Bulletin Year: 2022 - 2023 Graduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.

Admission Requirements

  • Comply with the regular admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, which includes an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.

All Applicants must submit:

  1. Graduate admission application and fee.  
  2. Official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions.
  3. A written statement describing how your experience in work and other settings and your choice of graduate study in Public Administration will lead to achieving your career goals (1000-word maximum length).
  4. A minimum of two letters of recommendation from academic sources and/or employment supervisors. Please do not provide letters from friends, co-workers, or family.

Applicants must have a thesis adviser prior to admission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to communicate with the thesis adviser early in the application process. To identify the adviser, students should contact a faculty member and establish the willingness of that person to serve as the adviser, as indicated by a memorandum from the faculty member to that effect.

Application Due Dates

Rolling admissions

Master of Public Administration Curriculum

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Political Science department page.

Total Credits Required 34-36
Core 20-22
PA 500 Research Methods of Public Administration 4
PA 507 Principles of Public Administration 4
PA 516 Organizational Theory 4
PA 523 Public Budget Management 4
PA 526 HRM in Public and Nonprofit Management 4
PA 591 Supervised Internship in Public Administration (2 - 8 cr.) 2*
*Internship required for pre-service students  
 
Capstone 2
PA 592 Experiential Applications Seminar (2 cr.) or 2
     PA 599 Thesis in Public Administration (1 - 6 cr.)  
 
Electives 12
PA 501 Seminar in Public Policy Analysis (4 cr.)  
PA 509 Seminar: Intergovernmental Relations (4 cr.)  
PA 510 State and Local Government (4 cr.)  
PA 517 Seminar: American Government (4 cr.)  
PA 519 Municipal Management (2 cr.)  
PA 520 The Politics of Higher Education (4 cr.)  
PA 521 Grant Writing for Public Administrators (2 cr.)  
PA 525 Public Sector Labor Relations (4 cr.)  
PA 536 Classic Readings in Public Administration (4 cr.)  
PA 545 Political and Administrative Aspects of Community Development (2 cr.)  
PA 562 Program Evaluation for Public and Nonprofit Agencies (2 cr.)  
PA 595 Special Problems in Public Administration (1 - 4 cr.)  
PA 598 Directed Study in Public Administration (1 - 4 cr.)  

Graduation Requirements

Graduates must meet the requirements of the College of Graduate Studies as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin in addition to the following:

  • Complete the minimum number of credits for the degree 
  • Maintain a 3.0 GPA
  • Successfully complete capstone project or thesis

Please note that students may be denied admission to courses, or they may be dismissed from a graduate program or internship/practicum if they demonstrate a lack of professional competence and effectiveness as a professional or fail to perform course work effectively.  The departmental graduate review committee reviews the qualifications of all questionable students and may require them to undergo further examiniation to make a final determination regarding program completion.


Bulletin Year: 2022 - 2023 Graduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.