Public Administration, MPA

Location(s): University Downtown Center

The mission of the MPA Program at Binghamton University is to enhance the commitment and capacity of our students as well as local government and nonprofit partners to be effective public service leaders, who are equipped to make evidence‐based decisions; recognize and rectify inequities; promote inclusive institutions; embrace democratic processes; adapt to changing circumstances; and model high ethical standards. The program accomplishes this through an engaged, inclusive and interdisciplinary approach to teaching, research and service in local and global settings.

The MPA is a 42-credit professional degree (40 credits for in-career students with at least three years of public and/or nonprofit administrative experience) and may be completed on either a full- or part-time basis.

Admission Requirements

Consideration for admission to the MPA program is open to all individuals with a BA or a BS degree from a recognized college or university that meets the admission requirements of Binghamton University’s Graduate School. All students applying to the MPA program must submit the online application. Application materials include an application form, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, personal statement and a résumé.

Each applicant is given a score based on his/her undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, personal statement and work experience. Each applicant’s undergraduate GPA (or graduate GPA, if the student has taken more than 12 credits at the graduate level) may then be “adjusted” based on the letters of recommendation (-0.2 to +0.2 points), personal statement (-0.2 to +0.2 points), work experience (0 to +0.2 points) and quality of university and/or degree program if known (-0.2 to +0.2 points). The admissions committee can deny admission if an applicant’s letters of recommendation and/or personal statement are below an acceptable level. When evaluating the letters of recommendation, the admissions committee looks for evidence of academic achievement, community involvement and personal characteristics that enables them to foster an institutional culture that advances democratic administration and governance. In the personal statement, the committee assesses the student’s commitment to public and/or nonprofit administration, as well as their ability to communicate in writing. Significant work experience (five or more years in the public or nonprofit sector) can earn applicants a positive adjustment to their admissions scores; however, the lack of work experience does not result in a penalty.

Those wishing to be considered for a graduate assistantship must have their applications in by February 1; applications received after this deadline are considered on a rolling basis/space available basis or are deferred until the next semester. Applications are accepted for both fall and spring semesters.

Guaranteed Admission

Guaranteed admission for some SUNY graduates is designed to accommodate the strongest applicants from seven of the most competitive SUNY schools. The program is open to students who hold a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.5 or higher from:

Binghamton University
University at Albany
University at Buffalo
State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
State University of New York at Geneseo
State University of New York at New Paltz
Stony Brook University

Students who meet these requirements and apply by the stated deadlines are guaranteed admission into the MPA program.

Transfer of Credits

Students may request a transfer of up to 12 graduate credits from other institutions or programs (including MPA courses taken as non-matriculated students) when these courses have been taken within five years of the time of entry into the program. Requests for transfer of credits from institutions other than Binghamton University must be accompanied by an Application for Transfer Credit Form. Requests to apply credits from other programs at Binghamton University, or from non-matriculated status, must be made in writing to the director of admissions and student services.

Program Requirements

Basic Skills Courses

Students may complete one or more of the basic skills courses (PAFF 502 Basic Computer Skills; PAFF 503 Introduction to Administrative Systems) while in the MPA program. Additionally, the MPA faculty strongly encourages all students who receive feedback that their background or skills need development, to request admission into these courses. These courses do not count towards the MPA degree.

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the MPA in Public Administration must take the required 42 credits of graduate level coursework, which includes:

Core Courses:
- PAFF 510 Research Design & Methods (4 cr.)
- PAFF 521 Foundations of Public Service (4 cr.)
- PAFF 520 21st Century Governance (4 cr.)
- PAFF 527 Budgeting & Financial Management (4 cr.)
- Evidence-Based Decision Making (4 cr.); to fulfill this requirement, students will complete one of the following courses: Policy Analysis (PAFF 523), Program Evaluation (PAFF 515) or Performance Analysis (PAFF 516)
- Managing People in Organizations (3 cr.); to fulfill this requirement, students will complete one of the following courses: Leadership in Public Service (PAFF 524), Human Resource Management (PAFF 534), Organizational Theory (PAFF 535), Project Management (PAFF 532) or Managing Networks (PAFF 536)
- PAFF 526 Managing Information and Technology (2 cr.)
Electives (12 credits); students may select any combination of graduate electives in consultation with their MPA advisor
PAFF 594 Internship (2 credits)
PAFF 589 The Reflective Practitioner (3 credits)

Internship Requirements

Following completion of 17 credit hours (which must include PAFF 510, PAFF 520, and PAFF 521) and contingent upon satisfactory evaluations from the MPA faculty, students complete a 300-hour public administration internship.

Because the MPA is a professional degree, the faculty has a responsibility to future employers of our graduates and to the communities that those graduates will serve to ensure that students have essential competencies and demonstrate a high level of professionalism. Beyond completion of the required courses and credit hours, eligibility for internship placement and registration for PAFF 589 The Reflective Practitioner, are contingent upon the student’s receiving satisfactory assessments and MPA program authorization to proceed to the internship and e-portfolio.

The assessments are designed to provide both the MPA internship coordinator and the student with information on whether the student has demonstrated necessary levels of competence for an internship placement, if there are particular types of internships that would be appropriate for the student, or if there are particular competencies that need to be demonstrated before an internship placement can be authorized.

Students pursuing a local government or nonprofit certificate are generally expected to complete an internship in that sector (nonprofit or local government). Interns are expected to engage in professional tasks and projects in areas such as the development, planning, implementation and/or analysis/evaluation of policy, finance, management, supervision, strategy, program and other administrative functions. Students intending to complete their internships must register for the 2-credit PAFF 594 course to earn credit.

