Frequently Asked Questions About the MPA Program
Admissions | University Policies | Scheduling Courses | Internships
Project Paper | University Administration | Graduation
| Admissions |
Am I required to submit GRE or GMAT scores?
No. Since the GRE general test (and GMAT) scores are not good predictors of a student's ability to complete the
MPA program, applicants are not required to take the test or submit their scores.
However, if students have taken these tests, they may choose to submit their
scores to the admission committee as additional evidence of their academic
preparation.
What are the MPA admission standards?
All students must complete an undergraduate degree program before they matriculate. Students who earned
an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 may be granted regular admission. Those who earned less than a 3.0
may be admitted on probationary status. In general, the lower the undergraduate GPA, the greater the
importance of an applicant's employment history and references. A discussion of the
admission process is available on the admissions
page.
Does the MPA program have any prerequisites?
There is not a specified list of courses that students must complete before they begin the MPA program.
However, students are expected to have a basic understanding of computers (word processing
and spreadsheets) and the American political processes at the local, state, and
national levels (how a bill becomes law, the roles of the three branches of
government, etc.).
What application materials am I required to submit?
Applicants for admission to the MPA program must submit the Application for
Graduate Admission, official
transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions that the applicant attended, the Departmental
Information Form (DIF), resume, responses to the two essay questions, and two
(2) letters of recommendation. For more information
concerning the application process and materials, consult the admissions page.
What are the deadlines for submitting application
materials?
The MPA deadlines are February 1 for Summer (May-June) admission, June 1 for
Fall (September) admission, and October 1 for Spring (December) admission. For more information on application deadlines and
schedule for notifying applicants of the admission committee's decisions, consult the
admissions page.
If I submit my application materials after the deadline, can I take classes during the ensuing term or
semester?
Yes. Prospective students may apply for Graduate Non-Degree status through the
Admissions Office. Applicants must
submit evidence that they have completed an undergraduate degree program. The evidence includes unofficial or
official transcripts or an undergraduate diploma. The granting of Non-Degree status enables a student to register
for and take classes but does not guarantee admission to the MPA program. In the event that a
Non-Degree student is
admitted to the MPA Program, no more than 9 credits completed under Non-Degree status may be used to satisfy MPA
requirements. More information on Non-Degree Status is available here.
| University Policies |
Is there a time limit for completing the MPA degree?
Yes. University policy stipulates that all MPA requirements must be completed within six years of enrolling
in the first course. (Note the six year clock starts when the first class is taken - not when a
student is admitted to the program). If program requirements are not completed within this time frame, a
student must (a) provide evidence that he or she has remained current on course content that is older than
six years, (b) retake the course(s) that was/were completed more than six years ago, or (c) apply for
an extension.
The form for requesting an extension can be obtained from the Graduate College, School of Public
Affairs and Administration or on the web here. Approval of an extension request is
not guaranteed so students are strongly encouraged to schedule their courses so that all program
requirements can be completed within six years.
What is the policy concerning religious holidays and class
attendance?
The University recognizes religious holidays of many faiths. If, due to the observance of a religious
holiday, a student is unable to attend class, he or she should discuss the matter with the instructor in advance
of the holiday.
Under what conditions are incompletes granted?
Incompletes are typically permitted only in unusual circumstances. The decision of whether to approve an
incomplete rests with the professor and is determined by his or her course syllabus and policies.
Students who may need to request an incomplete should discuss the matter with their professor as early
as possible. They should not wait until the last week of the semester or term.
Is there a deadline for fulfilling the requirements of an
incomplete?
Yes. University policy stipulates that all work must be completed within one year. If the remaining
tasks for the course are not completed within this time period, the incomplete is automatically translated into
an "X". This grade has the same impact on the GPA as an "E".
| Scheduling Courses |
How long will it take to complete the MPA program?
Students who finish two three-credit hour courses in each of the Fall and Spring semesters and the
Summer sessions conclude
their coursework in two years and one semester/session. If a student completes one three-credit hour course in each of Fall and
Spring Semesters, and takes no courses during the Summer sessions, he or she will fulfill the MPA degree
requirements in six years plus one semester/session. Since the latter time period exceeds the University's
six year time limit, the student should enroll in one spring/summer course or request an extension.
Please consult Graduate
Catalog under "Time Limit for Completion of a Degree") and the University
Policies section of FAQs for a discussion of the six year time limit.
Is there an order in which courses should be taken?
Yes. PADM 6000: Legal and Philosophical Foundations of American Public Administration and PADM
6180: The Political and Economic Environment of Public Administration
courses should be taken at the beginning of the MPA program because these
courses focus on concepts and theories that are addressed in the remaining MPA
courses. It is also strongly recommended that students complete PADM 6070:
Quantitative Data Analysis early in the program; this course must also be taken before enrolling in PADM 6060:
Analytical Methods.
