MPA Frequently Asked Questions

The MPA can be completed in as little as 12 months.

General Requirements for Admission:

Admission into the program will be based on several factors to ensure a talented and diverse student body, including:

• Completed online application to the School of Graduate Studies; application fee, $50
• Bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution verified by official transcript(s)
• Statement of purpose
• Two letters of reference
• Curriculum Vita / Resume

OR

• Completed online application to the School of Graduate Studies; application fee, $50
• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5-2.99 from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution verified by official transcript(s)
• A minimum score of 300 or higher on the GRE. Waived for Spring 2021 and Fall 2021
• Statement of purpose
• Two letters of reference
• Curriculum Vita / Resume

Term Start Dates:

Fall 2020: August 8, 2020

Spring 2021: Jan 9th, 2021

For 36 credit hours, the program will cost $15,088 for newly admitted students in Fall 2022.

Degree Requirements

The MPA Program consists of 36 credit hours. The following courses comprise the core curriculum:

POLS 5010 – Public Administration
POLS 5050 – Research Methods and Applied Statistics
POLS 6060 – Public Administration Human Resource Management
POLS 6230 – Local Government Administration and Finance
POLS 6250 – Organizational Theory and Management
POLS 6060 – Ethics in Public Administration

Students will also take fifteen credit hours of political science and or criminal justice electives. The final three credit hours are earned by completing an internship or capstone course (for those employed full-time in the field).

A GRE score of 300 or higher is required for applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.5 and 2.99. Waived for Spring 2021 and Fall 2021.

Academic Questions

Contact by email at mpa@clayton.edu.

Admission Questions

Contact by email at graduate@clayton.edu.