The Kent-MPA Program is fully accredited by the National Association of Public Affairs and Administration ( NASPAA), the premier national organization accrediting MPA programs in the United States. All components of our program are accredited by NASPAA including our online method of delivering our program.

Mission

The mission of the Kent MPA Program is to enhance the quality of governance in Ohio, the nation and the world by: informing public policy and administration; educating for ethical leadership, enhancing knowledge, analytical skills and technical abilities; and fostering democratic discourse among citizens, policy makers, managers and scholars. Toward that end, the program provides professional level graduate education by offering distinct degree options and methods of delivery.

Degree Options: Public Policy or Public Management

The MPA Program offers applicants a choice of two degree options: an MPA in Public Policy or an MPA in Public Management. The MPA in Public Policy is intended for students focused on working as policy analysts in think tanks, public advocacy organizations, or as staff analysts for legislative committees or government agencies. The MPA in Public Management students by contrast focus on being upper level direct line officers in administrative agencies or non-profit organizations.

Supplementary Dual-Degree Health Program(s): MSN/MPA or MPH/MPA

In addition to the two concentrations above, the Kent-MPA program also offers a dual-degree option(s). Dual degrees provide students with supplementary skills and provide a comparative advantage for jobs and or promotions.

The Kent-MPA program offers a dual degree option for Master’s students enrolled in the Kent State University College of Nursing (MSN) or who already hold an MSN degree from another accredited College of Nursing. The MSN/MPA dual degree option is designed to facilitate either the management or policy skills of graduate level nurses so they may either as health care managers in public or nonprofit settings or as health policy analysts respectively.

Beginning AY 2009 a second dual-degree program, the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) will be available. The MPH/MPA degree option is for students currently enrolled in Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine Master’s of Public Health program. The MPH/MPA is designed to facilitate either the management or policy skills of graduate level public health officials so they may work either as health care managers in public or nonprofit settings or as health policy analysts respectively.

Methods of Program Delivery: On-Campus and/or On-Line

Students in the MPA Public Management or MPA Public Policy degree option may take their entire curriculum in the traditional on-campus setting. Students in the MPA Public Management concentration have the option of taking their entire program online as well. Since students in the public policy concentration are required to take some public management courses, these may be taken online as well if the student chooses.

The Kent-MPA online degree program is nationally accredited by NASPAA and is one of only a select number of MPA programs in the United States fully accredited by NASPAA. The online program is unique in that it is not exclusively web based. Instead each online course in the program utilizes a combination of web based instruction tools common to online courses (discussion boards, online lectures, email, electronically accessible readings) plus live interactive video conferencing class sessions connected directly to each student’s home.

Accessibility

The Kent-MPA program encourages persons with physical disabilities to apply. University accommodation efforts are taken seriously both in terms of personal accommodations, counseling and support services, as well as electronic accommodations. Specifically, for MPA students with disabilities and taking courses on campus, the MPA program provides a 21st century on-campus computer disability lab for the exclusive use of our students with disabilities. Moreover, our online program is constantly being updated to make it compliant with Federal standards for electronic accessibility.

Admissions

Admission to the Kent-MPA program is moderately selective. Each applicant is assessed based on a review of required documents submitted to the Graduate College and Kent-MPA Program Coordinator. The required documentation consists of: (1) undergraduate transcripts with a GPA of 2.75 or better (A=4.0); (2) GRE scores of 450 verbal and 450 quantitative; (3) submission of a research paper demonstrating the applicant’s writing and analytical skills; (4) letters of reference; and (5) a one page letter of intent as to why the applicant is desirous of studying public administration. Applicants with a deficiency in one of these criteria may be given a conditional admission. Deficiencies in two or more areas, is cause for denial of admission.

As noted above, dual degree applicants must apply to and be admitted by their respective programs. For those seeing the MSN/MPH, in addition to being admitted to the Kent-MPA program, this would require admission to the Kent State University College of Nursing MSN degree. For the (near future) MPH/MPA degree, admission to the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine MPH degree program would be necessary. To apply online, download necessary forms and view the details of the admissions process link to the Application and Admissions page of our website.

Credit for Previous Graduate Coursework

Credit for Core MPA Courses

The Kent-MPA program can waive coursework predicated on previous graduate coursework. Credit for such coursework is conditional upon: (1) the course(s) was taken at a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher; (2) the student earned a letter grade of “B” or better in the course (A=4.0); (3) the course(s) at issue are comparable to courses that would be taken in the Kent program; (4) the course(s) must have taken those courses within the previous five years of their application to the Kent-MPA program; and (5) Submission of supporting documentation (e.g., syllabi and transcripts) by the student and approval of the Kent-MPA Program Coordinator.

