Associate to Master of Public Administration
The Associate to Master of Public Administration is a 60 credit hour program that includes 24 undergraduate credit hours plus 36 graduate credit hours consisting of a 24 credit hour common core plus a 12 credit hour specialization.
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.
Credit may be transferred in from a regionally accredited institution (maximum of six hours) for any core or specialization course except for POL-587. The curriculum will be completed in the order established by Indiana Wesleyan University.
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Students will be able to lead and manage in public governance.
- Students will be able to participate in and contribute to the policy process.
- Students will be able to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions.
- Students will be able to articulate and apply a public service perspective.
- Students will be able to communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.
- Students will be able to integrate biblical perspectives into the analysis of and decision-making process involved in today's public sector organizations.
Admission Requirements
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An associate’s degree, verified on original transcripts sent directly to IWU by the institution, from a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
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An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher from the associate degree granting institution. If an applicant's GPA is below 3.0, the student may be admitted on a probationary basis.
Program Requirements
- Students in the Associates to Master of Public Administration (MPA) must complete an undergraduate bridge program of 24 credit hours before enrolling in graduate level courses.
- Successful completion of all program specific undergraduate courses with a minimum grade of “B” and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
- Students may not transfer undergraduate credits earned from other institutions to meet bridge requirements.
- Students must successfully complete POL-521 (minimum grade of "C") in order to continue in the program.
- Students must successfully complete all program core and specialization courses prior to taking the capstone course.
Graduation Requirements
To graduate, students must have completed all of the following:
- All credits required in the MPA core sequence and a program specialization 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.
Associate to Master of Public Administration - Program of Study
Undergraduate Bridge Courses
All undergraduate courses must be completed with a grade of "B" or higher.
| POL-200 | State and Local Government and Politics | 3 |
| PSY-360 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY-440 | Psychology and Spiritual Formation | 3 |
| CRJ-465 | Constitutional Law/Civil Liberties | 3 |
| CRJ-309 | Youth and Crime | 3 |
| CRJ-346 | Restorative Justice | 3 |
| POL-340 | Intelligence and National Security | 3 |
| CRJ-468 | Criminal Justice Administration | 3 |
Core Courses
| POL-521 | Public Institutions and Values | 3 |
| POL-523 | Organizational Management and Behavior | 3 |
| POL-531 | Financing Public Services | 3 |
| POL-533 | Ethical Leadership in the Public Sector | 3 |
| POL-535 | Public Policy Processes and Strategies | 3 |
| POL-541 | Research Methods and Inquiry | 3 |
| POL-543 | Scholarly Research and Writing | 3 |
| POL-587 | MPA Capstone | 3 |
Specialization Courses - Criminal Justice
| CRJ-526 | Criminal Justice Policy | 3 |
| CRJ-534 | Criminal Justice Administration | 3 |
| CRJ-542 | Economic Analysis of Crime | 3 |
| CRJ-586 | Criminal Justice Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 60 |
Specialization Courses - Non-Profit Leadership
| POL-525 | Non-profit Management and Leadership | 3 |
| MKTG-540 | Non-Profit Development and Advancement | 3 |
| POL-536 | Non-profit Fundraising and Financial Management | 3 |
| POL-555 | Non-profit Strategic Planning | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 60 |
Specialization Courses - Public Management
| POL-520 | Introduction to Public Management | 3 |
| POL-530 | Quality and Productivity Improvement in Government | 3 |
| POL-540 | Human Resource Management in the Public Sector | 3 |
| POL-550 | Economic Development | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 60 |
