Public Administration
Welcome
Welcome to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program! The MPA is housed in the College of Business, Education and Professional Studies (CoBEPS) at Albany State University and is located on the East Campus in the Fine Arts Center, 3rd Floor. The program offers a professional degree that prepares students for managerial and leadership positions in public agencies, non-profit organizations and the private sector.
Founded in 1987, the program was initially accredited by, Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), in 2004 and re-affirmed for the 2012-2018 cycle. The program is currently accredited by NASPAA through the 2018-2026 accreditation cycle.
Earning the Master of Public Administration degree requires the successful completion of 36 credit hours of course work, with a minimum of 27 hours of core course work (including the Capstone report and Professional Internship/Project for pre-service students), and nine hours of course work in an area of concentration. There is also a portfolio requirement as part of the exit process. The curriculum combines both theory and practice, as it stresses the ideals of performance, accountability, professionalism and ethics. It also affords students the opportunity to strengthen their abilities to think critically, enhance both written and oral communication skills, utilize analytical techniques, draw on information technology and develop an awareness of professional ethics.
There are currently four areas of concentration offered in the program: Criminal Justice Administration, Health Administration & Policy, Human Resources Management and Public Management. The Criminal Justice concentration is delivered through a collaboration between the MPA program and Albany State University’s graduate Criminal Justice program.
We welcome your interest in the program and look forward to engaging you through public service education and programs. We encourage all qualified prospective students to apply for admission to the program today.
Go Rams!
Dr. Sheila Toppin
Chairperson, Department of Public Administration
MPA Faculty (Nucleus)
Sheila Toppin is the Chairperson and Associate Professor of Public administration (tenured). She holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Illinois State University, an MPA from Clark-Atlanta University, 18 graduate hours in Criminal Justice Science and a Doctor of Public Administration from Valdosta State University.
Specializations: Public Policy, Public Management, Human Resources Management, Criminal Justice Administration.
Veronica Adams-Cooper is a Professor of Public Administration (tenured). She holds a B.A. (Honors) in Psychology, a B.A. in Sociology, and a M.S. in Criminal Justice from Grambling State University and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Jackson State University.
Specializations: Social Equity, Community and Economic Development, Non-Profit Administration, and Program Development, Management, and Evaluation
Bruce Neubauer is an Associate Professor of Public Administration (tenured). He holds a B.S. in Management from Georgia Institute of Technology, MPA from University of Georgia, an MBA from Augusta State University, a M.S. in Management Information Systems from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from University of Georgia.
Specializations: Public Information Systems, Research Methods, and Educational Technologies.
Ismail Soujaa is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration (tenure track). He holds a B.A. in English from Saiss University, an MPA from Arkansas State University, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Management from the University of North Texas.
Specializations: Public Management, Organizational Theory and Behavior, and Emergency Management.
Marsha Lawrence is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration (tenure track). She holds a B.S. in an Allied Health Sciences and MPA from Albany State University, and a Ph.D. in Human Services with a specialization in Health Care Administration and Management from Capella University.
Specializations: Health Care Administration, Healthcare Disparities.
MPA Degree
The mission statement of Albany State University's MPA program is to:
- Provide professional, graduate-level education, skills, and training for students
aspiring to leadership and management positions in government, nonprofit organizations,
and the private sector.
- Provide professional assistance to public, government, and nonprofit organizations
in Southwest Georgia, Dougherty County, and the surrounding communities through public
service of the faculty and students.
- Increase the number of qualified graduates from historically underserved populations through inclusive campus-based and distance learning instruction.
The current mission was adopted in the fall of 2002 and was revised in the fall of 2010 and spring 2011 semesters. The mission statement was further revised in the fall of 2016 as result of the consolidation of the former Darton State College and Albany State University. Ongoing reviews and revisions have occurred in spring 2017, summer 2017 and fall 2024 by all stakeholders of the program.
The MPA program is currently housed in the Department of Public Administration in
the College of Business, Education and Professional Studies (CoBEPS).
Click here to view more information on the CoBEPS.
The MPA program currently offers two modalities for program delivery:
- A traditional model with face-to-face, on campus classes with some online course work;
and
- A fully online model, with all virtual course work without a campus requirement.
Program completion requires the successful completion of 36 credit hours comprised of 12 courses (9 core courses and 3 concentration courses). Students may pursue a double concentration which will require the completion of three additional hours in the second area of concentration. Graduation requirements include completion of an internship and an exit process including a portfolio and Capstone report.
Click here to view more information in the Graduate Catalog.
- Full time students can generally complete the degree within two years
- Part time students can generally complete the degree within three years
The program does not offer dual degrees
The program currently includes the following concentrations
- Criminal Justice Administration
- Health Administration &Policy
- Human Resources Management
- Public Management
Fast Track - At the present time there is no fast track option for degree completion.
As of Fall 2024 there are 43 students in the program.
MPA Admission Criteria
To be admitted to the MPA program an applicant must be admitted to the ASU Graduate School, and must also meet the following conditions, established by the program for regular, provisional, and non-degree admission. The Admission process is the same for the face-to-face or online modalities. Click here to apply.
reGULAR ADMISSION
- Hold an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better.
