Public Administration
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Program Contact Information
Website: www.mpa.utah.edu
Carolyn and Kem Gardner Building
260 Central Campus Drive, RM 3345
Salt Lake City UT 84112
Phone: 801-581-6781
Program Description
Evening MPA Program
Minimum Evening MPA Master Hours: 42
The MPA Evening Program is designed for the working professional. Students are able to select their own concentration, and choose their own pace for courses typically offered one night per week (per course) from 6-9 p.m. Depending on how many courses a student takes per semester, this degree can be completed in two years, but might take as long as four years.
Executive MPA Program
Minimum Executive MPA Master Hours: 42
The Executive MPA is designed for students with at least five years of middle-to-upper level administrative experience in public, nonprofit and/or private organizations. Administrative experience ranges from program management to employee management to policy research to teaching to financial oversight, etc. Students are encouraged to meet with MPA program staff to determine eligibility for the Executive program. Our cohorts include students from a variety of undergraduate and graduate majors, as well as career backgrounds that include local government, state and federal government, nonprofits, educational organizations and private companies.
Students take one course at a time in an intensive format that finishes in just over two years. Three courses will take place during week-long formats, running 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. These week long courses are spread out with each occurring during one of the three summers that fall in the program. The other nine courses take place every other weekend (Friday from 5:30-8:30/9 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.) for four weekends. Students progress through the program as a cohort and the area of concentration is designed specifically for Executive MPA students: Advanced Public Management.
Students who fail to complete their degree in the Executive MPA may transfer to the Evening MPA program if they are in academic good standing.
Approved Combined/Dual Degrees
Combined Degrees:
This degree has combined degree options with Master of Public Health, Juris Doctor, Master of Health Administration, Social Work, M.S.W, Social Work, Ph.D., or Educational Leadership and Policy, Ph.D.
Click here to view FAQ’s, agreements, or planning worksheets for a combined degree option.
Dual Certificates:
This degree has dual certificate options with Urban Planning Certificate, Historic Preservation Certificate, Real Estate Development Certificate, Urban Design Certificate, Demography Certificate, Disability Studies Certificate, or Gerontology Certificate.
Program Admissions Requirements
Evening MPA Admission Requirements
Students are admitted into the Evening MPA program for fall semester, which starts in August. Applicants must meet the following requirements for admission (deadlines: Feb. 1 for evening):
Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Prerequisite American Government should be completed before beginning the program. Must have completed with a C or better, a “PASS” if taken pass/fail or a 45 or higher if taken as a CLEP exam. A short course for this requirement is offered every fall by the MPA. Courses similar to the curriculum of POLS 1100 may be considered in place of POLS 1100 (the MPA Program will need documentation such as a syllabus or note with course description from the institution where taken), but Advanced Placement courses will not count.
Compiled a grade point average of 3.2 or higher in undergraduate work. Some exceptions will be made based on career experience and length of time between undergraduate degree and MPA application.
Submit official results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Millers Analogy Test (MAT), Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), or Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). The MPA Program looks at percentile ranks, rather than raw scores with the requirement being in the 50th % or higher. Students who already have a post graduate degree do not need to take a graduate entrance test.
Applicants for whom English is a second language must also submit a TOEFL score. The TOEFL requirement for the MPA Program is 580 PB or 92 IB.
Submit three recommendation letters (professional and/or academic only; if student has graduated within past two years, at least one letter must be from an academic reference)
Submit a letter of intent
Submit a resume
Establish eligibility for admission to graduate standing at the University of Utah - UofU Admissions
Executive MPA Admission Requirements
Students are admitted into the Executive MPA program for fall semester, which starts in August. Applicants must meet the following requirements for admission (deadlines: review for the executive begins April 1 and concludes June 30):
Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Prerequisite American Government should be completed before beginning the program. Must have completed with a C or better, a “PASS” if taken pass/fail or a 45 or higher if taken as a CLEP exam. A short course for this requirement is offered every fall by the MPA. Courses similar to the curriculum of POLS 1100 may be considered in place of POLS 1100 (the MPA Program will need documentation such as a syllabus or note with course description from the institution where taken), but Advanced Placement courses will not count.
Compiled a grade point average of 3.2 or higher in undergraduate work. Some exceptions will be made based on career experience and length of time between undergraduate degree and MPA application.
Submit official results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Millers Analogy Test (MAT), Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), or Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). The MPA Program looks at percentile ranks, rather than raw scores with the requirement being in the 50th % or higher. Students who already have a post graduate degree do not need to take a graduate entrance test.
Applicants for whom English is a second language must also submit a TOEFL score. The TOEFL requirement for the MPA Program is 580 PB or 92 IB.
Submit three recommendation letters (professional and/or academic only)
Submit a letter of intent
Submit a resume
Establish eligibility for admission to graduate standing at the University of Utah - UofU Admissions