Master of Public Administration
Getting Started
Admission to the M.P.A. Program
In addition to the general requirements of the university, specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are:
1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;
2. The following combination of grade point average and test score on the GRE (Graduate Record Examination, Verbal and Quantitative Sections): GRE score plus 400 times grade point average on the last 90 sequential quarter units (60 semester units) of course work (including postbaccalaureate course work) equals or exceeds 2100;
3. Submission of GRE score by the deadline for that term; if test result is not submitted on time, admission status will be unclassified postbaccalaureate;
4. Competence in the following prerequisite courses or their equivalents:
A. MGMT 306. Expository Writing for Administration (with a grade of "B" or better)
B. MATH 305. Statistics: Hypothesis Testing and Estimation
or
SCM 210. Applied Business Statistics
C. PA 575. Internship in Public Administration (May be waived dependent upon related work experience.)
Competence in the above prerequisite courses may be demonstrated by:
A. Formal completion of the course or its equivalent.
B. Credit by examination.
C. Waiver based on specialized work experience; must have documentation of work directly related to course to be waived; and must be approved by the department's M.P.A. Graduate Director. (Students requesting waiver of any prerequisite courses must petition the M.P.A. Graduate Director. Inquiries about a challenge examination or substitution for MGMT 306 should be directed to the Dean of Graduate Studies.)
5. Academic motivation and personal qualifications demonstrated through submission of a 200-250 word statement of reasons for wishing to pursue the M.P.A. at California State University, San Bernardino, and personal qualifications that will contribute to successful completion of the program.
No more than 12 units of graduate credit earned in unclassified/ conditionally classified standing may be counted toward meeting the requirements for the degree.
Students who meet all entrance requirements except course prerequisites may be admitted to the program in a conditionally classified status until those prerequisite deficiencies are removed, at which time they will be advanced to classified graduate standing in the program. Only fully classified students, however, may enroll in 600-level courses unless they have written consent from the school graduate director.
Advancement to Candidacy
To be advanced to candidacy, a student must have:
1. Achieved classified standing;
2. Completed at least 20 quarter units of applicable graduate-level course work at the university, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 ("B");
3. Completed an approved graduate program plan in consultation with an M.P.A. advisor after achieving classified status;
4. Secured the approval of candidacy from the M.P.A. Graduate Director and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Please refer to the University catalog at http://catalog.csusb.edu for official information.