What are the admissions requirements and application deadlines?
To apply, applicants must submit:
- A statement of purpose, outlining professional goals and motivation for pursuing the MPA degree.
- A professional resume summarizing education, work, and volunteer experiences.
- Transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work.
The MPA application for the fall semester opens Sept. 1 with initial application review starting Feb. 1 and subsequent review ending May 1. Applications submitted between Feb. 1 and May 1 will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications submitted after May 1 will only be considered for the upcoming fall semester if there is room in the cohort. For best consideration, submit applications by Feb 1. Applicants interested in a Department of Political Science Graduate Assistantship (GA) must submit applications by Feb.1. GA positions will be allocated by Feb. 15.
I am a current JMU undergraduate student in my junior year. How do I apply to the 5 Year MPA Program?
Do I need to have a specific undergraduate degree in order to apply?
Not at all! Our MPA students studied a wide variety of disciplines for their undergraduate degree, from business administration to political science to humanities to biology. However, what they have in common is a strong desire to have real, positive impact on the world through a career in public service.
Are there any undergraduate courses I need to take in order to apply to the program?
While the student body includes students from all over the world, the MPA Program curriculum at JMU is grounded in American public and nonprofit administration. Students who have not completed a U.S. Government course in their undergraduate program will, if admitted, be required to participate in a non-credit U.S. Government course during their first semester of the program.
What is the ratio of students to faculty?
The MPA Program at JMU maintains a intimate learning community that averages five students per faculty member at any one time. This small size creates many opportunities for strong student/faculty relationships and valuable one-on-one mentoring.
Does the MPA Program at JMU offer an online degree?
To maximize the strengths of a small, intimate learning community, the MPA Program at JMU is largely an in-person degree program on the main JMU campus in Harrisonburg, VA. While a few elective courses may be offered virtually and technologies allow for individual classes to move between in-person and virtual learning, the MPA Program at JMU does not offer an online-only degree.
What are opportunities for financial assistance?
All students completing their application for admissions to MPA Program at JMU by February 1st may indicate interest in a Graduate Assistantship with the Department of Political Science. The selection process for these limited assistantships is competitive and is based on a variety of criteria including demonstrated excellence, financial need, and the extent to which existing skills meet the work needs.
Additional Graduate Assistantships outside the Department of Political Science may be found in the JMU Pageup campus employment posting system. Questions for these positions should be directed to the hiring department and not the MPA program.
Finally, students in the MPA Program may also be eligible to apply for financial assistance through JMU's Office of Financial Aid. Please be sure to review eligibility requirements.
I work full-time but want to enhance my credentials with an MPA degree at JMU. What are my options?
The MPA Program at JMU schedules all core classes and many of the elective courses as once-a-week classes meeting in person from 6PM to 8:30PM. Most students who are working full time enroll in one of two classes a semester, including summer sessions, and complete the program within three to six years.
Is an internship required?
All students in the MPA Program who are either not working full time in a relevant public service profession or who do not have a certain number of years of prior relevant public service employment will enroll in PUAD 696: Internship in Public Administration. This course provides students real work-based learning opportunities in which MPA competencies will be developed and practiced.
Students who believe that they have sufficient prior public service professional experience may apply to the MPA Program Directors for a waiver from this class.
Is a research thesis required?
The MPA Program at JMU does not require a thesis. Instead, students develop a portfolio of work mapped to the JMU Program Competencies as the culmination of their studies. The awarding of the MPA degree is contingent on successful completion of all classes plus the submission of a satisfactory portfolio.
Where are program graduates employed?
In a recent survey, our graduates indicated that they worked in a wide variety of organizations. Over 22% work in local government, 11% in state and federal government, 17% in nonprofit organizations, and 15% in for-profit companies.
