Master of Public Administration

Program Handbook

Current as of March 26, 2026

1. Program Overview
2. Admissions
3. Academic Structure
4. Experiential Requirements
5. Comprehensive Examination
6. Academic Policies
7. Student Expectations and Resources
8. MPA Faculty

Program Overview

Message from the Program Director

Greeting Current and Prospective Students,

This handbook serves as the official reference document for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU). It outlines the program’s structure, processes, and policies. Students are required to review it as part of their program orientation and are encouraged to consult it first when seeking information throughout their time in the program. Current and prospective students are, of course, welcome to contact me directly regarding any element that is unclear or not addressed in this handbook.

Below is a summary of the TAMIU MPA program’s distinctive features:

1. Fully Online Format: All core courses and many elective offerings are available entirely online, allowing students to participate from anywhere in Texas, the nation, or the world.
2. NASPAA Accreditation: The program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).We are one of only two Texas A&M System universities to hold this distinction (the other is Texas A&M University–College Station).
3. Distinguished Faculty: Our full-time faculty are nationally and internationally recognized scholars and practitioners who are committed to strengthening public service and supporting your professional development.
4. Extensive Academic Resources: As part of the Texas A&M University System, students have access to a comprehensive suite of resources, including online library services with millions of books and professional journal articles.
5. Strong Reputation and Outcome: The program has a demonstrated record of accomplishment and is highly regarded by employers, alumni, and current students who recognize the MPA as a meaningful pathway to a successful and fulfilling public service career.

Please feel free to email, call, or visit me to discuss any aspect of the program. We are proud of the educational opportunities that await you in the MPA program at TAMIU, and we are committed to supporting you as you pursue your personal and professional goals.

Peter F. Haruna
Professor, Public Administration and Government
MPA Program Director
pharuna@tamiu.edu

Mission and Purpose

The mission of the MPA program is to prepare students to become effective civic leaders and administrators dedicated to advancing ethical, accountable, and effective public governance. Program graduates will serve local, national, and global communities through professional public service skills grounded in analytical and critical thinking. The program equips students with the communication and problem-solving skills needed to lead in an evolving global environment.

Program Background

The MPA program has been in existence since 1999, and many of our graduates now serve in federal, state, county, and local government positions. We are housed in the Department of Social Sciences, which includes Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Geography, Political Science, and Sociology. The program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) and is the only NASPAA-accredited program in the Texas A&M University System outside of College Station. Our focus is to develop the professional capacities of rising and mid-career professionals by grounding them in both foundational and emerging innovations in the field.

The program features in-depth study through an interdisciplinary core that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of public administration and the knowledge, skills and abilities essential to communication, administrative ethics, advanced research methods, budgeting and financial management, human resources management, and program evaluation. Students also have the flexibility to design a program of study that incorporates elective courses from other academic departments.

As a fully online program, we recognize both the benefits and challenges of preparing students for all aspects of professional development, including building networks with fellow participants. Our low student-faculty ratio facilitates individualized consultation, advising, and close collaboration between faculty and students. We embrace our responsibilities as educators and mentors and strive to remain accessible beyond the delivery of course content.

The MPA program prepares students for leadership and management roles in the public and nonprofit sectors. Students may tailor their program of study to their professional needs and interests through elective offerings and our nonprofit management certificate option. Our faculty are nationally and internationally recognized in their areas of research and teaching, yet remain highly accessible and committed to supporting the professional development of all our graduate students.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

General admission requirements for graduate study at TAMIU are described at www.tamiu.edu/gradschool.

The Master of Public Administration degree is open to all applicants who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning and who meet the graduate admission requirements of TAMIU and its College of Arts and Sciences. In addition, candidates for admission must meet three of the four criteria listed below:

• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• A 300-word statement of purpose
• Satisfactory expression in the statement of purpose essay portion of the application
• Satisfactory performance in the personal interview portion of the program admissions process

International students from non-English speaking countries must submit a TOEFL exam score of 79 (online version) or 550 (paper-based) or an IELTS score of 6.5. These requirements reflect institution-wide standards for graduate admission.

Admission Process

Application materials are initially submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions for preliminary screening to ensure compliance with university and graduate school policies (www.tamiu.edu/gradschool/admissions.shtml). The application includes a completed application form, official transcripts (TAMIU graduates do not need to submit transcripts), and a written statement specifically outlining your purpose for pursuing an MPA degree. There is also an application fee of $35 payable in person, by mail, or online ($25 late fee if submitted after deadline). Upon receipt of submission of graduate admission application materials candidates must then schedule interviews with the MPA Director. Where documentation is incomplete, you may register for up to six (6) credit hours with the express permission of the Program Director.

