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The MPA Program at a Glance

Back to the Curriculum

Total Credits: Minimum of 54 Credits
Minimum of 54 credits, 3.0 GPA and 4 full-time residency units.

The MPA Curriculum has four required components:

  1. Core Requirement

    2. A minimum of 24 credits of core courses serve as the foundation for other coursework at SIPA.  The core courses are usually completed in the 1st year, then a Summer Internship and finally a Capstone Project completed in the 2nd year.

    1st Year - Fall
    PUAF U6110 Politics of Policymaking I (3 credits)
    PUAF U8200 Public Management and Institutional Analysis (3 credits)
    PUAF U8213 Microeconomics and Policy Analysis I (3 credits)
    PUAF U6310 Quantitative Techniques I (3 credits)
    SIPA U4040 Professional Development (1 credits)
    At least 1 course in Financial Analysis*, a Concentration area or an elective.

    *For the Financial Analysis requirement, students may choose from:

    INAF U6014 Accounting for International and Public Affairs (3 credits)
    INAF U6022 Economics of Finance (3 credits)
    PUAF U6416 Budgeting for Non-Profits (3 credits)
    PUAF U8201 Budgeting for Government (3 credits)

    1st Year - Spring
    PUAF U6111 Politics of Policy Making II (1 credit)
    PUAF U8213 Microeconomics and Policy Analysis II (3 credit)
      At least three courses across Financial Analysis*, Concentration area or electives. (9)
    Strongly recommended: PUAF U6311 Quantitative Techniques II
    SIPA U9013 Internship (fall or spring: 3 or 6 credits)

    Students are required to complete an internship as part of the core curriculum; however, they are not required to register for internship credit.  Students may register for internship credits either in the semester they are completing the internship or anytime after the internship is completed. International students who intend to obtain paid internships must register in the spring term during or before the internship.  Maximum of 6 credits allowed. Professional Development and internships are handled by the Office of Career Services (420 IAB).

  2. Functional Concentration Requirement

    3. Students must complete a Functional concentration in order to graduate from the program.  Each concentration has its own requirements of between six to eight courses (consult specific audit form for details). Students can fulfill the requirements of more than one concentration. Please note that the declared concentration does not appear on the diploma.

  3. MPA Capstone Project

    4. MPA degree candidates must complete a Capstone Project in order to meet the requirements for the degree.  Students can choose one of these options:

    SIPA U9000 Workshop in Public Affairs (3 credits)
    SIPA U9300 Public Policy Clinic I and II*  (3 credits)
    *U9300 is year- long courses and must be taken both semesters.
    All SIPA Workshops (EPD, IFP, EPS, IEMP, IEP, Conflict Resolution) can satisfy the Capstone Project.  (3 credits)

  4. Electives

    5. Beyond satisfying core and concentration requirements, students may choose to take other relevant graduate-level courses to meet the SIPA degree requirements
    of 54 credits; these will be considered as elective credits.  Courses that are not relevant to the curriculum will not count towards the 54 curriculum credits.

    Note: Students who pursue an EPD concentration must satisfy a more specific language proficiency requirement.

    Advisement and Concentration Audit Forms

    • Students must register for at least 12 credits each semester. Students may check the fulfillment of the core requirements using the Degree Audit Report on Student Services On-Line (SSOL).1
    • Each student will have two advisors, a Dean in the Student Affairs Office and the Concentration Director of your chosen concentration.  The Dean will be responsible for advising students on their core curriculum requirements.  The Concentration Director is responsible for advising students on their concentration requirements.2
    • Students should meet with their Concentration Directors periodically to confirm their plans to complete requirements.  An approved Concentration Audit Form must be submitted in the final semester in order to graduate.   Students should:
    1. Complete the Concentration Audit Form2:
      Audit forms are designed to assist students & Concentration Directors in determining if the Functional concentration requirements have been fulfilled.
    2. Meet with the Concentration Director for final approval.
    3. Return the signed Audit form to the Student Affairs Office (610 IAB) by the appropriate deadline.

    Deadlines for Concentration Audit Forms

    • August 1 for October graduation
    • November 1 for February graduation
    • February 1 for May graduation