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General
Admissions
Academic Progress
Advising
Practical Details
Please click here to download FAQs
General
1. What
do I gain from taking an MPA?
There are three reasons for taking the MPA. One is
that on average, students with an MA earn $14,000
more than those with a BA. A second is that
you will learn a lot that will enable you to do your
job better, thereby increasing you chances of promotion.
A third is that it is increasingly a gateway credential
in the public sector for higher level jobs. [top]
2. Is
this a good MPA program?
This is generally accepted as one of the best programs
in the Southland. It is nationally accredited by
NASPAA, it is a little more rigorous than some of
the other programs and 95% of our alumni say that
it has been helpful to them in their careers. It
is especially valuable to those working in Orange
County, as it has been the only Orange County PA
program for most of the last 30 years and many of
our alumni can be found in higher management in the
County, the cities and other public entities. [top]
3. I have
an undergraduate degree in theatre. Can I still
enter the program?
Yes,
Virginia, there is a life after a theatre degree.
We look for intelligent people who have an interest
in becoming managers in the public sector. It is
probably true that those who majored in public administration
or business will have an easier time, but we have
many successful graduates with Bachelors degrees
in subjects like history and liberal arts. However
we do have prerequisites in American Government,
Statistics and Economics. [top]
4. Is
this program designed for working professionals
like me?
In short, yes! Most of our classes are once a week
from 7-9.45 and the others are late afternoon or
weekend courses. We also encourage people to bring
their jobs into the classroom. [top]
5. How
much does it cost per year?
Most students enroll for two semesters a year. It
currently costs $1,135 a semester if you are taking
one or two courses and $1,786 a semester if you are
taking three or four courses. The fees do change
periodically. Check the university website for updates. [top]
6. I
have not been in school for a long time; can I
do this?
We regard real world experience as a plus. We are
generally high on people who have been working a
long time (or managing children). We find that they
are more serious than they used to be, and more focused
than they often were as undergraduates. [top]
7. What
are the other students like?
The median student is someone working full time in
the public sector or in a non-profit who has been
out for three or four years and has decided that
they want to manage others. In many cases their bosses
have suggested that this is a logical next step.
There are smaller numbers of full time private sector
workers and full time students, often from overseas. [top]
Admissions
1. How
do I apply to the MPA program?
The simplest way is to apply online at http://www.csumentor.edu/admissionapp/grad_apply.asp .
You can also find information on graduate admissions
at http://www.fullerton.edu/catalogprevious/catalog2003-2005/admissions_and_registration/gradadm.asp .
Your transcripts should be sent directly to admissions
and records. If you are in the group for whom GRE
scores, resumes or letters of recommendation are
relevant these should be sent to Paul Peretz, Public
Administration Coordinator, Public Administration
Program, California State University, Fullerton,
PO Box 6848, Fullerton, CA 92834-6848. [top]
2. Can
I apply before I finish my BA?
Yes,
you can, but the BA must be in hand by the time you
start graduate studies. [top]
3. Are
there any prerequisite courses?
The prerequisite courses are American Government,
Statistics and either Micro-economics
or Macro-economics. If you do not have one or more
when you enter we normally allow you to finish them
during your first year in the program. [top]
4 What
are the entry requirements?
We divide applicants into three groups. If you have
a grade point average in your last 60 semester units
over 2.75 (B-) and a grade point average over 3.25
(B+) in your major we admit you unconditionally.
If you got over 2.75 in your last 60 units but less
than 3.25 in your major we admit you on probation.
If you are in this group and either have a combined
GRE score over 1000 or have been
working and submit your resume and two letters of
recommendation we may choose to admit you unconditionally.
If your GPA in the last 60 units is less than 2.75,
we will not admit you. [top]
5. Can
I transfer from another Public Administration program?
Usually you can and often we will give credit for
courses taken elsewhere. But 21 of the 39 units must
be taken in our program. [top]
6. When are
the closing dates for applying to the program?
Admissions for the Fall semester start October
1 and usually end May 15. We also admit
for the Spring term beginning June 1 and
usually ending October 15. In both Spring
and Fall the closing date may be a little earlier
or later. The best advice is to apply as early as
possible. [top]
7. What
if I am an international student?
If you
are an international student in addition to the other
requirements you must have a score of 570 (paper)
or 230 (computer based) on the TOEFL exam. The TOEFL
code for CSUF is 4589. Students who feel their English
is not yet up to this level often do a semester in
our English as a American Language Program before
commencing classes. [top]
Academic Progress
1. What
courses should I take in my first semester?
If you have not studied public administration at
all you should take POSC 509, our introductory course.
Other courses commonly taken in the first semester
are the administrative behavior course POSC 526,
and the Human Resources course POSC 572. [top]
2. What
is a study plan and when should I complete it?
In your second semester you should fill out a study
plan with the public administration coordinator.
This will involve declaring your concentration and
filling out an anticipated list of the courses you
will take in the program. [top]
3. How
long will it take to get through the program?
If you are working full time and have minimal distractions
you should get through in around three years. If
you are not working full time you should be able
to do it in less. If your life is unusually complicated
or you run into crises it may take longer. [top]
4. How
many courses should I take in a Semester?
If you are working full time you should take no more
than two courses. If you are not working you can
take as many as four. [top]
5. What
should I do if I cannot take courses one semester?
You need to take a leave of absence for a semester.
To do this you will get a form from the graduate
office in McCarthy Hall 108, fill it in and get it
signed by the coordinator. [top]
6. Is
there a comprehensive exam or a thesis?
Everyone must either take a comprehensive exam, offered
once a year in January, or write a thesis. Most take
the comprehensive exam which gives you a week to
answer one general question and one in your concentration. [top]
Advising
1. Who
is the graduate program advisor and should I see
him?
The current graduate advisor is Paul Peretz; His
office is in University Hall 519. His phone number
is (714) 278-2550 and his e-mail is pperetz@fullerton.edu.
If in any doubt it is a good idea to contact him
or see him in his office hours, usually from 4-6pm
on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He does not bite, and
is rumored to be user friendly. [top]
2. Where
can I get general advice on careers?
Our Career Center located in Langsdorf Hall 208 is
open to all students. They provide assessment tests,
career counseling services and research material
to all students. You may call (714) 278-3121 for
more information. You will also find a list of jobs
on the Public Administration board in the hallway. [top]
3. How
do I find out about jobs in the public sector?
Most local governments now post job openings on their
web sites. A list of these web sites can be found
in our careers section on this site. [top]
Practical Details
1. How
do I get a parking pass and what does it cost?
You must purchase your parking permit from Parking
and Transportation Services. The permit may be purchased
in person or online in conjunction with registration
at http://www.fullerton.edu/titanonline/ .
It costs $144 a semester. [top]
2. Where
can I eat locally on the way to class?
If you
are in a hurry there is a Carl’s Jr.
next to University Hall. One can also buy mall type
fast food at the Student Union. The Off Campus Pub
and the Indian restaurant across Nutwood offer
better food. There are a couple of quite decent Thai
restaurants and a good Korean restaurant near the
corner of State College and Chapman.
For further information,
please call 714.278.3523. [top]
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