Our department has a standing admissions committee that receives and considers new applications from the Office of Graduate Studies and Research on a regular basis. This committee meets at least twice a year to consider and provide full review to all applications for Fall and Spring admissions. Upon review of your application package, the committee issues a written notice that grants full admission and clears the student to enroll full-time, once all the admission criteria are met and the student performs up to the level of graduate study.

The admissions committee may deny admission or recommend provisional admission, if in their professional judgment, the student does not satisfactorily meet all of the admissions criteria. In that case, the admissions committee issues a written notice of justification for their decision that is forwarded to the office of Graduate Studies and Research. Thus, the MPA faculty control the admissions process into the MPA program, but official notification of program admission emanates from the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.

Before you can enroll in a course, proof from the Office of Graduate Studies and Research to enroll on a provisional basis must be confirmed by the Registrar. At that point, students are strongly urged to meet with the Program Director. Our MPA Program Director is initially responsible for MPA advising and registration until you are assigned to a program advisory committee.

Academic Structure

Program of Study

The MPA consists of 42 credit hours of graduate coursework. Students complete 33 credit hours across 11 core classes and 9 credit hours of electives. The general outline is as follows:

Required Core Courses - 33 hours

• PADM 5375 Survey of Public Administration and Public Affairs¹
• PADM 5301 Advanced Methods²
• PADM 5332 Program Evaluation
• PADM 5334 Administrative Law
• PADM 5342 Organization Theory
• PADM 5344 Communication for Public Administrators
• PADM 5362 Administrative Ethics
• PADM 5378 Human Resources Management in Public Administration
• PADM 5380 Principles and Politics of Public Budgeting
• PADM 5382 Public Policy Development and Implementation
• PADM 5395 Project³ or
• PADM 5396 Internship⁴

Note: ¹Prerequisite for all required courses. ²Prerequisite for all required core courses and cross-listed with CRIJ 5320 and SOCI 5322. ³Required for students with two or more years experience in the public sector. ⁴Required for students with less than two years of experience in the public sector.

The program is configured to commence in the fall terms, when the gateway courses (PADM 5375 and PADM 5301) are offered. These courses serve as prerequisites for all other core offerings. Students admitted, or who choose to commence their study in the spring or summer terms, will only be allowed to take elective courses until the gateway courses are completed. The majority of the core courses are only offered during the regular academic year, although a core course may occasionally be offered during the summer session. The exceptions to this rule are PADM 5395 (Project) and PADM 5396 (Internship), which are offered only during the summer session.

Electives

The MPA degree does not have a minor. However, electives should cohere in a logical fashion to reflect a specialized area of interest. For example, students interested in human resources might choose related courses in business. Students residing in the Laredo area are encouraged to take a face-to-face course to fulfill an elective requirement if their area of specialization is not available online. Students residing outside of Laredo may transfer up to six (6) semester credit hours (SCH) from an accredited institution.

Students interested in nonprofit management can choose nine (9) hours from the nonprofit course offerings or complete twelve (12) credit hours to earn the Nonprofit Management Certificate (Please note that pursuing this option will increase the total program requirement to 45 credit hours). They should consult with their faculty advisor regarding their specialized interests to receive guidance on appropriate elective selections.
Any 5000-level course offered by the University may be considered for elective credit.

Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management

The certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management is a graduate-level program designed to develop the leadership and management skills unique to nonprofit organizations. The Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management requires twelve (12) semester credit hours of graduate-level courses or four (4) classes. It is intended for current master’s students at TAMIU or at any other accredited university, and for graduates holding a minimum undergraduate degree in any discipline who want to acquire skills in leading nonprofit organizations. Courses in the certificate program may also be applied toward the elective requirements in the TAMIU Master of Public Administration program. Courses are offered completely online in 7.5-week terms (two per semester).

• PADM 5377 Survey of Nonprofit Management (first required course in the sequence)
• PADM 5379 Philanthropy, Fund Raising for Nonprofit Organization
• PADM 5381 Grant and Contract Management
• PADM 5383 Nonprofit Law and Process
• PADM 5385 Strategic Planning and Fiscal Administration for Nonprofit Organizations
• PADM 5387 International Nonprofit Management
• PADM 5389 Leading for Performance in Nonprofit Organizations

Course descriptions can be found in the TAMIU Graduate Catalog

catalog.tamiu.edu/graduate-information/arts-sciences/humanities/leadership-management

Experiential Requirements

Internship

For those students who do not possess the requisite years of experience working in their field in a supervisory/management position, they will be required to complete an internship (PADM 5396) in lieu of the PADM 5395 Project. The MPA Program Director will determine whether a student is eligible for the Internship option upon admission to the program. The MPA Program Director will work jointly with students and public agencies to identify potential internship opportunities beginning in the fall semester preceding the anticipated summer-term internship. For example, if a student anticipates enrolling in PADM 5396 during the summer of 2024, the identification of a potential internship should begin in the Fall 2023 semester.

