserved for electives, which fall under the categories of Administrative Law, American Public Policy, and Ethics for Public Administration. 3-6 hours are toward an internship for pre-service students, and there is an oral exit exam.

In order to get into the program, students should have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. A completed application is needed with the submission GRE/GMAT test scores, three professional letters of recommendation, an essay between 500 and 1,000 words that details why you are pursuing the degree, official transcripts, and a resume. There is also the potential of an in-person interview when necessary.

Time to complete the program varies by part-time and full-time students, but the average is four semesters, or two years. Of the 33 students that completed the program between the Spring 2013 and 2017 semesters, 31 found employment within six months of graduation, are obtaining further education, or have joined the military.