Executive Master of Public Administration and Certificate Programs

To define your program of study, consultation with Catherine Gerard is essential.  To prepare for this discussion you can review program of study frameworks found in the Master's Handbook and Course Guide.

With few exceptions, all coursework for graduate credit must have a prefix of 600 or above.

Up to 6 credits of graduate coursework from an accredited university may be transferred with the approval of the Maxwell School. Transfer courses should be logical components of the EMPA and must have been completed with a grade of 3.0 or better.

A data base of course offerings for the current and next semester can be accessed through the SU's Time Schedule of Classes. An entire listing of the Public Administration course offerings can be found  in the Master's Handbook and Course Guide and the course schedule for the current semester is now available in a downloadable PDF file. 

Time Required to Complete the MA Program
Most full-time students complete the MA degree in 12 months, including summer sessions.  Part-time students design their own schedule for completion. The length of time required depends on the credit hour per semester load that a student chooses to carry.

Part-time students must complete all degree requirements within 7 years of matriculation.

Certificate
The Certificate in Public Administration is awarded after completion of 12 credits of public administration coursework, with an accumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.  Three of the credits must be earned by taking one of the executive education seminars offered in the fall and spring semesters. The remaining 9 credits are selected by the executive education student to relate to her or his professional needs. Full-time students will be able to earn the certificate in one semester, but it is also possible to complete certificate requirements on a part-time basis.

The Certificate in Public Administration is offered as an alternative to the EMPA degree. All credits earned for the certificate may be applied to the EMPA.

Normal Course Loads
The Department of Public Administration does not specify any minimum credit-hour load that must be taken during any term. There are, however, normal course loads for full-time students (full-time status).

Domestic Students without graduate appointments have a full-time credit hour load if they are registered for 12 credits in the Fall and Spring semester, and 6 credits during the Summer I or II semesters.

International Students have a full-time credit hour load if they are registered for 9 credits or more (to meet immigration requirements) during the Fall and Spring semesters. IF a student is completing less than 9 credits then, the student must complete a Certification of Full-time Status form to be submitted to the Graduate School before the add deadline.