North Carolina

Institutional Structure: The UNC School of Government, is one of 14 schools at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Established in 1931 as the Institute of Government, and reconstituted as the School of Government in 2001, it is "the largest university-based local government training, advisory, and research organization in the United States [offering] up to 200 courses, workshops, webinars, and specialized conferences for more than 12,000 public officials each year. In addition, faculty members annually publish approximately 50 books, manuals, reports, articles, bulletins, and other print and online content related to state and local government" (at http://www.mpa.unc.edu/node/291, accessed 21 February 2015).

Professional Program Features: The program includes a Professional Work Experience (see http://www.mpa.unc.edu/node/506) and an MPA Portfolio (see http://www.mpa.unc.edu/node/141) to demonstrate and further develop their public service leadership potential through a collection of academic and professional products.     website xxx, accessed 14 February 2015).  

Program Summary

Website: http://www.mpa.unc.edu/

University: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Degree: The MPA (Master of Public Administration), branded as the Carolina MPA, is delivered both on-campus or on-line.

The on-line program, under the banner MPA@UNC, is described as follows: "MPA@UNC’s rigorous curriculum is delivered in a web-based format, which enables students to earn their MPA degree without relocating or disrupting current professional and personal commitments. Through state-of-the-art education technology, students will: Participate in live, online classes using real-time video conferencing; Access coursework 24/7 on their own schedules; and Interact with fellow students through personal online sessions and collaborative social forums. While MPA@UNC delivers the same MPA education available to on-campus students and holds applicants to the same high standards, the online program is designed to allow students from anywhere in the world to fit earning a top-ranked degree into their busy schedules."  (At https://onlinempa.unc.edu/academics/academics-overview/, accessed 21 February 2015.)

Marketing Approach: "The Carolina MPA program helps students reach their potential for leadership through rigorous academic study and practical experience. Carolina MPA graduates attain leadership positions in every level of government and in organizations that support the public interest." (At http://www.mpa.unc.edu/, accessed 21 February 2015.)

Degrees Awarded per Year: Up to 60 for the on-campus MPA (see http://www.sog.unc.edu/node/268)

Academic Unit within University: The UNC School of Government, is one of 14 schools at the University of North Carolina.

Related Academic Units and Degrees: The MPA is the only graduate degree offered by the School of Government.

Posted Tuition: Tuition and Fees for 2014-15 = $5,721 per semester ($11,442 per year) for North Carolina residents and $14,327 per semester ($28,652 per year) for non-residents (at http://www.unc.edu/finance/fd/c/sa/docs/14_15_tuitionfees.pdf, accessed 21 February 2015). Tuition for the MPA@UNC is charged at a per credit rate of $1,200 per credit (= $54,000 for the 45-credit degree), at http://www.mpa.unc.edu/node/25 accessed 21 February 2015.

Concentration/Curriculum Overview: 

MPA Degree Requirements

Summary: The curriculum, designed to be completed in two years of full-time study for residential students and five semesters for MPA@UNC students, combines three essential components of professional development:

1. A minimum of 45 semester hours of credit, consisting of rigorous core classes on the theory and practice of public management and elective courses from selected fields of interest. View a typical residential MPA course schedule and typical MPA@UNC course schedule.
2. Students will complete a Professional Work Experience (PWE). The PWE provides students an opportunity to further develop their competencies in public service work environment and to gain actual work experience for career advancement.
3. Completion of a portfolio during the final semester of study, including a comprehensive oral exam.

Duration: 2 years (5 semesters for on-line MPA)

Academic Prerequisite: Because of the large number of applicants each year and the MPA program's small size, admission is selective. The requirements for admission are as follows: Bachelor's degree: At least a B average in the undergraduate major and a generally strong academic record; Minimum of three semester hours credit in American government and politics (Note: this is not a requirement to apply for admission, but would need to be completed prior to the first day of fall classes if offered admission. An online course at an accredited university would fulfill the requirement); Excellent verbal and quantitative scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE should be taken by October to ensure that your scores will be available); Successful interview with an admissions committee composed of faculty, student, and alumni representatives. (At http://www.mpa.unc.edu/application, accessed 21 February 2015.)