Project

The course is designed to assist graduating MPA students in completing a summer-long applied project. It is expected that students will bring knowledge gained from the MPA program to bear on the analysis of public problems and their work-related experience. To this end, they will be exposed to research tools, techniques, and methods that they can apply in analyzing and solving problems to support public interest goals and objectives. By the end of the summer, students will have a greater sense of how to grapple with complex public problems and apply analytical tools to study and recommend solutions. The MPA Program Director will determine student eligibility for the Project.

Comprehensive Examination

All students must pass a Comprehensive Examination (COMPS) to fulfill the requirements of the degree. Students are eligible for COMPS after they have completed all core courses (with the exception of PADM 5395 - Project or PADM 5396 - Internship). The COMPS are a four-hour, in-class, closed-book examination designed to test the students' knowledge and understanding of the field and discipline, drawing on all relevant class material. The COMPS are graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

Students must be cleared by the Program Director before they can register for the COMPS. For students residing in close proximity to Laredo, the COMPS are administered at the University Testing Center (located in the Zaffirini Student Success Center). The COMPS are not hand-written; students will complete the exam using a computer. The exam begins promptly at 9 a.m., so arrive early, as latecomers will not be allowed to take the exam. For students residing outside the local area, arrangements will be made to identify a suitable testing location to ensure the integrity of the process. Because the COMPS serve as a means for conducting annual assessments of the program, they are prepared and graded collectively by all MPA faculty. Students are expected to answer three questions, including topics related to knowledge and history of the field, theory, and practical tools and skills.

COMPS questions test your ability to synthesize themes and issues, analyze complex ideas, and write clearly and logically. They also test your ability to apply the tools and skills to solve practical public problems. An acceptable response would be one that thoughtfully addresses all aspects of the questions, connects them logically, accurately cites the relevant literature, as well as demonstrating good writing mechanics.

MPA COMPS are offered once each in the Fall and Spring Semesters as indicated in the University calendar, and students must pass to be certified for graduation.

Eligible students can register online for the COMPS, and they should register as soon as possible after the Program Director has granted clearance. Registration should be completed no later than two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled COMPS date. Students who miss the deadline will need to contact the Program Director for permission to register late, although late approval is not guaranteed.

Link to COMPS webpage: www.tamiu.edu/mpa/comprehensiveexams.shtml

As part of the preparation, the MPA Program Director in consultation with the MPA Faculty will arrange a 2- to 3-hour COMPS seminar at a mutually agreed-upon date and time (students not residing in Laredo can be accommodated via Skype). Detailed guidance for and expectations of performance will be provided during the seminar. Attendance is required, and students should seek clarification for all COMPS-related issues.

COMPS results will be communicated in writing to each student within three weeks so make sure your mailing address is up to date. Students must pass all three questions to be cleared for graduation. Those who fail any of the three questions will be allowed to re-take those failed portions during the next iteration of COMPS. This information will be communicated in the official letter so they will know exactly which question/s they need to re-take.

Preparation Tips

Know the material well: The comprehensive exam is geared to test your knowledge of the field of Public Administration. Students must possess a thorough understanding of key concepts and the connections, tensions, and contradictions among major ideas of Public Administration. One effective strategy is to revisit major thinkers and examine their perceptions about key issues (for example, politics/administration dichotomy, decision-making, leadership, accountability, and discretion).

Save all course material: Students lose access to courses shortly after it ends, so it is their responsibility to save copies of all relevant material, including assignments, papers, and exams from the core courses. Students should also keep their course textbooks; avoid renting textbooks unless they want to incur the additional cost of a rental to prepare for the COMPS. They should maintain backups across multiple storage devices. The COMPS cover only the core courses, but students should consider saving their work from courses comprising their specialized area of interest for their professional development.

Arrange your ideas according to major topics: During each semester break, students should review their notes, papers, and collected articles, and organize them in a way that makes sense to them. For example, students might group all articles and commentaries by Waldo in one file, or place all materials related to reinventing government in one location. Students should know how their materials are organized and where to find them. To stay current with the issues, their notes need to be readily accessible.

