Public Affairs Graduate Program Requirements
Please contact Marie Loudermilk, Program Coordinator for the Public Affairs department, with questions regarding the PA and MPA programs.
Phone: (360) 546-9640
E-mail:
Office: VMMC 102
Priority Admission:
In order for the application to be processed for priority registration, all of these materials must be received by the Graduate school and WSU Vancouver no later than January 10th for Fall Semester, and July 1st for Spring semester. Applications received after the priority deadlines may still be considered for Admissions. How to Apply
Graduate Degree Requirements
Students should complete an introductory statistics course either before entering the MPA program, or they also have the option of enrolling in an introductory statistics course, preferably Sociology 321, at the beginning of their program in order to fulfill this requirement.
The Master of Public Affairs program consists of 34 total semester hours of credit, including 19 semester hours of core courses and 15 semester hours in a specific concentration. Students may use up to six semester hours of 400-level classes that provide graduate credit as part of their MPA course work. To accommodate the varying interests of students, programs will be individually tailored by students in consultation with an advisor. When students are approximately half-way through the program, they will set up a graduate committee of three faculty members, who will work closely with the student on their Master's Essay and preparation for their oral defense.
Graduate students that do not have public service work experience prior to admission are required to complete an internship (Pol S 597) for an additional 3 credit hours. The internship may be taken any semester during the student's academic program.
Required Credits
Pol S 502 Seminar in Normative Theory 3
Pol S 503/ Soc 520 Research Methods 3
Pol S 540 Proseminar in Public Administration 3
Pol S 541/Crm J 540 Seminar in Research Evaluation 3
Mgt 587 Business Ethics 3
Pol S 702 Master's Essay 4
OPTIONS IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS- GRADUATE PROGRAM
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CONCENTRATION
Should total 15 credits in addition to core course workRequired for Concentration
Two of the following:
___ Pol S 443 - Administrative Jurisprudence
___ Pol S 445 - Public Personnel Administration
___ Pol S 446 - Public Budgeting
___ Pol S 547 - Seminar in Public Administration
Electives
Three of the following: ___ Pol S 417 - Voting and Elections
___ Pol S 420 - Political Parties and Interest Groups
___ Pol S 447 - Comparative Public Administration
___ Pol S 450 - The Legislative Process
___ Pol S 495 - Topics in Political Science
___ Pol S 512 - Seminar in American Institutions
(variable topics - may be repeated for maximum of 6 credits)
___ Pol S 514 - Seminar in Public Policy
___ Pol S 532 - Seminar in International Political Economy
___ Pol S 542 - Proseminar in Administration, Justice, and Applied Policy Studies
(variable topics - summer workshops limited to 3 credits unless students have written approval.)
___ Pol S 543 - Topics in Public Administration and Policy (variable topics - may be repeated for maximum of 6 credits)
___ Pol S 544 - The Politics of Policy Process
___ Pol S 552 - Administrative Law and Regulation
___ Pol S XXX - Organizational Theory and Behavior (currently in development)
___ Mgt 501 - Management of Organizations
___ Mgt 582 - Human Resource Management
___ Mgt 585 - Graduate Seminar in Negotiations
___ Mgt 590 - Strategy Formulation and Organizational Design
___ Mgt 593 - Managerial Leadership and Productivity
NOTE: ANY RELEVANT GRADUATE COURSE MAY BE USED AS AN ELECTIVE WITH APPROVAL OF YOUR COMMITTEE
APPLIED POLICY STUDIES CONCENTRATION
Should total 15 credits in addition to core course workRequired for Concentration
One of the following:
___ Pol S 514 - Seminar in Public Policy
___ Pol S 532 - Seminar in International Political Economy
Electives
Four of the following:
___ Pol S 402 - Civil Liberties
___ Pol S 404 - The Judicial Process
___ Pol S 416 - Policy Analysis
___ Pol S 417 - Voting and Elections
___ Pol S 420 - Political Parties and Interest Groups
___ Pol S 432 - Comparative Public Policy
___ Pol S 450 - The Legislative Process
___ Pol S 495 - Topics in Political Science
___ Pol S 512 - Seminar in American Institutions
(variable topics - may be repeated for maximum of 6 credits)
___ Pol S 513 - Seminar in American Political Behavior
(may be repeated for maximum of 6 credits)
___ Pol S 515 - Governmental Policy and Program Analysis
___ Pol S 534 - Seminar in Comparative Politics
___ Pol S 536 - Special Topics in Comparative Politics
(variable topics - may be repeated for maximum of 6 credits)
___ Pol S 542 - Proseminar in Administration, Justice, and Applied Policy Studies
(may be repeated for maximum of 6 credits - summer workshops limited to 3 credits unless students have written approval.) ___ Pol S 552 - Administrative Law and Regulation
___ Pol S XXX - Globalization (In Development)
___ Mgt 585 - Graduate Seminar in Negotiations
NOTE: ANY RELEVANT GRADUATE COURSE MAY BE USED AS AN ELECTIVE WITH APPROVAL OF YOUR COMMITTEE
HEALTH POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION CONCENTRATION
Should total 15 credits in addition to core course workRequired for Concentration
One of the following:
___ Pol S 514 - Seminar in Public Policy
___ HPA 501 - Health Care Policy and Politics
One of the following:
___ Pol S 446 - Public Budgeting
___ HPA 511 - Health Care Finance
Electives
Three of the following:
___ Pol S 443 - Administrative Jurisprudence
___ Pol S 445 - Public Personnel Administration
___ Pol S 512 - Seminar in American Institutions
(variable topics - may be repeated for maximum of 6 credits)
___ Pol S 542 - Proseminar in Administration, Justice and Applied Policy Studies
(may be repeated for maximum of 6 credits - summer workshops limited to 3 credits unless students have written approval.)
