The Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program at the University of South Carolina was created in 1968 in response to a growing demand for professionally-trained public administrators at the state and local levels of government. As the only free-standing MPA Program in South Carolina, it provides an assortment of generalist and specialized educational opportunities for both in-service and pre-service public management professionals. Since its inception, the program has awarded over 1,000 MPA degrees. The current enrollment is approximately 75 students, with slightly more than half of the students employed by federal, state, nonprofits and local governments or by private organizations. The Program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration

Most students attend the USC-Columbia MPA program. In addition, the MPA Program participates in four joint programs(applicants who want to attend USC-Columbia should not apply to the Clemson or Charleston programs):

• J.D./MPA Program:
  A combined degree program with USC's School of Law. The combined degree program permits students to acquire both degrees with a possible reduction of 21 credit hours. To be eligible, the student must apply to, and be accepted by, both programs.
• MSW/MPA Program:
  A combined degree program with USC's College of Social Work. The total number of hours is reduced from 99 to 81 by using requirements in one program as electives in the other. To be eligible, the student must apply to, and be accepted by, both programs.
• USC-University of Charleston Combined Degree Program:
  A joint degree program offered primarily at the University of Charleston's Political Science Department. Interested students should apply directly to the University of Charleston.
• USC-Clemson University Combined Degree Program:
  A joint degree program offered at the University Center of Greenville. The program is jointly administered by the USC MPA Program and the Department of Political Science at Clemson University. Interested students should apply to Clemson University, but indicate that they are applying for the combined degree program at Greenville.

Program Mission and Objectives:
The MPA Program strives to promote teaching, research, and service activities that will enhance the performance of the public sector across the state of South Carolina, the region, and the nation. In order to accomplish this goal, the program has three more specific objectives:
(1) to provide a broadly focused graduate and professional education that contains the managerial and analytical skills necessary for students who seek careers in the public service and for those already working in the public sector who want to improve their capabilities;
(2) to advance the understanding of issues facing the public sector and to facilitate the utilization of relevant analytical and management skills within the public sector; and
(3) to apply appropriate knowledge and skills to important problems and concerns facing the state, its communities, and its citizens.

Program Admission Requirements:
Deadlines
The MPA program admits new students for the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Prospective students are encouraged to submit their applications early. This will enable the MPA Admissions Committee and the USC Graduate School to process all materials in a timely fashion so that students can be considered for admittance during the requested academic terms. The deadlines for completed applicant files to be received at USC are:

April 1 Admittance and departmental assistantships/internships for the Fall Semester
July 1 Admittance (without departmental aid) for the Fall Semester.
November 15 Admittance for the Spring Semester.
April 15 Admittance for the Summer Semester.

Admission to the MPA Program is open to baccalaureate degree holders; a specific undergraduate major in political science is not required. Students are admitted for the fall and spring semesters only; there is no summer admission, but students admitted for the fall semester are eligible to take courses in the preceding summer session.

Admissions
A complete application file consists of:

• A completed application form and accompanying application fee;
• Official transcripts of all previous academic work;
• Scores on the verbal and mathematics sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE);
• Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's academic and/or job performance
• A statement of purpose from the applicant.

Program Requirements:
The MPA degree is a professional degree requiring a minimum of 39, and a maximum of 48, semester hours of credit, depending upon the prior preparation of the student. An internship is required of students who have not had previous substantial administrative experience. There is no foreign language requirement. The writing of a thesis is optional; thesis research and preparation may be counted for six semester hours of the total required for the degree.

The MPA Program is designed both to provide a fundamental grounding in the basic elements of public administration (the required core curriculum) and to permit sufficient flexibility for students to pursue special interests and skills (the electives). The length of the program depends upon the prior preparation of the student. If the student has not had prior coursework in statistics and computer use, or in American politics, prerequisite courses must be taken in each of these areas.

Of the basic 39 hours required for graduation, six courses are taken in the areas of administrative theory, personnel management, financial administration, public policy, administrative law, and data analysis. A level of government course, a capstone seminar, and five electives constitute the remainder of the student's coursework. Elective courses may be taken within the MPA Program itself, in other programs in the Political Science Department, or in other departments and colleges of the University.

Curriculum Summary
Prerequisites up to 6 hours (2 courses)

• Statistics
• American Government

• POLI 754 - Administrative Law
• POLI 770 - Perspectives on PA
• POLI 771 - Public Data Analysis
• POLI 773 - Public Personnel Administration
• POLI 774 - Public Policy Process
• POLI 775 - Public Financial Administration

MPA Handbook

USC Graduate On-Line Applications