For over 30 years, Montreat College’s School of Adult and Graduate Studies has empowered students to acquire essential skills, complete their degrees, and advance their careers. Montreat offers undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs both in the classroom and online.
With six start dates a year for most programs you have the flexibility to start when makes the most sense for you. Chances are we have classes starting in the near future, providing you the opportunity to move forward with your academic goals. Please see the admissions page for specific enrollment and start dates.
Applicants must submit the following for admissions consideration:
*If applicant has a GPA below 2.75 in their last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study, a “Low GPA” essay is required. The essay should cover challenges that contributed to the low GPA, as well as specifically what the applicant will do to maintain a 2.75 overall GPA in the MPH program.
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The program requirements can be found in the academic catalog.
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Montreat College’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is designed for students aspiring to serve as managers, executives, and policy analysts in local, state, and federal government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and non-profit organizations. Through our program, students acquire the skills to become effective leaders who are in high demand and have the flexibility to transition between careers in multiple sectors.
This program requires completion of 30 credit hours or 10 classes. If students take a full-time load each term—one class at a time continuously throughout the program—they should complete the program within 20 months.
Montreat College programs are competitively priced, and we offer multiple forms of financial aid to help you achieve your educational goals. Please see the current AGS Tuition and Fees page here. Also, please keep in mind that there are multiple college and government financial aid programs available to help mitigate the cost of your education. You can learn more about your financial aid options.
The courses for this graduate program are eight-week sessions. There are 2 sessions in a semester. To be considered a full-time graduate student, a student must take 6 credit hours per semester. The student must take 1 course (3 credit hours) the first eight-week session and 1 course (3 credit hours) the second eight-week session. Semesters for this Master of Public Administration online program are offered Spring, Summer, and Fall.
Leaders in public service agencies, policy manager, budget analyst, director of economic development, director of public affairs, human resource manager and executives to private and non-profit organizations.
The regional outlook is strong, with 11.63% job growth expected over the next 10 years, and 10.53% job growth, nationally. Therefore, the market demand for graduates of this particular degree is evident. Additionally, the growth trend in career outcomes over the past 5 years and projected growth over the next 10 years.
The average regional salary of graduates from this type of program is $75,965, and $76,286, nationally.
Yes, Montreat College is a member college of The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration.
Prerequisite Courses for MPA
MPAD 5111 Fundamentals of Public Administration
This course will introduce students to contemporary public administration, with attention to the role of administration in the policy process, the legal basis for public administration, legislative executive relations, and accountability, ethics, and responsibility in public, private and non-profit administration.
BUSN 5601 Quantitative Methods and Data Analytics
This course is designed to provide the graduate student in business with the skills to apply the techniques of quantitative analysis to various types of organizational decision-making situations. Quantitative methods will be used to gain a greater understanding of causation correlation, probability, and risk.
BUSN 5414 Developing and Implementing Strategy
This course prepares students to lead strategy development and implementation through the strategic planning process. Competition and competitive advantage will be investigated, using Porter’s 5 Forces model. Also, case studies, examples, and exercises will be used to help students understand the essence of good strategy and to be able to lead positive strategic change in both for-profit and non-profit organizations.
BUSN 5611 Applied Economics for Decision-Making
This course focuses on economic models and data analysis for real-world decision-making. Intelligent business decision-making requires understanding of economic theories, the ability to assess risk, and the incorporation of multiple types of information. These skills be will be taught through practical methods, such as case studies, exercises, simulations, games, and role-playing.
BUSN 5508 Ethics, Law and the Global Business Landscape
This course is a survey of legal and ethical issues facing management in complex global business situations. Legal and ethical question are addressed in a case study method. Traditional ethical theories are studied and applied to contemporary global business issues. This includes the nature, formation, and system of law in the United States, and how it related to international business. Additionally, personal and group ethics will be explored through projects and exercises, for the purpose of character formation.
MPAD 5404 Public Policy Analysis
Methods and techniques of analyzing, developing and evaluating public policies and programs. Emphasis given to benefit-cost and cost-effectiveness analysis and concepts of economic efficiency, equity and distribution. Methods include problem solving, decision making.
BUSN 5435 Strategic Human Resource Management
This course explores critical issues in human resources strategy, leading and developing the organization’s most important assets and developing and keeping people. Students will research organizational learning, employee motivation, employee assessment, methods for identifying and developing leaders, succession planning, and current topics in HR management.
MPAD 5814 Leading Public and Non-Profit Organizations
In this course, students will examine key leadership theories, and apply leadership principles in their own lives. Students will develop the skills required to ethically lead government and non-profit organizations through case studies and real-world experiences.
MPAD 5211 Public Budgeting and Financial Management
This course introduces to the revenue and expenditure structure of the public sector, including revenue policy, expenditure policy, and budget structure and administration.
MPAD 5881 Public Administration Capstone
This course allows students produce a project drawing from the full course of study toward the Masters of Public Administration. Special attention is placed on incorporating knowledge from the core curriculum.
