The Department of Public Administration

Mission

The educational philosophy and mission of the Department of Public Administration is rooted in Southern University's environment and history. As a historically Black institution, Southern University is committed to offering educational opportunities to students who otherwise may not be offered the opportunity or have the means to attain a graduate education.To this end, the Department's mission is tied to Southern Universitys commitment to educate graduate students for leadership positions in the public and non-profit sectors.The curriculum supports this mission by introducing students to academic materials and practical experiences that prepare them to become competent public servants and/or analysts.The Department's goals are to offer students an educational experience that prepares them to: (1) manage public affairs in their respective communities, parishes (counties), state and nation; (2) meet ethical, policy, and administrative challenges they will experience while performing their duties; and (3) adapt to changing service demands.

Departmental financial and human resources are dedicated to the philosophy of building opportunities for students on a personal, educational, and professional level.Those opportunities are evident in the extensive support of graduate assistantships, the emphasis on internships and professional development, the integration of community involvement into the coursework and research experiences, the student centered focus and mentorship of the faculty and staff, and a curriculum that provides a general base of public management and options for specialization in response to the market demand.

As a member of the larger community, the Department is also committed to meeting the needs of the community while providing field experience for students.Therefore, the Department is an active participantin providing leadership, management tools, and research to address concerns at the local, state, and federal level.

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Program Objectives

1. Provide knowledge about public management, primarily applied learning but also theoretical and conceptual understanding of the field;
2. Pursue research opportunities;
3. Promote career opportunities and professional development;
4. Stress the development and enhancement of analytical skills; promote both qualitative and quantitative analysis;
5. Emphasize writing, oral, and organizational skills;
6. Promote community partnerships between community agencies and faculty and students; and,
7. Enhance sensitivity to ethical issues and promote an atmosphere of the highest ethical standards.

Degree Requirements
The requirements of the Department are detailed in the following sections: Admission Criteria, Program Guidelines, Degree Requirements, Curriculum RelatedRequirements, General Policies and Procedures, and Course Descriptions, Prerequisites and Requirements (Appendix). This Departmental Handbook is provided to familiarize students with these requirements. By virtue of his/her status as a student in the program, each student is expected to not only be familiar with these policies but comply with all requirements.

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Admission Criteria

All applications for admission must be submitted and processed per the Graduate School’s requirements and deadlines. To be considered for admission into the MPA program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be admitted to the Graduate School;
  
  
• Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning;
  
  
• Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.70, preferably a 3.00, for regular admission;
  
  
• The minimum GRE score for admission is 700.*  The department will take the sum total of the GRE’s verbal and quantitative scores to determine an applicant’s score; 
  
  
  • Note: Students must take the GRE before being admitted as a regular admission into the Department’s MPA degree program;
    
    
• Submit three academic and/or professional letters of recommendation;
  
  
• Submit a TOEFL score of 525 for international students;
  
  
• Statement of Purpose:  Submit an essay on professional career objectives, which should include why the applicant has chosen Public Administration;
  
  
  • Note: No applicant will be considered for admission, in the regular, provisional or conditional category, if the file is missing a complete undergraduate transcript (showing all classes taken and grades earned, the date and degree earned and overall GPA), letters of recommendation and Statement of Purpose.
    
    
  • Note: If any undergraduate class deficiencies are noted, those deficiencies must be cleared prior to the taking of the classes associated with those deficiencies.  The two most common undergraduate deficiencies are: undergraduate statistics and undergraduate economics.  Therefore, as an example, with a deficiency of undergraduate statistics, a student cannot register for PADM 511 Statistics until that deficiency has been cleared by the completion of an undergraduate statistics class. 
    
    
• An applicant, who meets the GPA requirement for regular admission but is missing the GRE score, may be admitted provisionally if the application file is otherwise complete.  If provisionally admitted, the applicant has less than one semester to meet the condition. 
  
  
• Any applicant who does not meet the GPA and/or GRE requirement may be admitted conditionally.  If conditionally admitted, the applicant has less than one semester to meet the condition. Conditional status may be granted for a maximum of one academic year.  All students admitted under conditional status must maintain a 3.00 or higher G.P.A. during that period.  At the completion of the conditional period of time, a decision will be made as to accepting the student as a regular admission.  To gain regular admission, a conditionally admitted student must clear any deficiencies noted (for example, the completion of an undergraduate statistics and/or economics class) and maintain a 3.00 GPA in all graduate coursework.
  
  
• Students may also pursue coursework as a non-degree applicant.  Students in this category are required to submit an official transcript and a completed admission application (with fee) to the Graduate School. Admission to non-degree status does not in any way guarantee admission to a regular degree program.  A maximum of 12 hours may be applied to a graduate degree program upon admission, if and only if these classes meet the requirements of the Graduate School and the Department.
  
  
• Students with GPA’s 2.49 or below may only be admitted as non-degree applicants. To be considered fro non-degree status, applicants must have a minimum of two years of post their baccalaureate degree professional (managerial, supervisory, or policy-making) work experience.

