MPA Public Administration at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

Prepare to serve in government and nonprofits through rigorous study of public administration and policymaking, minutes from the seat of state government. Whether you are transitioning to a public service role or aiming for career advancement, our accredited master’s degree program in public administration will help you build your professional network and gain valuable experience through internships and a capstone project. An accelerated MPA is available to USC undergraduates.

Faculty: McCausland College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Political Science | Duration: 24 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Courses include organizational theory and practice, human resource management, public finance, public policymaking, public data analysis, and public ethics and accountability. Learn from scholars and practitioners in public policy and administration, gain experience in an internship, and analyze a contemporary public problem with a capstone project.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Project Manager, Public Administrator, Politician, Policy or Budget Analyst, Researcher, Outreach Coordinator.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): Applicants to the M.P.A. program are expected to have an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00, and a TOEFL score of 600 (computer score of 250) or a comparable score on the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam, if applicable. The GRE is no longer required, though applicants are welcome to submit their scores should they take the exam. The M.P.A. program admits new students for the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Prospective students are encouraged to submit their applications early. This will enable the M.P.A. Admissions Committee and the USC Graduate School to process all materials in a timely fashion so that students can be considered for admittance and possible financial scholarships during the requested academic terms. The deadlines for completed applicant files to be received at USC are: May 1: Admittance for the summer semester July 1: Admittance for the...

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer terms; Fall applications open the prior September, Spring applications open in January and Summer applications open in May.

The graduate application fee is $50 per primary application, reinstated effective August 1, 2026. Deadlines are programme-specific. The Moore School of Business, the Arnold School of Public Health and the College of Nursing use their own applications; the Moore School charges an additional $50 application fee for graduate programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sc.edu/admissions-at-sc/applications/index.php

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