Credit for Elective Courses

Applicants may also count other graduate coursework in a specific area, e.g . justice studies, or social work as their elective area requirements thereby substantially shortening the duration of their time in the Kent-MPA program necessary to obtain their degree.

Transferring- in Courses While a Student in the Kent-MPA Program

Students enrolled in the Kent-MPA program may transfer in up to a maximum of 12 semester hours of coursework from accredited universities using the same criteria as those used in the above section Credit for Previous Graduate Coursework.

Curriculum

As noted above, the Kent-MPA program offers students a choice of an MPA degree option in either Public Policy or Public Management. Each option’s curriculum is structured into three components: (1) a Public Management Core or a Public Policy Core respectively; (2) Elective coursework; (3) Internship; and (4) a final Capstone Course paper.

(1A) The Management Core Curriculum: (10 Courses)

For students selecting the Public Management concentration, this component of their program requires the completion of ten core courses (30 credit hours). The purpose of requiring a common core is to provide not only a broad foundation but a common foundation in the values, theories and technical skills required of public managers. To view the required courses in this curriculum, link to the Public Management Curriculum;

or

(1B) The Public Policy Core Curriculum: (8 Courses)

For students selecting the Public Policy concentration, this component of their program requires the completion of eight core courses (24 credit hours). Similarly, the purpose of requiring a common core is to provide not only a broad foundation but a common foundation in the values, theories and technical skills required of public policy analysts. To view the required courses in this curriculum, link to the Public Policy Curriculum;

(2) Elective Coursework (3 or 5 Courses)

In addition to either of the MPA core curricula, each student is required to take a series of elective courses. In the Public Policy concentration, students select five electives (fifteen semester hours) while in the Public Management concentration students select three courses (nine credit hours).

The MPA program currently offers the following elective concentration areas: public finance, city management, and non-profit management (available online). Other concentrations outside the department may be developed in consultation with a student’s adviser.

Students electing Justice Studies as their elective area and holding rank in a government police department are permitted to take courses taught by faculty from the University of Virginia at the FBI National Academy comparable to those we offer in the Kent-MPA program if those courses are approved by the Kent-MPA Coordinator prior to the student attending the FBI National Academy;

(3) Internship Course (1 Course)

The Internship is an important part of the Kent-MPA program and is intended to provide the student with practical experience in their future career path. The Internship course consists of a formal field-based assignment to a public sector or non profit agency in the student’s elective-concentration area. The Internship is undertaken near the end of a student’s course work. The internship is to be completed within one semester and is to consist of 300 hours of work at the respective site. Students who are already managers in the public sector, or who work full-time, may, with the approval of the MPA Coordinator, waive the formal field placement.

(4) Capstone Paper Course (1 Course)

Regardless of whether a student does an Internship, all students as a requirement of matriculation from the Kent-MPA program must complete a Capstone Paper. The Capstone paper represents the culmination of a student’s coursework and as such requires the integration and application of skills learned throughout the program. The topic is open but must address a strategic problem faced by an organization or agency, a detailed literature review, development of alternative solutions and evaluation as to a series of specified impacts. The Capstone paper is completed under the direction of a single Kent-MPA program faculty member with whom the student works on a one-on-one basis.

Normal Progress Model; Part-time or Full-time

The Kent-MPA program (either concentration) requires the successful completion of 42-45 semester hours of coursework. The three hour difference is attributable to whether the student is required to complete a formal field placement internship. The program may be completed in two and one-half years of full-time study, or three and one half years plus a summer of part-time study. The MPA program is designed to meet individual student circumstances. Normal progress will be evaluated individually for each student.

Financial Aid

The Kent-MPA program has a limited number of financial aid awards—both of which are grants, not loans. These grants are competitive and of two types: (1) Graduate Assistantships; or (2) Tuition Scholarships. Tuition Scholarships provide for a waiver of tuition fees with no work obligation. By contrast Graduate Assistantships provide waiver of tuition fees but require the recipient to work 20 hours per week in a position to be determined by the MPA Program Coordinator.

Center for Public Administration and Public Policy (CPAPP)

The KSU Center for Public Administration and Public Policy (CPAPP) is a research center and professional technical assistance unit within the Political Science Department. CPAPP’s responsibility is primarily to conduct policy level research and work with multiple government agencies and officials primarily at the local level to address their needs and development and facilitate the practical experience of MPA students wishing to work with local or state government or conduct research.