Southern Arkansas University

Specific Degree Requirements

Each candidate for the Master of Public Administration will be required to complete 21 credits of core courses, 12 credits of electives, and 3 credits of professional project.

Core Courses (21 Hours)

• PA 6003 – Principles of Public Administration
• PA 6053 – Public and Non-Profit Budgeting
• PA 6063 – Public Policy
• PA 6073 – Research Methods
• PA 6083 – Organizational Leadership
• PA 6153 – Human Resources in Public Organizations
• PA 6263 – Program Evaluation

Elective Courses (12 Hours)
Select 12 hours from the following*:

• PA 6033 – Rural Politics
• PA 6043 – Legal Issues in Public Administration
• PA 6133 – Nonprofit Organizations
• PA 6183 – Special Topics I
• PA 6193 – Special Topics II
• PA 6253 – Social Activism and Public Administration
• PA 6273 – Planning, Grant-Writing, and Implementation
• PA 6283 – Public Technology

*With advisor approval, courses outside of the PA program may also be used as electives.

As a culminating experience in the Master of Public Administration program at Southern Arkansas University, all students are required to complete a professional project that demonstrates their ability to apply the skills and knowledge they obtain during the course of their studies to a real-world problem or policy issue. This project is student-led, instructor-facilitated, and is designed to showcase students’ analytical, organizational, and communication skills while addressing a practical challenge faced by a public, nonprofit, or community organization.

All students are required to complete a professional project. This project is expected to incorporate the skills learned in the MPA program in a written product that is of use to a particular agency or organization. The student must receive prior approval in writing from the director of the MPA program before proceeding on the project. The student must be registered for PA 6113 – Professional Project during the term in which the project is completed. If a project is not completed during the term for which the student is enrolled, a grade of NC will be assigned. In order to complete the project the student must be enrolled for the credits during the term in which it will be completed. If the student is successful in completing the project a grade of CR will be assigned for the term during which the project was completed. However, any previous NC grades will not be changed and only the credits the student earned while enrolled in the semester that the project was completed will be awarded.

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[su_testimonial name=”Sterling Penix” photo=”https://web.saumag.edu/academics/files/2015/03/MPA-John-Penix.jpg” company=”Associate Criminal Justice Professional”]After evaluating a number of MPA programs, I chose SAU. The SAU program and professors provide an excellent foundation for learning and student growth. The campus family works to ensure that each student is successful. Having graduated SAU Tech with an associate’s degree, it is a great honor to continue my story at SAU.[/su_testimonial]

Schedule subject to change

Long Summer 2025

• PA 6113  Professional Project

Summer I 2025

• PA 6133  Nonprofit Organizations

Summer II 2025

• PA 6293  Global and Comparative PA

Fall 2025

• PA 6003 Principles of Public Administration
• PA 6033 Rural Politics
• PA 6053 Public and Non-profit Budgeting
• PA 6063 Public Policy
• PA 6083 Organizational Leadership
• PA 6113 Professional Project

Spring 2025

• PA 6003  Principles of Public Administration (on as-needed basis)
• PA 6043  Legal Issues in Public Administration
• PA 6153  Human Resources
• PA 6263  Program Evaluation
• PA 6073  Research Methods
• PA 6113  Professional Project

*SE students will have additional course requirements through the Business College while in the program