Public Administration

Opportunities for graduate studies

The mission of the graduate public administration program is to prepare you for a leadership role in a public and/or nonprofit organization. This mission is accomplished through:

• an innovative curriculum and dedicated teaching
• creating and disseminating knowledge in public administration through research and professional development activities
• serving the profession and the community to promote democratic governance and enhance the quality of life

The University of North Texas offers a master's degree in public administration and a doctoral degree in public administration and management.

National reputation

U.S. News and World Report ranks UNT's M.P.A. program in city management and urban policy as the best in Texas and the Southwest and 10th in the nation. The program was one of the first in Texas to be accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration [1029 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, D.C. 20005, telephone (202) 628-8965].

The Ph.D. program also has an emerging national reputation propelled by faculty members who are engaged in cutting-edge research.

Careers

The M.P.A. program is in its 46th year and has more than 1,000 alumni. Approximately 44 percent of our graduates work for a city government, 32 percent work in other levels of government, 22 percent work in private or nonprofit organizations, with the remainder in higher education and foreign governments. In Texas, more city executives (city managers, deputy city managers and assistant city managers) hold a master's degree from UNT than from any other university.

The Ph.D. prepares you for a scholarly career as a researcher and university-level teaching or a career as a policy analyst or senior-level manager. The Ph.D. curriculum emphasizes analytic tools and theoretical issues confronting the study and practice of public administration.

Internationally recognized faculty

In addition to their research contributions, faculty members are recognized for their commitment to excellence as teachers and to the continued professional development of students and alumni. Faculty members have served as a national president of a professional public administration association, served as members of city commissions and boards, served on boards of nonprofit organizations, and led fundraising efforts for charitable organizations. Faculty members have also worked as a senior budget analyst for a large city government, a program coordinator for a state Alzheimer's association, a researcher for a tax commission, a coordinator for a human services agency, a captain in the maritime marines, an emergency services coordinator for the American Red Cross, and a planner for a regional planning commission.

Students recognized for their achievements

Students in the M.P.A. program consistently receive recognition from professional organizations for their academic and professional accomplishments. More UNT students have received the Clarence E. Ridley Scholarship ($3,500) from the Texas City Management Association than students from any other university in the state.

Admission requirements

Master's Degree Program

Admission to the M.P.A. program is based on an assessment of your ability and potential to meet the demands of a rigorous graduate program. Your application is considered using multiple criteria, including your academic performance and potential, as well as other materials that may be requested by the department.

Application for admission to the M.P.A. program is made directly to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies using the online form at www.tsgs.unt.edu. You must meet the admission requirements of the graduate school in addition to the following program requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university. Although no particular major is required, you must have at least 15 semester hours in fields related to public administration, such as political science, economics, sociology, emergency administration, criminal justice, or business administration.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of college work
• Satisfactory scores on all three parts of the GRE
• If you do not meet these admission requirements, you may be asked to submit letters of recommendation attesting to intellectual and leadership abilities, a written essay describing career objectives and explaining how an M.P.A. degree will help you meet those objectives, and/or a current resume showing all work experience.

Ph.D. program

You must be admitted to the graduate school first and then to the Ph.D. program. Other requirements include:

• Master's degree in public administration or a related field from an accredited college or university or take appropriate leveling courses after entering the Ph.D. program
• Minimum 3.2 GPA on the last 60 hours of college work
• Satisfactory scores on all three parts of the GRE
• Three letters of recommendation, preferably from professors
• An essay describing your career goals and objectives and professional development in public administration
• A current resume

Admission is based on a holistic review. The quality of your undergraduate preparation for advanced study, the quality of your master's degree level of study, commitment to the study of public administration, potential to contribute significantly to the field of public administration through research, teaching and service, and the extent to which your interests and professional goals correspond to those of the participating faculty will also be considered.

