01-09-2022, 07:06 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-09-2022, 07:40 PM by wildebeest.)
Have been researching graduate schools for when I finish my BA in March or (more likely) May. Intend to pursue an MPA. So far I am considering:
Lamar University
https://degree.lamar.edu/programs/master...istration/
Price: $11,682
Credits: 36
Required undergraduate GPA: 2.6, or 3.25 to waive GRE
I like that it has eight-week sessions, as that allows one to focus on two classes per session and still finish relatively quickly. Unfortunately, it only has five sessions per year, so doing two classes per session would require one year plus a session. Also don't love that the culminating competency exam is available only twice per year, which could delay graduation.
Thesis or non-thesis options available. It does not appear to allow for concentrations in, say, Public Management, or Community Health. A built-in focus on Disaster and Emergency Management seems to be part of the core course material, although it isn't labeled as such.
_____
University of Texas Permian Basin
https://online.utpb.edu/programs/master-...istration/
Price: $12,815
Credits: 36
Required undergraduate GPA: 3.0, GRE waived through fall 2022
This also has eight-week sessions, but with six sessions per year can be completed in 12 months. As with Lamar, there do not appear to be any ready-made concentrations, but unlike Lamar, there are fifteen credits in electives, which would allow one to build a concentration, depending on the electives chosen. Based on the elective options I've seen, it would be easy to concentrate on Public School Administration or Community Health. It's a non-thesis degree, so might not be ideal for those wishing to pursue a DPA.
_____
Murray State University
https://onlinedegrees.murraystate.edu/pr...iness/mpa/
Price: $15,084
Credits: 36
Required undergraduate GPA: 2.5
As with the previous two, Murray State's online MPA has eight-week sessions. There are six per year, so it can be completed in one year. Concentrations include Public Management, Public & Community Health, Health Administration, and Economic Development. A General MPA option is also available. As with Permian Basin, this is a non-thesis degree. Also of note, the application process does not appear to require letters of recommendation.
(Murray State is the one I'm leaning toward, since I live in Kentucky and the school is known and respected here.)
______________________________
Honorable mentions:
Fort Hays State University
Master of Liberal Studies: Public Administration
https://www.fhsu.edu/mls/conc/conc-publicadmin/
Price: $9,255
Credits: 31
Required undergraduate GPA: 2.5 (on last 60 hours)
This is not an MPA, but still interesting, especially given the price. Sixteen week sessions, i.e., full semesters. This might not be a drawback for some, but I'd much rather focus on two classes intensely than four over a longer time period. Of note, if you choose your electives carefully, it is just barely possible to get eighteen credits of political science courses, which could allow one to teach political science at a community college level.
_____
Wayne State College
Master of Science in Organizational Management: Public Affairs
https://www.wsc.edu/info/20424/public_affairs_msom
Price: $13,680
Credits: 36
Required undergraduate GPA: 2.75
I know the least about this program. Not sure how long sessions are, for instance. But the price makes it worth mentioning. There are eighteen hours of core Organizational Management courses and twelve in Public Affairs. You cannot test out of this degree. It requires six credit hours of thesis, scholarly project, or internship.
_____
Feel free to let me know if there are other reasonably-priced options worth considering. Otherwise, there's some information on relatively affordable MPAs -- and related degrees -- for anybody else considering going that route.
Lamar University
https://degree.lamar.edu/programs/master...istration/
Price: $11,682
Credits: 36
Required undergraduate GPA: 2.6, or 3.25 to waive GRE
I like that it has eight-week sessions, as that allows one to focus on two classes per session and still finish relatively quickly. Unfortunately, it only has five sessions per year, so doing two classes per session would require one year plus a session. Also don't love that the culminating competency exam is available only twice per year, which could delay graduation.
Thesis or non-thesis options available. It does not appear to allow for concentrations in, say, Public Management, or Community Health. A built-in focus on Disaster and Emergency Management seems to be part of the core course material, although it isn't labeled as such.
_____
University of Texas Permian Basin
https://online.utpb.edu/programs/master-...istration/
Price: $12,815
Credits: 36
Required undergraduate GPA: 3.0, GRE waived through fall 2022
This also has eight-week sessions, but with six sessions per year can be completed in 12 months. As with Lamar, there do not appear to be any ready-made concentrations, but unlike Lamar, there are fifteen credits in electives, which would allow one to build a concentration, depending on the electives chosen. Based on the elective options I've seen, it would be easy to concentrate on Public School Administration or Community Health. It's a non-thesis degree, so might not be ideal for those wishing to pursue a DPA.
_____
Murray State University
https://onlinedegrees.murraystate.edu/pr...iness/mpa/
Price: $15,084
Credits: 36
Required undergraduate GPA: 2.5
As with the previous two, Murray State's online MPA has eight-week sessions. There are six per year, so it can be completed in one year. Concentrations include Public Management, Public & Community Health, Health Administration, and Economic Development. A General MPA option is also available. As with Permian Basin, this is a non-thesis degree. Also of note, the application process does not appear to require letters of recommendation.
(Murray State is the one I'm leaning toward, since I live in Kentucky and the school is known and respected here.)
______________________________
Honorable mentions:
Fort Hays State University
Master of Liberal Studies: Public Administration
https://www.fhsu.edu/mls/conc/conc-publicadmin/
Price: $9,255
Credits: 31
Required undergraduate GPA: 2.5 (on last 60 hours)
This is not an MPA, but still interesting, especially given the price. Sixteen week sessions, i.e., full semesters. This might not be a drawback for some, but I'd much rather focus on two classes intensely than four over a longer time period. Of note, if you choose your electives carefully, it is just barely possible to get eighteen credits of political science courses, which could allow one to teach political science at a community college level.
_____
Wayne State College
Master of Science in Organizational Management: Public Affairs
https://www.wsc.edu/info/20424/public_affairs_msom
Price: $13,680
Credits: 36
Required undergraduate GPA: 2.75
I know the least about this program. Not sure how long sessions are, for instance. But the price makes it worth mentioning. There are eighteen hours of core Organizational Management courses and twelve in Public Affairs. You cannot test out of this degree. It requires six credit hours of thesis, scholarly project, or internship.
_____
Feel free to let me know if there are other reasonably-priced options worth considering. Otherwise, there's some information on relatively affordable MPAs -- and related degrees -- for anybody else considering going that route.
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