MBA Degrees Online

The mission of the Ph.D. program in public administration is to prepare students for an academic career as a researcher, teacher and member of the academic community. Accordingly, the Ph.D. program curriculum is theoretically grounded and research based. The program emphasizes:
The use of alternative theoretical frameworks and research methodologies to define, understand and develop solutions to public problems.
The application of normative and empirical approaches to improving democratic governance and advancing the public interest.
The development of skills necessary to produce and disseminate new knowledge in the field of public administration.
The concentration in urbanism is a mechanism for organizing varied perspectives on urbanism into a collective body of scholarship. The study of Public Administration is enriched by grounding it in a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of urban context and the dynamic forces that shape them.
The concentration in urbanism leverages the varied interests in urbanism and help emerging scholars as they attempt to compare, contrast and take stock of urbanism. Working with faculty from across a range of departments and programs at ASU, doctoral students will be able to capture the creative tensions that scholarship on urbanism has inspired in order to stimulate a provocative, constructive kind of inquiry.

Applicants to the M.P.A. program are accepted year-round. Students may be granted admission for fall, spring and summer semesters.
All applicants must submit the following materials to the School of Public Affairs:
Three letters of recommendation. At least two should be faculty who can evaluate applicant’s academic performance. There is no form required for the letters of recommendation.
Written statement of applicant’s educational and career goals, between one and two pages in length. This is also used as a sample of the applicant’s writing abilities.
Applicants may also submit a résumé or other documents.
Mail materials to:
ASU School of Public Affairs
Mail Code 3720
411 N. Central Avenue, Ste. 450
Phoenix, AZ 85004-0687
All applicants must submit the following materials to the ASU Graduate College:
An official online ASU graduate application.
Application fee.
Scores on the GRE (verbal, quantitative, analytical).
International applicants must also submit acceptable Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores or IELTS scores.
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work.

M.P.A. students pursuing the urban management concentration take 27 hours in nine core classes in the School of Public Affairs, 12 hours in four concentration classes, and three hours in one approved elective course. No more than nine credit hours of ASU graduate courses taken before admission to the school and approved by the M.P.A./M.P.P. committee can be included in the program of study.
Students enrolling in core courses must demonstrate minimum competency in statistics and American government. Courses taken to fulfill the competency do not count toward the 42-hour degree program. Competency in statistics is met with a grade of “B” (3.00) or higher in an approved course (PAF 401, POS 401, PSY 230, QBA 221, SOC 390 or SWU 321) within the last two years or passing a diagnostic test approved by the M.P.A./M.P.P. committee. Other courses taken within the last two years may be substituted upon approval of the M.P.A./M.P.P. director.

Competency in American government is met through an undergraduate class in American government (PAF 110, PAF 300, POS 310, POS 340, or a similar course).

The M.P.A. is an interdisciplinary, professional degree program designed to prepare students for public service, public management and policy analysis at the local, state and national levels of government. The M.P.A. program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.
Students may also elect to specialize in one of two of the approved M.P.A. concentrations: urban
The urban management concentration provides knowledge and skills for students seeking careers in local urban government management and enables students to develop the skills and techniques used by city and urban leaders and managers.
The concentration in nonprofit administration is intended for professionals who work in or desire to work in the nonprofit sector and who wish to explore the research, theory and practice of management and leadership in the nonprofit sector. In addition, the school offers a dual M.P.A./M.S.W. degree program (http://spa.asu.edu/new/mpa/mpa_msw.htm) with the School of Social Work.

All applicants are expected to have completed graduate level statistics and research methods classes before admission. Applicants also are expected to have sufficient formal course work in public administration to pursue doctoral study in the field. Admitted students may be required to take deficiency courses as specified by the admissions committee before beginning the doctoral core classes.
Applicants are admitted for fall only. Admission is competitive; a limited number of well-qualified applicants will be admitted each year. A completed application packet is due by Jan. 15.
All applicants must submit the following materials to the ASU Graduate College:
An official online ASU Graduate application.
Application fee.
Scores on the GRE (verbal, quantitative, analytical).
International students must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Spoken English (TSE) scores to be considered for admission. This is true even for those who have a master’s degree from a U.S. university. To be considered for admission, the minimum score on the traditional TOEFL test is 600. Applicants with TOEFL scores below 600 or who do not submit a TSE score (or Internet-based TOEFL) will not be admitted. Only test scores from within the past five years will be accepted.
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work.
Send transcripts to:
Arizona State University
Graduate College Admissions
Interdisciplinary Building, B-Wing, Room 170
P.O. Box 871003
Tempe, Arizona 85287-1003
In addition to the above, applicants submit the following materials directly to the Ph.D. program:
A written statement of educational and career goals.
A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
Three letters of recommendation. These should be primarily academic letters. All letters should address the candidate’s capacity to successfully complete the doctoral program. They should assess the student’s capacity for critical and analytic thought, their ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing and their commitment to completion of the program.
Samples of research reports and/or papers (optional).

