Master of Public Administration
Welcome to the unique bilingual Masters of Public Administration (MPA) program at Gallaudet University, which offers courses in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English. Our program is designed to empower deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing professionals for impactful careers in government and nonprofit organizations. Our graduates are prepared for leadership and making a meaningful difference in the public sector. This leadership and impact include improving services for the Deaf community or working to create positive changes at all levels of government.
Admissions Procedures and Requirements
Applicants for the Master of Public Administration must complete the application procedures and meet the requirements for graduate study at Gallaudet University. Visit the Graduate Admissions website for more information and a checklist of application requirements.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree from a university or college with a graduating GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4-point scale. Professionals with five (5) years of relevant work experience who have not achieved an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 may be considered for conditional admission.
- A well-written 500-word essay describing public service career goals and how this program will help achieve those goals.
- A resume or CV.
- Two professional references from employers managers, professors, or other formal relationships.
- A writing sample (max 5 pages) - can be a professional document or an academic paper.
Preferred:
- At least 1 year of paid professional experience in a public sector or non-profit organization.
- A passion for public service!
Deadline
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Date
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Due Date for Completed Application for Fall
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May 1 |
Due Date for Completed Application for Spring
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December 1 |
First Date for Consideration of Application
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After receiving a completed application
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Plan of Study
In addition to the requirements below, students must complete 4 elective courses.
Students should consult the MPA Program Handbook for information on specific course sequences. Courses are offered in your modality (online or on campus) every two years, so the specific sequence of courses will vary year by year.
Required Courses
| MPA710 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| MPA713 | Budgeting in Public Sector and Non-Profit Organizations | 3 |
| MPA714 | Strategic Leadership and Management | 3 |
| MPA715 | Economics for Managers | 3 |
| MPA716 | Quality Management in Public Sector and Non-Profit Organizations | 3 |
| MPA739 | Organization Theory and Design | 3 |
| MPA760 | Ethics in Public Administration | 3 |
| MPA790 | Capstone Experience in Public Administration | 3 |
| MPA796 | Communication in Public Administration | 3 |
Your specific plan of study will be shared by your Academic Advisor. Plans of study vary by semester started and your preferred modality.
Program Requirements
In addition to the 27 credits of required coursework, students will need to complete 12 credits of elective courses.
Your specific plan of study will depend on the year/semester you start, your preferred modality, and whether you want to attend full-time or part-time. Your academic advisor will provide a personalized graduation plan before you start your studies.
All MPA graduates are expected to have ASL proficiency equivalent to the course titled ASL III.
Program Outcomes
Domain 1 - Leadership and Management: Students will demonstrate the ability to lead and manage in public governance;
Domain 2 - Public Policy Process: Students will demonstrate the ability to participate in and contribute to the policy process;
Domain 3 - Critical Thinking and Decision-Making: Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions;
Domain 4 - Public Service Advocacy: Students will demonstrate the ability to articulate and apply a public service perspective; and,
Domain 5 - Communication:Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.