It is the student’s responsibility to identify and contact possible internship sites. They may contact the internship coordinator for assistance, if needed. After meeting with the internship coordinator and the site supervisor to discuss possible activities and responsibilities, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) defining the scope of work and specifying the goals, expectations, products/outcomes, conditions, and relevant policies and procedures will be developed by the student. This MOU must be signed by the student, the site supervisor and the internship coordinator prior to the commencement of the semester during which the internship will be completed. The student may not begin his/her internship without the MOU being signed by all parties and submitted to the internship coordinator.

The student is responsible for maintaining a journal or log of his/her internship experiences throughout the semester. It is the student’s responsibility to raise and address issues with the appropriate supervisor (internship coordinator and/or site supervisor) as needed. The internship coordinator will also have periodic contact with the site supervisor.

The intern will be expected to evaluate their experience at the end of the internship in the form of a reflection memo. The site supervisor will also evaluate the intern. Both forms must be completed and submitted by the end of the semester in order to receive a grade for the internship. The director of recruitment and internship placement reserves the right to terminate an internship at any point for the well-being of the student and the agency, and will meet with the student to discuss options for completion of the internship requirement.

Students may be granted a waiver at time of admission if they show that they possess at least three years of public and/or nonprofit administrative experience. Students who receive waivers will not need to register for the internship course. To obtain a waiver, the student must submit a written request for a waiver, along with documentation of the extent and nature of work experience (e.g., a resume and job description). The internship coordinator will review all internship waiver requests. A copy of the waiver documentation will be maintained in the student’s file and the student will receive written notification from the internship coordinator regarding whether or not the waiver was granted.

MPA students who are currently working in public or nonprofit administrative positions, but who do not have sufficient professional experience to qualify for an internship waiver, have an option to complete their internship at their place of work. These students will register for the internship course, complete a MOU and proceed with the process as described above.

More in-depth requirements, forms, and additional information regarding the internship are located on the MPA website.

Culminating Experiences and Demonstration of Competencies Requirement

The MPA program - as a condition of continued accreditation and as part of our responsibility to the profession - must assess the competencies of each student before degree completion. To do this, students take PAFF 589 The Reflective Practitioner, in which they prepare an e-portfolio of their work in the program. The e-portfolios are designed to help students synthesize and apply material from across the MPA curriculum and demonstrate their competencies in key areas. Successful completion of PAFF 589 is the final assessment of the student’s readiness for graduation.

Because PAFF 589 is intended for students to demonstrate the knowledge they have acquired through the core MPA courses, it is incumbent on the faculty to ensure that students have demonstrated the necessary preparation before enrolling in the course. Permission to enroll in PAFF 589 is contingent upon satisfactory completion of at least six of the seven core courses and satisfactory completion of the internship (or evidence of an official waiver).

The program will make every effort to ensure that students who are permitted to enroll in PAFF 589 have the knowledge and skills to be successful; it is possible that on occasion students who are authorized to enroll in the course will not demonstrate the expected competencies in the course. Students who take PAFF 589 and then do not demonstrate competence in one or more of the required areas will be counseled on an individual professional development plan and the steps necessary for successful completion of the e-portfolio. Depending on the individual circumstances, students may have to continue revisions of the e-portfolio after the end of the semester, repeat the course in a subsequent semester, or take additional courses or independent studies. In exceptionally rare circumstances, where professional development plans do not result in the required level of competency, a student may fail PAFF 589 and be unable to complete the MPA degree.

Following the student’s satisfactory completion of coursework (including any required prerequisites), and the e-portfolio, the program recommends to the Office of Student Records that the candidate be awarded the MPA degree.

Academic Advising

All students are assigned a faculty advisor during the orientation for new students. Faculty advisors assist students in planning their curriculum and provide additional academic counseling as needed. Students are required to meet with their advisors once a semester. Failure to meet this requirement may result in severance from the program.

Additional Information about the Program

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

Grading Policies: Students who earn a grade of B- or below in any core (required) course must repeat that course and earn a grade of B or better. Students who fail to earn a B or better grade the second time they take a core (required) course will be severed from the MPA program. Students must earn a 3.0 GPA in their first 12 credits in the MPA program. Failure to earn a 3.0 GPA in the first 12 credits will result in severance from the program. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to graduate.

Financial Assistance: Each year the Provost’s Office allocates funds for graduate assistantships to the College of Community and Public Affairs. The stipend level is a fixed amount, and the department will determine whether assistants will qualify for a tuition scholarship. Funding for these positions is provided by the state of New York, and is therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty and change from year to year. Currently, graduate assistants qualify for health insurance coverage. Students may receive assistantships for a semester or an academic year. Students are also encouraged to apply for the Clifford D. Clark Diversity Fellowships for Graduate Students if eligible.

Graduate assistants must be in good academic standing at all times. Graduate assistants in the Department of Public Administration and Policy assist faculty in their research activities and may support other department initiatives. The activities include but are not limited to: conducting literature reviews; securing funding for research; collecting, organizing and analyzing data; and writing research papers and reports. Because of their close association with department faculty, their fellow students will perceive graduate assistants to be leaders within the program. Therefore, graduate assistants are expected to attend all department and CCPA-sponsored activities such as lectures, colloquia and social events, and will actively support the MPA Graduate Student Organization. Their faculty supervisor may assign other duties.
At the discretion of the admissions committee, it (or a subcommittee) may interview applicants to determine who will receive new assistantships.

For more information on the Public Administration MPA program, please refer to the Public Adminstration and Policy website. To apply to the Public Administration MPA program, please visit the University Admissions website.