College of Health & Public Affairs

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The School of Public Administration offers graduate and undergraduate programs in public administration and emergency management. Graduate students may choose from a Master of Public Administration or a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration. Undergraduate students may elect to enroll in either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, or may select a minor in Public Administration or Emergency Management.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

UCF's Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. Graduates of this program are equipped with the public management skills and analytic techniques needed to begin or advance successful careers in government, nonprofit, and closely related business fields. The MPA at UCF is especially oriented toward the problems of local government, including issues of growth management and the environment. This program appeals to professionals in government, public services, nonprofit agencies and other organizations concerned with the interaction between public and private sectors.

The MPA program curriculum consists of 42 credits. Students complete a core of nine courses (27 credits), an advanced curriculum of four courses (12 credits), and a Capstone experience equivalent to one course (3 credits). Students much achieve a minimum grade of 3.0 ("B") for each core class and the Capstone experience, and maintain an overall program grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.

Internships are available and students without practical administrative experience in the public sector are strongly advised to complete an internship as part of their advanced curriculum.

Master of Public Administration/Master of Nonprofit Management Dual Degree

The dual MPA/MNM degree provides the opportunity for students to earn graduate degrees from two academic programs, the Master of Public Administration and the Master of Nonprofit Manqagement, concurrently. Students successfully completing this Dual Degre track will have the skills and analytical techniques for successful careers in both the public and nonprofit sectors.

The MPA/MNM dual degree program curriculum consists of 66 credits. Students complete a core of 16 courses (48 credit hours), and advanced curriculum of five electives (15 credit hours) that are selected in consultation with the advisor, and a capstone experience equivalent to one course (3 credit hours). Prospective students must apply to the dual degree track for both the MPA and MNM programs and pay an application fee for each program.

Admission

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required; however, students who wish to complete in the fellowship process must submit GRE scores. To be considered for admission, the following documentation must be on file with UCF by the appropriate application deadline date:

Undergraduate transcripts, and

Graduate transcripts (if another graduate degree in a related field has been completed), and

Supporting documents

Resume

Statement of Interest

Three letters of recommendation from professors or professional individuals.

Tuition

Current tuition and fees can be found at http://www.iroffice.ucf.edu/character/current_tuition.html. The approximate cirremt basic cost of the MPA program is $13,795. Additional tuition and fees may be added. Tuition is subject to change.

Graduate Certificate in Public Administration

The Graduate Certificate in Public Administration provides graduate level, continuing education for both in-service and pre-career students. The program emphasizes the managerial skills essential for local government programs in an evolving metropolitan environment. Students gain knowledge that strengthens their professional standing and opens doors to management and support positions.

The PA certificate program curriculum consists of 18 credits. Students complete a core of five courses (15 credits) and one elective (3 credits)

Admission to the PA certificate program is completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security

The Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMHS) prepares graduate students to administer emergency management and homeland security programs.

The National Response Plan places strong emphasis on coordination and integration of services at all levels of government. There is a growing need in our community to learn about new collaborative responses to emergencies. The courses in this certificate program focus on that collaborative effort..

The EMHS certificate program curriculum consists of 18 credits. Students complete a core of four courses (12 credits) and two electives (6 credits).

Admission to the EMHS certificate is completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

For the most complete, up-to-date program requirements, please see the official UCF graduate catalog at http://www.graduate.ucf.edu/currentGradCatalog.

Application Process

Applications for the MPA and the certificate program are accepted each semester. Apply online at http://www.graduate.ucf.edu.

MPA and PA CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS CONTACT

Dr. Wendell Lawther
PA Programs Coordinator
lawther@mail.ucf.edu
(407) 823-2604

Ms. Jacque Waleski
Academic Services Coordinator
jwaleski@mail.ucf.edu
(407) 823-3918

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY CERTIFICATE CONTACT

Dr. Naim Kapucu

Program Coordinator

nkapauc@mail.ucf.edu

(407) 823-2604

Ms. Jacque Waleski
Academic Services Coordinator
jwaleski@mail.ucf.edu
(407) 823-3918

For the current TUITION AND FEES, click here

For the current ACADEMIC CALENDAR, click here

To APPLY to a graduate program, click here

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

BA/BS in Public Administration

The school offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Public Administration. Student selecting the Bachelor of Arts will complete an additional language requirement at the university level. Students selecting the Bachelor of Science will complete two additional technical courses. Both programs provide opportunities for students to prepare for a career in government, nonprofit, or closely related business fields. Graduating students have learned the analytical and management skills needed for employment preparation as public administrators. Our undergraduate degrees are oriented toward the challenges of local government with a focus on issues of growth management and the environment.

Students will complete a one-year language proficiency for the BA, or two technical courses for the BS. Additionally, all students must complete three program pre-requisite courses in American government, macroeconomics, and computer skills.

The core curriculum for the bachelor's degree consists of 18 credits. Courses cover public administration in society, administration of public policy, administrative theory, fiscal management, personnel administration, and survey research.

All students must also complete 21 credits of public administration (PAD) courses at the 3000-4000 level, and 18 credits of additional electives chosen from such fields as accounting, legal studies, communications, computer science, criminal justice, economics, political science, social work, sociology, and statistics.

For the most current information about this program, please see the official UCF undergraduate catalog at http://www.catalog.sdes.ucf.edu/current/

Minor in Public Administration

The Public Administration minor provides knowledge in public administration theory and process, fiscal management, and personnel administration. Students completing this minor will gain valuable insight that prepares them for careers or advancement. As with the bachelor's degree, this minor is oriented toward local government, growth management, and the environment.

Students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program to declare this minor. The program consists of six core courses (18 credits).

For the most current information about this program, please see the official UCF undergraduate catalog at http://www.catalog.sdes.ucf.edu/current/minors/.

There are no additional requirements for admission into the undergraduate public administration programs beyond admission to UCF. Students pursuing an undergraduate certificate or minor must be in a degree-seeking program and the certificate or minor is awarded at completion of the degree program. For the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, visit http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~admissio/. This is an open enrollment program, which means that there is no application process; rather, students complete a Declaration of Major form indicating Public Administration as their chosen major, and a Minor Declaration form if pursuing a minor. The forms areavailable in the COHPA Undergraduate Student Services Office, HPA II Suite 115.

There is no program-specific application deadline for this degree as it is an open enrollment program; however, students must comply with all UCF and College of Health and Public Affairs procedures and deadlines.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS CONTACTS

Dr. Michael Abels
Undergraduate Programs Coordinator
mabels@mail.ucf.edu
(407) 823-2604

Ms. Jacque Waleski
Academic Services Coordinator
jwaleski@mail.ucf.edu
(407) 823-3918

For the current TUITION AND FEES, click here

For the current ACADEMIC CALENDAR, click here

To APPLY to an undergraduate program, click here

LEARNING ONLINE

Public Administration students may complete some of their program requirements online, and nonprofit students may complete all of their programs online.

If you are taking a UCF web course for the first time, the university offers an outstanding tutorial to answer your questions about WebCT and learning online. Find the tutorial at http://learn.ucf.edu. Click "I've Registered, Now What?" and then click "Orientation." Scroll down and click "Begin Orientation."

Please take time to rview this tutorial - it will ease your transition into online learning.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Master of Public Administration/Master of Nonprofit Management Dual Degree

Admission

Tuition

Graduate Certificate in Public Administration

Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Application Process

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

BA/BS in Public Administration

Minor in Public Administration

LEARNING ONLINE

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