Master of Public Administration

Mission

The MPA program is committed to developing and preparing individuals employed in or seeking careers in the public and nonprofit sectors, to lead and manage public agencies, programs, and projects. Taking advantage of the location in the South Texas border region, we provide the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for leadership and management roles in a culturally varied international society. Through commitment to innovative teaching, research, and community engagement, we emphasize excellence in education and training by teaching students to value public service, think analytically and critically, and communicate effectively.

About Our Program

The MPA degree has been in existence since 1999 and is especially beneficial for mid-career professionals who wish to enhance their professional knowledge and skills. It is also the degree of choice for those who desire employment in the public and nonprofit sectors.

The MPA program received accreditation from NASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Policy Affairs and Administration) in 2013. TAMIU is the only regional institution in the A&M system to have this accreditation. NASPAA is a national organization with the authority to award accreditation to graduate programs in public administration, public policy, and public affairs. For more information about NASPAA, visit their website at http://www.naspaa.org/

In 2021, the MPA program was ranked 2 in the Top 50 Master’s in Public Administration Degree Programs in the United States by online source Intelligent.com. The program was evaluated on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. TAMIU's MPA program received a score of 96.14 on a scale from 0 to 100.

MPA Program Requirements

Admission by the Office of Graduate Studies (to include a personal interview by MPA Director or faculty member). The GRE is no longer required for admission.

1. Completion of 42 hours of graduate work. Follow your Plan of Study.
2. Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0; only one ‘C’ may count toward graduation if it does not lower the GPA to below 3.0.
3. Pass all Parts of the Comprehensive Examination

Important Additional Information

Course Sequence

New graduate students should enroll in PADM 5375 (Survey of Public Administration) and PADM 5301 (Research Methods in Social Sciences) as prerequisite courses. These two courses are prerequisites for all of the other courses in the program. It is important that students plan accordingly to ensure that required classes are taken as they become available.

Enrollment Policy

Students in the MPA program must remain continuously enrolled in the University while in the program. This means that students must take at least one class each regular semester (Fall/Spring) until graduation unless special arrangements have been made. A student who is making satisfactory progress (3.0 GPA), but is unable to continue taking classes, must fill out a Leave of Absence form, subject to approval by the Graduate School Studies. http://www.tamiu.edu/gradschool/documents/LeaveofAbsenceForm.pdf.

Students who do not receive approval for a leave of absence will be dismissed from the MPA program and will have to re-apply for admission.

Expiration of Classes

It is important to know that graduate courses expire five years after completion. Consequently, graduate students have five years in which to complete the required coursework. All expired courses must be repeated in order to satisfy the degree requirements.