Start preparing essays on major topics: Students will write papers for many courses. Revisit these papers, identify what or who is missing, and keep on adding to those notes. Over time, they will develop their own concise summaries of the field and its subfields.

Work in groups: Different study styles are appropriate for different people. Even if group work is not their study style of choice, students should meet with their cohorts and discuss topics, preparation, and probable questions. They can exchange books and articles and find out about what they are missing from their colleagues.

Utilize faculty: Seek guidance from professors. Students are encouraged to talk to them and ask for suggestions, reading lists, and any other insights they may offer. Each faculty member has gone through this rigorous process, and their perspectives can be extremely valuable.

Academic Policies

Academic Standards

Students are expected to maintain the highest level of academic integrity. Academic dishonesty of any sort will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the program. The relevant University policies are summarized in the current Catalog and in the College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) Academic Policies. Every course syllabus contains the most recent COAS policies and it is your responsibility to read and understand your rights and responsibilities. Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:

• Submission of an assignment that is the work of another person in whole or part.
• Failure to cite the work of others appropriately, whether published or unpublished, print or non-print.
• Unauthorized copying of materials, including computer programs.
• Providing another student with information or receiving information from another student during examinations or class sessions, unless authorized by the instructor.
• Observing or assisting other students in their work unless authorized by the instructor.
• Any conduct that violates the integrity of examinations or other assignments.
• Cooperating with other persons involved in academic dishonesty.

Graduate students are required to maintain a B (3.0) grade point throughout their coursework to remain academically eligible. Students may repeat a required core course in which they received a grade of “C” or lower, but are only allowed to repeat the course once, and must earn a grade of “B” or better to remain in the program. Students may take additional approved elective courses to replace other elective courses in which they received low grades, but the minimum “B” requirement for repeated coursework still applies.

Student Responsibilities for Online Graduate Study

The MPA program is entirely online, and the majority of courses are offered in shortened semesters (called subterms). Each sub‑term is approximately 7.5 weeks long, and there are two sub‑terms in each of the normal 15‑week semesters (Fall and Spring). This means students are covering 15 weeks’ worth of material in half the time. It is important that students do not overextend themselves by taking too many classes during each sub‑term. This is a professional program, and assignment deadlines—as in professional practice—must be taken seriously; otherwise, students will fall behind and risk doing poorly in the course. Given the accelerated nature of the sub‑terms, shortly before the class officially begins students should contact the instructor of record (via their official TAMIU email) and ask for a copy of the syllabus so they can purchase required textbooks at the campus bookstore or order them online. Students should also log into the course on the first day of class and familiarize themselves with the course syllabus, COAS policies, and course requirements. Each course contains a Task List of required student actions that usually need to be completed within a few days, so students should not wait until the weekend to log in.

The MPA faculty understand that the majority of our students are working professionals, and that many of them also balance family, caregiving, and/or other personal responsibilities. It can be difficult to balance these competing responsibilities while pursuing a graduate degree, given the increased workload inherent in graduate studies. We also understand that sometimes “life happens,” and this may cause students to fall behind in their assignments or other course requirements. Therefore, if students find themselves in this situation, they need to contact the course instructor immediately and explain what is happening. Students should not wait until the end of the subterm to contact their instructor. Faculty can often work with students if contacted early, but as the subterm draws to a close, options become limited. Incompletes are granted only in extreme circumstances (with requisite documentation), and these must be approved by the COAS Dean—not the instructor, Program Director, or Department Chair. Moreover, an incomplete granted in the first subterm will affect a student’s ability to complete coursework during the second subterm.

Grading Philosophy and Standards

The program’s philosophy reflects the principle that grades should communicate to students, future employers, and graduate schools how our students have performed with reference to the national and international standards of the field. Program grades will reflect the degree to which students demonstrate the key competencies required for effective public and nonprofit organization management, as well as good writing mechanics. The program prides itself on setting high standards of rigor and excellence in all aspects of management practice. Obtaining an MPA degree from TAMIU carries the prestige of state-of-the-art advanced professional study from a nationally accredited program.

Enrollment Policy

Students in the MPA program must remain continuously enrolled in the University while in the program. This means that students must take at least one class each subterm (Fall/Spring) until graduation unless special arrangements have been approved. Continuous enrollment does not apply to the summer session.

A student who is making satisfactory progress (3.0 GPA) but is unable to continue taking classes must fill out a Leave of Absence form, subject to approval by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. Unapproved absences may result in the student being required to reapply to their respective programs. In order to receive approval there are certain eligibility requirements. To view these requirements, visit the link below.

Link to Leave of Absence form: No Link Found.

