Overview

The Public Administration programme at Western Kentucky University provides a rigorous academic foundation for individuals aiming to excel in the public and non-profit sectors. This Master of Public Administration is designed to cultivate professional excellence through a blend of theoretical research and practical application.

Students benefit from the university’s extensive history of fostering leadership within the community. By sharing advanced knowledge and encouraging high standards in practice, the institution ensures that graduates are prepared to handle the complex challenges of modern governance and organisational management.

Why Public Administration at Western Kentucky University?

Western Kentucky University maintains strong community partnerships with influential organisations, including Kentucky’s area development districts and the Center for Local Governments. These links provide students with unique opportunities for practical experience and professional networking during their studies.

The department offers a Joint Undergraduate Master’s Programme (JUMP), allowing high-achieving students to accelerate their education. This pathway enables the completion of both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in a reduced timeframe, providing a distinct advantage in the competitive job market.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 17907 per year
National fee: USD 16506 per year
Local fee: USD 10926 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum requires the completion of 36 semester hours, focusing on core competencies in public service. Modules may include:

Research Methods in Public Administration
Public Sector Organizations
Public Service Ethics
Human Resources Management in Public Administration
Public & Nonprofit Budgeting
Public Policy Theory
Public Policy Implementation & Evaluation
Capstone in Public Administration

In addition to the core requirements, students select 15 hours of elective subjects to tailor their degree to specific career interests. These elective options span various disciplines, including political science, leadership studies, and organisational communication.

Careers with Public Administration

Graduates of this programme are well-equipped for diverse roles across local, state, and federal government agencies. The skills acquired are also highly transferable to the non-profit sector, where alumni often take on significant managerial and administrative responsibilities.

Beyond immediate employment, the programme serves as a robust foundation for further academic pursuits. Many former students have successfully transitioned into doctoral programmes, leveraging their research skills and professional expertise to contribute to the field of public policy at the highest levels.

Accreditation

The program is an accredited member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

Programme Structure

Courses Include:

Research Methods in Public Administration
Public Sector Organizations
Public Service Ethics
Human Resources Management in Public Administration
Public & Nonprofit Budgeting
Public Policy Theory

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-19 00:00:00

Application deadline not specified.
Starting 2027-01-16 00:00:00

Application deadline not specified.

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

30 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Bowling Green, United States

Disciplines

Public Administration View 601 other Masters in Public Administration in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

2.7

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and have scores 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 the public sector are exempt from the GRE requirement.)
Send two (2) letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or employment experience to mpa@wku.edu
Send Statement of Purpose outlining how the MPA degree will help accomplish career goals and objectives to mpa@wku.edu.
Send current resume to mpa@wku.edu

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

17907 USD / year

≈ 17907 USD / year
Out-of-State

16506 USD / year

≈ 16506 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

10926 USD / year

≈ 10926 USD / year

Living costs

Bowling Green

United States

900 - 1400 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Need help with your student visa?

Get Visa Support

Get personalized guidance from a certified VFS Global advisor and save 20% through Studyportals.

Avoid common visa mistakes and delays
Know exactly what documents you need
Get a clear checklist tailored to your situation

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Public Administration.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Accreditation

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Bowling Green

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners