MPA Director Speaks: MPA Program Overview
Welcome to the Texas Southern University’s (TSU) NASPAA Accredited Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program!
Our MPA Program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), a global standard for excellence. Learn more about the NASPAA organization here. TSU Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs (BJMLSOPA) MPA Program’s mission is to educate students about public administration’s history, competencies, and quantitative skills needed by public administrators to become skilled and productive public and nonprofit employees. The MPA Program is in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, where it offers students a balanced inventory of conceptual, analytical, problem-solving, and other competence skills. The MPA Program uses its curriculum to prepare students to compete nationally and internationally for professional careers in the public sector, nonprofit organizations, or for graduate study where the nature of the profession requires the master’s degree as the entry criterion.
The MPA Faculty's purpose is to prepare students competently for immediate upward mobility in their professional careers in public sectors, nonprofit organizations, or for graduate study where the nature of the profession requires the master’s degree as the entry criterion. The MPA Program is completed with 36-hour credit and we offer several MPA Course Concentrations and a Dual MPA/JD Program. There is no GRE Score requirement for admission to the MPA Program. The MPA Course Concentrations are:
- Public Policy
- Human Resources
- Health Administration
- Urban Planning and Environmental Policy
- Emergency Management
The Dual MPA/JD Program is a combined degree program with Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. This program enables students to acquire both a JD and an MPA degree with a reduction in the total credit hours. Students complete course requirements for two degrees in four (4) years instead of five (5) years if pursued separately.
In addition, the MPA program offers several MPA 4+1 programs for those undergraduate students who know, that upon entering their freshman or sophomore year, they plan to get a Master of Public Administration Degree, the MPA 4+1 is designed for you. The MPA 4+1 allows you to earn a BS (in select fields listed below) and an MPA in five years. That is right with the addition of one year you earn a BS and an MPA. The 4+1 degree-seek areas are:
- Public Affairs
- Political Science
- Emergency Management
TSU Master of Public Administration Program Data
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Admission Requirements - Apply Now
All students must meet the admission requirements of the Texas Southern University Graduate School and the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs – Public Administration Department. All applicants should submit the following:
· The Texas Southern University Graduate School Application (specific program) and a non-refundable application fee
· Two official copies of transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended
· Three letters of reference from individuals qualified to give an evaluation of the applicant's past scholastic performance, research, ability for advanced work in the administration of justice, and personal motivation
· Essay: 250 – 300 words
· Documentation of completion of all undergraduate prerequisite courses in research methods and statistics
All students who have a GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 or who have not completed the prerequisite courses for the MPA may be conditionally admitted. Students are required to complete prerequisite courses in the Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs and must earn a grade of ‘B’ or better
Our MPA Program Philosophy
The MPA program's mission is to educate students about the role and value of public administration governance, competencies, and research skills required to become skilled, efficient, and productive public and nonprofit employees. To this end, the MPA program uses its curriculum, and other enriching activities like internships, webinars, and opportunities to participate in professional conferences to prepare students to compete nationally and internationally for professional careers in the public sector or for graduate study where either the nature of the profession or the doctoral program requires the master's degree as the entry criterion.
Curricular Objectives
The program's curricular objectives are to:
1. Emphasize knowledge of basic management and technological processes and techniques.
2. Educate students on analytical approaches to decision-making in the managerial sciences.
3. Help students develop problem-solving skills and analytical competencies that are relevant to management positions.
4. Emphasize theoretical and factual knowledge of the workings of governmental and non-governmental organizations.
5. Develop the student's ability to conduct research academically and as a practitioner.
6. Provide a foundation for understanding intergovernmental relations and ethics in public administration.
7. Develop proficiency in expressing oneself through writing and oral communication
Contact
Dr. Antoinette Christophe
Director of the Master of Public Administration Program & Associate Professor
Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs
Department of Political Science and Public Administration
Texas Southern University
3100 Cleburne Street, PAB 402AL
Houston, Texas 77004
Office: 713-313-4855
Email: antoinette.christophe@tsu.edu