Degree requirements

Master's degree

The M.P.A. curriculum provides time-tested management theories and state-of-the-art practice to prepare you for leadership roles in government and the nonprofit sector. The program's curriculum emphasizes measuring organizational performance, evaluating public programs, understanding up-to-date financial reporting requirements, operating in collaborative networks, leading nonprofit organizations and encouraging workplace diversity.

The program has two components: eight required courses, plus, for most pre-career students, an internship experience; and four or five elective courses that can be combined into a specific area of specialization. Full course descriptions are in the UNT Graduate Catalog. You must complete the required number of courses, a final written comprehensive examination will be given.

Required courses

• PADM 5010 Public Administration and Society
• PADM 5020 Leading and Managing Public Organizations
• PADM 5030 Managing Human Resources
• PADM 5035 Professional Practice for Public Managers
• PADM 5400 Managing Financial Resources
• PADM 5420 Revenue Policy and Administration
• PADM 5500 Administrative Research Methods I
• PADM 5510 Administrative Research Methods II

Descriptions of these courses can be found in the UNT Graduate Catalog or online at www.unt.edu/catalog.

Areas of specialization

You may choose to pursue specialization in emergency management, financial management, local government management, nonprofit management, and human resources management. A custom specialization may be designed to fit your career objectives from courses offered at UNT, subject to departmental approval.

Internships for pre-career students

If you have no government experience, paid internships provide an opportunity for you to apply classroom knowledge and to develop professional skills that are essential to a successful career. You can receive 6 hours of academic credit after completing an internship with a government agency or nonprofit organization. The department's internship coordinator will help you find internship opportunities, and you are responsible for developing the qualifications and interpersonal skills necessary for employment.

Ph.D. degree

The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 90 credits of course work, including up to 24 credits earned while completing the M.P.A. degree or its equivalent.

Substantive Core Requirements (12 hours)

• PADM 6010 Introduction to the Study of Public Administration
• PADM 6020 Public Organization Theory and Research
• PADM 6025 Institutional Context of Public Administration.
• PADM 6710 Social Science Inquiry

Research Tools (12 hours)

• PADM 6500 Analytical Methods for Public Administration Researchers

Two methods courses in political science, sociology, applied economics or business Elective course selected after consultation with your adviser

Specialization (minimum of 12 hours)

Specialization areas in public management and finance, public policy analysis, and emergency administration are available. You will take two required courses in the specialization and two electives, which are selected in consultation with the major professor.

Minor (minimum of 12 hours)

The minor courses are determined in consultation with the faculty adviser and can include the core for another specialization or field outside the department.

Directed research (6 hours)

Additional program information is contained in the A PhD Degree Program Handbook available from the Ph.D. program coordinator or from the web site.

Scholarships and awards

Several scholarship/assistantship opportunities are offered to beginning students. You should investigate available financial aid options at the time you apply to the program. Students who are not Texas residents and receive at least $1,000 a year in scholarship funds also may be eligible for in-state tuition rates. The scholarships awarded annually by the department are:

Hatton W. Sumners scholarships

Five scholarships for beginning, full-time pre-career students interested in a career in government are funded by the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation. The awards are $16,500 for 16 months: $12,000 is awarded as a stipend paid over 16 months plus $4,500 toward tuition. For the first 12 months, students serve as research assistants to faculty members for 10 hours each week. A review of the applications begins Feb. 1. Recipients must be enrolled full time in the M.P.A. program.

Alumni scholarships

These scholarships, worth up to $3,000 each, are awarded to qualified students pursuing an M.P.A. degree. The scholarship pays up to $750 for tuition and fees per semester and is renewable based on satisfactory progress in the program. Recipients must be enrolled full time in the M.P.A. program.

E. Ray Griffin scholarships

This award provides the recipient with the basic alumni scholarship, plus an additional amount that may vary based on endowment income.

Additional financial support is available from external sources including internships through the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and competitive awards from the Texas City Management Association and the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas. You may request information about financial support from outside sources by contacting the department.