Location:

Chicago, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Public Administration

Program Overview

Program Description:

The Master of Public Administration program, which is designed for the working professional, combines rigorous instruction with a practical orientation toward public and nonprofit management and policy analysis. Students encounter this balance between the academic and the practical in the teaching faculty, course materials and classroom exercises. The program emphasizes both administrative knowledge and managerial skills related to the formulation of policy, the acquisition of human and financial resources, application of sound methods of organization and management, and the development and execution of effective implementation strategies. The curriculum allows students a significant amount of flexibility in selecting courses that meet their personal educational and professional objectives, while also assuring them of a sound foundation in all key areas of the discipline. The M.P.A. degree requires a minimum of 32 credit hours of graduate work. No more than six credit hours may be taken in IIT courses numbered between 400 and 499. A maximum of nine credits of graduate-level coursework may be transferred from another accredited university if these have not been used toward a degree and upon approval of the student's advisor and Program Director. Students must complete a minimum of 32 semester hours. Elective courses may be selected from courses in public administration or such other fields as architecture, business, city and regional planning, civil engineering, computer science, design, environmental engineering, humanities, psychology, social sciences or law. These courses are to be chosen with the help of his/her advisor to help further the student's career objectives. Prior to enrolling for their second semester, full-time students are required to successfully complete a preliminary exam in public administration theory and organization theory. Part-time students must take the preliminary exam before enrolling for their fifth course. Students are urged to begin their program with courses in public administration theory and organization theory in preparation for this exam. A capstone project is part of the PA 509 Practicum in Policy Analysis course, and is required for this degree.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

Illinois Institute of Technology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Requirements:

Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 Submission of GRE or GMAT scores is optional for MPA applicants and there are no minimum score requirements for admission consideration. However, GRE or GMAT scores must be submitted by MPA applicants who wish to be considered for scholarships from IIT Stuart available to qualified new full-time MPA students beginning in the Spring 2011 term.

International Requirements:

TOEFL minimum: 600/250/80 (paper-based/computer-based/Internet-based test)