MPA Degree

The Master of Public Affairs (MPA) is a 36 credit hour program consisting of a 24 credit hour common core plus a 12 credit hour specialization. (IWU reserves the right to move students to another date, location, or online if less than eight students are registered for any specialization.) .

The MPA program prepares students to assume leadership and management roles in local, state, and federal levels of government, and similar roles in community based non-profit organizations. The curriculum emphasizes the skills necessary for ethical and efficient public management—including planning, policy analysis, and decision-making—that best represents and promotes the public interest.

Credit may be transferred in from a regionally accredited institution (maximum of six hours) for any core or specialization course except for POL-526, POL-586, and any specialization course that is designated a 586 course (for example CRJ-586). The curriculum will be completed in the order established by Indiana Wesleyan University. Indiana Wesleyan University reserves the right to modify the curriculum as necessary.

The same courses offered in the classroom setting are also offered via the Internet. Details are available at Online-Delivery.

With a strong emphasis on social responsibility and civic engagement, the MPA program at Indiana Wesleyan University gives students the skills necessary to effectively and compassionately confront the challenges of today’s metropolitan environment and its diverse populations. It prepares students to assume leadership and management roles in local, state, and federal levels of government, and similar roles in community based non-profit organizations. The curriculum emphasizes the skills necessary for ethical and efficient public management – including planning, policy analysis, and decision-making – that best represents and promotes the public interest.

Upon completion of the MPA program at Indiana Wesleyan University, students will be able to:

• Impart complex information in a clear, concise, and understandable manner.
• Incorporate analytical and critical thinking into the decision-making process.
• Demonstrate the ability to see patterns and classify information, concepts, and theories in public affairs.
• Demonstrate the ability to judge public policy and management evidence based on reasoned arguments.
• Articulate the importance of upholding the "public trust."
• Demonstrate ethical decision-making.
• Articulate a personal philosophy about public affairs and marshal evidence from the literature and from research to support that philosophy and defend it.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the master's degree program are as follows:

• A baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting body or the Association for Biblical Higher Education verified on original transcripts sent by the institution directly to Indiana Wesleyan University.
• An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher from the baccalaureate degree granting institution at which at least a minimum of 30 hours was completed. If an applicant’s GPA is below 2.5, the student may be admitted on a probationary basis, as established by the guidelines of the college.
• A minimum of two years of significant full-time work experience.

Program Requirements

• Students must successfully complete POL-526 and POL-527 in order to continue in the program.
• Students must successfully complete all core courses except the capstone before starting the specialization courses.
• Students must successfully complete all program courses (core and specialization) prior to taking the capstone course.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a master's degree the following requirements must be met:

• All credits required in the curriculum sequence with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a minimum grade of “C” in each course. A grade of "C-" or below will require the course to be repeated.
• Overall GPA of 3.0 in all IWU graduate work.
• Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.