Number of One-Semester-Equivalent Courses Required for Completion: 15 (45 credits)

Number of Required Courses: 11 (including Professional Work Experience and MPA Portfolio)

Number of Electives Typically Taken (difference between above two entries): 4

Number of Electives Offered within Program: 26

Comprehensive Examination: Yes, the MPA Oral Exam (see http://www.mpa.unc.edu/node/511). 

Thesis Required: No

Internship Required: Yes (summer Professional Work Experience)

International Study Required: No

Co-curricular Activities Supportive to Degree

Professional Development and Career Support: Not described on program website.

Student-run Journal: There is an MPA Student Blogs site at http://sogmpa.web.unc.edu/.

Applied Projects: Yes

Pro Bono Consulting: Not mentioned on website.

Courses Offered: The full list of courses is found at http://www.mpa.unc.edu/courses, accessed 21 February 2015.

Course Material Online: One-paragraph course descriptions at course site but no syllabi available on public website. 

Instructional Distribution (PEACO Profile): The table below indicates the distribution of instruction offered, based on the course assignments to subjects in the Course Map below, weighted by estimated enrolment determined by the PEACO Algorithm.   

		UNC
		MPA
I. Courses Required and Offered
	Number of one-semester courses required for degree	15
	Number of required courses	11
	Number of elective courses taken	4
	Number of courses offered	26
	Enrolment weight of elective courses	0.15
II. Distribution of Courses (Enrolment-Adjusted) among Atlas
Domains and Subjects
	Tools and Skills	52.8%
	- Strategy and Structure	14.4%
	- Economic Analysis	2.1%
	- Quantitative Methods and Management Sciences	7.7%
	- Leadership, Communication, Professional Practice	28.7%
	Institutions and Context	18.5%
	- Democratic Institutions and Policy Process	16.4%
	- Ethics and Accountability	1.0%
	- Socioeconomic, Political, and Global Contexts	1.0%
	Management Functions	20.5%
	- Public Financial Management	2.1%
	- Evaluation and Performance Measurement	8.7%
	- Other Management Functions	9.7%
	Policy Sectors	8.2%
	- Fiscal, Monetary and Tax Policy	0.0%
	- International Development	0.0%
	- Health	0.0%
	- Other Policy Sectors	8.2%
	Total	100%
III. Number of Courses in "NASPAA-required Subjects" taken by
Typical Student in NASPAA Required Competency Domains
	Lead and Manage in Public Governance	2.83
	Participate and Contribute to the Policy Process	2.53
	Analyze, Synthesize, Solve Problems and Make Decisions	3.09
	Articulate and Apply Public Service Perspectives	2.33
	Communicate and Interact with Workforce and Citizenry	2.69
	Total Course Equivalents taken in Required Competencies	13.48
IV. Ratio of Courses in "NASPAA-required Subjects" taken by
Typical Student to Estimated Requirement for Competency
	Lead and Manage in Public Governance	1.58
	Participate and Contribute to the Policy Process	1.17
	Analyze, Synthesize, Solve Problems and Make Decisions	0.82
	Articulate and Apply Public Service Perspectives	1.56
	Communicate and Interact with Workforce and Citizenry	3.40
	Ratio of Total Instruction in Competencies to Amount Needed	1.35
V. Number of Microeconomics, Macroeconomics or Quantitative
Methods Courses taken by Typical Student
	Economic Analysis	0.31
	Fiscal, Monetary and Tax Policy; Financial Sector and Pensions	0.00
	Quantitative Methods	1.00
	Total	1.31
	Ratio of Quantitative Courses to Total Courses Required	8.7%
Sum of Tools and Skills and Management Functions		73.3%
Sum of Institutions and Context and Policy Sectors		26.7%

Source: At http://www.mpa.unc.edu/and related sites (accessed 21 February 2015).

Page Created By: Ian Clark on 21 February 2015. Updating and editing may consist of substantive and/or formatting changes. Unless otherwise noted, however, information regarding a program's structure, curricular offerings and PEACO score is based on the program as it was on the date of page creation. The content presented on this page, except for the assignments of courses to Atlas subjects, the Instructional Distribution analysis, and the Commentary is drawn directly from the source(s) cited above, and consists of direct quotations or close paraphrases.