Master of Public Administration

Master of Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration program (MPA), offered through the Department of Political Science, is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.

Distinguishing characteristics of the program include opportunities for students from a variety of academic backgrounds; various times and locations for classes; a choice of diverse subspecialties; rich and frequent contact between students and faculty; opportunities for professional networking for students with alumni; focus on continued professional development; emphasis on management in political institutions and processes; integrations of theoretical and applied approaches to management.

The MPA program's mission is to prepare students for careers as managers and leaders in public service.

Program Mission Statement

News and Information

NASPAA Reacreditation Successful

Self Study Report

On July 22, 2010 we received word that the MPA Program has been re-accredited for another seven years. The reaccreditation process officially began in the fall of 2008 when we started our self-study year. During this year we collected volumes of data on the program and sent questionnaires to students, alumni, and employers. The Self–Study Report collected and summarized this data. The report is available at http://ecommons.txstate.edu/padmpub/4/. This report provides extensive information about the Texas State MPA Program. Check it out.
At the end of the summer (2009) we submitted the report to the accrediting body of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. In November we passed the first hurdle and were approved to move forward with a site visit. In early February we welcomed team chair Dr. Ethel Williams (MPA Program Chair University of Nebraska), and team members, Dr. Saundra Reinke (MPA Program Director, Augusta State) and William Solomon, MPA, Esq. (Manager, Miami Dade County Parks and Recreation) to campus for an intensive program review.

During the team’s visit they met with students, alumni, Deans, Vice Presidents, faculty, CenTex officers, librarians and advisory council members. The site visit team issued a positive report and commended the program for outstanding Applied Research Projects, faculty accessibility, supportive administrators, passionate and engaged stakeholders (students, alumni, advisory council members, CenTex ASPA members) and Dodie’s outstanding support services. The team voiced concerns about faculty diversity, succession planning, a learning outcome system focused exclusively on the final project, support staff overload, and an unmanageable number of career support areas, which create course scheduling problems. The team suggested an expanded system of student advising and mid-career counseling. In the spirit of review, the faculty are now about half way through a course by course program review, and have raised admission standards. Also, Dodie’s responsibilities have been re-ordered and more of her time has been freed up to serve the MPA Program.

Special thanks go out to the advisory council and others who provided invaluable support during the process. Chair, Debby Tucker; Vice Chair, Phillip Ruiz; Secretary, Kolette Palacios; and Program Trend Committee Chair, Adrienne Arnold worked closely with me to coordinate events. Jo Wicker, facilitated an advisory council/faculty retreat that informed large sections of the report and stimulated changes in the program. Every faculty member collected data and wrote sections of the report. Delaina Toothman and Dodie Weidner worked on data collection for the self-study document. Political Science Chair, Vicki Brittain; Dean of Liberal Arts, Anne Marie Ellis; Dean of the Graduate College, Michael Willoughby; Provost, Perry Moore; and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Debbie Thorne were also engaged and supportive.