Our MPA Program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs,
and Administration (NASPAA), a global standard for excellence. Learn more about the
NASPAA organization here. TSU Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs (BJMLSOPA) MPA Program’s
mission is to educate students about public administration's history, competencies,
quantitative, and other relevant skills needed by public administrators to become
skilled and productive public and nonprofit employees or doctoral candidates. The
MPA program uses its curriculum to prepare students to compete ethically, and with
integrity in a diverse society. In addition, students acquire practical skills through
internships. MPA student interns have completed their internship with various affiliated
government and nonprofit agencies in the Houston area. In most or all cases partnership
and MOU has been created with these institutions and they are listed below:
The American Red Cross
Black United Funds of Texas (BUFTX)
Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute
Houston Police Department
Harris County Public Works
Texas Metropolitan Organization (TMO)
The MPA Program is in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration,
where it offers students a balanced inventory of conceptual, analytical, problem-solving,
and other competence skills. The MPA Program uses its curriculum to prepare students
to compete nationally and internationally for professional careers in the public sector,
nonprofit organizations, or for graduate study where the nature of the profession
requires the master’s degree as the entry criterion.
Mission Statement: The MPA program's mission is to educate students about the role
and value of public administration governance, competencies, and research skills required
to become skilled, efficient, and productive public and nonprofit employees.
The MPA Faculty's purpose is to prepare students competently for immediate upward
mobility in their professional careers in public sectors, nonprofit organizations,
or for graduate study where the nature of the profession requires the master’s degree
as the entry criterion. The MPA Program is a 36-hour credit curriculum that is completed
within two academic calendar year (summer session excluded). The MPA Program offers
several MPA Course Concentrations and a Dual MPA/JD Program. There is no GRE Score
requirement for admission to the MPA Program. The MPA Course Concentrations are:
Public Policy
Human Resources
Health Administration
Urban Planning and Environmental Policy
The Dual MPA/JD Program is a combined degree program with Texas Southern University’s
Thurgood Marshall School of Law. This program enables students to acquire both a JD
and an MPA degree with a reduction in the total credit hours. Students complete course
requirements for two degrees in four (4) years instead of five (5) years if pursued
separately.
In addition, the MPA program offers several MPA 4+1 programs for those undergraduate
students who know, that upon entering their freshman or sophomore year, they plan
to get a Master of Public Administration Degree, the MPA 4+1 is designed for you.
The MPA 4+1 allows you to earn a BS (in select fields listed below) and an MPA in
five years. That is right with the addition of one year you earn a BS and an MPA.
The 4+1 degree-seek areas are:
All students must meet the admission requirements of the Texas Southern University
Graduate School and the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs – Public
Administration Department. All applicants should submit the following:
· The Texas Southern University Graduate School Application (specific program) and
a non-refundable application fee
· Two official copies of transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended
· Three letters of reference from individuals qualified to give an evaluation of the
applicant's past scholastic performance, research, ability for advanced work in the
administration of justice, and personal motivation
· Essay: 250 – 300 words
· Documentation of completion of all undergraduate prerequisite courses in research
methods and statistics
All students who have a GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 or who have not completed the prerequisite
courses for the MPA may be conditionally admitted. Students are required to complete
prerequisite courses in the Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs
and must earn a grade of ‘B’ or better
Our MPA Program Philosophy
The MPA program's mission is to educate students about the role and value of public
administration governance, competencies, and research skills required to become skilled,
efficient, and productive public and nonprofit employees. To this end, the MPA program
uses its curriculum, and other enriching activities like internships, webinars, and
opportunities to participate in professional conferences to prepare students to compete
nationally and internationally for professional careers in the public sector or for
graduate study where either the nature of the profession or the doctoral program requires
the master's degree as the entry criterion.
Curricular Objectives
The program's curricular objectives are to:
Emphasize knowledge of basic management and technological processes and techniques.
Educate students on analytical approaches to decision-making in the managerial sciences.
Help students develop problem-solving skills and analytical competencies that are
relevant to management positions.
Emphasize theoretical and factual knowledge of the workings of governmental and non-governmental
organizations.
Develop the student's ability to conduct research academically and as a practitioner.
Provide a foundation for understanding intergovernmental relations and ethics in public
administration.
Develop proficiency in expressing oneself through writing and oral communication
Financial Aid Eligibility and Assistantships
The Office of Student Financial Assistance makes every effort to ensure that all awards
and materials submitted remain confidential in accordance with the Buckley Family
Right to Privacy Act of 1975. Eligible applicants for financial aid must be U.S. citizens
or permanent residents and officially admitted into Texas Southern University through
the Graduate Admissions Office. In order to maintain eligibility for consideration
for financial aid, students must meet the standards set forth in Texas Southern University's
policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). There are three facets of the individual
student record that determine financial aid eligibility: credit hours, grades, and
time frame. Refer to the current Graduate Catalog for more information.
TSU Master of Public Administration Program Data
Contact Dr. Antoinette Christophe
Director of the Master of Public Administration Program & Associate Professor Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs Department of Political Science and Public Administration Texas Southern University 3100 Cleburne Street, PAB 402AL Houston, Texas 77004 Office: 713-313-4855 Email: antoinette.christophe@tsu.edu