___ Anth 405 - Medical Anthropology
___ HD 580 - Families, Community and Public Policy
___ HPA 500 - Introduction to the Health Care System
___ HPA 502 - Law and Ethics of Health Management
___ HPA 515 - Health Care Management
___ HPA 572 - Health Care Ethics
___ Mgt 582 - Human Resource Management
___ Mgt 585 - Graduate Seminar in Negotiations
___ Mgt 593 - Managerial Leadership and Productivity
___ Nurs 507 - Health Care Policy Analysis
___ Nurs 447/577 - Health Care Ethics
___ Soc 546 - Medical Sociology
NOTE: ANY RELEVANT GRADUATE COURSE MAY BE USED AS AN ELECTIVE WITH APPROVAL OF YOUR COMMITTEE
JUSTICE STUDIES CONCENTRATION
Should total 15 credits in addition to core course workRequired for Concentration
One of the following:
___ Pol S 514 - Seminar in Public Policy
___ Soc 567 - Seminar in Crime and Delinquency
One of the following:
___ Crm J 400 - Issues in the Administration of Criminal Justice
___ Crm J 530 - Criminal Justice: Process and Institutions
Electives
Three of the following:
___ Crm J 403 - Violence Toward Women
___ Crm J 550 - Planned Change in Criminal Justice
___ Crm J 591 - Seminar in the Administration of Criminal Justice
___ Pol S 402 - Civil Liberties
___ Pol S 404 - The Judicial Process
___ Pol S 516 - Seminar on Law, Courts, and Judicial Politics
___ Pol S 547 - Seminar in Public Administration: Gender, Politics and Administration
___ Soc 461 - Corrections
___ Soc 480 - Sociology of Race Relations
___ Soc 542 - Theories of Social Stratification
___ Soc 560 - Problems of Deviance Theory
___ Soc 568 - Adolescent Deviance
___ Soc 580 - Sociology of Race Relations
NOTE: ANY RELEVANT GRADUATE COURSE MAY BE USED AS AN ELECTIVE WITH APPROVAL OF YOUR COMMITTEE
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY CONCENTRATION
Should total 15 credits in addition to core course workRequired for Concentration
___ Pol S 430 - Politics of Natural Resource and Environmental Policy
___ ES/RP 544 - Environmental Assessment
One of the following:
___ Pol S 512 - Seminar in American Institutions
___ Pol S 536 - Special Topics in Comparative Politics
Electives
Two of the following:
___ Pol S 443 - Administrative Jurisprudence
___ Pol S 512 - Seminar in American Institutions (if not already taken as required course above)
___ Pol S 514 - Seminar in Public Policy
___ Pol S 536 - Special Topics in Comparative Politics (if not already taken as required course above)
___ Engl 472 - Ecological Issues and American Nature Writing
___ ES/RP 481 - Economics of Environmental Issues
___ ES/RP 504 - Ecosystem Management
___ ES/RP 544 - Environmental Assessment
___ ES/RP 586 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
___ NATRS 538- Natural Resource Policy and Administration
___ Soc 532 - Environmental Sociology
Graduate Courses at Portland State University – No more than three semester credits, as approved by advisor (keep in mind that a 3 quarter credit class transfers in as 1.7 semester credits)
NOTE: ANY RELEVANT GRADUATE COURSE MAY BE USED AS AN ELECTIVE WITH APPROVAL OF YOUR COMMITTEE
How to Apply
Step One -
Applications are accepted on-line only. Apply on line at the Graduate School web site:
http://www.gradschool.wsu.edu/future-students/admission/apply.html
The $50.00 fee is payable only with Visa and Master Card.
Step Two -
Priority deadlines for applying for admission into the program are as follows:
January 10 Summer/Fall Admission
July 1 Spring Admission
In order for the application to be processed for priority registration, all materials must be received by the Graduate school and WSU Vancouver no later than January 10th for Fall Semester, and July 1st for Spring semester. Applications received after the priority deadlines may be considered for Admissions. Please contact the Program Coordinator in Washington State University Vancouver. (See contact information below)
Step Three -
Arrange to have one copy of official transcripts sent from EACH college previously attended directly to the WSU Graduate School at:
Dean of the Graduate School
P O Box 641020 Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-1030
Fax # 509 335-1949
E-mail:Official transcripts must be mailed directly from the college(s) previously attended. Sealed official copies sent by the student are not acceptable.
Step Four -
Complete the following :
1. Application - online with a non-refundable processing fee of $50.00
2. Official transcripts from any college or university which you have attended
3. Three letters of recommendation sent to the graduate school directly by the references you identify in your application.
4. Letter of Intent (2-3 pages) explaining:
a. why you are interested in the MPA program
b. your educational and career goals
c. why you believe you would be successful in the program.
Please keep in mind that the admissions committee uses this document as a writing sample.
5. Resume
6. Copies of official GRE test scores.
International students:
a. Tofel scores
b. Financial responsibility
NOTE: These materials must be sent directly to the Graduate School:
Dean of the Graduate School
P O Box 641020 Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-1030
Fax # 509 335-1949
E-mail:
You may also send copies of materials from step 4 to the Program Coordinator.
MPA Program Administrator
Washington State University Vancouver
14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue
Vancouver, WA 98686-9600
E-mail: