Public Administration (M.A.)

Offered by SVSU’s Department of Political Science, the Master of Arts in Public Administration prepares students for leadership and administrative roles in public sector organizations. The objective of the Master of Arts Public Administration is to provide educational and professional development for people employed in, or seeking advancement to, leadership positions in the public sector including government, human services, criminal justice, higher education, and public and private non-profit agency administration. The program is designed and primarily intended for those who have earned baccalaureate degrees in public administration, political science, criminal justice, other social sciences, and the liberal arts. Those who have earned degrees in other disciplines are welcome to apply. However, those seeking advanced training in business administration should consider the Master of Business Administration at SVSU.

Mission Statement

The Saginaw Valley State University Master of Public Administration Program is designed to provide high-quality preparation for careers or career-advancement in fields including government, human services, criminal justice, higher education, and public and private non-profit agency administration. The Program stresses the acquisition of knowledge to develop an ethical and professional commitment to public service values and practices.

Student Program Goals  

• To lead and manage in public governance
• To participate in, and contribute to, the policy and financial processes of public organizations
• To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
• To interact productively and ethically with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry
• To communicate effectively in oral and written discourse with a diverse and changing workforce and public 

Program Learning Objectives

Learning Objective 1: Graduates will demonstrate basic understanding of theories, concepts, and practices relevant to public administration and its sub-fields.

Learning Objective 2: Graduates will acquire critical thinking and problem solving skills that are applied in the public service sector.

Learning Objective 3: Graduates will demonstrate the appropriate skills to be able to recruit, lead, motivate, and manage a diverse workforce.

Learning Objective 4: Graduates will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of ethics and integrity in public service and reflect on ways to incorporate public service values in administering agencies, policies and programs.

Learning Objective 5: Graduates will demonstrate proficiency in clear oral and written communication by presenting succinct, well-organized materials and analysis tailored to the needs of their audience.

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Undergraduate prerequisites include not less than three credits in statistics and/or research methods.
• A completed application for graduate admission.
• Official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
• A current résumé.
• A one-page statement of accomplishments and academic goals.

International students must show a grade or “B” or better for at least one year of English composition or its equivalent. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate competence in English. The Program accepts a score of 79 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL-IBT), 6. 5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or a passing score on an alternative test as determined by the College. SVSU’s English Language Program is available for students without a TOEFL or IELTS score or whose TOEFL or IELTS score is below the required minimum. Successful completion of the English Language Program does not guarantee acceptance to a graduate program at SVSU.

International students must submit Evidence of Financial Support.

An international applicant with a three year Bachelor’s degree from an approved institution of higher learning may be eligible for admission to the Master’s degree program based on successful completion of a bridging program of 18-24 credits approved by the Program Coordinator. The bridging program does not result in a Bachelor’s degree, but does allow for consideration for admission to the Master’s program.

Admission Status

Full admission may be granted to applicants who have fully satisfied all admissions requirements.

Probationary admission may be granted to applicants whose undergraduate GPA is below 2.95, but no lower than 2.75. Applicants whose undergraduate GPA is lower than 2.75 will not be considerred for admission. If such probationary status is granted, the student must maintain a 3.00 graduate GPA for the first 9 credits (three courses) taken to remain in the program.

Provisional admission may be granted to applicants whose files are incomplete and who are otherwise qualified.

Public Administration 4+1 Option

The Public Administration 4+1 Option is an opportunity for qualified bachelor’s degree students to gain early entry to SVSU’s Master of Public Administration program. Participating undergraduate students will be allowed to take 12 credit hours toward the MPA degree. These 12 credit hours will also count as elective credit toward the completion of the bachelor’s degree. Students will have the opportunity to complete the remaining 24 credit hours for the MPA degree during the subsequent academic year. This opportunity is open to students of any major who meet the criteria listed below.

To be admitted to the MPA under the 4+1 option applicants must…

1. be entering their final year of study for the bachelor’s degree.
2. have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
3. have completed PS 225 Statistics.
4. have the approval of the MPA program coordinator.
5. have completed a minimum of 15 credits from the following list.

• PS 260 Understanding and Managing the Bureaucracy
• PS 262 State and Local Government
• PS 319 Gender and Politics
• PS 327 Equal Protection and race Discrimination
• PS 329 Con Law Institutions
• PS 331 The American Presidency
• PS 333 The American Congress
• PS 345 Public Policy Making in the US
• PS 355 Public Budgeting and Finance
• PS 365 Public Human Resource Management
• PS 370 Federal and State Courts
• PS 392 Politics and Policies of Cities and Suburbs

Transfer Credit

Credits from Other Colleges and Universities 

Transfer credit may be granted for up to 12 credits of equivalent graduate course work from other accredited institutions with approval by the Program Coordinator. The courses must have “B” or better grades to transfer.

Credits from SVSU Graduate Programs

Up to 12 credits for previously completed SVSU Master of Public Administration classes taken towards other SVSU graduate programs, that have not been completed, may be accepted toward the SVSU Master of Public Administration degree with approval by Program Coordinator. The courses must have “B” or better grades to transfer.

Up to 12 credits for previously completed SVSU (non-MPA) Master-level classes taken towards other SVSU graduate programs that have not been completed may be accepted toward the SVSU Master of Public Administration degree with approval by Program Coordinator. The courses must have “B” or better grades to transfer.

Credit for previously completed SVSU Master of Public Administration classes taken towards other SVSU graduate programs, that have been completed, will not be accepted toward the SVSU Master of Arts - Public Administration degree. 

Credit for previously completed SVSU (non-MPA) Master-level classes taken towards other SVSU graduate programs that have been completed will not be accepted toward the SVSU Master of Public Administration degree.

Credits from The Michigan Certified Public Manager Program

Participants of the Michigan Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program, at Saginaw Valley State University, may be granted up to 6 course credits in the Masters of Public Administration (MPA) Program. The CPM participants will be required to earn admission into the SVSU Masters of Public Administration Program, present documentation confirming the successful completion of the Michigan Certified Public Manager Program, and receive the approval of the MPA Coordinator prior to the granting of the credits.

Academic Regulations

A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be accepted by transfer at first admission, and a minimum of 24 credits must be taken at SVSU. A minimum grade point average of 3. 00 (“B”) is required for graduation. No “C”, “D” or “F” may be counted toward the degree. Students earning a “C”, “D”, or “F” may repeat a course only one time and the second grade will become official. The student may be dismissed from the program for anyone of the following: the cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 at any time after accumulation of 12 credits at SVSU; the student fails to demonstrate acceptable levels of expression in oral or written English; the student has accumulated six credits of “D” of “F” grades the first time a course is taken; or special conditions of admission are not met.

The maximum load for a full-time student is 12 credits during the fall or winter semesters and six credits during the spring or summer sessions, reduced by the sum of graduate credits with the grade of “I”. The maximum load for a part-time student is six credits during the fall or winter semesters and three credits during the spring or summer sessions reduced by the sum of graduate credits with the grade of “I”. Under special circumstances, such as the offering of short-term courses during a semester in which the student has a full load, the Program Coordinator may waive load restrictions for individual students for the semester or session in question. The degree must be completed within six years of initial enrollment.

Advising

Advising will be conducted by members of the faculty and/or by the Program Coordinator.

Students considering further graduate study, or students who have a specific public administrative interest, may complete a directed study project (MPA 690  and MPA 699 ) under the supervision of an available faculty advisor mutually agreed upon by the student, faculty advisor, and program coordinator.