Masters in Public Affairs Masters in Public Affairs About the MPA Program The Master of Public Affairs program at Washington State University Vancouver seeks to develop the abilities of present and future public administrators in the region, to provide them with the tools to meet the challenges of government in the 21st century. In an age when governmental philosophies are continually being redefined, the MPA program is designed to promote professionalism, leadership, inventiveness, and a commitment to public service for government employees in the area of public administration, applied policy studies and health policy and administration. Students wishing to pursue justice studies or environmental policy studies will work with the MPA Director to develop that course of study within the applied policy studies concentration. The MPA prepares students for careers in the public and nonprofit sectors, and offers training for students who desire professional growth and advancement.
Classes typically meet one or two evenings a week over the course of the semester.
Students often continue to work full-time during the day while compl eting their master's degree in the evenings over a period of a few years. The exact length of time required to complete the degree depends on how many classes a student takes each semester. Sociology 321 may be taken to fulfill this requirement for students who have not previously taken an equivalent course. MPA Program Curriculum The Master of Public Affairs program consists of 34 total semester hours of credit including 19 semester credits of core classes and 15 semester credits in a specific concentration. Students can use up to six semester hours of 400-level classes that provide graduate credit as part of their MPA course work.