Current & Prospective MPA Students
The Master of Public Administration program at Western Kentucky University (WKU) is housed in the Department of Political Science, offering instruction via in-person and remote instruction. All required courses (and many electives) are offered in person on the Bowling Green campus and are also accessible via live, synchronous Zoom sessions. Students who are unable to commute to the Bowling Green campus can still complete their MPA at WKU. We believe that real-time interaction with professors and peers is an important aspect of graduate education, so we strive to build that sense of community among our students, whether they are physically or virtually in the classroom. To accommodate the schedules of busy professionals, most required classes and electives are offered in the evenings. Some elective courses are offered via asynchronous online instruction, usually during the Winter and Summer terms.
Degree Requirements
The WKU MPA program requires completion of 36 graduate credit hours of coursework, including 6 core courses, a required Capstone course, and 5 electives. Full-time students typically take 3 courses per semester and graduate within 4 semesters (21 months). Part-time students typically take 2 courses per semester; those who also take courses during the Winter and/or Summer sessions are able to complete the degree in 24 months. Information on the courses included in the MPA curriculum is available here.
Many of our MPA students choose electives that allow them to earn a second graduate-level credential - a Graduate Certificate in a specialized area – while completing their master’s degree. Information on relevant graduate certificate programs is available here.
Our Mission
The MPA program prepares graduate students to be productive leaders and managers in public service by sharing knowledge, encouraging excellence in research and practice, and fostering an environment of professionalism within the diverse communities we serve.
Our MPA Core Faculty
Saundra Curry Ardrey, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Jeffrey P. Kash, Ph. D., Professor
Scott Lasley, Ph.D., Professor and Department Head
Michael J. Seidler, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor
Julie Shadoan, J.D., Professor and Coordinator, Professional Legal Studies
Joel F. Turner, Ph.D., MPA, Professor and MPA Director
Tuition and Fees: Fall 2022/Spring 2023 Semester*
- Important: Tuition and/or fees are subject to approval/change by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and WKU Board of Regents
Financial Aid
The WKU MPA program does not offer scholarships. A small number of competitive graduate assistantships that provide a stipend and partial tuition assistance are available to qualified applicants; we do not currently offer any assistantships that would cover the full cost of tuition. Graduate assistants (GA) are required to work approximately 10 hours per week in the department during the academic semester. As a GA, graduate students may assist department staff and faculty members in research, teaching, and service functions. Students interested in being a graduate assistant are encouraged to contact the Director of the MPA Program at mpa@wku.edu. Allocation of the assistantships for the upcoming academic year typically occurs in May, so completed applications are due by April 15th.
MPA Admission Requirements
The application process involves the following:
Complete the Online Application for Admission found on the WKU Graduate School website.
Submit the required application fee.
Request that official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work (from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended) be sent directly to the WKU Graduate School.
Minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) is required for full admission to the WKU Graduate School. In certain circumstances, a program may request that a student with less than a 2.75 GPA be conditionally admitted. For the WKU MPA program, the admissions committee makes the decision whether to conditionally admit a student.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores must be sent directly to the WKU Graduate School. (Note: Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher from an accredited undergraduate institution and/or 3 years of relevant work experience in public service are exempt from the GRE requirement.)
Applicant should send the following directly to mpa@wku.edu:
- Statement of Purpose outlining how the MPA degree will help accomplish career goals and objectives
- current resume
Applicant should request two (2) letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or employment experience and have the letters sent to mpa@wku.edu.
Application Deadlines:
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but applicants are encouraged to submit all application materials at least 4 weeks before the start of the semester in which they plan to enroll.
Careers:
Since 1974, the WKU MPA program has prepared students for careers in a wide variety of public, nonprofit, and for-profit organizations. Alums of our program lead across Kentucky as well as other states and in several countries as employees of federal, state, and local government agencies, directors of nonprofit organizations, university faculty and administrators, and as practicing attorneys. The MPA is an excellent, flexible degree suitable to a wide range of career opportunities for those interested in public service.
WKU MPA Alumni, Employment within 6 months of Graduation,
by Sector, by Annual Report Year*
|
Employment Sector |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
2018-19 |
2019-20 |
2020-21 |
2021-22 |
2022-23 |
Totals |
|
National Government |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
5 |
|
State Government |
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
4 |
|
Local Government |
2 |
2 |
|
1 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
13 |
|
International Government |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Nonprofit (domestic) |
1 |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
1 |
8 |
|
Private Sector |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
Additional Education |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Unemployed |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Status Unknown |
1 |
|
2 |
|
2 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Graduated |
9 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
43 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Alumni statistics are reported by Annual Report Year (ARY). The data for each year include all students who first enrolled in classes as an MPA student during the terms – summer, fall, and spring – of that year. Total Graduated refers to the number of students who first enrolled during that year who went on to complete the MPA degree; it is not the number of students who graduated during that year.
