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MPA Advising

Welcome

New student MPA Orientation
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Fall 2025Saturday, August 16, 202511:00AM            Sent  via email                    

MPA Student Handbook (Fall 2024)

Courses and Course Schedule

New PAWS login for students

Important Information 

We want to make sure students understand their options and responsibilities in order to proceed promptly through the program. 

Please read your MPA Student Handbook (button above). We review this in the required MPA New Student Orientation. Please be sure to attend the new student orientation, zoom link and date is listed above. Also read and bookmark the Graduate Studies page on Policies and Procedures.
 

Create a course plan for yourself following the guidance in the MPA Handbook and your PAWS.  Each student's plan will be different depending on how many classes they are able to take at a time.  Plan carefully to assure the classes you want are offered the semester you want them. See also our Online Courses page.   

Please review your PAWS and plan your degree. Your PAWS is your road map in completing your MPA program. Please monitor it constantly. Guide on accessing your PAWS report is accessible by clicking the New PAWS login for students (button above). We encourage you to map out a plan for your intended courses. We do not have a set course sequence or pattern because everyone's needs are different. Need help registering for classes?

Key Notes
  1. PA 6110 MUST be your first class if it is available. PA 6110 is designated as a writing-intensive class and must be passed with at least a B- to remain in the MPA program.
  2. PA 6030 should be your second class.
  3. If you need an internship, you must complete it before you can Advance to Candidacy.
  4. If you are a semester catalog student, you must take one semester of 6985 the professional development seminar.
  5. Take PA 6630 before taking PA 6150 if  you are in the Public Financial Management concentration
  6. Complete your myCAP (semester catalog) or submit your Advancement to Candidacy request form (quarter catalog) after taking 5 classes and attend the required mid-degree advising session.
  7. Do not register in three thousand or fourth thousand level courses they do not count as graduate level courses. Visit the Graduate Degree and Program Requirements catalog for more information.
  8. File a Graduation Check at least one semester BEFORE you intend to graduate. This is submitted online with the Office of the Registrar. You need to be advanced to candidacy to be able to file for a grad check.
  9. Starting in the Fall of 2024, the MPA program is transitioning from a Comprehensive Exam to a Project Based Course (PA 6550) for the culminating experience of the degree.  Students should plan on changing their catalog year (to Fall 2024 if this is not your current catalog year) to reflect this change in program requirement. Please carefully read the PA 6550 webpage. You are to take this as your last class and PA 6550 must be passed with a B or better.
  10. Visit the university calendar for important academic dates (Census date, breaks/campus closure dates, exams, registration enrollment appts, etc.).
  11. Track your academic standing, GPA, remaining courses, your concentration, etc. by monitoring your PAWS report on a regular basis especially before registration.

 

Additional Resources

Keep track of important dates, holidays, breaks, registration, exams- through the official Academic Calendar -- bookmark it!

The ultimate authority is the University Bulletin please read it for information about the MPA program.

Get career development services with Dr. Pamela Abell.  Working with her is a co-requirement for PA 6980. 

The Faculty and Staff of Public Administration Department is Here to Help! Please contact us to answer specific questions. 

MPA Director: Dr. Robert Stokes