Master of Public Administration - Public Management Specialization
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a 36-credit-hour program consisting of a 24-credit-hour 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 diverse populations. It prepares students to assume leadership and management roles in local, state, and federal levels of government, and similar roles in nonprofit organizations. The curriculum emphasizes the skills necessary for ethical and efficient public management, including planning, policy analysis, and decision-making.
Upon completion of the MPA program at Indiana Wesleyan University, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to lead and manage in public governance.
- Participate in the policy process to facilitate positive outcomes.
- Utilize critical thinking skills to solve problems and make decisions within the public administration context.
- Articulate a public service perspective.
- Apply the practices of productive communication and interaction with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.
- Integrate biblical perspectives into the evaluation and execution of administrative processes involved in today’s public sector organizations.
- Evaluate complex challenges with the specialized knowledge and skills needed for effective public sector management.
- Explain a foundational knowledge of public management as a field of inquiry.
- Articulate the importance of strategic and effective public management in benefitting society and creating hope in the world.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for the master's degree program are as follows:
- A baccalaureate or graduate degree 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) 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.
Program Requirements
- Students must successfully complete POL-521 (minimum grade of "C") in order to continue in the program.
- Students must successfully complete all other program core and specialization courses prior to taking the capstone course.
- 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. Indiana Wesleyan University reserves the right to modify the curriculum as necessary.
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.
Master of Public Administration (Public Management Specialization) - Program of Study
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 |
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 |
Capstone Experience
| POL-587 | MPA Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36 |
