The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree at Kansas State University prepares both pre and in-service students to serve the public interest and establish themselves as civic leaders. The program emphasizes a theoretically informed and research driven skills based approach to learning, designed to ensure that our students develop specific competencies that prepare them for the challenges of working in the public and non-profit sectors. Our faculty’s approach to education begins with a broad exposure to policy systems, political environments, administrative principals and research methods. Additionally, our students are required to think critically, apply knowledge and seek practical solutions to real world problems. Our low faculty-to-student ratio contributes to a student-centered learning environment in which we are able to instill in our students the ethics of public service and professional management that are critical to the diverse and changing modern workplace.

Assuming three courses (nine credit hours) per semester and one course (three credit hours) per summer session, the prescribed length of our program for full time students is two years, including one summer session.

Ten students entered the program during this period. Eight were full-time students. Seven of the full-time students in this cohort graduated in the prescribed length of time. The other full-time student withdrew from the program.

The remaining two students were part-time students (took less than nine credit hours during fall and spring semesters). Both part-time students withdrew from the program before completion; however, one of these students did earn our Graduate Certificate in Public Administration. For a part-time student, five years is our benchmark for degree completion.

• English Language Proficiency: The Graduate School requires each international applicant whose native language is not English to demonstrate competence in the English language by making a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Pearson Test of English (PTE). The TOEFL, IELTS or PTE is required to ensure that language barriers do not jeopardize the student’s progress toward a degree.
  • Note: Applicants who have received a degree in the last two years from a United States college or university do not have to provide English proficiency test scores.
  • Note: Applicants who are from registered English speaking countries do not have to provide English proficiency test scores.

• • There are two types of TOEFL scores: paper-based TOEFL and TOEFL IBT (internet-based TOEFL taken in real time). The test date should be no older than eighteen months from the application deadline.

• • The IELTS Academic test assesses English language proficiency in the areas of listening, reading, writing and speaking. The listening, reading and writing components of the IELTS test are completed on the same day, with no breaks in between them. The speaking component, however, can be completed up to a week before or after the other tests. IELTS scores are valid for two years from the initial test date.

• • PTE Academic is a computer-based academic English language proficiency test designed to measure reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, as they are used in an academic setting. The entire three-hour test is taken in one sitting. Kansas State University requires a minimum score of 58 on PTE Academic and a 58 for all subscores (listening, reading, writing, and speaking).

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TEST SCORE REQUIREMENTS

• Affidavit of Financial Support: U.S. Immigration regulations require Kansas State University to verify that international students have the financial resources to pay for all educational, living, and other expenses

• Complete the Graduate School's online application for the Master of Public Administration program
• Pay application fee ($65 for domestic students / $75 for international students)
• Upload supporting documents pretaining to your student status (domestic or international) with your online application

SUPPORTING MATERIALS - DOMESTIC STUDENTS

• Statement of Objectives (or Personal Statement)
• Three letters of recommendation (must be originals on official letterhead uploaded directly to your application by your references)
• Transcript(s) from previous college(s) attended
  
  

SUPPORTING MATERIALS - INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

• Statement of Objectives (or Personal Statement)
• Three letters of recommendation (must be originals on official letterhead uploaded directly to your application by your references)
• Transcript(s) from previous college(s) attended
• English language proficieny test (see Requirements for International Students under Admission Requirements for details)

Please request your scores to be sent to Kansas State University. An applicant who has received a degree in the last two years from a United States college/university OR is from a registered English speaking country is exempt from this requirement.

• Financial affidavit plus original bank documents: MUST BE CONVERTED TO USD. See details under International Admissions - Affadavit of Financial Support.
  
  

Questions?

Contact the Director of Public Administration, Dr. Ethan Bernick (emb0111@ksu.edu).

Deadlines differ between domestic and international applicants, please observe the deadlines relating to your student status.

DOMESTIC STUDENTS

• Fall (begins in late August): August 1st
• Spring (begins in late January): January 1st
• Summer (begins in late May): May 1st

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

• Fall (begins in late August): January 8th
• Spring (begins in late January): August 1st

Our program operates on a "rolling admission", meaning students with fully completed applications may know whether or not they have been accepted at any time before the admission deadline.

Upon completing 9 credit hours of coursework, students should meet with their advisor and identify a Major Professor and Supervisory Committee. This committee shall be composed of at least three members (with two or more being MPA faculty).

Graduate Assistantships

The department provides financial aid for assistance with faculty teaching, research, or sometimes both. A graduate assistant's assignment depends on the needs of the department and abilities of the assistant.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Graduate assistants are chosen based on the following:

• Academic performance, promise, and intellectual ability
• Teaching and research needs of the department faculty
• Financial need of the applicant
• Minimum 6 hour (full-time) enrollment during term of assistance
• Reasonable progress towards Master's degree
• Does not hold another paid full-time position

AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE

Graduate assistantships involve a stipend, a tuition waiver and fee reductions. The amount of the stipend changes from year to year and may be obtained by contacting the Director of Public Administration, Dr. Ethan Bernick.

SUPERVISION

Each assistant is assigned to one or two faculty members, depending on the department's needs and the student's preference. Graduate assistants may be asked to help any member of the department faculty, subject to clearance with the student's principal advisors.

DUTIES

Graduate assistants are required to work 20 hours per week in support of their faculty supervisor(s). Faculty supervisors are responsible for notifying their assigned graduate assistant of their obligations for the year, as each graduate assistant is responsible for keeping his or her principal faculty supervisor(s) informed on how these obligations are being met.

CONDITIONS OF ASSISTANTSHIP

All teaching assistants are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA during the period of appointment and to perform their duties satisfactorily. The department reserves the right to withdraw support if academic performance falls below the 3.0 GPA or if the job performance is not satisfactory.

RENEWAL OF ASSISTANTSHIP

The assistantship is awarded for one academic year. A reapplication is required for each additional year of support.

Graduate Scholarships/Fellowships

The department also offers a number of scholarships/fellowships. These vary in terms of the amount of assistance and the exact requirements of each scholarship/fellowship. The scholarships listed below are avaible to public adminitration gradaute students .