Since students in PADM 6060 develop the methodology
for their project papers, Analytical Methods should be taken one to two
semesters before enrolling in PADM 6800 Project Paper Seminar.
The concentration elective courses cycle through each of the campuses (Battle
Creek, Kalamazoo, and Lansing) less frequently than the core
courses. As a result, students can minimize the time for completing their
degree requirements by enrolling in concentration elective courses whenever the courses are available and fill
in the remaining slots with core courses. The course planning process is facilitated by the
2004-2008 Curriculum Plan that is available on the Schedules page.
Should I complete all of the core requirements before I enroll in my concentration elective
courses?
No. The concentration elective courses cycle through campus (Battle Creek, Kalamazoo,
and Lansing) less frequently than the core
courses. The amount of time for completing the MPA degree, therefore, can be minimized by scheduling the
concentration electives when they are offered and filling in with core courses.
At what point in the program should I enroll in PADM 6800: Project Paper
Seminar?
Since PADM 6800 is a capstone course, it should be taken at the end of the MPA program.
Students cannot enroll in the course until they have completed at least 30 credit hours in the MPA program.
How many credit hours should I complete before I enroll in PADM 7120: Professional Field
Experience?
At least 20 credit hours in the MPA program must be completed before a student enrolls in PADM
7120.
In order to secure an internship that conforms to a student's needs and skills
or ensure that an internship arranged by the student meets the requirements of
the program, he or she should
contact their advisor at least one semester prior to the internship's desired starting date.
Students are also encouraged to take the internship in conjunction with the Project Paper Seminar.
By following this scenario, the internship assignments can furnish a foundation for the project paper.
| Internships |
How can I get information about available
internships?
Contact the MPA Internship Coordinator, Dr. Barbara Liggett at .
Dr. Liggett will have information on available internships and/or will be able
to help you set one up. In addition, visit the School of Public Affairs
and Administration homepage. As the department is made aware of internship
opportunities, they will be posted on the web. All students who need an
internship should contact Dr. Liggett at least one semester prior to enrolling
in PADM 7120.
How many hours must I work in order to fulfill the internship
requirement?
The internship is a 300-hour commitment. This requirement translates into 20 hours per week for 15 weeks.
There is, however, the option of spreading the hours over a longer period of time. The internship's duration
as well as the starting and ending dates are negotiated with the student's
advisor and the sponsoring
agency supervisor.
| Project Paper |
What types of topics may I pursue?
Although the following list is not exhaustive, there are five recommended classes of MPA Project Paper
approaches. These options include (1) applied analytical research, (2)
empirical or scholarly research, (3) legal or historical studies, (4) a contemplative
treatise, or (5) other projects approved by the Instructor of Record. More
information on Project Paper topics is available in the MPA
Handbook.
Under what circumstances do I need to submit my Project Paper proposal to the
Human Subjects Institutional Review Board (HSIRB)?
The HSIRB protects the rights and welfare of human research participants. Any Project Paper proposal
that involves educational testing, observation of public behavior, surveys, and interviews must be
submitted to HSIRB for its review and approval. More information concerning HSIRB can be obtained
online here, by contacting the Board at
(269) 387-8293, or by consulting an MPA advisor or the Instructor of Record for
your Project Paper Seminar course.
What are the Project Paper's components?
The Project Paper consists of (1) a title page that adheres to Graduate College guidelines, (2) a 200-word
abstract that summarizes the topic, major findings, and conclusions, (3) the executive
summary, (4) the table of contents, (5) the introduction
which states the paper's purpose and organization, (6) the literature review,
(7) research design and methodology, (8) data analysis and findings, (9)
conclusions and recommendations, (10) references (APA style), (11) any
appendices, and (12) an agency approval letter when necessary. For more
information on the content of the project paper, please consult the MPA
Handbook.
| University Administration |
How do I change my address with the University?
Students can submit address changes to the University via GoWMU.
Students are also encouraged to submit address and e-mail changes directly to
the to ensure the program has current contact information.
How do I register for classes?
Registration for classes takes place via GoWMU.
More information on the registration process and how to use GoWMU to register
for classes can be found on
the Registrar's Office website.
| Graduation |
What are the deadlines for applying for graduation?
The deadlines for application for graduation are August 1st for Fall graduation,
December 22nd for Spring graduation, and February 1st for Summer
graduation. More information on graduation as well as an application form
can be found on the Registrar's
webpage.
What is the process for applying for graduation?
Students may secure an Application for Graduation Audit at any Western Michigan
University campus (Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing,
Muskegon, and Southwest) or online.
The completed application and fee must be sent to the Office of the Registrar. Students should also call their MPA Advisors
to inform them that their permanent program needs to be completed and submitted to the graduation auditor.
For information relating to graduation procedures or commencement, please consult the
the Registrar's webpage.