Master of Public Administration Online
Driving New Solutions in Public Service Through Social Entrepreneurship Social challenges are becoming increasingly complex in the 21st century. USC’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) online program is designed to educate the next generation of leaders who can solve tomorrow’s most pressing issues—from the environment to healthcare reform, immigration, infrastructure, urban development, and more. Individuals enter the program as students and prepare to graduate as change agents. Offered by the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, this online master’s program takes a different approach. We teach students how to view management and policy issues through the lens of social entrepreneurship. That means we aim to not only inform, but to inspire. We hope to instill in our students the desire to find new solutions instead of conforming to existing patterns. To accomplish this, we deliver a contemporary curriculum that blends cuttingedge research and practical experience with problem-solving strategies. Beyond the core courses, students are encouraged to dig deeper into their area of interest by selecting one of the following concentrations: government management, nonprofit management, or public management. USC’s online MPA program is designed to attract civic-minded individuals who are passionate beyond measure about social change. We realize that to fuel this level of enthusiasm, we need impassioned faculty members. Our full-time faculty of pioneering scholars and experienced professionals work together from the frontier of what research is all about, reviewing the current ways of thinking to craft new solutions to real problems. The USC Price School faculty members come from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and are well-known thought leaders in various public sectors. Their willingness to also serve in the realm of higher education makes it possible for our online MPA degree to be ranked among the world’s best.
Online Master of Public Administration
Program Curriculum To make a real difference in the world, the world needs public service leaders who are astute, analytic thinkers with strong political acumen and excellent communication skills. The USC Master of Public Administration online program delivers an interconnected and comprehensive curriculum that’s incomparable to other programs of its kind. statistics prerequisite
All students entering the MPA must demonstrate proficiency in relevant statistical methods. The statistics prerequisite can be satisfied in either one of two ways: completion of a college-level statistics course with a grade of “B” or better taken within three years of matriculation in the MPA program or passing PPD 502x with a grade of “B” or better. core courses
Core (14 units) PPD 500 Intersectoral Leadership (2 units) PPD 501ab Economics for Policy, Planning, and Development (two 2-unit classes) PPD 540 Public Administration and Society (4 units)—Gateway Course PPD 546 Professional Practice of Public Administration (4 units)—Capstone Course Management Competencies (12 units) PPD 541 Public Financial Management and Budgeting (4 units) PPD 542 Policy and Program Evaluation (4 units) PPD 545 Human Behavior in Public Organizations (4 units) concentration courses
Local Government Management Electives (14 units) PPD 628 Urban Planning and Social Policy (4 units) PPD 651 Seminar in the Administration of Local Government (4 units) PPD 673 Strategic Planning in the Public Sector (4 units) PPD 685 Human Resources Management in Public and Nonprofit Sectors (2 units) or
PPD 599
Performance Management (2 units)
Nonprofit Management Electives (14 units) PPD 675 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (4 units) PPD 685 Human Resources Management in Public and Nonprofit Sectors (2 units) PPD 689 The Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy (4 units) PPDE 645 Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations (4 units) or
PPD 599
Performance Management (2 units)
Public Management Electives (14 units) PPD 628 Urban Planning and Social Policy (4 units) PPD 673 Strategic Management (4 units) PPD 685 Human Resources Management in Public and Nonprofit Sectors PPD 689 The Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy (4 units) or
PPD 599
Performance Management (2 units)
* Students in the online MPA program are classified as pre-service or in-service students at the time of admission. Pre-service students — students with less than two years full-time work experience. Pre-service students are required to complete an internship and a one-unit Internship Seminar course (PPD 543). MPA students enroll in the Internship Seminar during the first 24 units of instruction. 41 total units In-service students — students with at least two years full-time work experience. The internship and the one-unit PPD 543 are not required. 40 total units
admission requirements To qualify for the program, applicants must meet the following admissions requirements: • USC Graduate Application • Application fee • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 • Above average score on the GRE or GMAT • Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended • Completed Price School Supplemental Form • Current resume • Three letters of recommendation, including at least one academic reference • Statement of purpose, approximately 1,000 words addressing: - Why are you interested in pursuing the MPA? - How will the MPA affect or enhance your career aspirations and goals?
for international students
Additional requirements for international students are as follows: • Official TOEFL scores (Institution Code: 4852) • Official transcripts indicating the awarding of all degrees, with the title and date conferred in the applicant’s native language and an exact English translation of each document • Financial guarantee statement, showing proof of the ability to pay all tuition and living expenses
The USC MPA program’s primary mission is to educate
professionals to assume leadership positions for public service and to improve the state of the art in the governance and management of public and nonprofit organizations.
the usc price school of public policy
As a principle component of one of the country’s leading research universities, the USC Price School of Public Policy makes an indelible impression, positioned third at USC for per capita research grants. Through pivotal research, the school prepares students to apply the latest strategies toward bettering their work performance in serving the public. With a renowned faculty of laudable scholars and a board of experienced policy leaders, students join a global network of innovative public administrators influencing the progress of modern society.
accreditations
• USC is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) • The Price School is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)
rankings
U. S. News & World Report positions USC Price in the top 3 percent of public administration schools. In 2012, the U.S. News & World Report also ranked USC Price: • 6th in Best Graduate Schools for Public Affairs • 4th in Health Policy and Management • 6th in Public Management/Administration • 7th in City Management and Urban Policy • 7th in Nonprofit Management • 9th in Social Policy • 12th in Public Policy Analysis
Ready to get started or have questions? Call 1-877-960-2042 to speak with an Enrollment Advisor today.