Expiration of Classes

It is important to know that graduate courses expire five (5) years after completion. Consequently, graduate students have five years in which to complete all required coursework. All expired courses must be repeated in order to satisfy the degree requirements.

Student Expectations and Resources

Professional Development

Students are encouraged to join professional associations for the purpose of professional development during their graduate studies and beyond. The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) is the premier professional association for public administration professionals. Benefits of membership include a subscription to the academic journal Public Administration Review (PAR); a subscription to PA Times which features key public management topics; electronic access to The Public Manager, a journal dedicated to encouraging professionalism and high performance by public sector managers; and training and professional development webinars. There are also other professional associations dealing with all aspects of public administration, such as urban planning (American Planning Association), human resources management (International Public Management Association for Human Resources), public budgeting (Government Finance Officers Association), nonprofits (Alliance for Nonprofit Management), public works (American Public Works Association), and city/county management (International City/County Management Association) to name a few. Many of these organizations may also provide additional training and certificate opportunities.

The program’s faculty are aware of the challenges that come with being an entirely online course delivery system. In order to cultivate participation in the program as a learning community, the program will sponsor occasional events to orient new members and provide ongoing points of contact with fellow students. These events will be scheduled in the evenings and possibly weekends for participant convenience.

Technical Requirements for Courses and Courseware Training

The program requires that all students have dependable and consistent online access and equipment. Due to the truncated nature of the courses, intermittent access to computing resources will not suffice. Lack of such access and equipment makes successful completion of the program extremely difficult. Basic equipment requirements include:

• A working desktop computer, laptop or other device capable of accessing the program’s course sites via Blackboard, the University’s Course Management System.
• A working audio capability on the device to both receive and transmit comprehensible sound and voice.
• A working camera capable of receiving and transmitting recognizable video feeds.
• Basic software application packages required for this program include:
• MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel in versions that are supported by the TAMIU Office of Instructional Technology (OIT).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader for PDF files in versions that are supported by TAMIU OIT.
• Media players such as Windows Media Player, Quicktime, or Real Player in versions that are supported by TAMIU OIT.
• Training required to successfully use the program’s online features—available at the Student Support tab located at the top of the course shell—includes:
• Tutorials and OIT technical support guidance in using Blackboard courseware.
• Tutorials and OIT technical support assistance in using Voice Thread, Skype, or other conferencing platforms supported by TAMIU OIT.
• Tutorials, OIT and Killam Library technical support and assistance in accessing the Killam Library resources.

Other training for specialized software and utilities associated with specific courses should be completed according to course instructor requirements. The courseware used to deliver program content is well developed and generally regarded as user‑friendly. Nonetheless, a complete orientation with OIT is essential. Program faculty strive to develop and deliver their courses in the most effective and convenient ways possible. The experience of online course delivery, while still evolving, is now highly refined and oriented toward simple access and use. OIT maintains 24/7 support for all students. Failure to comply with online access requirements, or to maintain competent use of the applications outlined above, will severely compromise student opportunities for success in the program.

MPA Faculty

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) faculty are dedicated educators, scholars, and public servants who contribute to the community both within and beyond the TAMIU campus. All faculty members have earned doctorates and bring several years of experience from TAMIU and other institutions of higher learning. Students are encouraged to maintain close contact with faculty through their educational experience and to take advantage of opportunities for mentorship.

• Dr. Peter F. Haruna, Professor and MPA Program Director
  • Research and teaching areas: International and Comparative Administration; Analysis of Governance Structures; Public Budgeting Development & Analysis; Administrative Law
• Dr. Mehnaaz Momen, Professor
  • Research and teaching areas: Citizenship; Immigration Policy; Public Space; Urban Theory
• Dr. Lynne L. Manganaro, Associate Professor
  • Research and teaching areas: General Public Administration; Gender and Racial/Ethnic Issues in Public Policy; Public Policy and Analysis; Research Methods and Statistics
• Dr. Varaidzo Zvobgo, Assistant Professor
  • Research and teaching areas: Human Resources Management; Organizational Theory and Behavior; Local Government Performance; Public Policy and Analysis
• Dr. Jihoon Jeong, Assistant Professor
  • Research and teaching areas: Nonprofit and Public Partnership; Cross-Sector Collaboration for Public Services; Local Government; Public Management
• Dr. Dwight Vick, Adjunct Professor
  • Courses taught within the MPA program: Public Policy Development & Implementation; Survey of Public Administration & Public Affairs; Communication for Public Administration
• Ms. Anita L. Guerra, Adjunct Professor
  • Course taught within the MPA program: Grant and Contract Management