FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do evening students have to take core courses in any particular order?
There are no formal requirements, but the following order and suggestions are strongly recommended:
Administrative Theory (PADMN 6300)
Research Design (PADMN 6289)
Practice of Public Management (PADMN 6330)
Constitutional Law (PADMN 6220)
Administrative Law (PADMN 6230)
Public Human Resource Management (PADMN 6360)
Public Budgeting and Finance (PADMN 6380)
Public Administration and Ethics (PADMN 6870)
Capstone in Public Administration (PADMN 6890)
• Take Administrative Theory (PADMN 6300) and Research Design (PADMN 6289) during the first two semesters of study.
• Take Constitutional Law (PADMN 6220) prior to taking Administrative Law (PADMN 6230).
• Take Practice of Public Management (PADMN 6330) after completing Administrative Theory.
• The Capstone class (PADMN 6890) should be the last core class taken. It is offered every spring and summer semester. The course is firmly capped at 25 so you must register at your appointed date and time in order to get in before it fills.
Am I able to take concentration (elective) classes outside the PADMN designation?Yes. However, at least one three-credit concentration course must be taken under the PADMN designation. This leaves students up to four classes (12 cedits) that can be taken outside of the program. Approval of the courses must come first from the Program Manager to ensure the course has a tie to public administration.
If I take a 5000 level class, will it count towards my MPA?Sometimes. If a class is offered at the 6000 level, MPA students must register at the 6000 level. Some 5000 level courses are acceptable as concentration classes if they are not offered at the 6000 level. Please email the program manager the course title and description or a copy of the syllabus for review. The program manager will decide if the course is acceptable. Please note 3000/5000 level courses will not be accepted and unless the circumstance is unusual only one 5000 level course will be accepted.
Do I have to maintain a minimum GPA?
You must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA in your graduate work with no individual grade lower than a “C.” You must also maintain a 3.0 GPA in core courses….Students whose GPAs fall below a 3.0, or who accumulate more than 3 incompletes, will be placed on probation. Probation may carry specific requirements that the student must meet in order for probation to be removed.
Do I have to write my Major Research Paper (MRP) in the context of a class?
Preferably. Once the course Research Design has been completed, the MRP may be written in any remaining course. If the instructor agrees to supervise, s/he will set expectations for progress on the MRP that will be included in the final grade. If the MRP is not completed during the class, it can be finished in subsequent semesters, without registering for independent study hours.
Any regular faculty member and some adjunct instructors. Please see list for faculty approved. MRP Approved Faculty
When do I have to declare my area of concentration?Students will be asked to declare their area of concentration after the completion of the first semester.
When do I have to complete my candidacy form?Two semesters prior to graduation; forms are due in the CPPA office on the following dates:
Fall Graduation: June 1
Spring Graduation: November 1
Summer Graduation: February 1
When do I walk?
The University of Utah holds graduation and commencement ceremonies only in the spring. However, all MPA graduates are encouraged to walk. Please remember you are welcome to walk even if graduating in the fall or summer. Caps and gowns must be ordered ahead of time, but only sign up to walk the day of. College Graduation Information
What happens if I do not enroll in any classes for a semester?The University of Utah requires all students maintain continuous enrollment by registering for a minimum of one class during every fall and spring semester from matriculation through completion of all classes. Students are not required to register for any classes during summer semesters, but many MPA evening students choose to do so. If a fall or spring semester needs to be missed, please fill out a Leave of Absence Form from the Graduate School and return it to the MPA Office. The form should be submitted as early in the semester as possible, with the cut off date being the final day of classes. The staff will obtain the required signatures and forward copies to the Graduate School.