To be considered for admission into the MPA program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Non-degree students are required to submit an official transcript and a completed admission application (with fee) to the Graduate School. Admission to non-degree status does not in any way guarantee admission to a regular degree program. A maximum of 12 hours may be applied to a graduate degree program upon admission, if these classes meet the requirements of the Graduate School and the Department

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Program Guidelines

1. Upon admission each student will be assigned an advisor. Students may elect to retain that initial advisor or choose another faculty to serve as advisor. At a minimum, students should make an appointment for advisement once each semester prior to registration.
2. Upon admission, and as appropriate thereafter, any deficiencieswill be identified and the student will be required to complete appropriate pre-requisites before registering for certain classes.
3. Students shall be required to develop a program of study within three (3) weeks in the second semester of enrollment.At that time, the student will select a concentration.If, later, the student elects to change concentrations, the student must put the request in writing to the Department Chair.The student will be subject to any new requirements in that particular program of study/concentration.Failure to submit an approved, dated Program of Study within the specified time frame makes any changes made in the curriculum binding on all students.
4. Any student planning to pursue the Executive MPA option, must apply in writing to the Chair of the Department.The letter (with a resume attached) must clearly demonstrate how the student meets the requirements for that option.
5. All students are required to complete a graduation application the semester prior to graduation.Deadlines for submission of the application are posted in the Department and published by the Graduate School.Each student is required to meet the Department Chair to review the student file and program of study, prior to submitting the graduation application to the Department.
6. Any course applied to the Program of Study must be approved by the Department.A minimum oftwo 400-level courses may be applied to the Program of Study as electives only.Doctoral-level classes may also be applied to the Program of Study, as appropriate.
7. Students may transfer a maximum of 12 semester hours into the Program of Study if approved by the Department and the Graduate School. Any transfer of credit must be not less than a AB and earned from a regionally accredited graduate school. Any requests for transfer must be submitted by the student to the Department on the required form with an official transcript attached.
8. The Department allows a limited number of course substitutions.Substitutions must be approved by the Department and the Graduate School.The student is requiredto submit the request on a course substitution form. Any substitution request must clearly demonstrate the comparability of the class to be substituted. Substitution requests should be submitted and approved prior to enrolling in the substitute course.
9. Requests for an incomplete grade in a course is discouraged .However, if an emergency exists and a student is unable to complete class requirements, a student may request an incomplete, on the required form,with the appropriate documentation.Faculty may not initiate a request for an incomplete.
10. Students enrolled in the program may select to complete a thesis or research project.Students are to follow the guidelines for research or thesis as specified in this Handbook.
11. Any student appealing a grade must follow the Department's Student Grievance Procedure for Grades.

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Graduation Requirements

1. Admission to a regular status;
2. All deficiencies removed;
3. Have earned at least a 3.00 overall G.P.A. on courses applied toward the degree with no more than two grades below a AB;
4. Have an approved program of study on file and completed all core classes and concentration classes on that program of study;
5. Complete an approved/signed thesis or research project.

Graduate Assistantships

The Department offers graduate assistantships for eligible students who show outstanding potential.These working assistantships are competitively awardedtypically for an academic year.Graduate assistantship assignments include those in the Computer Lab, with individual faculty members, and in the Offices of the Departments and School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs.

There are two categories of graduate assistantships available in the Department of Public Administration: (1) Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) and (2) Graduate Administrative Assistant (GAA).These positions are described in The Graduate Assistant Guide (Office of Graduate Studies and Research).

Research or Thesis

As noted earlier, students have the option of completing a thesis or research project. Once a chair has been selected and work on the thesis/research has commenced, students are required to register for thesis or research hours (whichever is appropriate) each semester during the development and completion of the research. However, only three research hours or six thesis hours may be applied to the program of study.

Prerequisites for thesis and research include: PADM 511 Statistics and PADM 502 Writing Seminar. Additionally, students are expected to be knowledgeable about information systems management including data input before initiating their research.

1. Thesis: PADM 600, 601, 602, 603, & 603. Each class is three hours credit. (Requirement: 6 hours total)
2. Research: PADM 607-615. Each class is three hours credit. (Requirement: 3 hours total)

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MPA Internship Requirements

Internship: Each student not in the Executive M.P.A. program must complete (unless waived) a paid or non-paid internship with a public agency for a total number of 300 hours. 

Prerequisites for internship include 18 hours of coursework, including PADM 502, 503, 511, and other classes as determined by the Internship and Placement Director.  Additionally students are required to take Information Systems Management (PADM 543) or be proficient in information systems management.

MPA Internship Waiver

Students may apply for a waiver from the Internship requirement if their current or past work experience warrants an exemption. An exemption may be granted when a student satisfies the following criteria:

1. At least seven years of professional work experience
2. A combine GRE score of seven hundred on the verbal and quantitative sections.
3. Three years of verifiable entry level work experience that includes the following responsibilities:

a. Supervisory
b. Policy-making
c. Managerial
d. Their equivalent.

4.  Completion of 27 credits or more with a 3.5 GPA
 

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MPA Writing Seminar

 All students are required to take writing seminar unless exempted.  A student may be exempted by scoring the 50th percentile on the verbal part of the GRE, have a 3. 5 cumulative GPA, and passing a departmental writing examination, or by approval of the Writing Seminar professor and Departmental Chair. Any student who is exempt from the writing seminar  class who submits a poorly written thesis or research project may be required to take PADM 502 before graduating.

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Contact Information

Phone: (225) 771-3092
Fax: (225) 771-3105
Address: 410 Higgins Hall
Southern University
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
Email: charmaine_williams@subr.edu

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