Master of Public Administration
What is Public Administration
Public Administration is Policy in Action
Public Administration is Government in Action
Public Administration is The Will of the People in Action
Why an MPA at Lamar
Lamar University offers the Master of Public Administration to graduate students interested in one of a broad spectrum of careers in public service - from management of public agencies to administration of non-profit organizations. Available programs of study prepare you with the professional training, knowledge, skills and experience needed to successfully become an integral part of the efficient and responsive operation of the government. The program is designed so that graduates can apply the knowledge gained to their daily activities of management and administration in a public organization as well as advising elected officials.
The program of study prepares LU students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully become an integral part of the efficient and responsive operation of government on an environment that is becoming more and more diverse and global.
Many Lamar graduate students establish professional careers in federal, state, or local government agencies. Alumni include city managers, city planners, nonprofit managers, legislative staff and a wide range of other public service careers, while some have completed doctoral degrees in areas of public administration, public management, and public planning.
Within the Department of Political Science at Lamar University, the Center for Public Policy Study works in conjunction with undergraduate research and the Fast Track B.S./MPA degree to advance policy research that is of interest to the community and you in order to help solve the problems the community and local government faces through grant applications and internship coordination.
B.S./MPA Fast Track Option
The fast track option allows exceptional undergraduate political science majors to earn dual credit for graduate courses taken during their senior year, and successful students will meet all department and university requirements for both degrees in 5 years. Prospective students will apply during their Junior year and must maintain a 3.3 GPA or better. High School Seniors may be eligible for conditional acceptance in the MPA fast track program when accepted as a Political Science Major at Lamar University, but this must be requested through the department. Those High School Seniors accepted conditionally will be evaluated during their Junior year to ensure they still meet the requirements of the Fast Track option.
Political science majors interested in applying to the Fast Track Program should meet with the Department Chair or Department Academic Advisor early in their junior year to discuss the application requirements.
All Online Delivery
The all online option affords those that work in rural areas or are unable to attend courses on line to complete their educational goals. For example, the Game Warden or Emergency Services that must live and work remotely.
On Campus Hybrid Delivery
The on campus program operates through a hybrid function with some course work on campus and some on line. The benefits of the on campus program is access to scholarships, internships, and research assistantship opportunities.
Qualifying Comprehensive Examinations
The qualifying written exams is constructed with a total of two examinations the cover the core portion of the program. These exams are conducted in the Fall and Spring semester. The student must successfully complete all portions of the exams to graduate from the program. The core will cover the general aspects of Public Administration, Public Organizations, Ethics in Public Administration, Public Policy, and Applied Research Methods. The purpose of the core is to demonstrate that the student has the ability to make connections between the core areas of study and properly apply research knowledge to solve the problems we face in the daily operations of government at all levels.Milestones in The MPA Program
1. Complete the core (15 hours)
2. Sit for the comprehensive exam
3. Complete all supporting Courses (21 hours)
4. Graduate from the MPA Program
- You may be enrolled in supporting courses while testing.
- MPA students will take POLS 5330 and POLS 5340 in their first semesters to lay the foundation for an understanding of public administration and policy implementation.