Admission Standards and Procedures

The Department of Public and Nonprofit Administration admits students for fall, spring, and summer semesters each academic year, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Admission standards for the Master of Public Administration are:

1. Fulfillment of university requirements for admission to the Graduate School.
2. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0

Applicants must also provide the following documents to be considered for admission to the program:

1. Transcripts of all post-secondary institutions attended.
2. A personal statement that discusses career goals and educational objectives.
3. A current resume or CV.
4. Contact information for at least two references who will be asked to provide letters of recommendation.

Meeting the minimum departmental standards does not entitle an applicant to admission. Meeting such standards only ensures consideration of the application.

Program Requirements

1. Students are required to complete a minimum of thirty-nine (39) semester hours. Twenty-one (21) hours are taken in the core curriculum; fifteen (15) hours are required in each concentration, plus a three (3) hour internship. An individual course plan is designed for each student and approved by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. The two concentrations allow students to extend the basic knowledge gained in the core curriculum to more focused public service fields, including nonprofit administration and public policy and management.

Other Requirements

1. The capstone project must be successfully completed during the calendar year in which the student expects to graduate. Students must also successfully complete PADM 7607 - Public Service Leadership , during the calendar year in which the student expects to graduate.

Concentration Requirements

1. Based on their course plan, students must complete five graduate courses (15 hours) specific to their academic goals and the guidelines of the concentration.
2. Public Service Field Experience: Students with no administrative experience must enroll in PADM 7610 - Internship in Public Service  (3 Hours). The internship placement should relate to the student’s concentration and career goals. Students must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours prior to enrollment in PADM 7610 .

Non-Degree-Seeking Students

If a student has taken graduate courses at The University of Memphis as a non-degree-seeking student, the student may apply a maximum of 9 credit hours toward his/her degree requirements. The grade in each course applied must be at least a “3.00.” The Coordinator of Graduate Studies must approve all course work taken as a non-degree-seeking student.