WKU MPA Alumni are currently employed in a variety of positions throughout the public, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors. The following includes a sample of positions listed by respondents to our latest alumni survey:
Federal Government
Lead Human Resources Specialist, U.S. Army Human Resources Command
Assistant Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Park Ranger, Interpretive Specialist, National Park Service
Logistics Management Specialist, U.S. Transportation Command
State Government and Public Universities
Manager, Arizona Supreme Court
TennCare LTSS Director of Communication, State of Tennessee
Dean, Henderson Community College
Executive Director for Operations & Administration, WKU
Assistant Director of Communication, Philanthropy, & Alumni Engagement, WKU
Director of Development, WKU Public Media
Local Government and Regional Planning Agencies
Kentucky Area Development Districts:
Executive Director
Disaster Resiliency Coordinator
Public Administration Specialist
Neighborhood and Community Service Director, City of Bowling Green, KY
Fiscal Manager, City of Louisville, KY
District Grant Writer, Owensboro Public Schools
Nonprofit
Executive Director, Horse Cave/Hart County Tourism
Assistant Director, Kentucky Rural Water Association
Development Manager, Metro United Way, Louisville
Training Program Manager, National Child Advocacy Center, Huntsville, AL
HR & Training Coordinator/Policy & Research Associate, Next Step
For-Profit
Senior Environmental Affairs Director, AEP
Director of Outreach, BrightView Health
Career Services Coordinator, EDSI/Career Source Tampa Bay
Business Development Manager, Commonwealth Engineers
Lead Associate, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.
President, Alliant Purchasing
Senior Engineer, ValueHealth
Recent Internship Placements
Our students frequently start their careers based on experience gained during their MPA internship. WKU MPA students completed internships at the following agencies (agencies in red reflect placements during the most recent academic year):
Federal Government
AmeriCorps, Bowling Green, KY
Field Office of Congressman Brett Guthrie, Bowling Green, KY
State Government
WKU President’s Office
Local Government and Regional Planning Agencies
Barren River Area Development District, Bowling Green, KY
Community & Economic Development
Transportation Planning
Lincoln Trail Area Development District, Elizabethtown, KY
Community & Economic Development
City of Bowing Green, Kentucky
City Manager’s Office
Neighborhood and Community Service
City of Morgantown, Kentucky
City Clerk’s Office
Davidson County Clerk’s Office, Nashville, TN
Warren County Public Schools, Human Resources Department, Bowling Green, KY
Warren County Parks & Recreation Department, Bowling Green, KY
Nonprofit
Center for Accessible Living, Louisville, KY
El-Hibri Foundation, Washington, DC
GoBG, Community Action of Southern Kentucky, Bowling Green, KY
Kentucky Museum, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Operation P.R.I.D.E., Bowling Green, KY
United Way, Bowling Green, KY
Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center, Owensboro, KY
WKU MPA Program
Enrollment, Persistence, and Graduation Data by Annual Report Year
|
Annual Report Year |
Enrolled |
Graduated within 2 years |
Graduated within 4 years |
% Graduated or Persisting to Graduation |
|
2021-22 |
11 |
N/A |
N/A |
100% |
|
2020-21 |
12 |
6 |
1 |
83.3% |
|
2019-20 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
100% |
|
2018-19 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
40.0% |
|
2017-18 |
9 |
1 |
4 |
55.6% |
|
2016-17 |
12 |
3 |
6 |
75.0% |
|
2015-16 |
22 |
6 |
4 |
45.5% |
Contact Us
We welcome questions about the program and look forward to talking about how the MPA
degree can help you accomplish your career goals. For assistance with applying and
more information about the program, please contact:
Joel F. Turner, Ph.D., MPA
Professor, MPA Director
joel.turner@wku.edu
Tel: (270) 745-4559
Fax: (270) 745-2945
Department of Political Science-- Cherry Hall #300
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11060, Bowling Green, Ky. 42101-1060
For more information visit our website at: https://www.wku.edu/political-science/mpa-program/
Ready to get started?
Click here to start your application for the WKU MPA program
Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.