Academic Programs
Masters of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

Masters of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

Shape a Better Tomorrow: Pursue Your College of Charleston M.P.A.

The College of Charleston's nationally recognized M.P.A. program provides you with the skills and knowledge to excel in public service careers at government agencies, nonprofits and advocacy organizations.

Ranked among the nation's best programs (U.S. News & World Report, 2024), our program is designed to prepare you to:

Lead and manage in the public interest.
Participate in, and constribute to, the policy process.
Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment.
Articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective.
Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.

Our NASPAA-accredited curriculum combines theory and practical application, to help you graduate ready to excel in public management, policy, and service.

Program Outcomes

Prepare for careers in environmental policy, sustainability management, or environmental non-profit leadership.
Advance your current roles in environmental organizations with a powerful combination of scientific knowledge and management expertise.
Make a significant impact on environmental issues at the local, national, or international level.

Apply Now to the MPA Program

M.P.A. Courses

The program’s core curriculum is designed to explore the essential elements of public management and public policy and to prepare students for increasingly complex public responsibilities in local and state government, nonprofit organizations, public/private partnerships and regional and federal agencies.

Elective courses are available in four areas of specialized study.

Nonprofit Administration
Arts and Cultural Management
Municipal Government and Urban Planning
Environmental Policy and Administration

View MPA Courses in the Catalog

Program Requirements

The M.P.A. is a professional degree that requires 36 semester hours, including 18 hours of core courses, 15 hours of electives, a three-hour credit internship, and a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

Institutional Admission Requirements
Students must meet the College of Charleston graduate school application requirements, including the following:
- Non-refundable application fee
- Official transcripts
- Earned bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
Visit Graduate School Admissions
Program Admissions Requirements
Students from diverse undergraduate backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Successful applicants must demonstrate, through past academic or professional work, a capacity for achievement.
Degree-Seeking Students
- Minimum grade point average of 3.000 (on a 4.000 scale) is preferred.
- A letter of intent describing your reasons for applying to the program, areas of interest, and career objectives.
- A current resume.
- Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your capacity for achievement and motivation to successfully complete a graduate degree - ideally, at least one of these references would come from a collegiate-level instructor, yet we recognize this may be a challenge for applicants who are not recent college graduates.
- Applicants, particularly those who do not meet one or more of the conditions for admission, are strongly encouraged to submit a writing sample, such as undergraduate theses or term papers, samples of work projects, etc.
Note: The admissions committee will carefully considers the applicant’s undergraduate GPA and letter of intent, as well as letters of recommendation and significant life experiences, particularly in public or nonprofit administration. Students with an undergraduate GPA below the 3.000 threshold who demonstrate the likelihood of success in graduate school through adequate academic performance, previous professional and/or volunteer experience and supportive reference letters may be considered for conditional admission status.
It is also important to note that the GRE is required in order to be considered for a College of Charleston graduate fellowship.
Application Deadlines
- Fall: January 15, priority*; July 1, final
- Spring: November 1, priority; December 1, final
- Summer: No summer admission
*Candidates who submit a completed application by the priority deadline will automatically be considered for Graduate School and/or graduate program funding.

Achieving Visions & Protecting Property

Jennie Stephens ’89 (M.P.A. ’94) is CEO of the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation, a nonprofit protecting property purchased or deeded to African American people after emancipation. "I love serving folks. And when I say serve, I mean helping them find the right path to achieve their visions.”