Frequently Asked Questions
- What courses should I take in my first semester?
- What is a study plan and when should I complete it?
- How long will it take to get through the program?
- How many courses should I take in a semester?
- What should I do if I cannot take courses for one semester?
- Is there a comprehensive exam or a thesis?
Academic Progress
- What courses should I take in my first semester?
- What is a study plan and when should I complete it?
- How long will it take to get through the program?
- How many courses should I take in a semester?
- What should I do if I cannot take courses for one semester?
- Is there a comprehensive exam or a thesis?
If you have not studied public administration at all you should take POSC 509, our introductory course. Other courses often taken in the first semester are the administrative behavior course POSC 526, and the Human Resources course POSC 572.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.