- The MPA program at ASU does not require GRE or MAT scores for admission purposes.
- Two official transcripts sent from all colleges and universities attended.
- Two current letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s ability to successfully complete the graduate program.
- In addition to the graduate school requirements prospective students will be required to submit a written statement of career goals.
- Submission of a completed graduate admissions application with its $25 processing fee.
- International students take the TOEFL per country requirement and meet other criteria established by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (The minimum score is 60 and the average score is 88).
- All documents, including test scores, must be received in the Graduate Admissions Office at least 45 days prior to the desired semester of enrollment. Prospective applicants should contact the graduate recruitment and admissions officer in the Graduate School for more information.
PROVISIONAL ADMISSION
- An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with an undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 or better
- The MPA program at ASU does not require GRE or MAT scores for admission purposes.
- Two official transcripts sent from all colleges and universities attended.
- Two current letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s ability to successfully complete the graduate program. In addition to the graduate school requirements prospective students will be required to submit a written statement of career goals.
- Submission of a completed graduate admissions application with its $25 processing fee.
- International students take the TOEFL per country requirement and meet other criteria established by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (The minimum score is 60 and the average score is 88).
- All documents, including test scores, must be received in the Graduate Admissions Office at least 45 days prior to the desired semester of enrollment. Prospective applicants should contact the graduate recruitment and admissions officer in the Graduate School for more information.
NON-DEGREE ADMISSION
- Submission of a completed graduate admissions application with its $25 processing fee.
- The MPA program only accepts non-degree admissions for qualified applicants who already hold a master’s degree who may be interested in taking MPA courses for their personal enrichment. No student will be allowed to take more than nine (9) hours in a non-degree status.
Tuition and Fees
ASU’s MPA Tuition & Fees Information 2024-25
The listed tuition and fees for the 2024-2025 academic year for graduate education are as follows:
| In-state full-time (12 semester hours/semester): | $ 3,092 per semester |
| In -state full time (9 hours/semester): | $ 2,504 per semester |
| In-state part-time (6 semester hours/semester): | $ 1,916 per semester |
| Out-of-state (12 semester hours/semester): | $10,340 per semester |
| Out -of-State (9 hours/semester): | $ 8,075 per semester |
| Out-of-state part-time (6 semester hours/semester): | $ 5,630 per semester |
| Online 100% |
$308 per credit hour + $403 Tech Fee |
Click here for ASU’s In & Out-of-State Tuition and Fees 2024-2025.
Description of Financial Aid Including Assistantships
- Eligible graduate students can receive up to $20,500 in student loans for the fall,
spring, and summer, of which $8,500 can be made up subsidized loans and $12,000 can
be unsubsidized loans. Students must be accepted to the graduate school as either
provisional or regular graduate students in order to eligible for financial aid. Students
who are classified as non-degree students are unable to receive financial aid. Students
must be seeking a degree or working on a teaching certification in order to receive
financial aid.
- The graduate school offers research assistantships. Click here to view more information on Graduate Assistantships/Fellowships.
Student Completion Rates (ARY-5)
| Cohort | Initially Enrolled | Graduated within 2 years | Graduated within 3 years | Graduated within 4 years | Persisted towards Graduation | Total | Did not graduate or persist towards graduation |
| 2018-2019 | 21 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 7 |
Note: The 2018-2019 MPA student cohort was impacted by the global COVID-10 Pandemic.
Three (14%) graduated within 2 years, three plus eight additional students (11 or
52%) graduated within 3 years, and eleven plus 3 additional students (14 or 67%) graduated
within 4 years. Seven (33%) did not graduate or persist toward graduation.
Sectoral Distribution of Employment Rates
2022-2023 Graduates:
|
National Or Central Government In The Same Country As The Program |
1 |
|
State, Provincial Or Regional Government In The Same Country As Program |
2 |
|
City, County Or Other Local Government In The Same Country As Program |
3 |
|
Government Not In The Same Country As The Program (All Levels) Or Quasi-Government |
0 |
|
Nonprofit Domestic-Oriented |
1 |
|
Nonprofit/NGOs Internationally Oriented |
0 |
|
Private Sector-Research/Consulting |
0 |
|
Private Sector But Not Research/Consulting |
2 |
|
Obtaining Further Education |
0 |
|
Military Service |
0 |
|
Unemployed (Not Seeking Employment) |
0 |
|
Unemployed (Seeking Employment) |
0 |
|
Status Unknown |
1 |
|
Total |
10 |
Internship Placement List
Since 2022, one or more students have been placed for internship experiences in each of the following:
- Advanced Health And Rehab Of Twiggs County
- Albany State University, Facilities Management
- Albany State University, Lois B. Hollis Center For Social Equity (Mpa Program)
- Albany State University, Opa Grant Project - Stronger Together (Dept. Of Public Administration)
- City Of Albany, Police Department (Georgia)
- City Of Albany, Recreation & Parks Department (Georgia)
- Dougherty County School System, Human Resources Department
- Enterprise Rental Car
- Family Wellness Outreach Center Of Georgia
- Ga Dept Of Public Health East Central Health District 6, Project Impact
- J.R. Homecare
- Men Leaning Forward, Inc,
- Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Infection Prevention