Public Administration (MPA)
Evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications to pursue graduate studies is based on the applicant’s statement of purpose, professional experience, college transcripts, and academic and professional references.
Applicants are evaluated by a Faculty Admissions Committee that considers all these measures, including commitment to public and/or nonprofit service.
Admission Requirements
- Official transcripts from every undergraduate and graduate institution attended.
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8 and a GPA of 3.0 for any graduate study. Applicants with lower GPAs who have substantial public service experience may be considered. Applicants without previous related coursework and/or lower GPAs may be admitted conditionally with stipulations and/or prerequisite courses.
- A 1-2-page statement of purpose that demonstrates:
- the ability to write at an acceptable level for graduate study,
- experience and interest in public and/or non-profit administration, and
- how the La Verne MPA program compliments the student’s interests in public service and its values.
- A current résumé
- Letters of recommendation may be required if a definitive decision cannot be made on the basis of the application materials listed above.
Additional Requirements
Additional requirements for applicants with lower GPAs may include but are not limited to a personal interview with the MPA program Director.
Total Program: 36 semester hours
Core Courses
24 semester hours
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PADM 501 | Public Service & Society 1 | 3 |
| PADM 510 | Public Management and Leadership | 3 |
| PADM 531 | Organizational Theory and Development | 3 |
| PADM 533 | Policy Formation | 3 |
| PADM 534 | Budgeting and Fiscal Management | 3 |
| PADM 561 | Legal Environment of Public Administration | 3 |
| PADM 582 | Quantitative Methods for Public Management | 3 |
| PADM 596 | Graduate Seminar | 3 |
| Total Core Semester Hours | 24 | |
- 1
PADM 501 Public Service & Society isecommended to be taken at the start of the program or when first offered.
Required Elective Course
3 semester hours
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose from approved non-core 500-level PADM courses.¹ | 3 | |
- 1
Courses must be approved in advance by the program director. Non-PADM graduate courses are not eligible without prior approval.
Concentration and/ or Additional Elective Courses
9 semester hours
Concentrations require a minimum of 9 semester hours (three courses) and are listed on final transcripts upon completion of the MPA degree. Students may instead complete a set of electives with advance approval by the program director.
Eligible elective courses are non-core 500 level PADM courses. Other graduate courses are not eligible as concentration or elective courses without advance approval by the program director.
Students without previous public or nonprofit experience are required to take PADM 598 Public Service Internship within the first year of study or 18 units (whichever comes first). This course is classified as an elective. Other students may take the internship course as an elective with advance approval by the program director.
Students cannot double dip in counting concentration and elective units to reduce the number of units required for the degree. A total of 36 units is required for all students.
Students who select more than one concentration will be required to complete a minimum of 42 units (24 core units, 9 units for the first concentration and 9 units for the second concentration).
Urban Management and Affairs Concentration
This concentration focuses on developing skills in managing in urban metropolitan environment.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PADM 570 | Urban and Community Politics | 3 |
| Select a minimum of two of the following: | 6 | |
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Collaborative Public Mgmt | ||
| Managing Sustainable Communities | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Nonprofit Management and Governance Concentration
This concentration focuses on developing skills in leading and managing nonprofit organizations.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PADM 520 | Nonprofit Governance | 3 |
| Select a minimum of two of the following: | 6 | |
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Grant Management | ||
| Nonprofit Finance and Fundraising | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Public Health Concentration
Not offered 2026-27
This concentration focuses on measures to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong life. Public health activities aim to provide conditions in which people can be healthy. The focus is on populations and systems, not on individual patients or diseases.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSM 545 | Foundations of Public Health | 3 |
| Select a minimum of two of the following: | 6 | |
| Epidemiology | ||
| Applied Research for Public Health Professionals | ||
| Community Well Being and the Urban Context | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 9 | |
Electives
Students can choose any of the concentration courses listed if not already taken for a concentration (no double dip). Additional elective courses may include:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PADM 555 | Ethics in Administration | 3 |
| PADM 580 | Applied Research | 3 |
| PADM 581 | Comparative Public Administration | 3 |
| PADM 590 | Selected Topics in Public Administration | 3 |
| PADM 598 | Public Service Internship | 3 |
Accelerated Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Qualifying University of La Verne undergraduate students may apply to participate in the accelerated Master of Public Administration (MPA) program once they have completed 90 semester units of undergraduate courses. Eligible MPA courses are determined by the MPA program.
Participants will need advance approval from their undergraduate advisor for shared credit courses. The MPA courses may not exceed 15 units prior to undergraduate degree completion.
Applicants must have public service experience or have completed the equivalent of PADM 598 Public Service Internship. Applicants must meet all MPA admission requirements, including a minimum GPA of 2.8 for undergraduate work and 3.0 for any graduate work. Applications are evaluated by the MPA Faculty Admissions Committee. Admission to the MPA program is provisional prior to undergraduate degree completion and contingent on applicants continuing to meet MPA admission and program requirements.
MPA/JD Program
JD students may apply for admission to the MPA program to earn a second degree. Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose specific to the MPA program and an updated resume. JD application materials and transcripts will be applied to the MPA application. No additional letters of recommendation are required.
Total Program: 36 Semester Hours
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
- 8 MPA core courses (24 semester hours)
- JD students may substitute an MPA elective course for PADM 561 Legal Environment of Public Administration, with program director approval
- MPA electives/LAW courses: 12 semester hours
Law courses are reviewed for acceptance and transfer.
MPA/JD students without previous public or nonprofit experience are required to take PADM 598 Public Service Internship, as an elective course unless they complete a public or nonprofit legal externship as part of their JD degree.