The Ph.D. program consists of a minimum of 66 credit hours of graduate work beyond the master’s degree. The program of study consists of a minimum of 42 credit hours of graduate course work beyond the master’s degree, plus a minimum of 24 credit hours of dissertation and research credit. A minimum of 30 credit hours of approved course work (exclusive of dissertation and research) must be taken at ASU after admission to the program.
A sequence of four core courses (12 hours) is required of all students in their first year, followed by successfully passing a screening examination. Then students establish a program of study committee that works with them to develop an appropriate interdisciplinary course of study.
In addition to the four core courses, an approved program of study must include required courses in quantitative and qualitative methods (taken during their second year) and a professional development workshop (taken during their third year). Students are also expected to develop areas of specialization

The School of Public Affairs offers a graduate program leading to the Ph.D. in public administration.
The mission of the Ph.D. program in public administration is to prepare students for an academic career as a researcher, teacher and member of the academic community. Accordingly, the Ph.D. program curriculum is theoretically grounded and research based. The program emphasizes:
The use of alternative theoretical frameworks and research methodologies to define, understand and develop solutions to public problems.
The application of normative and empirical approaches to improving democratic governance and advancing the public interest.
The development of skills necessary to produce and disseminate new knowledge in the field of public administration.
While the Ph.D. program is located in the School of Public Affairs, students are encouraged to tailor a course of study to fit individual needs and goals by drawing on faculty from across the university.

Applicants to the M.P.A. program are accepted all year. Students may be granted admission for fall, spring and summer semesters.
All applicants must submit the following materials to the School of Public Affairs:
Three letters of recommendation; at least two should be faculty who can evaluate applicant’s academic performance. There is no form required for the letters of recommendation.
Written statement of applicant’s educational and career goals, and should be between one and two pages in length. This is also used as a sample of the applicant’s writing abilities.
Applicants may also submit a résumé or other documents.
Mail materials to:
ASU School of Public Affairs
Mail Code 3720
411 N. Central Avenue, Ste. 450
Phoenix, AZ 85004-0687
All applicants must submit the following materials to the ASU Graduate College:
An official online ASU Graduate application.
Application fee.
Scores on the GRE (verbal, quantitative, analytical).
International applicants must also submit acceptable Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores or International Enlish Language Testing System (IELTS) scores.
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work.

The M.P.A. in nonprofit administration program consists of 42 credit hours of graduate credit. Students take 24 of these hours in eight core classes in the School of Public Affairs, 12 hours in concentration courses, and six additional elective hours. No more than nine credit hours of ASU graduate courses taken before admission to the school and approved by the M.P.A./M.P.P. committee can be included in the program of study.
Students enrolling in core courses must demonstrate minimum competency in statistics and American government. Courses taken to fulfill the competency do not count toward the 42-hour degree program. Competency in statistics is met with a grade of “B” (3.00) or higher in an approved course (PAF 401, POS 401, PSY 230, QBA 221, SOC 390 or SWU 321) within the last two years or passing a diagnostic test approved by the M.P.A./M.P.P. committee. Other courses taken within the last two years may be substituted upon approval of the M.P.A./M.P.P. director.
Competency in American government is met through an undergraduate class in American government (PAF 110, PAF 300, POS 310, POS 340) or a similar course.

The M.P.A. is an interdisciplinary, professional degree program designed to prepare students for public service, public management, and policy analysis at the local, state and national levels of government. The M.P.A. program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.
Students may also elect to specialize in one of two of the approved M.P.A. concentrations:
Urban management,
The urban management concentration provides knowledge and skills for students seeking careers in local urban government management and enables students to develop the skills and techniques used by city and urban leaders and managers.
The concentration in nonprofit administration is intended for professionals who work in or desire to work in the nonprofit sector and who wish to explore research, theory, and the practice of management and leadership in the nonprofit sector.