Message for Prospective Students

Dear Prospective MPA Student:

Thank you for your interest in the Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program. This graduate program is designed for students interested in pursuing a master’s degree in public sector management with specialized concentrations in government policy and administration, non-profit administration, or health systems management. The program also offers graduate certificates in the above concentrations for those who wish specialized training but for whom a master’s degree is not desirable or feasible.

The MPA program is housed in the Department of Political Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Indiana University South Bend. As such, the program promotes a course of study that exposes students to the study of public policies and affairs that integrates practical professional management skills with the analysis of real world issues. Understanding the political, economic, and social context in which public sector enterprises operate will be given attention as will the commitment to skill building and applications to policy making. We believe a course of study that integrates both theory and practice in public affairs will provide the foundations for equipping managers to excel at their jobs and to become leaders in their workplaces and communities. The MPA program is fully accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

On this website you will find instructions for applying to the MPA or certificate programs. You will also find information about the program requirements, a list of courses offered in the program, and a copy of the MPA Student Handbook. The MPA Student Handbook outlines the MPA program, as well as the policies related to admission and graduation.

Please note that if your undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0, you must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Such applicants must score at least 150 in each Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning and a 4 in Analytical Writing (450 in each Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning on the pre-2012 GRE scoring system).

Applications for fall admittance are due by June 30th. Applications for spring admittance are due by October 31st and applications for summer admittance are due by March 31st.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you and having you in the program.

Sincerely,